Grant Smith built the Vine Theatre in 1915 and it was the first theater in the city to be built for motion pictures competing then against the Grand Theatre. In 1916, it was sold to Fred J. Harris. William T. Buxton next purchased the theater in 1917. It had a grand re-opening to announce Paramount movie contracts among others in October of 1917.
The Avalon architect was F & Y Building Service and opened 1940 costing just $27,000 to build. It closed in 1970 following what is very likely the end of a 30-year lease. Indian Red was the color of choice with the newly-created 1.5-width love seats throughout the auditorium by International Seats, primary color of the patterned carpeting, wall treatments with squares in Indian Red and Gold, and draperies all in Indian Red. First film was the box office dud, “The Blue Bird” with Shirley Temple on the Brenkert projectors. But patrons were always cool as true air conditioning existed from opening day to closing.
Before this was the Dallas, it was the Amuse-U. And it was likely the Lyric prior to the Amuse-U. But for sure on July 11, 1939, Mrs. Mark Attwood sold the Amuse-U Theatre to Lee Williams Theatres Corp. Circuit of Oklahoma City. R. B. Hardy took over with an extensive remodeling and renaming of the theatre relaunching in October of 1939 as the Dallas Theatre. A picture of the Dallas and its reboot are in photos.
Architected by F & Y Building Services, the Keyser’s Grand Opening was September 25, 1939 with the film, “In Name Only.“ Following the April 11, 1977 advertisement and showing of “The Shaggy D.A.” no more ads appear for the Keyser likely spelling the end of the line.
Pictured is “Uncle” George Hayob who opened the theater with J. Leo Hayob. George was called “Uncle George” by the first generations of patrons at the Mary Lou.
William Meeker established the Lyric Theatre at 1307 Port Neches Avenue in Port Neches in 1922, transitioned it from silent to sound operation and after his death operated by his wife. In 1936, she sold it to Jefferson Amusement which modernized the theater giving it a new look. Operating it for decades, Jefferson was bought out by Gulf States Theatre circuit which absorbed the theater in the 1960s changing its name to the Neches Theatre with a new sign tower. It closed around 1970. The theater had a bit more life for some live theatrical events and was abandoned around 1971. On March 20, 1973, it was all over the Neches as fire gutted the abandoned theater.
Opened in 1940 and architected by Ben Schlanger was the Academy Theatre for the Cohen & Kutisker circuit. Seating capacity of the 50' by 112' theatre was 650 at opening and cost just $30,000 to build.
This Rose Theatre launched in October of 1939 with 608 seats. Originally part of the Blankenship Theatre Circuit which was renamed the Wallace Theaters Corporation Circuit. Wallace B. Blankenship and his wife Rose began with the Wallace Theatre in Levelland in 1928. They opened their second theatre, the Rose thereafter and then this Rose in 1939. Wallace Theaters would go on to prominence before becoming the Hollywood Theaters Circuit which had 43 theaters when acquired by Regal in 2013.
The Towers opened in 1912 by Newton Rodney and likely had a 20-year lease or two 10-year leases closes unsuccessfully in 1931 during the Depression. The Ellis Circuit wanted to open a new theater and — during a major period in theatre renovation in the late 1930s around the country, they decided to refurbish the Tower. It reopened on December 24, 1939 and was architected by David Supowitz of Philly. Varbalow Circuit took on the struggling theatre which finally closed as the TV era was underway in 1953. The theatre was razed in 1955.
Launched December 25, 1939 and architected by Thomas W. Lamb costing $100,000 and holding 800 patrons at its opening. First film was “The Roaring Twenties.”
Grant Smith built the Vine Theatre in 1915 and it was the first theater in the city to be built for motion pictures competing then against the Grand Theatre. In 1916, it was sold to Fred J. Harris. William T. Buxton next purchased the theater in 1917. It had a grand re-opening to announce Paramount movie contracts among others in October of 1917.
Closed in a mercy killing as the mall teetered on complete grey zone dead mall.
Picture taken in June of 1927
Architected by Douglas Hall with Landish Studios of Rutherford, NJ providing draperies, stage furnishing, rigging, and scenary to the Cove.
Architected by C. Howard Crane for the James Amusement Circuit.
Spanish Platueresque style of the exterior of the original seen in photos.
And in a mercy killing has closed again in 2015…
Opened by the Squire-Queens Circuit in 1940 in a 20,000 square foot plot, the 600-seat theatre had a fantastic 75-year run.
The Avalon architect was F & Y Building Service and opened 1940 costing just $27,000 to build. It closed in 1970 following what is very likely the end of a 30-year lease. Indian Red was the color of choice with the newly-created 1.5-width love seats throughout the auditorium by International Seats, primary color of the patterned carpeting, wall treatments with squares in Indian Red and Gold, and draperies all in Indian Red. First film was the box office dud, “The Blue Bird” with Shirley Temple on the Brenkert projectors. But patrons were always cool as true air conditioning existed from opening day to closing.
And that’s asbestos-backed linoleum which was being promoted as a new must have innovation for projection rooms.
Before this was the Dallas, it was the Amuse-U. And it was likely the Lyric prior to the Amuse-U. But for sure on July 11, 1939, Mrs. Mark Attwood sold the Amuse-U Theatre to Lee Williams Theatres Corp. Circuit of Oklahoma City. R. B. Hardy took over with an extensive remodeling and renaming of the theatre relaunching in October of 1939 as the Dallas Theatre. A picture of the Dallas and its reboot are in photos.
Architected by F & Y Building Services, the Keyser’s Grand Opening was September 25, 1939 with the film, “In Name Only.“ Following the April 11, 1977 advertisement and showing of “The Shaggy D.A.” no more ads appear for the Keyser likely spelling the end of the line.
Pettigrew and Worley architectural sketch of the 1939 redesign and deco-themes in photos.
Conceptualized as the Broward Theatre (architectural sketching by Roy A. Benjamin in photos), the theatre launched August 1, 1939.
E.R. Mead
Pictured is “Uncle” George Hayob who opened the theater with J. Leo Hayob. George was called “Uncle George” by the first generations of patrons at the Mary Lou.
William Meeker established the Lyric Theatre at 1307 Port Neches Avenue in Port Neches in 1922, transitioned it from silent to sound operation and after his death operated by his wife. In 1936, she sold it to Jefferson Amusement which modernized the theater giving it a new look. Operating it for decades, Jefferson was bought out by Gulf States Theatre circuit which absorbed the theater in the 1960s changing its name to the Neches Theatre with a new sign tower. It closed around 1970. The theater had a bit more life for some live theatrical events and was abandoned around 1971. On March 20, 1973, it was all over the Neches as fire gutted the abandoned theater.
Opened in 1940 and architected by Ben Schlanger was the Academy Theatre for the Cohen & Kutisker circuit. Seating capacity of the 50' by 112' theatre was 650 at opening and cost just $30,000 to build.
Architected by Bruggeman, Swaim and Allen.
Architected by John B. Peterkin as the Airlines Newsreel Theatre – sketch in photos.
For the 1940 reboot of the theater in 1940 they’ll have “The Boys from Syracuse”
The theatre’s 1940 modernization was architected by Earle G. Stillwell.
This Rose Theatre launched in October of 1939 with 608 seats. Originally part of the Blankenship Theatre Circuit which was renamed the Wallace Theaters Corporation Circuit. Wallace B. Blankenship and his wife Rose began with the Wallace Theatre in Levelland in 1928. They opened their second theatre, the Rose thereafter and then this Rose in 1939. Wallace Theaters would go on to prominence before becoming the Hollywood Theaters Circuit which had 43 theaters when acquired by Regal in 2013.
The Towers opened in 1912 by Newton Rodney and likely had a 20-year lease or two 10-year leases closes unsuccessfully in 1931 during the Depression. The Ellis Circuit wanted to open a new theater and — during a major period in theatre renovation in the late 1930s around the country, they decided to refurbish the Tower. It reopened on December 24, 1939 and was architected by David Supowitz of Philly. Varbalow Circuit took on the struggling theatre which finally closed as the TV era was underway in 1953. The theatre was razed in 1955.
Launched December 25, 1939 and architected by Thomas W. Lamb costing $100,000 and holding 800 patrons at its opening. First film was “The Roaring Twenties.”