A tip of the hat to the half dozen film hard top theater in Seymour’s history. Here’s the Texas Theatre on North Washington Street from 1933, 1940 and 1952
There were two Cozy Theater locations - both spelled with the letter “Z”. The first was the Queen Theatre in the silent era becoming the first of two Cozy locations. Homer Mulkey of th Pastime moved the Cozy to the Bosher Building with a streamlined theater seating 350 and bathed in green glass. The Pastime also got a new sound system allowing the “New” Cozy to have an upgraded hand-me-down sound on film system.
The New Cozy launched on October 18, 1935 with Tom Mix in “The Miracle Rider.” The former Queen turned Cozy was remodeled for retail purposes. The theatre burned down on February 28, 1945 prompted a new theater which became the Mulkey Theatre.
The New Plaza Theatre was a re-imagining of an existing 1884 landmark H. Schwartz Dry Goods Store building by C.D. Leon Theaters. The Spanish Colonial building opened on November 6, 1946 and its first film was “Aloma of South Seas.” A blue and buff lobby entered into an auditorium bathed in brown and red. They advertised “The Concert for Bangladesh” on June 16, 1973 and no more after that. Likely they continued but there is no advertising to go by.
September 21, 1950 grand opening ad with “Saddle Tramp” in photos. Architect was Harvey C. Allen of Lamesa. Ads are discontinued following Disney’s Tarzan on August 1, 1999
This theater became the Rio in 1938 and remained under that name until the opening of the new build Carlile Theater in Sep. 1950. The former Rio was remodeled in 1952 as the Westernn Hardware Store.
The Cinema Theatre opened next to Munden’s Discount Center on September 13, 1971 with “Little Big Man” and “Song of Norway.” Cinema I had 132 seats at launch with Cinema II with 238 seats for 370 total seats. Family films were featured in auditorium II.
Mr. and Mrs. Don McGinty built the post-War Mac Theater opening in 1947. Scuffling, it was sold to George Burke. Burke then sold it to Don Rogers. Rogers sold it to Mr. and Mrs. W.L. Potts who decided it was time to mix in unnamed Mexican films with “regular” films beginning in September of 1956 as audiences dwindled, in part, due to the success of television.
The Potts were looking but couldn’t find a buyer closing up in 1958. Mr. and Mrs. Russell Faulkenberry took on the Mac in the Fall of 1962 operating to it 1964. At that point, they may have placed the fatal knife in Mac.
Ted Borum closed the Earth Theatre permanently on September 30, 1971 and sold off the equipment from both the Earth and the Sunset - which was damaged in 1969 storm. The last advertised film for the Sunset Drive-in appears to be “Tarzan and His Boy” on November 17, 1968.
Ted Borum closed the Earth Theatre permanently on September 30, 1971 and sold off the equipment from both the Earth and the Sunset - which as noted closed in 1969 - at that time.
Kevin Ritz and James Best ran the Ritz - I believe - from 1999 to 2006. They got the theater up and running in time to play the “Phantom Menace” in 1999. Then they made headlines for being an early adopter of DLP digital cinema in April of 2003 playing some files digitally (often for a dollar more) and analog 35mm prints. The Ritz was one of two theaters in Texas playing “Attack of the Clones” in DLP so we drove to see it there. It was easily the smallest population area to have a DLP exhibition at that time.
The Ritz closed for contemporary film in 2006. It was purchased in 2008 and opened sporadically for limited, special screenings into 2010. in May 1999. They charged $1 extra for DLP digital titles into 2006.
In March of 1946, The Texas Tech trio of alums, Wendell O. Bearden and Preston E. Smith and Irma Mae Smith, continued their journey into Lubbock film exhibition. They decided to plunk down $10,000 to convert the former Hays Grocery turned Cafe into the Plains Theatre. The venue opened on July 27th, 1946 becoming their third theater after the original Arcadia (1939) and Tech Theatres (1936). Smith put his name in the ad in promoting the opening films, “Outlaws of the Stampede Pass” and “Wild Horse Stampede” supported by two cartoons. The group would soon open the New Arcadia turning the original Arcadia into the Chief. And they would open the Sunset and Red Raider Drive-Ins.
By the drive-in’s opening, Preston Smith was on his way from Texas House member, to State Senator, to Lieutenant Governor all the way to the Governor. The Plains carried on from 1946 to 1948 with Smith testifying in an antitrust hearing that he was unable to secure downtown Hollywood features at the Plains. Hiram Parks would come in from Brownfield, Texas and found gold in playing virtually nothing but Spanish language films. Parks knew that clearing Spanish films was a snap compared to Hollywood films. Parks then built the Teatro el Capitán which opened next door in 1950 also very successfully screening playing Spanish language films.
The two theaters went unadvertised and virtually uncovered by the English language newspapers simply referred to - at times - as the “two Spanish language theaters.” As for the transition to adult fare, it certainly is possible but not covered by the local press. The building housing the former Plains was still hanging around in the mid-2020s though was biing used by a bails bondsman. The El Capitan’s footprint became a parking lot.
The Cinema Theater was built during the suburban luxury theater movement in the late 1960s outside of Big Spring’s central business district. The luxury suburbans were usually located in or adjacent to shopping centers to take advantage of free parking. They usually had advanced projection formats, comfortable seating, and amenities not found at aging downtown theaters.
The College Park Cinema Theater opened on June 14, 1968 with 168 wide seats. Bathed in tourquoise (it was the late 1960s!), Skyvue Theatre of Leamesa headed up by R.A. “Skeet” Noret was ready to go. The first film was Tommy Steele in “Half of Sixpence.” The College Park Shopping Center had opened in 1962 theatre-lessly and was anchored by a W.T. Grant Store (#1,006), a Safeway grocery store, and a smaller T.G.& Y. Family Store.
The Cinema closed but got new ownership in June of 1987 as the operators of the downtown Ritz took it on. But the cinema money swung to the Big Springs Mall where Cinemark was rocking it Front Row Joe and the Movies 4 beginning in late 1987. Tears were shed when the College Park Cinema Theatre closed on May 1990 with “The Forbidden Dance” and “Cry Baby.” Meanwhile, the Ritz would later downgrade to a $1 discount house before closing.
The venue is a little easier to find under its actual operating name of el Teatro Llanos. It is very rarely referred to as the Llanos Theatre - although both names are correct - as it was a Spanish language theater that opened during World War II to reach an underserved populace of Lubbock. El Teatro Llanos appears to have launched during World War II when veteran Brownfield, Texas theater owner Hiram Parks of Parks Theatres decided that this was a potential audience he could reach… and movie prints he didn’t have to fight against chain operators to get. But the theater got an unwelcomed visitor who tore a hole in the screen after business hours on March 22, 1945 - generally the mark of a union projectionist leaving a calling card that they frowned upon the usage of non-union projectionists.
The exact figure of Hispanic population in 1940s Lubbock is unknown since it wasn’t recorded; but non-White population was between 4,000 and 5,000 and best estimates placed the total at around 1,700 which was enough for the theater’s creation in an existing building. The swelling post-War Hispanic population led to a second Spanish language hardtop theater, the new-build El Capitan by Parks, a Spanish-language Drive-in, and a Spanish-language newspaper in 1950. The former el Teatro Llanos building which would have been at 1409 Crickets Avenue - the street renamed for legendary backing band of hometown hero Buddy Holly - but was long gone.
The Midway Theatre was the ninth movie theater in Lubbock built by contractor J.B. Maxey for Lassater & Mauldin for a mere $14,000. It opened in April of 1940. Joe Bryant took it over just three months later. In 1956, it was remodeled with widescreen projection to present CinemaScope titles but closing due to television’s impact on March 30, 1957.
Under new operators, it reopened as an art house called The Centre on July 9, 1957 with “La Strada.” That lasted two years with the venue folding in June of 1959. It became a burlesque dinner theatre called Cafe Gay 90’s on September of 1959. In 1961, it went back to full-time movies as the Tejas Theatre on June 30, 1961 with “The Young Ones.” In 1964, it became the Continental Fine Arts Theatre showing on a porno chic policy and art film policy. It closed in June of 1974 at the end of a 10-year subleasing agreement.
After a hiatus, it returned briefly as the Grande Cinema in 1976, a $1 discount sub-run theater showing recent past Hollywood fare. It opened one last time as the Bijou under Don Bollinger as a repertory / art house including “Creature from the Black Lagoon” in 3D, “A Hard Day’s Night,” an “Amarcord.” The Bijou opened on November 24, 1976 with “King of Hearts.” Midnight classic rock concert films were added in 1977. The Bijou appears to have given up as a $1 discount house on March 26, 1977 with a double-feature of “Shampoo” and “Harry and Walter Go to New York” and a final repertory rock concert screening at midnight of Joe Cocker in “Mad Dogs and Englishmen.”
As the Bijou was its name for just four unsuccessful months, the entry’s name should likely be the Midway which it was for 17 years.
A tip of the hat to the half dozen film hard top theater in Seymour’s history. Here’s the Texas Theatre on North Washington Street from 1933, 1940 and 1952
To the left of Buck’s is the Ritz Theatre in downtown Seymour
The Nu-Vue opened Jan. 21, 1949 with an open house and plaing Lassie in “Hills of Home.”
The Rita opens in 1936
There were two Cozy Theater locations - both spelled with the letter “Z”. The first was the Queen Theatre in the silent era becoming the first of two Cozy locations. Homer Mulkey of th Pastime moved the Cozy to the Bosher Building with a streamlined theater seating 350 and bathed in green glass. The Pastime also got a new sound system allowing the “New” Cozy to have an upgraded hand-me-down sound on film system.
The New Cozy launched on October 18, 1935 with Tom Mix in “The Miracle Rider.” The former Queen turned Cozy was remodeled for retail purposes. The theatre burned down on February 28, 1945 prompted a new theater which became the Mulkey Theatre.
The New Plaza Theatre was a re-imagining of an existing 1884 landmark H. Schwartz Dry Goods Store building by C.D. Leon Theaters. The Spanish Colonial building opened on November 6, 1946 and its first film was “Aloma of South Seas.” A blue and buff lobby entered into an auditorium bathed in brown and red. They advertised “The Concert for Bangladesh” on June 16, 1973 and no more after that. Likely they continued but there is no advertising to go by.
Closed in 2024
September 21, 1950 grand opening ad with “Saddle Tramp” in photos. Architect was Harvey C. Allen of Lamesa. Ads are discontinued following Disney’s Tarzan on August 1, 1999
This theater became the Rio in 1938 and remained under that name until the opening of the new build Carlile Theater in Sep. 1950. The former Rio was remodeled in 1952 as the Westernn Hardware Store.
October 15, 1954 grand opening ad with “Four Guns to Border” in photos
The Cinema Theatre opened next to Munden’s Discount Center on September 13, 1971 with “Little Big Man” and “Song of Norway.” Cinema I had 132 seats at launch with Cinema II with 238 seats for 370 total seats. Family films were featured in auditorium II.
Mr. and Mrs. Don McGinty built the post-War Mac Theater opening in 1947. Scuffling, it was sold to George Burke. Burke then sold it to Don Rogers. Rogers sold it to Mr. and Mrs. W.L. Potts who decided it was time to mix in unnamed Mexican films with “regular” films beginning in September of 1956 as audiences dwindled, in part, due to the success of television.
The Potts were looking but couldn’t find a buyer closing up in 1958. Mr. and Mrs. Russell Faulkenberry took on the Mac in the Fall of 1962 operating to it 1964. At that point, they may have placed the fatal knife in Mac.
Ted Borum closed the Earth Theatre permanently on September 30, 1971 and sold off the equipment from both the Earth and the Sunset - which was damaged in 1969 storm. The last advertised film for the Sunset Drive-in appears to be “Tarzan and His Boy” on November 17, 1968.
Kevin Ritz and James Best ran the Ritz - I believe - from 1999 to 2006. They got the theater up and running in time to play the “Phantom Menace” in 1999. Then they made headlines for being an early adopter of DLP digital cinema in April of 2003 playing some files digitally (often for a dollar more) and analog 35mm prints. The Ritz was one of two theaters in Texas playing “Attack of the Clones” in DLP so we drove to see it there. It was easily the smallest population area to have a DLP exhibition at that time.
The Ritz closed for contemporary film in 2006. It was purchased in 2008 and opened sporadically for limited, special screenings into 2010. in May 1999. They charged $1 extra for DLP digital titles into 2006.
The Circle was still operating in 1984… but clearly not using studio-approved publicity materials in their marketing efforts.
In March of 1946, The Texas Tech trio of alums, Wendell O. Bearden and Preston E. Smith and Irma Mae Smith, continued their journey into Lubbock film exhibition. They decided to plunk down $10,000 to convert the former Hays Grocery turned Cafe into the Plains Theatre. The venue opened on July 27th, 1946 becoming their third theater after the original Arcadia (1939) and Tech Theatres (1936). Smith put his name in the ad in promoting the opening films, “Outlaws of the Stampede Pass” and “Wild Horse Stampede” supported by two cartoons. The group would soon open the New Arcadia turning the original Arcadia into the Chief. And they would open the Sunset and Red Raider Drive-Ins.
By the drive-in’s opening, Preston Smith was on his way from Texas House member, to State Senator, to Lieutenant Governor all the way to the Governor. The Plains carried on from 1946 to 1948 with Smith testifying in an antitrust hearing that he was unable to secure downtown Hollywood features at the Plains. Hiram Parks would come in from Brownfield, Texas and found gold in playing virtually nothing but Spanish language films. Parks knew that clearing Spanish films was a snap compared to Hollywood films. Parks then built the Teatro el Capitán which opened next door in 1950 also very successfully screening playing Spanish language films.
The two theaters went unadvertised and virtually uncovered by the English language newspapers simply referred to - at times - as the “two Spanish language theaters.” As for the transition to adult fare, it certainly is possible but not covered by the local press. The building housing the former Plains was still hanging around in the mid-2020s though was biing used by a bails bondsman. The El Capitan’s footprint became a parking lot.
417 seats - Closed on August 19, 1933 with Ken Maynard in “Between Fighting Men.”
The Cinema Theater was built during the suburban luxury theater movement in the late 1960s outside of Big Spring’s central business district. The luxury suburbans were usually located in or adjacent to shopping centers to take advantage of free parking. They usually had advanced projection formats, comfortable seating, and amenities not found at aging downtown theaters.
The College Park Cinema Theater opened on June 14, 1968 with 168 wide seats. Bathed in tourquoise (it was the late 1960s!), Skyvue Theatre of Leamesa headed up by R.A. “Skeet” Noret was ready to go. The first film was Tommy Steele in “Half of Sixpence.” The College Park Shopping Center had opened in 1962 theatre-lessly and was anchored by a W.T. Grant Store (#1,006), a Safeway grocery store, and a smaller T.G.& Y. Family Store.
The Cinema closed but got new ownership in June of 1987 as the operators of the downtown Ritz took it on. But the cinema money swung to the Big Springs Mall where Cinemark was rocking it Front Row Joe and the Movies 4 beginning in late 1987. Tears were shed when the College Park Cinema Theatre closed on May 1990 with “The Forbidden Dance” and “Cry Baby.” Meanwhile, the Ritz would later downgrade to a $1 discount house before closing.
A 1951 ad for the Red Raider Drive-In during its first season - and ready to go with the in-car heaters for the cooler Texas weather
The venue is a little easier to find under its actual operating name of el Teatro Llanos. It is very rarely referred to as the Llanos Theatre - although both names are correct - as it was a Spanish language theater that opened during World War II to reach an underserved populace of Lubbock. El Teatro Llanos appears to have launched during World War II when veteran Brownfield, Texas theater owner Hiram Parks of Parks Theatres decided that this was a potential audience he could reach… and movie prints he didn’t have to fight against chain operators to get. But the theater got an unwelcomed visitor who tore a hole in the screen after business hours on March 22, 1945 - generally the mark of a union projectionist leaving a calling card that they frowned upon the usage of non-union projectionists.
The exact figure of Hispanic population in 1940s Lubbock is unknown since it wasn’t recorded; but non-White population was between 4,000 and 5,000 and best estimates placed the total at around 1,700 which was enough for the theater’s creation in an existing building. The swelling post-War Hispanic population led to a second Spanish language hardtop theater, the new-build El Capitan by Parks, a Spanish-language Drive-in, and a Spanish-language newspaper in 1950. The former el Teatro Llanos building which would have been at 1409 Crickets Avenue - the street renamed for legendary backing band of hometown hero Buddy Holly - but was long gone.
The Midway Theatre was the ninth movie theater in Lubbock built by contractor J.B. Maxey for Lassater & Mauldin for a mere $14,000. It opened in April of 1940. Joe Bryant took it over just three months later. In 1956, it was remodeled with widescreen projection to present CinemaScope titles but closing due to television’s impact on March 30, 1957.
Under new operators, it reopened as an art house called The Centre on July 9, 1957 with “La Strada.” That lasted two years with the venue folding in June of 1959. It became a burlesque dinner theatre called Cafe Gay 90’s on September of 1959. In 1961, it went back to full-time movies as the Tejas Theatre on June 30, 1961 with “The Young Ones.” In 1964, it became the Continental Fine Arts Theatre showing on a porno chic policy and art film policy. It closed in June of 1974 at the end of a 10-year subleasing agreement.
After a hiatus, it returned briefly as the Grande Cinema in 1976, a $1 discount sub-run theater showing recent past Hollywood fare. It opened one last time as the Bijou under Don Bollinger as a repertory / art house including “Creature from the Black Lagoon” in 3D, “A Hard Day’s Night,” an “Amarcord.” The Bijou opened on November 24, 1976 with “King of Hearts.” Midnight classic rock concert films were added in 1977. The Bijou appears to have given up as a $1 discount house on March 26, 1977 with a double-feature of “Shampoo” and “Harry and Walter Go to New York” and a final repertory rock concert screening at midnight of Joe Cocker in “Mad Dogs and Englishmen.”
As the Bijou was its name for just four unsuccessful months, the entry’s name should likely be the Midway which it was for 17 years.
Closed June 1, 2025.
The Red Raider Drive-In was built in 1950 and 1951 opening in 1951.