Richland Plaza Shopping Center was announced in 1960. General Drive-In (soon to be General Cinema) announced its 39th hardtop property adjoining Richland Plaza, a shopping center opened in 1962 anchored by a J.C. Penneys store and Buddies Grocery Store. During construction, Montgomery Ward’s joined the project along with the outparcel / freestanding cinema.
Plans were by General Cinema’s Maurice Sornik and had 950 seats at launch as built by Dallas contractor Ten-Eyck Shaw and local Dallas architect Don Speck as associate architect. Groundbreaking was on February 13, 1964. It opened on September 24th, 1964 with Hayley Mills in “The Moonspinners.” It was one of three venues for the circuit to open that same day and another 28 were in construction as General Cinema would dominate many markets in the suburban luxury era of movie exhibition.
The Richland Plaza contained 100 tons of plate glass as each storefront was decked out floor to ceiling in heavy glass. This was great until the Texas summer sun took an initial toll and, markedly worse, when a hail storm took out the front facing windows of the Cinema in 1968 which crashed down during the business day. (A modern photo shows that the building was retrofitted with a facing to protect the upper part of the building.)
The venue closed in March of 1977 for a refresh. It re-emerged on April 9, 1977 as a twin screen operation, the GCC Richland Plaza Cinema I & II, with “Raggedy Ann and Andy” and “Led Zeppelin’s “The Song Remains the Same.” But two malls would open within four miles of the Plaza in the 1970s altering the General Cinema and Richland Plaza’s futures. Penney’s bolted for the North East Mall at its opening with Montgomery Ward’s following in an expansion with Ward’s reducing its Richland Plaza anchor to a clearance outlet store. North Hills Mall opened theatre-lessly in 1979; but, in a refresh, GCC opened the seven-screen North Hills VII mall cinema there about 2.5 miles away.
This led to a downgraded GCC Richland Plaza positioned as a sub-run discount house as it tried to run out its leasing agreement. GCC ultimately closed the Richland Plaza I & II on April 30, 1986 with “Back to the Future” and “Murphy’s Romance.” It sat empty until a 1988 conversion to a Bingo Hall. The former cinema/bingo hall was later converted for office space. As for Richland Plaza, it held on with some independent stores and a thrift store becoming a mixed use property. But it was essentially rezoned as primarily non-retail and is considered closed with the cinema and many other structures looking fairly familiar.
The Nu-Vue seems to have become the no-vue after a May 21, 1959 free screening hosted by the local merchants. The last advertised show was “Band of Angels” on May 20, 1959. The operators said that competition from television led them to close both the Nu-Vue and the Antelope Drive-In at the end of its 1959 season, as well.
Opening film on March 19, 1953 was “Ride the Man Down.” Appears to have closed for the season on September 2, 1959 with “Horrors of the Black Museum.” They do not have appeared to have opened in 1960.
By 1920, the oil boom town of Ranger had over 16,000 people. Theaters sprang up everywhere including the June 20, 1920 launch of the Temple Theatre (ad in photos). But by 1930, more than 60% of the population was gone and making the transition to sound for a now small town theater was a risky proposition. But, fortunately for the Temple - which didn’t - so many theaters burned down that the former Temple became viable in a town of just over 4,000 people in 1945. And the venue reopened as the Tower Theatre on May 5, 1945 with Tex Ritter in “Rhythm of the Rio Grande.”
Also an Interstate Theatres property. Brann E. Garner took the venue independent from Intersate in 1948. He was about to unlock the doors with children waiting for the Cowboy Kiddee Matinee on March 15, 1952 when the film exploded ending the venu. No injuries, though.
Colonel H.A. Cole launched the Lone Star Theatre in 1919. The architects were Harry J. Beshgetoorian and Edwin G. Cobelli of the local architectural firm Beshgetoorian & Cobelli. Its sound era name under new operator, Brann E. Garner, became the Columbia Theatre by 1931.
Interstate Theatres controlled the venue with Garner until leaving in 1948 with Garner briefly taking it on as an independent theater closing September 13, 1948 after a nitrate projection explosion which then destroyed the dry cleaner next door and damaged the adjoining cafe. And then some insurance executive remained really steamed about the $50,000 payout for days, months and years after the matter as all on scene witnesses on the day knew the fire started in the theater but…. Typical.
There was considerably earlier Joy than the start date stated above in the entry as Joy’s Theaters Inc. opened here way back on September 25, 1948 with “Ruthless.” The Joy ended when it burned down on August 3, 1967. The operators placed an ad in which they regrettably decided not to rebuild.
J.C. Capps held a naming contest for the new-build drive-in East of Eastland. In third place, Sonja Stagner had the Cactus. In second was Stella Jarrett with the Ra-Ol-Es. And Judge L.B. Houston won it with the Dixie. 300 car speakers awaited folks along with the June 2, 1950 grand opening film of “Yellow Sky” with Gregory Peck.
A-Ray Landrum reopened the Friona as the Regal Theatre in 1938 according to both the local press and the trade press. The building appears to have been destroyed in a 1960 tornado. Should likely be listed as the Regal Theatre “#1” formerly the Friona… but can certainly stay as the Friona.
The City of Wheeler says that the theater - although not in operation cinematically - is very much in use as a community hall or community center as of the mid 2020s. So “formerly abandoned” may be more appropriate.
Owners Leo and Laura Guthrie (and Son, “Corky” from 1958 forward replacing the late Leo) operated the Rogue from 1930 to 1979. They also built the Mustang Drive-In operating in Wheeling seasonally from 1952 to 1979.
J.B. Seale opens the Seale Drive-In on June 19, 1952 with Yvonne DeCarlo in “Scarlet Angel.” The screen was pulled down on August 12, 1978.
Richland Plaza Shopping Center was announced in 1960. General Drive-In (soon to be General Cinema) announced its 39th hardtop property adjoining Richland Plaza, a shopping center opened in 1962 anchored by a J.C. Penneys store and Buddies Grocery Store. During construction, Montgomery Ward’s joined the project along with the outparcel / freestanding cinema.
Plans were by General Cinema’s Maurice Sornik and had 950 seats at launch as built by Dallas contractor Ten-Eyck Shaw and local Dallas architect Don Speck as associate architect. Groundbreaking was on February 13, 1964. It opened on September 24th, 1964 with Hayley Mills in “The Moonspinners.” It was one of three venues for the circuit to open that same day and another 28 were in construction as General Cinema would dominate many markets in the suburban luxury era of movie exhibition.
The Richland Plaza contained 100 tons of plate glass as each storefront was decked out floor to ceiling in heavy glass. This was great until the Texas summer sun took an initial toll and, markedly worse, when a hail storm took out the front facing windows of the Cinema in 1968 which crashed down during the business day. (A modern photo shows that the building was retrofitted with a facing to protect the upper part of the building.)
The venue closed in March of 1977 for a refresh. It re-emerged on April 9, 1977 as a twin screen operation, the GCC Richland Plaza Cinema I & II, with “Raggedy Ann and Andy” and “Led Zeppelin’s “The Song Remains the Same.” But two malls would open within four miles of the Plaza in the 1970s altering the General Cinema and Richland Plaza’s futures. Penney’s bolted for the North East Mall at its opening with Montgomery Ward’s following in an expansion with Ward’s reducing its Richland Plaza anchor to a clearance outlet store. North Hills Mall opened theatre-lessly in 1979; but, in a refresh, GCC opened the seven-screen North Hills VII mall cinema there about 2.5 miles away.
This led to a downgraded GCC Richland Plaza positioned as a sub-run discount house as it tried to run out its leasing agreement. GCC ultimately closed the Richland Plaza I & II on April 30, 1986 with “Back to the Future” and “Murphy’s Romance.” It sat empty until a 1988 conversion to a Bingo Hall. The former cinema/bingo hall was later converted for office space. As for Richland Plaza, it held on with some independent stores and a thrift store becoming a mixed use property. But it was essentially rezoned as primarily non-retail and is considered closed with the cinema and many other structures looking fairly familiar.
Opening film, “Blondie’s Reward.”
February 21, 1936 opening ad with “Broadway Melody of 1936.” Not an African American cinema at launch.
The Queen was coronated on September 24, 1914.
The Hillcrest opened March 28, 1950 with “Untamed Breed.”
The Princess ascended on February 28, 1919 with “Vivi la France” and “The Terror of the Range.”
Tommy Tucker opened the Round-Up Drive-In on June 16, 1950.
The Nu-Vue seems to have become the no-vue after a May 21, 1959 free screening hosted by the local merchants. The last advertised show was “Band of Angels” on May 20, 1959. The operators said that competition from television led them to close both the Nu-Vue and the Antelope Drive-In at the end of its 1959 season, as well.
Opening film on March 19, 1953 was “Ride the Man Down.” Appears to have closed for the season on September 2, 1959 with “Horrors of the Black Museum.” They do not have appeared to have opened in 1960.
By 1920, the oil boom town of Ranger had over 16,000 people. Theaters sprang up everywhere including the June 20, 1920 launch of the Temple Theatre (ad in photos). But by 1930, more than 60% of the population was gone and making the transition to sound for a now small town theater was a risky proposition. But, fortunately for the Temple - which didn’t - so many theaters burned down that the former Temple became viable in a town of just over 4,000 people in 1945. And the venue reopened as the Tower Theatre on May 5, 1945 with Tex Ritter in “Rhythm of the Rio Grande.”
Last films were “The Broadway Cowboy” supported by an episode of “The Moon Riders.” Neither print survived the September 15, 1920 fire.
The theatre was used for live events until 1938. It looks to have completed its motion picture run in October of 1928 for all intense and purposes.
Also an Interstate Theatres property. Brann E. Garner took the venue independent from Intersate in 1948. He was about to unlock the doors with children waiting for the Cowboy Kiddee Matinee on March 15, 1952 when the film exploded ending the venu. No injuries, though.
Colonel H.A. Cole launched the Lone Star Theatre in 1919. The architects were Harry J. Beshgetoorian and Edwin G. Cobelli of the local architectural firm Beshgetoorian & Cobelli. Its sound era name under new operator, Brann E. Garner, became the Columbia Theatre by 1931.
Interstate Theatres controlled the venue with Garner until leaving in 1948 with Garner briefly taking it on as an independent theater closing September 13, 1948 after a nitrate projection explosion which then destroyed the dry cleaner next door and damaged the adjoining cafe. And then some insurance executive remained really steamed about the $50,000 payout for days, months and years after the matter as all on scene witnesses on the day knew the fire started in the theater but…. Typical.
The February 1, 1920 grand opening ad of the Lamb Theatre - “The Temple of Theatres” - with “Polyanna” is in photos.
Opened July 16, 1952 with “Wagons West”
The July 12, 1950 grand opening ad with “The Daughter of Rosie O'Grady” is in photos.
There was considerably earlier Joy than the start date stated above in the entry as Joy’s Theaters Inc. opened here way back on September 25, 1948 with “Ruthless.” The Joy ended when it burned down on August 3, 1967. The operators placed an ad in which they regrettably decided not to rebuild.
J.C. Capps held a naming contest for the new-build drive-in East of Eastland. In third place, Sonja Stagner had the Cactus. In second was Stella Jarrett with the Ra-Ol-Es. And Judge L.B. Houston won it with the Dixie. 300 car speakers awaited folks along with the June 2, 1950 grand opening film of “Yellow Sky” with Gregory Peck.
Last showtimes were September 27, 1981 with “Cannonball Run” and “Nine to Five.” The venue continued for two more years as a flea market.
Agreed on capacity… I couldn’t find cap. so didn’t add that. Not really enough population in the Wheeler area for 400 cars
Address: 8070 US-83, Wheeler, TX 79096 - the location furnished by the editor of the local newspaper of 65 years, the Wheeler Times!
A-Ray Landrum reopened the Friona as the Regal Theatre in 1938 according to both the local press and the trade press. The building appears to have been destroyed in a 1960 tornado. Should likely be listed as the Regal Theatre “#1” formerly the Friona… but can certainly stay as the Friona.
The City of Wheeler says that the theater - although not in operation cinematically - is very much in use as a community hall or community center as of the mid 2020s. So “formerly abandoned” may be more appropriate.
Owners Leo and Laura Guthrie (and Son, “Corky” from 1958 forward replacing the late Leo) operated the Rogue from 1930 to 1979. They also built the Mustang Drive-In operating in Wheeling seasonally from 1952 to 1979.