sevfiv Posted January 23, 2009 Share Posted January 23, 2009 Does anyone know anything about the Dowling Theater on Dowling between Gray and Webster? At some point I had the address as 2110 Dowling (which Cinema Houston backs up), but I can't find any tax information about it. The location where I found the theater matches 2110 Dowling as well. Also, the MFAH's "Eye on Third Ward" lists a Dowling Theater being on the site of the Square Deal Cab Co. The address I found for Square Deal is 2819 Dowling (placing it at Tuam St.). Was there more than one Dowling? On the Harris County Block Book photo, lot 3 matches up (and here's the HCAD map), but HCAD doesn't list ownership of a lot 3: 2100 Dowling - lot 5 2106 Dowling - lot 4 2116 Dowling - TRS 1 and 2 2120 Dowling - TR 1B picture: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sevfiv Posted January 23, 2009 Author Share Posted January 23, 2009 Oh, and the theater has 2106 spraypainted on it, but 2106 lists no building data (vacant land), and as lot 4...? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Julio Posted January 24, 2009 Share Posted January 24, 2009 The 1945 city directory lists the Dowling Theater's address as 2110 Dowling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Julio Posted January 24, 2009 Share Posted January 24, 2009 Houston Informer, June 28, 1947 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FilioScotia Posted January 24, 2009 Share Posted January 24, 2009 Houston Informer, June 28, 1947 For current reference, that puts it one block south of Drexler's BBQ, which is at Dowling and Gray. Two blocks south of the eastern tip of the Pierce Elevated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylejack Posted January 24, 2009 Share Posted January 24, 2009 For current reference, that puts it one block south of Drexler's BBQ, which is at Dowling and Gray. Two blocks south of the eastern tip of the Pierce Elevated.Drexler's closed, its now Grooves Restaurant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sevfiv Posted January 24, 2009 Author Share Posted January 24, 2009 Yeah, Clyde Drexler owns a lot of that block..The mystery to me still is why there's no HCAD listing for the structure (or why I can't find it).. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marmer Posted January 24, 2009 Share Posted January 24, 2009 Here's a couple of photos from Cinema Houston: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vertigo58 Posted January 26, 2009 Share Posted January 26, 2009 The final removal of this theater was discussed under seperate thread under TSU or MacGregor Park topic a few months ago. Its a miracle it stood as a shell for decades? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NenaE Posted January 26, 2009 Share Posted January 26, 2009 Here's a couple of photos from Cinema Houston: Sanborn Maps show a theater (Dowling, I'm assuming) located at 2110-08 Dowling. Information found on YEAR 1924-1951*, Vol.9, 1925-50. Page#900, Blk.428. The map also shows two stores, at front of theater, address 21101/2 (or 2100 1,2) seen in the picture above, to each side of the movie entrance doors. There was also a restaurant & elec. rep.(Electrical repair?) shop (next door to the right) with same address of 2106A Dowling. The restaurant is also seen above, looks like the "Idle Hour (another name?) Restaurant". Good pic, Sevfiv...how eerie, no shops there now. FYI: info. on a nearby street, before Bastrop it was called Broadway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NenaE Posted January 26, 2009 Share Posted January 26, 2009 Dowling St. was a very "happening" street at one time...http://www.houstontx.gov/planning/suprnbhd...rInfo/SN_67.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liammclaren Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 So wait, is it gone now? Not even a shell left? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crunchtastic Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 Dowling St. was a very "happening" street at one time...http://www.houstontx.gov/planning/suprnbhd...rInfo/SN_67.htmVery happening. It's a whole other subject, but the Third Ward and Dowling Street was the epicenter of Houston blues. Home to guys like Johnny Guitar Watson, Albert Collins, Lightning Hopkins, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vertigo58 Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 So wait, is it gone now? Not even a shell left? Exactly, about a month or so ago the last pieces went to city landfill. Correction to my past additonal note: the little homes across the street past the empty fill are more like small Queen Anne homes opposed to Shotgun style. Wish I could lift up and take home before they vanish forever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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