Santa Rosa Theatre At 5607 Telephone Rd.

[gnu]

Its gone? Like all the way gone? I thought they were going to do something with it. What a complete bummer. My brother and I were going to take a few pics of the old theater where we spent much of our summers when we went to the old neighborhood May 4th. Now I guess it will be a pic of what? A vacant lot?

sorry..it will probably be dirt when you get there...see post #52 here.

i took some pics of it coming down on friday

http://www.houstonarchitecture.info/haif/i...st&p=162213

[EastEnd Susan]

sorry..it will probably be dirt when you get there...see post #52 here.

i took some pics of it coming down on friday

http://www.houstonarchitecture.info/haif/i...st&p=162213

I see what you mean. Dirt. Sure wish I had one of those turquoise tiles. I'd be rich if I had a quarter for how many time I leaned against that wall waiting for the show to open. .. Oh well...I'll go take a pic of the old Don Gordon.

[northbeaumont]

I see what you mean. Dirt. Sure wish I had one of those turquoise tiles. I'd be rich if I had a quarter for how many time I leaned against that wall waiting for the show to open. .. Oh well...I'll go take a pic of the old Don Gordon.

Was there another movie theatre named Don Gordon?

[digitalcowboymagic]

Good Evening;

Yes I remember the Don Gordon. I saw "Cleopatra Jones" as a double bill with "Enter the Dragon" back in the early seventies. Before that I saw another double bill at the old Santa Rosa on Telephone. They are in the process of tearing it down. I snapped a few digi-pics of the exterior and, against my better judgement, I gained entry through a non-existent door.

For more picture go here:

http://houstonolddays.blogspot.com/

[musicman]

The Don Gordon was located on Canal. It was close to Lockwood.

i think it's a church now.

thx for the update. sad pics.

[EastEnd Susan]

Good Evening;

Yes I remember the Don Gordon. I saw "Cleopatra Jones" as a double bill with "Enter the Dragon" back in the early seventies. Before that I saw another double bill at the old Santa Rosa on Telephone. They are in the process of tearing it down. I snapped a few digi-pics of the exterior and, against my better judgement, I gained entry through a non-existent door.

For more picture go here:

http://houstonolddays.blogspot.com/

I always wondered if that wild wallpaper was still up. I dont have to wonder anymore. Thanks so much for the pics.

i think it's a church now.

thx for the update. sad pics.

Thanks for the info musicman. I thought it might be a church but wasnt sure.

[sevfiv]

here's a page i've started for the santa rosa...i don't have the time to update it and add the history/more information, but i was able to post pictures from the weekend:

santa rosa theatre

[tmariar]

here's a page i've started for the santa rosa...i don't have the time to update it and add the history/more information, but i was able to post pictures from the weekend:

santa rosa theatre

Great (if sad) photos. Thanks.

[plumber2]

Another Santa Rosa Mishap (1971 or 72): My brother took a date to the Santa Rosa in the early 70's to see the Rocky Horror Picture Show or maybe it was a Frank Zappa movie. Anyway, he and his date were sitting in one of those oversized aisle seats when plaster from the ceiling started falling in their laps. Needless to say they left before the feature was over.

[northbeaumont]

I always wondered if that wild wallpaper was still up. I dont have to wonder anymore. Thanks so much for the pics.

Thanks for the info musicman. I thought it might be a church but wasnt sure.

It appears that all of the seats were taken out many years ago. They were probably shipped away for use in another theatre that was being built.

[northbeaumont]

here's a page i've started for the santa rosa...i don't have the time to update it and add the history/more information, but i was able to post pictures from the weekend:

santa rosa theatre

Good photos. I wouldn't be surprised if tears came to your eyes as you were taking them. In addition to the seats, it looks like the screen was also taken out a long time ago and probably used in another theatre.

[djrage]

Good photos. I wouldn't be surprised if tears came to your eyes as you were taking them. In addition to the seats, it looks like the screen was also taken out a long time ago and probably used in another theatre.

No actually the screen was still there during the porn days. Back in 2000 I got curious one night to see what the theater was like. I hadn't been there since I was 10 when they were showing spanish movies there. Dark and dingy, holes in the walls, the projection room wasn't the projection room... I dont know what was going on there but all the windows were covered, the entire wall painted black and people kept going in and out of there. I didn't try to go in. The video was coming from a projector that was hung out over the theater. It was sad.

[northbeaumont]

No actually the screen was still there during the porn days. Back in 2000 I got curious one night to see what the theater was like. I hadn't been there since I was 10 when they were showing spanish movies there. Dark and dingy, holes in the walls, the projection room wasn't the projection room... I dont know what was going on there but all the windows were covered, the entire wall painted black and people kept going in and out of there. I didn't try to go in. The video was coming from a projector that was hung out over the theater. It was sad.

It kinda sounds like the Apache Drive-In Theatre in Tyler, Texas. It shows only X-rated movies. There's a photo of it on Drive-Ins.Com. There's a small projection "booth" right down at the screen. It looks like it would block the view of the people in the audience. There is no projection booth at the concession stand as all of us remember at drive-in theatres where everyone parked in front of it.

Yes, the Santa Rosa. What memories! But, as they say, all good things must end. I was under the impression that it closed down back in the 1980s/1990s. But you say that you went in there back in 2000?

[djrage]

It kinda sounds like the Apache Drive-In Theatre in Tyler, Texas. It shows only X-rated movies. There's a photo of it on Drive-Ins.Com. There's a small projection "booth" right down at the screen. It looks like it would block the view of the people in the audience. There is no projection booth at the concession stand as all of us remember at drive-in theatres where everyone parked in front of it.

Yes, the Santa Rosa. What memories! But, as they say, all good things must end. I was under the impression that it closed down back in the 1980s/1990s. But you say that you went in there back in 2000?

Yea it remained opened as an adult theater throughout the 90s. I think it closed down for awhile after they took the Stars sign down.

[foxmulder]

Wow guys, i drove by it 2 weeks ago and saw an "Asbestos removing crew." Thought they were fixing it up. I drove by today and didn't see anything over autozone. I hadn't read the thread. I took some pics

[digitalcowboymagic]

Here are some recent photos of the ravaged corpse of the Santa Rosa Theater:

http://houstonolddays.blogspot.com/

These were taken on Sunday, April 15, 2007. I have a lot more if anyone is interested.

[StainlessBungalow]

Yeah I remember the Santa Rosa. I lived in Meadow Creek Village on Laurel Creek Way from '61 to '66 and before that on a street called Weir not too far from there. We got dropped off at the Santa Rosa on many a Saturday. I distinctly remember seeing "Crack in the World" with Dana Andrews and Jannett Scott there. I believe also saw "The 7th Voyage of Sinbad" which I don't think was first run, but I was little and I do remember the great Ray Harryhausen animations. Plenty of other great SciFi and monster movies as well. It was weird: I was watching a movie just today and the next movie coming up was a Dana Andrews movie. That got me thinking about "Crack in the World" (and the Rocky Horror theme song too) which I looked up on imdb.com Then I remembered the Santa Rosa which I had not thought about in probably 40 years. Next I Googled the theater and found this forum only to learn it had been demolished just two weeks ago. Oh well so much for a nostalgic drive by, even if I do live in Austin now.

As for the theater itself I remember that nifty round banquette in the center of the lobby. I also liked the sign with beacon like protrusion on top. I seem to remember that (in my day anyway) you could see the beacon from some distance. It was a cool place. Not overdone like so many of the other old theaters. How would one describe the architectural style of the Santa Rosa?

[sevfiv]

so the demolition permit has a date of April 23rd...how legal is that?

Project No:

07032498

Date:

4/23/2007

USE:

DEMO COMM/SEWER DISC

Owner / Occupant:

STAR THEATER

Job Address:

5607 TELEPHONE RD

Subdivision:

SANTA ROSA

Buyer:

CHERRY DEMOLITION *

Address:

6131 SELINSKY 77048

Phone:

7139916236

[gnu]

that just makes you think they were trying to something shifty, even if they weren't.

[musicman]

Thanks for the info musicman. I thought it might be a church but wasnt sure.

we went to original ninfa's yesterday i was able to snap a pic while we were at the light. i believe this is the theater.

[EastEnd Susan]

we went to original ninfa's yesterday i was able to snap a pic while we were at the light. i believe this is the theater.

Wow, what a difference. Thanks for the photo

[digitalcowboymagic]

Wow, what a difference. Thanks for the photo

You mean the Don Gordon? I almost went to the original Nifas yesterday but I ran out of time....

[northbeaumont]

that just makes you think they were trying to something shifty, even if they weren't.

Have you or anyone else recently driven by where the Santa Rosa once stood? If so, is the land all cleared off and cleaned up, or has construction started of another business on that "sacred plot"?

[northbeaumont]

No actually the screen was still there during the porn days. Back in 2000 I got curious one night to see what the theater was like. I hadn't been there since I was 10 when they were showing spanish movies there. Dark and dingy, holes in the walls, the projection room wasn't the projection room... I dont know what was going on there but all the windows were covered, the entire wall painted black and people kept going in and out of there. I didn't try to go in. The video was coming from a projector that was hung out over the theater. It was sad.

This movie played at the Santa Rosa when it came out back in 1962:

[foxmulder]

Have you or anyone else recently driven by where the Santa Rosa once stood? If so, is the land all cleared off and cleaned up, or has construction started of another business on that "sacred plot"?

Nothing yet as of a few weeks ago... They haven't leveled the area off still a slope. Are you Ashikaga? Why the name change?

[Vertigo58]

This may sound like a silly question but would they tear down the typical theater without trying to salvage any and everything inside? That is if it were in somewhat good condition? I will make a list of some items I would kill for:

1. All old movie posters manager may have stored within.

2. The poster windows you know they ones that need a little key to open and insert the poster.

3. One of the most treasured items! The huge red/burgundy stage curtains.

4. Doors to the main entry & RR doors. These doors normally looked like the port hole of a ship right?

5. The letters used on the marquee or hell just get the whole marquee intact.

6. The velvetty ropes that hung to keep you out of the balcony section.

7. Some of the original carpet with its swirling art deco designs.

8. Sconces and any chandeliers, all of them.

9. What woudl you want from the snack counter?

I once saw a recent Antiques Road Show episode where this guy bought and was in the middle of remodeling an old theater and removed some ceiling panels and found that on the other side of the panels there were classic 1930's movie promos with actors like Clark Gable, Mryna Loy, Boris Karloff etc. Took them to a movie auction event and each one was worth thousands!

Hurrah for Hollywood!

[FilioScotia]

This may sound like a silly question but would they tear down the typical theater without trying to salvage any and everything inside? That is if it were in somewhat good condition? I will make a list of some items I would kill for:

Don't get your hopes up. I don't know how long the Santa Rosa has been closed, but if it's like many of the other movie houses that have closed over the years, it's probably fairly well trashed on the inside.

But, like you, I would still give anything to see the inside before they tear it down. You never know what you might find, even amid the trashing. One man's trash is, well, you know.

[sevfiv]

unfortunately, the theater is not only long gone, but wasn't left with much inside from its days as a porn-type-place.

http://www.arch-ive.org/santarosa/

[Vertigo58]

Wow, the photos were like really depressing. Looked like some wild parties got out of hand in there! Must have been during the "The Devil In Ms Jones" viewing.

I still wonder who or why they name these theaters the names they give them. Santa Rosa is a city in northern California. Guess they had to think up some thing?

PS, on a seprate issue. The Shriners Center (on Breaswood) I started a topic on in other places in Houston will soon be torn down. For those that love relics and interior furnishings PM me.

[gnu]

Wow, the photos were like really depressing. Looked like some wild parties got out of hand in there! Must have been during the "The Devil In Ms Jones" viewing.

I still wonder who or why they name these theaters the names they give them. Santa Rosa is a city in northern California. Guess they had to think up some thing?

PS, on a seprate issue. The Shriners Center (on Breaswood) I started a topic on in other places in Houston will soon be torn down. For those that love relics and interior furnishings PM me.

Santa Rosa is the name of the subdivision (which was built first) it is in/near.

The real question is why did they name the subdivision that?

Probably the developer liked the name or was from there..who knows.