Historic Houston Theaters

[gnu]

Was there ever a theater that sat on the spot where Hwy. 225 ends at Broadway? If memory serves my correctly, I used to go to that theater as a young kid. I used to have a razor sharp memory, but time has dulled that razor!

i dunno. the bluebonnet theater is/was a block north of 225 on the east side of broadway.

[Ashikaga]

i dunno. the bluebonnet theater is/was a block north of 225 on the east side of broadway.

You can look on CinemaTour.Com or CinemaTreasures.Org. I thought that Texas Highway 225 ended into IH-610. I didn't know that it intersected with Broadway.

[sootycat]

I'm pretty sure that it's 225 that ends at Broadway. If you continue straight on 225 instead of getting onto 610, the highway ends at Broadway.

[sevfiv]

I'm pretty sure that it's 225 that ends at Broadway. If you continue straight on 225 instead of getting onto 610, the highway ends at Broadway.

225 turns into lawndale at/near broadway

Edited July 13, 2006 by sevfiv

[Ashikaga]

Sev, Darn you and your never ending supply of photos ! (shakes a fist at Sev.)

Yes, both Sevfiv and Subdude!

You could see. I can't even fathom it having such a thing these days.

Just think how tall that "fence" would have to be to fully protect a four story screen.

Also, the fence that was there didn't completely around it. It was similar to a large aluminum boundry that auto 'junk yards' have.

Yes, Markus is the one whom I was referring to when I said that someone on this forum said that you could still the the X-rated movie that was playing at the Red Bluff Drive-In Theatre even though it had a tall fence around it.

[FilioScotia]

i dunno. the bluebonnet theater is/was a block north of 225 on the east side of broadway.

I grew up in Pasadena and on Houston's east end in the 50s and I've never heard of the Bluebonnet Theater. It must have been a very long time ago, well before my time.

However, I DO remember the old Broadway Theater, which was on the east side of Broadway, exactly one block south of where La Porte Road dead-ended at Broadway. That would also put it about three blocks north of Milby High School. The old La Porte Road is still there, and it now runs east from Broadway and merges with Lawndale about eight blocks to the east. That little eight block stretch is all that's left of a road that once ran from Broadway all the way to La Porte.

[gnu]

I grew up in Pasadena and on Houston's east end in the 50s and I've never heard of the Bluebonnet Theater. It must have been a very long time ago, well before my time.

However, I DO remember the old Broadway Theater, which was on the east side of Broadway, exactly one block south of where La Porte Road dead-ended at Broadway. That would also put it about three blocks north of Milby High School. The old La Porte Road is still there, and it now runs east from Broadway and merges with Lawndale about eight blocks to the east. That little eight block stretch is all that's left of a road that once ran from Broadway all the way to La Porte.

cool! that has gotta be the one sootycat remembers.

looks like it was at 1315 broadway directly across from the john st. intersection.

today that would put it smack dab in the middle of the concrete abyss that is the 225/broadway intersection.

[Ashikaga]

cool! that has gotta be the one sootycat remembers.

looks like it was at 1315 broadway directly across from the john st. intersection.

today that would put it smack dab in the middle of the concrete abyss that is the 225/broadway intersection.

Back in the 1970s there was a porn theatre in Beaumont called the Sun. It was inside a converted service station and it had a tall wooden fence around it. It was renowned for showing "Deep Throat" and "The Devil in Miss Jones." The police raided it many times. It eventually closed down.

Then later there was a porn theatre in downtown Beaumont. It was simply called "Adult Movies." I was just a teenager in high school when I called and asked them what kind of movies that they showed. The man said "soft core." I asked him when he was going to show "hard core" movies. He said: "The next time that I want to go to jail."

[Subdude]

Keep it on topic Ashikaga!

[Ashikaga]

Keep it on topic Ashikaga!

OK. Yes, the Sun was in Beaumont, not in Houston.

[sootycat]

I grew up in Pasadena and on Houston's east end in the 50s and I've never heard of the Bluebonnet Theater. It must have been a very long time ago, well before my time.

However, I DO remember the old Broadway Theater, which was on the east side of Broadway, exactly one block south of where La Porte Road dead-ended at Broadway. That would also put it about three blocks north of Milby High School. The old La Porte Road is still there, and it now runs east from Broadway and merges with Lawndale about eight blocks to the east. That little eight block stretch is all that's left of a road that once ran from Broadway all the way to La Porte.

That's the one! I was beginning to think I was remembering the wrong location. The last time I went to the movies there was around 1968 or so. I left the area and did not return until 10 yrs. or so later. I was shocked to see that the theater was gone and instead, a highway was there or maybe just in the process of being built. Thanks for the info.

[sevfiv]

The Globe at 6907 (?) Lyons still stands and is now Denver Harbor Tire Co. A retractable garage door is where the entrance used to be. The outside stairs from the balcony/projection booth are still attached (if this place was large enough to have a balcony). The vertical sign over the entrance is probably a holdover from its earlier days as a theatre.

while browsing, i found this page on texas escapes ( )

i had no idea denver harbor was known as that

http://www.texasescapes.com/Houston/Podunk...uston-Texas.htm

[Ashikaga]

while browsing, i found this page on texas escapes ( )

i had no idea denver harbor was known as that

http://www.texasescapes.com/Houston/Podunk...uston-Texas.htm

It's amazing that you stumbled across this. You never know what anyone else may possess.

[FreakyDude]

Did we forget the Houston Music Theatre in Sharpstown. Elvis, Bob Hope, The Osmonds, and more performed there during the 1970's. I don't remember when it was built. The performers used to stay at a hotel down Hwy. 59 that looked like a castle. Royal Hotel or something like that. This was the area I grew up in during the 70's so the local talk was all about the stars performing and staying at that hotel.

[Native Montrosian]

The hotel was the Royal Coach, "affectionately" nicknamed the Royal Roach by those of us attending various sci-fi/comic conventions there in its waning years. Some of those suckers could have entered the costume contest.

[FreakyDude]

The hotel was the Royal Coach, "affectionately" nicknamed the Royal Roach by those of us attending various sci-fi/comic conventions there in its waning years. Some of those suckers could have entered the costume contest.

Here is an interesting link. Check out the 3rd picture on the 1st row.

http://www.johnny-williams.com/gallery/gallery.html

This pic is not to clear, but it's the Judy's at the Royal Coach Inn, Houston, Texas. Third pic down.

http://www.houstontexas.net/fliers.htm

[FilioScotia]

The hotel was the Royal Coach, "affectionately" nicknamed the Royal Roach by those of us attending various sci-fi/comic conventions there in its waning years. Some of those suckers could have entered the costume contest.

The Texas Longhorns stayed there when they came to town to play at Rice or UH, and for that weekend only, it was called the "Coach Royal" inn.

Does anyone else remember the Dinner Theater productions Marietta Marich and her husband staged in the Royal Coach dining room? I have especially fond memories of their production of 1776, because I had just gotten married, and my brand new future father-in-law played Ben Franklin in that show.

Edited September 14, 2006 by FilioScotia

[FreakyDude]

This double-decker bus was built in 1946. This bus was originally named No.13 (JK 9111). It was rebuilt to an open-top version in 1961; was withdrawn before entering service in the season of 1968; sold to the Royal Coach Inn in Houston, Texas. It was painted red when Royal Coach Inn obtained it and then painted cream in 1969

This pic was taken at Churchdale Road garage, Eastbourne in Sussex, January 1962; after conversion to open-top and before entering service.

For those mech people who give a hoot:

Chassis: Leyland PD1

Body: Originally East Lancs H56R double-deck bus bodies, rebuilt in the Corporation workshops in 1961-63 to Open-top O30/26R. Numbered in the third series of these double-decker buses, this was made from an batch of six.

PS - I obtained this info at http://www.skylineaviation.co.uk/buses/Ebrneot.html.

Edited September 14, 2006 by FreakyDude

[Gilder]

I grew up in Houston and my mother always pushed me to incorporate theatre into my brain. I am so glad she did, due to my increasing acknowledgement of "The Arts." I saw South Pacific at the Alley Theatre during the 1970's. In addition, I have watched live performances of "Annie Get Your Gun," Oklahoma," and more. I love the art of theatre.

[templehouston]

I just finished a quick review of all the posts in this thread and I can't find any reference to the Village Theater. Located in the Village, the last movie I saw there was Visconti's "The Damned." That must have been about 1970. The theater declined in the 70s (I seem to recall it became notorious for couples having sex in the balcony). Sorry, I don't have any picture to post.

Someone asked about the interior of the Majestic. As I recall, it was "classical," i.e., it had Greco-Roman statuary, etc. The last movie I saw there was "Thoroughly Modern Millie" in 1967. As I recall, the Metropolitan's decor was "Egyptian" and the Loew's State next door was deco.

[sevfiv]

I just finished a quick review of all the posts in this thread and I can't find any reference to the Village Theater. Located in the Village, the last movie I saw there was Visconti's "The Damned." That must have been about 1970. The theater declined in the 70s (I seem to recall it became notorious for couples having sex in the balcony). Sorry, I don't have any picture to post.

here's one from opening night:

more pictures from bob bailey: link

[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

[Vertigo58]

These were in the Houston calendars that were published a few years back.

Alabama Theater (now Bookstop).

Iris Theater, Travis between Capital and Texas. Now the site of Chase Tower.

The first downtown tunnel connected this to the

Texas Theater on Capital.

Bluebonnet Theater., 1015 Broadway near Lawndale

Yale Theater, Washington at Yale

Shepherd Drive-In

River Oaks Theater, the only one here still showing movies.

Heights Theater, 319 W. 19th.

Tower Theater, now Hollywood Video

Wonder if anyone can solve this mystery. On Dowling Street and W Gray Streets there appears to be only a shell left of an old movie house. Believe it is the 2100 Block of W Gray.

I guess whomever is familiar with that side of downtown would know? I pass by on occasion and cant help but wonder what the theater was called and what it looked like and what led to its demise? I have a strong feeling development will soon wipe away whats left. Might as well but I still am mystified. Only the walls stand as if it either burned or just caved in from decay then later removed. So yes, all that remains are concrete walls and the yellow tile walls in front. It is just on next block from Drexlers Barbecue I think? Help?!

[sevfiv]

Wonder if anyone can solve this mystery. On Dowling Street and W Gray Streets there appears to be only a shell left of an old movie house. Believe it is the 2100 Block of W Gray.

that would have been the Dowling Theater (2110 Dowling)

can't find much about it, though

edit - there's a mention of it here:

http://eyeonthirdward.mfah.org/reflections.asp?pnum=3

Edited February 1, 2007 by sevfiv

[northbeaumont]

here's one from opening night:

more pictures from bob bailey: link

This theatre (Village) appears to have opened and closed for about the same time span that the Santa Rosa did. I'm assuming that this theatre has been demolished. It looks something like the Santa Rosa. On this topic are some photos of other closed-down theatres. Maybe someone knows a way to add the Santa Rosa photos to it.

[Fringe]

This theatre (Village) appears to have opened and closed for about the same time span that the Santa Rosa did. I'm assuming that this theatre has been demolished. It looks something like the Santa Rosa. On this topic are some photos of other closed-down theatres. Maybe someone knows a way to add the Santa Rosa photos to it.

Rice University tore down the Village theater about 15 years ago. (Rice owns virtually all the land in the Village). I salvaged the ticket boxes from the theater as they were demolishing it. It was never a very fancy theater but still a good place to see a flick.

[northbeaumont]

Rice University tore down the Village theater about 15 years ago. (Rice owns virtually all the land in the Village). I salvaged the ticket boxes from the theater as they were demolishing it. It was never a very fancy theater but still a good place to see a flick.

Ticket box? Do you mean the actual ticket booth? Or am I dense? Whatever it is, can you post a photo of it?

[Vertigo58]

Rice University tore down the Village theater about 15 years ago. (Rice owns virtually all the land in the Village). I salvaged the ticket boxes from the theater as they were demolishing it. It was never a very fancy theater but still a good place to see a flick.

I clearly recall (around 1974) The Exorcist played "Exclusively" at this theater for a very long time. Lines were around the block every time we passed which was rare but relatives would go out of thier way to show us the mob scene. The fact that they would only show at this place heightened the curiosity & mystique of the infamous film.

Last Tango In Paris also played here for a long time after or before that. Sorry to stray from topic but I felt it to be considered as historic as these films boosted the popularity of this renowned Rice Village landmark.

[Fringe]

Ticket box? Do you mean the actual ticket booth? Or am I dense? Whatever it is, can you post a photo of it?

Sorry. I should have clarified that. In the old days they had these framed wooden boxes hung on the wall in the actual ticket booth that held the tickets.

[northbeaumont]

I clearly recall (around 1974) The Exorcist played "Exclusively" at this theater for a very long time. Lines were around the block every time we passed which was rare but relatives would go out of thier way to show us the mob scene. The fact that they would only show at this place heightened the curiosity & mystique of the infamous film.

Last Tango In Paris also played here for a long time after or before that. Sorry to stray from topic but I felt it to be considered as historic as these films boosted the popularity of this renowned Rice Village landmark.

Today I see in the Houston Chronicle movie theatres that have 24 and some even 30 screens. I was about ten years old when the first theatre with two screens opened. It was the talk of the whole area.

For many years there were only one screen theatres like the Santa Rosa and the Village. I guess that a reason why they starting building them with more than one screen was in case parents wanted to see one movie and kids wanted to see another, one could go to one screen and the other could go to the other one.