billbremer

There have been three Majestic Theatres in Houston, all owned by Karl Hoblitzelle's Interstate Theatre Group. The first Majestic Theatre was in converted retail space at 1306 Congress Ave. It began operation about 1905. The second Majestic in the "Chronicle Block" on Texas Avenue opened on February 21, 1910. The third and final Majestic, in the 900 block of Rusk, opened on January 29, 1923. Designed by John Eberson, it is widely believed to have been the first of his "atmospheric" theatre designs. Here's a Chronicle ad for the first night's vaudeville lineup: Immediately after the 1923 opening of the Rusk Ave. Majestic, the Texas Ave. Majestic became a "stock" theatre performing live plays with a regular group of actors who called themselves "The Majestic Players." The theatre and its stock company remained under Hoblitzelle's control. Bill Bremer

Yes, that and the fact that the Houston Chronicle building sits on that particular block of land. Immediately after the Majestic Theatre on Rusk opened, in 1923, the Majestic on Texas Ave. became a "stock" theatre and was re-christened "The Palace". A stock theatre was one in which a regular group of actors performed plays on stage. The stock company at the Palace in 1923 was called "The Majestic Players" I've attached an ad for their first performance: Here's another ad for the opening of the Majestic on Rusk in January, 1923: Notice it's mostly all live vaudeville acts.

Who remembers the big hole in the ground on the south bank of Brays Bayou just west of Greenwillow? We had quite a time riding our bikes down into and back out of that thing. We regularly rode for miles on the flat concrete bottom of Brays Bayou, occasionally taking side "hikes" into the storm sewers that fed the bayou. There was one big pipe running up the middle of Stella Link in which you could walk (standing) all the way to Bellaire Blvd.

Not to split hairs, but... The Texas Ave. Majestic on the "Chronicle Block" was actually the second Majestic Theatre in Houston. It opened on February 21, 1910. The first Majestic Theatre was in converted retail space at 1306 Congress Ave. It began operation about 1905. The third and final Majestic opened in January, 1923. Designed by John Eberson, it is widely believed to have been the first of his "atmospheric" theatre designs. Bill Bremer