Scotch Posted August 26, 2009 Share Posted August 26, 2009 History According to the Schulman Theaters website: “In 1926, Abraham Schulman moved to Bryan with his son Morris. Together, they purchased the Queen and Dixie Theatres on Main Street. The old Bryan City Hall was purchased in 1928 and converted into the Palace Theater - a premiere facility offering both Vaudville stage shows and the new talking films. The Queen Theater was torn down and rebuilt in 1939 with the first "conditioned air" system in any theater west of the Mississippi. After that, the Palace Theater was upgraded to include conditioned air as well. The three Bryan theaters ran successfully for many years, but days of single screen theaters passed and the Palace was the last of the three to close its doors in 1985.” The Queen Theater is an instantly recognizable landmark in Downtown Bryan and a favorite of photographers, both professional and amateur. There are numerous pictures of the Queen on the net, most from the past twenty years. Many are linked at the Cinema Treasures site and more can be found at Flickr. (Don Lewis’ photos of old signs and theaters are extraordinarily interesting and worth an hour or two alone). Here are some selected links to pictures of the Queen at Flickr: Queen and Dixie (circa 1986-88). The Dixie Theatre can be seen in dreary grey just a year or two prior to its reinvention as The Stafford Opera House in bright yellow. Queen (circa 1986-88) Queen (approx 2006) Close-up of crown A close-up of crown from another photographer, with more pictures from 2006 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotch Posted August 26, 2009 Author Share Posted August 26, 2009 When able, I’ve saved some pictures to my photobucket account simply to make sure the links stay active: 1984 Queen and Dixie theaters in 1984. 2004 2005 photo from Howard Stein 2006 photo by Alec Soth previous two 2006 photos by this site's own Boris 2008 photo by Jackie Young Close-up of crown by Don Lewis, approx. 2007. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotch Posted August 26, 2009 Author Share Posted August 26, 2009 Recent history and future: 2002 article: Local business buys The Queen Theater and now, possible hope for the long-anticipated rehabilitaion of the Queen: Doing up downtown Bryan July 19, 2009 By CASSIE SMITH (Dennis Goehring and Randall Spradley are heading up an effort to restore the Queen Theater in Downtown Bryan. They have been awarded a grant by the Bryan City Council.) The crown on the Queen Theater is coming back to life with a light and the ability to rotate. ...The future of the old movie theater near the LaSalle Hotel on South Main Street remains uncertain except for one aspect: It will remain a theater. The three-story brick-and-stucco building built in 1939 has a large sheet-metal crown that once rotated on top of the theater. "We all know what the Queen looks like. It's been kind of a sore subject for all of us for a long time," Goehring said. "There has not been a real economic reason because the right thing has not come along. As a result, nothing happens." Several offers from people wanting to buy or lease the property have come and gone over the years, Spradley said. But Astin has two requirements for new ownership: It must remain a theater, and the new owner must have successfully operated one in the past. "What we don't want to see happen is to have someone open it and close it within two years," Spradley said. "The real trick to the Queen isn't the cost of the redevelopment; the trick is to successfully operate it as a theater." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fringe Posted August 26, 2009 Share Posted August 26, 2009 Pretty cool. I remember going there back in the 60's while in school in Bryan. I love seeing old theaters brought back to life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotch Posted August 26, 2009 Author Share Posted August 26, 2009 Any memories you and others have of the Queen, and also of the Dixie and Palace, would be greatly appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zaphod Posted August 30, 2009 Share Posted August 30, 2009 They should open a theatre that sells beer, I always thought that would bring people in.I heard that the old sign made a terrible squeaking noise that could be heard for blocks when someone tried to turn it on a couple years ago, was that true? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotch Posted January 28, 2010 Author Share Posted January 28, 2010 From a post on MyBCS.com: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotch Posted February 28, 2012 Author Share Posted February 28, 2012 The facade and neon has been restored, the crown even spins. Funds are still being raised to renovate the inside: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fringe Posted February 28, 2012 Share Posted February 28, 2012 Excellent. Thanks for the update. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotch Posted March 3, 2012 Author Share Posted March 3, 2012 A quick & cheesy photoshop. After the lights go out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotch Posted May 11, 2018 Author Share Posted May 11, 2018 The Eagle: Long live the Queen: Community celebrates red carpet grand opening of Downtown Bryan icon May 5, 2018 KBTX: Sneak peek of The Queen's Grand Opening https://www.queenbryantx.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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