icepickphil Posted August 3, 2006 Share Posted August 3, 2006 Two or three years ago I was at the Continental Club downtown and saw they had one of the signs from the Cinema West theatre backstage. Does anyone remember this theatre? I believe it was an adult theater on Richmond or Westteimer in the 70s (before VHS tapes). Was it a chain of theaters? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heights2Bastrop Posted August 3, 2006 Share Posted August 3, 2006 Cinema West sponsored a baseball team (or was it softball) that was always at the top of the standings. A couple of guys I was in Reagan with played on the team. But, as far as the kind of movies they ran, well, I, uh - that is I don't seem to remember what, uh - you know, maybe I don't remember Cinema West after all.Hey, TBird. You didn't play for them, did you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gonzo1976 Posted August 3, 2006 Share Posted August 3, 2006 Two or three years ago I was at the Continental Club downtown and saw they had one of the signs from the Cinema West theatre backstage. Does anyone remember this theatre? I believe it was an adult theater on Richmond or Westteimer in the 70s (before VHS tapes). Was it a chain of theaters?Not sure if it was a chain. In August 1974, the theater was showing the X-rated flick "The Resurrection of Eve" starring Marilyn Chambers.It was located at 5341 West Alabama, between South Rice Avenue and Yorktown Street. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FilioScotia Posted August 4, 2006 Share Posted August 4, 2006 (edited) Not sure if it was a chain. In August 1974, the theater was showing the X-rated flick "The Resurrection of Eve" starring Marilyn Chambers.It was located at 5341 West Alabama, between South Rice Avenue and Yorktown Street.The original Cinema West was in a strip center on West Alabama, out where it merges with Westheimer. The guy who owned it was an interesting guy. Joe Spiegel graduated from the University of Houston with a business degree in the mid 60s, and his father gave him a hundred thousand dollars to start up his first business. Soft-core porn was common at that time, but Spiegel could see that hardcore porn was slipping into the mainstream. He thought it could be profitable, so he took advantage of the public's relaxing attitudes and opened Houston's first hardcore porn house. It made so much money that Spiegel was able to build a free-standing adult theatre on Richmond, and open another adult movie house in the Rice Village off Kirby - Cinema West II. His long range plan was to use his adult theater profits to buy legitimate family movie houses and ultimately get out of porn altogether, which is exactly what he did. At one time in the 70s and 80s, Spiegel owned several neighborhood houses, like the Garden Oaks on North Shepherd and several others, the names of which I can't remember. And yes he was a big softball fan and player. Spiegel organized or sponsored teams in the city softball leagues and tournaments for a long time, and they were good. He had their trophies on display in the Cinema West lobby. I always liked Joe Spiegel. He wasn't a porn-meister, and he never got involved in producing adult films. He was, and probably still is, a smart businessman, and he used the growing popularity of adult movies to get started. I have no idea what he's doing now, but I'm betting that he's successful. He's that kind of guy. Edited August 4, 2006 by FilioScotia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
57Tbird Posted August 4, 2006 Share Posted August 4, 2006 (edited) .... It made so much money that Spiegel was able to build a free-standing adult theatre on Richmond, and open another adult movie house in the Rice Village off Kirby - Cinema West II. .... This from the July 21, 1969, Houston Post. Must have been the Art Cinema at one time. I remember seeing this one. It was just across the parking lot from Rodney's Men's Clothing Store in the Village. Edited August 4, 2006 by 57Tbird Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heights2Bastrop Posted August 4, 2006 Share Posted August 4, 2006 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FilioScotia Posted August 5, 2006 Share Posted August 5, 2006 This from the July 21, 1969, Houston Post. Must have been the Art Cinema at one time. I remember seeing this one. It was just across the parking lot from Rodney's Men's Clothing Store in the Village. I think Spiegel bought the Art Cinema sometime in the early 70s. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
native_Houstonian Posted August 5, 2006 Share Posted August 5, 2006 (edited) Edited August 5, 2006 by native_Houstonian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heights2Bastrop Posted August 5, 2006 Share Posted August 5, 2006 I think that was SACHMO!You may be right. Besides, I didn't think "Darling" sounded like his last name. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icepickphil Posted August 5, 2006 Author Share Posted August 5, 2006 Further research has determined there was a Cinema West in Austin on S. Congress.http://home.austin.rr.com/michaelwhitworth...lt%20cinema.htmI'm assuming this was owned by the same guy. The 'Cinema West' logo on the marquee is the same as the Houston theatre. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beckwheat Posted August 10, 2006 Share Posted August 10, 2006 Oh Lord. Back in the early 70's I worked at the bank that Cinema West used. The owner gave me 25 or so free passes....as if a young lady in her (then) 20's would want them. Anyway, a few of the other ladies from the bank and I went there during lunch just to laugh at the movies and the pervs. LOL! We even got kicked out once. I do remember that it was quite nice and clean. Don't know if it would be tactful to list the movies that we saw but let's just say they were classics. Never saw any complete movies cuz we were too busy cracking up and making fun of the acting....and the guys with popcorn boxes in their laps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FilioScotia Posted August 10, 2006 Share Posted August 10, 2006 Oh Lord. Back in the early 70's I worked at the bank that Cinema West used. The owner gave me 25 or so free passes....as if a young lady in her (then) 20's would want them. Anyway, a few of the other ladies from the bank and I went there during lunch just to laugh at the movies and the pervs. LOL! We even got kicked out once.I do remember that it was quite nice and clean. Don't know if it would be tactful to list the movies that we saw but let's just say they were classics. Never saw any complete movies cuz we were too busy cracking up and making fun of the acting....and the guys with popcorn boxes in their laps LOLLLL! I know what you mean. I spent a little too much of my misspent youth at that theater. The result is that I know far too much about 1970s porno movies. Things I wish I didn't know. Question: Why did you get kicked out? What does a "young lady" have to do to get thrown out of a porno movie house? I bet there's a good story in that and I'd love to hear it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TikiOwl Posted February 5, 2007 Share Posted February 5, 2007 Joe also sponsored amateur hockey teams in what was called Space City Hockey that played at Sharpstown. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inspector_Gadget Posted May 31, 2021 Share Posted May 31, 2021 Someone stated that they saw a neon sign for “theater” at the continental club back stage. I just so happen to see a very similar sign every time I park my car in my garage at my house. Is this the same one? (See picture below). FYI yes it still works. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hindesky Posted July 18, 2021 Share Posted July 18, 2021 Next time I go the Continental Club I'll take a pic of the "Cinema West" metal porcelain painted sign they have by the pool tables. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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