Comments from irpworks

Showing 51 - 59 of 59 comments

irpworks
irpworks commented about Stars & Stripes Drive-In on Oct 1, 2006 at 5:43 pm

Third screen under construction. First-class facility and full every weekend!

irpworks
irpworks commented about Lindsey Theatre on Oct 1, 2006 at 5:39 pm

In the lat 80’s or early 90’s they staged some live shows at the Lindsey. I was priviledged to see Don McClean do a solo show on the big stage in honor of Buddy Holly. It was a memorable evening.

Frankly, I must say the Lindsey was not pretty from the outside at all – other than the marquee made famous again as the cover a great Maines Brothers album. The inside was nice but it was not opulent in any manner nor a good example of Art Deco or moderinism. The lot is now an expansion the highrise next door and has a bank lobby and drive-thru for the bank. It is a rare example of an improvement to an area through demolition.

irpworks
irpworks commented about Golden Horseshoe Drive-In on Oct 1, 2006 at 5:34 pm

This theater property was purchased by Oakwood Baptist Church when the Horseshoe closed. That group subsequently sold the property to K-Mart and a Super K-Mart now occupies the property. Part of the Horseshoe shopping center still stands facing University Avenue.

irpworks
irpworks commented about Circle Drive-In on Oct 1, 2006 at 5:31 pm

In its last years it showed porn flicks and the former motel just behind it always had many on the second floor walkway watching free – who needed the sound?!

Here is the correct location (the triangle area was the theater):

View link

58th & Ave. Q

irpworks
irpworks commented about Cinema West on Oct 1, 2006 at 5:24 pm

It was never a twin. It was a single screen and hosted the Lubbock debut of Dick Tracy with Warren Beatty & Madonna in 1990. We had a great time with a big group that night.

Yes, it is now gone and the new Marsha Sharp Freeway is being constructed.

irpworks
irpworks commented about Cactus Theater on Oct 1, 2006 at 5:20 pm

Photos of Cactus marquee at night with star peformer – 1997.
Porfirio Baz is now a Baptist pastor and Spanish-language television news anchor in Lubbock. He was a television and music star in Mexico and Latin America. My wife and I pose with him in one of these.

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irpworks
irpworks commented about Broadway Theatre on Oct 1, 2006 at 5:13 pm

PHOTO: View link

In this photo you can see the marquee of the Broadway. This is a digital photo of a very large wall-sized photo of downtown Lubbock found in the Museum of Texas Tech.

irpworks
irpworks commented about Arnett Benson Theatre on Oct 1, 2006 at 5:03 pm

The theater is still standing with retail in front. Several furniture rental businesses, pawn shops and the like have occcupied it. Auditorium is used as a warehouse. Neighborhood is still known by the same name.

irpworks
irpworks commented about Winchester Twin Theatre on Oct 1, 2006 at 5:00 pm

The Winchester was showing first run movies on two screens until the Winchester Shopping center which it anchored was sold. It was an off-the-street center in a 90-degree angle with the Winchester (not always a twin) in the corner. A former working wooden windmill stood at the corner of 50th & Indiana (2 thoroughfares) along with a large tree. When the center closed commemorative pens and items were made and sold with wood from this landmark tree.

The center was successful but its largest tenant, United Supermarket, needed a much larger and modern store in this valuable location. Thus, the entire center was demolished and a new MarketStreet constructed (see http://www.unitedtexas.com/))

The huge Winchester marquee and name remain in Lubbock associated with entertainment. The Winchester room is a part of the Lone Star Events Center (anchored by a modern amphitheater) and the huge marquee is mounted on the facility located just East of Avenue A on East 19th Street in Lubbock.

As a kid I saw several movies on the giant screen before it was divided into a twin. However unlike most divided theaters, because it was so large to begin with (70mm) after the divide the screens were still huge by modern standards. The plush rocking chairs, aside from squeaking, and the sound system ensured that the Winchester was one of the best places to see a movie until it closed. I was fortunate to see the big theater re-release of Gone with the Wind there as well as many other great films of the 70’s, 80’s and 1990’s. The Noret family did a great job running this theater until the center sold.