Jump to content

Al Ray Theatre At 5006 Fulton St.


icepickphil

Recommended Posts

This movie theatre was around in the late 60s. I believe it was near Little York Rd. Does anyone remember this theatre (where it was, when it closed, etc.)? Thanks.

It was on Fulton, about 5000 block, near Lindale Subdivision. Showed 2nd runs, then true "art films" (late 60,s) then Adult films. I saw Persona, Vigin Spring, Chelsea girls, & others there. Probably closed for good early to mid 70's. My 1st job, 1962, was at Spells Pharmacy, across the street.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Wow I'm so glad it is remembered. What is that neighborhood like now? Is that area considered part of the Heights?

Was the Al Ray Houston's only 'art film' theatre in the late 60s? TIA

There was "the Village" theater, probably more I can't remember. I lived right by Al Ray. It is at edge of Lindale Park Subdivision, bordered by Robertson, Fulton, Cavalcade, & Loop 610, North. Irvington Blvd. runs through lindale. It is a really nice, near North side, neighborhood.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 8 months later...
Does anybody remember the location of the Alray Theater where they showed "art films" in the 1960's, meaning any film that was not in English?

The Alray Theater was located at 5006 Fulton, about a block or two north of Cavalcade.

On the day JFK died, the theater was showing the Oscar award-winning "Divorce Italian Style."

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The Alray Theater was located at 5006 Fulton, about a block or two north of Cavalcade.

On the day JFK died, the theater was showing the Oscar award-winning "Divorce Italian Style."

I remember "Divorce American Style" starring Dick Van Dyke.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The Alray Theater was located at 5006 Fulton, about a block or two north of Cavalcade.

On the day JFK died, the theater was showing the Oscar award-winning "Divorce Italian Style."

While in college in the '60's, the Alray was the place to go to see European films, often with sub-titles. In fact I took my future wife there on our first date to see "Zorba the Greek", starring Antony Quinn and Alan Bates.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Welcome Firebird65! :D

Gonzo, how did you happen to know what movie was playing? Do you have the newspaper from then?

Yep!

On a side note, after the assassination a lot of theaters in town started reshowing "PT 109."

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The Alray Theater was located at 5006 Fulton, about a block or two north of Cavalcade.

On the day JFK died, the theater was showing the Oscar award-winning "Divorce Italian Style."

How did you know that? Were you at the movie November 22? I was at Luby's Cafeteria on West Gray - just finished my college finals - heard the news in my parents '59 Thunderbird at Shepherd and Fairview

Thanks for Alray info. I'll have to drive by there a

gain 40 years later.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Does anybody remember the location of the Alray Theater where they showed "art films" in the 1960's, meaning any film that was not in English?

I saw "South Pacific," "Oklahoma," "Annie," and "The Music Man" at the Alley Theatre. I am not familiar with the ALRay Theater.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

There was a thread here about the Al Ray last year. Someone wrote that it and the Village Theatre were the only Houston theatres that showed foreign or 'art' films in the 60s. I know the Bellaire Theatre also started showing some of these films in the early 70s.

I believe the Al Ray showed some Warhol films when they came out. I wish I had some 60s newspapers (Post or Chronicle) to check it out. I saw "Battle of Algiers" there in about '69.

The Al Ray is not listed in any of the extensive movie theatre history websites like Cinema Treasures. I've never seen a photo of it.

It became an adult film theater in the 70s. I don't know when it closed down.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

There was a thread here about the Al Ray last year. Someone wrote that it and the Village Theatre were the only Houston theatres that showed foreign or 'art' films in the 60s. I know the Bellaire Theatre also started showing some of these films in the early 70s.

Another theater that showed art films for a short time (in the late-forties), was the Plaza/Vogue Theater. It's the old theater near the circle at Broadway and 45 (which is currently a Pawn Shop) and opened in about 1941 as the Plaza Theater.

When the Santa Rosa opened nearby in 1947 (on Telephone Road), The Plaza, faced with the new competition from the Interstate-owned competitor, struggled and was eventually sold. The new owner renamed it the Vogue and started showing art films. The experiment did not last long and it soon reverted back to The Plaza. It only remained a theater until about 1951.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It became an adult film theater in the 70s. I don't know when it closed down.

We lived near there (Lindale Park) from '86 to '92 - during that time it was being used as a church. I don't think it was torn down until after we had moved away.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I came across an ad from 1970 for the Alray Theatre, but don't know how to post it. Could someone let me know how to do it and I'll gladly share it.

I was looking up old football scores, came across the movie section, saw the ad and remembered this thread.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I came across an ad from 1970 for the Alray Theatre, but don't know how to post it. Could someone let me know how to do it and I'll gladly share it.

I was looking up old football scores, came across the movie section, saw the ad and remembered this thread.

is it on the internet, your computer, or is it in print?

if it is one of the first two, you need to host the picture somewhere (like tinypic.com).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 8 months later...
There was a thread here about the Al Ray last year. Someone wrote that it and the Village Theatre were the only Houston theatres that showed foreign or 'art' films in the 60s. I know the Bellaire Theatre also started showing some of these films in the early 70s.

I believe the Al Ray showed some Warhol films when they came out. I wish I had some 60s newspapers (Post or Chronicle) to check it out. I saw "Battle of Algiers" there in about '69.

The Al Ray is not listed in any of the extensive movie theatre history websites like Cinema Treasures. I've never seen a photo of it.

It became an adult film theater in the 70s. I don't know when it closed down.

It sounds like the Al Ray Theatre ended up just like the Santa Rosa. I guess the mainstream wanted to see non X-rated movies and when the VCR came out, they stayed home. But I don't see why people who liked porn didn't rent their movies as well. I live just down the street from a video rental store that has a back room that is only for people 21 and older.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • The title was changed to Al Ray Theatre At 5006 Fulton St.

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...