The Melba Theatre launched June 28, 1929 with “From Headquarters.” In 1937, it was closed briefly for a streamlined makeover. Mr. and Mrs. Philip Nickols bought the Melba in 1945 from Annie Coleman. They would launch the 84 Drive-In in Goldthwaite in 1952.
The Melba operated part-year with the Drive-In for almost 10 years. The Nickols closed the Melba on January 7, 1962 with the film, “Everything’s Ducky.” A classified ad offered items including its Star popcorn popper and the remainder of its theatre seats for sale. They would go on to operate the 84 Drive-In as the town’s sole theatre through the 1971 season.
Mr. Selman launched the Zana Theatre on August 19, 1915 with a three-reel Chaplin short. The theatre stayed silent until 1931 when it received a hand-me-down Photo-Talker system from the nearby Palace Theatre. In 1934, the theatre got improved sound on film technology. The Zana closed in 1940 and reopened with improved sound in September of 1942 though closing prior to War’s end. It had sporadic screenings into the 1950s. Last film appears to be March 26, 1950 with “Skid Row.”
This Simpson & Nelson theatre was credited as being run by H.B Leathers and built in 1928. Leathers ran the Palace Theatre in downtown Paducah which was them run by his wife Johnnie Jones-Leathers after his death. The theater launched as the New Theatre on November 7, 1928 with Dolores Del Rio in “Ramona.” It had 908 seats – 608 on the main floor. , Lillie McCain chose the Paducah Palace which was its official name until being called the Palace Theatre.
A better sound-on-film installation moved the old Photo-Talker disc equipment to the Zana as the town moved to two theaters capable of showing talkies. Johnnie Leathers ran the Palace until August 27, 1965. New operators relaunched on September 17, 1965 and the theatre ran into the home video age. After a long period of closure, the marquee was refurbished along with the building’s facade as part of a beautification effort in 2013. in the Palace was trans- ferred over to the Zana, operated as a second house by these men .
The Majestic Theatre was the second photoplay theatre of the town of Alto. The Empire Theatre had launched September 25, 1912 and had a run of just under two years. Berryman and Watters created the Majestic in a newly-built row of businesses in downtown Alto within the Berrryman building on Busy Bee Avenue launching in 1914. The theatre got new operator in Joe Stephano in 1931 and closed in 1932. It reopened with new sound on film technology in 1934 and closed for good that year. The Alto Theatre was built and became the town’s main theatre.
The Alto Theatre was launched by D.D. Pinkston and William McDonald on April 4, 1935 in the existing Rounsaville Building in Alto. The opener was “Successful Failures.” A 50-seat balcony was provided for non-white patrons. The theatre had a Walker screen and used Simplex projectors. Within a year, the whole operation was sold for $5,000 to new operators in 1936 likely beginning a new 30-year lease. The theatre closed October 30, 1966 with “The Chase” likely at end of lease. In May of 1978, the building was reportedly razed. The equipment was taken to a Kilgore, Texas museum.
In 1940, the Isley Circuit raced with the Johnny G. Long Theatre Circuit – which already had the Queen – to open a new theatre in Palacios as a new Army training camp was about to open. Isley opened the Granada Theatre on November 27, 1940 with “Newsboys' Home”starring Jackie Cooper. A day later, Long would launch the Capitol Theatre. Long took over the Granada and refurbished the Queen as the Hollywood to have a local monopoly in film exhibition.
In 1940, the Johnny G. Long Theatre Circuit – which already had the Queen – raced with the Isley Circuit to open a new theatre in Palacios as a new Army training camp was about to open. Isley opened the Granada Theatre on November 27, 1940 and Long would launch the Long / Capitol Theatre launched November 28, 1940 with the film, “Seven Sinners” starring Marlene Dietrich. Long took over the Granada and refurbished the Queen as the Hollywood to have a local monopoly in film exhibition.
The $26,000 Carnation Theatre opened in 1937. Regular feature films ended on May 30, 1954 with the film, “Pals of the Saddle.” Some religious films were shown after along with many live events and meetings.
Correction/Addition: The theatre was reopened one last time October 11, 1975 as the Big Lake Theatre showing movies on Saturday and Sunday only. Operators Mr. and Mrs. R.D. MacReavy closed the Big Lake / former Taylor Theatre on March 28, 1976.
Thomas J. Cody and Robert Sloan launched the Palace Theatre in 1926 in downtown Big Lake likely on a ten-year lease. It was equipped for talkies. In 1935 under new operators, the location became the Texas Theatre. H. Ford Taylor took on the location in 1943. He revamped it relaunching as the Ford Theatre in March of 1945. Ford would build the Taylor Theatre in 1948 operating both locations. The Ford Theatre would close in 1950 and became a dance hall and dance instruction location.
The Reagan Drive-In Theatre was launched on Mary 17, 1949 with the film, “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.” O.M. Kirkeby also operated the Mertzon Drive-In. It launched with 300-car capacity with a 45' high screen and 49' width before being twinned three years later.
According to the local paper, Noble Holt launched this as the Shooting Star Drive-In Theatre on August 14, 1952 with the film, “Oklahoma Annie.” The drive-in closed on September 25, 1970 with the film, “Mom and Dad.” It is not listed as the Rainbow Drive-In.
The New Rialto Theatre opened August 15, 1936 with the film, “Love Begins at 20.“ On Wednesday, March 15, 1945, a fire gutted the auditorium taking the life of a theatre employee who tried to douse the flames. The former Rialto turned Rex was the main movie house for the community changing films four times a week.
Hall Industries requested permission to rebuild the Rialto from the War Production Board. It got the go ahead and rebuilt the third Rialto auditorium with superior fireproofing relaunching November 16, 1945 with “Hold that Blonde”. The auditorium now held 800 people and the building was a story taller than its predecessor.
Hall Industries built a new theatre in downtown Taft called the Rialto Theatre launching on May 1, 1929 with the film, “Avalanche.” The 360-seat venue was purchased by Texas Midwest Amusement Circuit which renamed it the Texas Theatre beginning in 1937. The Texas closed April 17, 1948 with “Gone with the Wind” as it was ostensibly replaced by the Leland Theatre was built in 1948. The Texas Theater’s space was converted for the Cage Furniture store which also launched in 1948.
Grand opening was June 29, 1950 with “Pride of the Yankees” likely on a 20-year lease. Last ad was August 27, 1969 with an English language/Spanish language bill of “The Devil’s Eight” and “Blue Demon vs. el poder satánico” which times out with the end of lease.
Theatre was launched by J.V. Carter, Jr. and Flossie Tate-Carter who had leased the Ritz Theatre, bought out the competing Majestic in its old building, purchased the Arch Adams Building to locate the New Majestic. The theatre was known as the New Majestic Theatre for at least ten years.
The New Majestic Theatre opened on August 31, 1936 with Jane Withers in “Pepper.“ It operated into the video age. The local paper reported the completion of the razing of the former Majestic Theatre on August 26, 1993.
The Lyric Theatre opened in 1914 by Frank M. Smith, Jr. It was likely this building. H.L. Ardis who had opened the original Majestic in 1911 bought his competitor running both theatres. New operators take on the Majestic and appear to both change the theater’s name and close it. Then a grand opening as the Ritz Theatre by Mrs. Nadine W. Story on June 16, 1930 with “Under a Texas Moon.” She and her husband then opened the New Majestic elsewhere in August of 1936. Final show for the Ritz was “Last of the Mohicans on January 1, 1948. It was then used as a church and then a retail store.
A new-build theatre, the Fain Theatre launched in August of 1948. It replaced a 300-seat Fain Theatre that dated back to the silent era. The theatre appears to have gone out of business on April 30, 2015.
Opened by Mr. and Mrs. Frank Jungenman built this venue in 1926 launching as the New Theatre. They sold the New to John R. Forsyth who sold it to R.N. Smith. Smith rebranded the New on April 29, 1938 as the Cactus Theatre opening with “Fools for Scandal.” Smith would build the Pioneer Theatre.
After inactivity, the Best Theatre was reopened briefly in 1976 before closing with its contents untouched for ten years. In 1987, an auction house moved to the site and auctioned off the equipment and ephemera which included over 350 movie posters going back to Tom Mix and the silent era.
The Melba Theatre launched June 28, 1929 with “From Headquarters.” In 1937, it was closed briefly for a streamlined makeover. Mr. and Mrs. Philip Nickols bought the Melba in 1945 from Annie Coleman. They would launch the 84 Drive-In in Goldthwaite in 1952.
The Melba operated part-year with the Drive-In for almost 10 years. The Nickols closed the Melba on January 7, 1962 with the film, “Everything’s Ducky.” A classified ad offered items including its Star popcorn popper and the remainder of its theatre seats for sale. They would go on to operate the 84 Drive-In as the town’s sole theatre through the 1971 season.
O and S were Owens and Smart, the original owners who built the theater on the west side of the square in Rocksprings in 1925.
Mr. Selman launched the Zana Theatre on August 19, 1915 with a three-reel Chaplin short. The theatre stayed silent until 1931 when it received a hand-me-down Photo-Talker system from the nearby Palace Theatre. In 1934, the theatre got improved sound on film technology. The Zana closed in 1940 and reopened with improved sound in September of 1942 though closing prior to War’s end. It had sporadic screenings into the 1950s. Last film appears to be March 26, 1950 with “Skid Row.”
This Simpson & Nelson theatre was credited as being run by H.B Leathers and built in 1928. Leathers ran the Palace Theatre in downtown Paducah which was them run by his wife Johnnie Jones-Leathers after his death. The theater launched as the New Theatre on November 7, 1928 with Dolores Del Rio in “Ramona.” It had 908 seats – 608 on the main floor. , Lillie McCain chose the Paducah Palace which was its official name until being called the Palace Theatre.
A better sound-on-film installation moved the old Photo-Talker disc equipment to the Zana as the town moved to two theaters capable of showing talkies. Johnnie Leathers ran the Palace until August 27, 1965. New operators relaunched on September 17, 1965 and the theatre ran into the home video age. After a long period of closure, the marquee was refurbished along with the building’s facade as part of a beautification effort in 2013. in the Palace was trans- ferred over to the Zana, operated as a second house by these men .
The Majestic Theatre was the second photoplay theatre of the town of Alto. The Empire Theatre had launched September 25, 1912 and had a run of just under two years. Berryman and Watters created the Majestic in a newly-built row of businesses in downtown Alto within the Berrryman building on Busy Bee Avenue launching in 1914. The theatre got new operator in Joe Stephano in 1931 and closed in 1932. It reopened with new sound on film technology in 1934 and closed for good that year. The Alto Theatre was built and became the town’s main theatre.
The Alto Theatre was launched by D.D. Pinkston and William McDonald on April 4, 1935 in the existing Rounsaville Building in Alto. The opener was “Successful Failures.” A 50-seat balcony was provided for non-white patrons. The theatre had a Walker screen and used Simplex projectors. Within a year, the whole operation was sold for $5,000 to new operators in 1936 likely beginning a new 30-year lease. The theatre closed October 30, 1966 with “The Chase” likely at end of lease. In May of 1978, the building was reportedly razed. The equipment was taken to a Kilgore, Texas museum.
In 1940, the Isley Circuit raced with the Johnny G. Long Theatre Circuit – which already had the Queen – to open a new theatre in Palacios as a new Army training camp was about to open. Isley opened the Granada Theatre on November 27, 1940 with “Newsboys' Home”starring Jackie Cooper. A day later, Long would launch the Capitol Theatre. Long took over the Granada and refurbished the Queen as the Hollywood to have a local monopoly in film exhibition.
In 1940, the Johnny G. Long Theatre Circuit – which already had the Queen – raced with the Isley Circuit to open a new theatre in Palacios as a new Army training camp was about to open. Isley opened the Granada Theatre on November 27, 1940 and Long would launch the Long / Capitol Theatre launched November 28, 1940 with the film, “Seven Sinners” starring Marlene Dietrich. Long took over the Granada and refurbished the Queen as the Hollywood to have a local monopoly in film exhibition.
The $26,000 Carnation Theatre opened in 1937. Regular feature films ended on May 30, 1954 with the film, “Pals of the Saddle.” Some religious films were shown after along with many live events and meetings.
Correction/Addition: The theatre was reopened one last time October 11, 1975 as the Big Lake Theatre showing movies on Saturday and Sunday only. Operators Mr. and Mrs. R.D. MacReavy closed the Big Lake / former Taylor Theatre on March 28, 1976.
Thomas J. Cody and Robert Sloan launched the Palace Theatre in 1926 in downtown Big Lake likely on a ten-year lease. It was equipped for talkies. In 1935 under new operators, the location became the Texas Theatre. H. Ford Taylor took on the location in 1943. He revamped it relaunching as the Ford Theatre in March of 1945. Ford would build the Taylor Theatre in 1948 operating both locations. The Ford Theatre would close in 1950 and became a dance hall and dance instruction location.
The Reagan Drive-In Theatre was launched on Mary 17, 1949 with the film, “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.” O.M. Kirkeby also operated the Mertzon Drive-In. It launched with 300-car capacity with a 45' high screen and 49' width before being twinned three years later.
According to the local paper, Noble Holt launched this as the Shooting Star Drive-In Theatre on August 14, 1952 with the film, “Oklahoma Annie.” The drive-in closed on September 25, 1970 with the film, “Mom and Dad.” It is not listed as the Rainbow Drive-In.
Hall Brothers Industries launched as the Rialto Theatre on August, 19, 1922 with this $40,000 theatre which had a $10,000 pipe organ.
The New Rialto Theatre opened August 15, 1936 with the film, “Love Begins at 20.“ On Wednesday, March 15, 1945, a fire gutted the auditorium taking the life of a theatre employee who tried to douse the flames. The former Rialto turned Rex was the main movie house for the community changing films four times a week.
Hall Industries requested permission to rebuild the Rialto from the War Production Board. It got the go ahead and rebuilt the third Rialto auditorium with superior fireproofing relaunching November 16, 1945 with “Hold that Blonde”. The auditorium now held 800 people and the building was a story taller than its predecessor.
Appears to have opened in 1946 and closed in July of 1961. A classified ad on July 26, 1961 offers the entire theatre for sale “cheap.”
Hall Industries built a new theatre in downtown Taft called the Rialto Theatre launching on May 1, 1929 with the film, “Avalanche.” The 360-seat venue was purchased by Texas Midwest Amusement Circuit which renamed it the Texas Theatre beginning in 1937. The Texas closed April 17, 1948 with “Gone with the Wind” as it was ostensibly replaced by the Leland Theatre was built in 1948. The Texas Theater’s space was converted for the Cage Furniture store which also launched in 1948.
Grand opening was June 29, 1950 with “Pride of the Yankees” likely on a 20-year lease. Last ad was August 27, 1969 with an English language/Spanish language bill of “The Devil’s Eight” and “Blue Demon vs. el poder satánico” which times out with the end of lease.
Theatre was launched by J.V. Carter, Jr. and Flossie Tate-Carter who had leased the Ritz Theatre, bought out the competing Majestic in its old building, purchased the Arch Adams Building to locate the New Majestic. The theatre was known as the New Majestic Theatre for at least ten years.
The New Majestic Theatre opened on August 31, 1936 with Jane Withers in “Pepper.“ It operated into the video age. The local paper reported the completion of the razing of the former Majestic Theatre on August 26, 1993.
The Lyric Theatre opened in 1914 by Frank M. Smith, Jr. It was likely this building. H.L. Ardis who had opened the original Majestic in 1911 bought his competitor running both theatres. New operators take on the Majestic and appear to both change the theater’s name and close it. Then a grand opening as the Ritz Theatre by Mrs. Nadine W. Story on June 16, 1930 with “Under a Texas Moon.” She and her husband then opened the New Majestic elsewhere in August of 1936. Final show for the Ritz was “Last of the Mohicans on January 1, 1948. It was then used as a church and then a retail store.
A new-build theatre, the Fain Theatre launched in August of 1948. It replaced a 300-seat Fain Theatre that dated back to the silent era. The theatre appears to have gone out of business on April 30, 2015.
Vaudeville performer Thomas Jefferson “Stout” Jackson built his first indoor theatre in Falfurrias in 1948 and his Alameda opened in October.
Opened by Mr. and Mrs. Frank Jungenman built this venue in 1926 launching as the New Theatre. They sold the New to John R. Forsyth who sold it to R.N. Smith. Smith rebranded the New on April 29, 1938 as the Cactus Theatre opening with “Fools for Scandal.” Smith would build the Pioneer Theatre.
After inactivity, the Best Theatre was reopened briefly in 1976 before closing with its contents untouched for ten years. In 1987, an auction house moved to the site and auctioned off the equipment and ephemera which included over 350 movie posters going back to Tom Mix and the silent era.