The Victor Theatre was the first African American movie theater in Port Arthur. That lasted until taken over by Holton Theatres in 1917. A policy changed turned it over to White audiences at that time.
1957… it was still open in 1977! It became an African American theater in 1955 and returned to segregated operation running blaxploitation films into the 1970s. Its star appears to have vanished on July 5, 1977 following a dollar night double feature of Richard Pryor in “Silver Streak” and Robert Hooks in “Trouble Man.”
On October 13, 1922 the Palace Theatre opened in a three-year old building, converting the City Drug Store into a long-lasting theatre space. The entire building was renamed the Palace Theatre Building and the first film was “Too Much Business.” Two Motiongraph projectors also played a Harold Lloyd comedy short on opening night. H.T. Hodge of the first Gem Theatre in Abilene was in charge.
Interstate Theatres operated the theater next steering it to closure in 1952 at the end of the venue’s 30-year lease. On November 22, 1952, the Palace became Abilene’s only African American theater relaunching for operator S.P. Nesmith with James Edwards in “The Bright Victory.” Nesmith had a 5-year lease. But that didn’t last long. The theater switched to White and Latin American customers January 10, 1953 playing second-run Hollywood fare on weekends and Spanish language films on weekdays.
The theater next switches completely to a Spanish Language theater. Bookings appear to end after the September 18, 1965 showings of “Buenos Dias Acapolco” and “Santo Contra el rey del Crimen.” The theater was targeted for demolition in November of 1969 and appears to have been demolished in January of 1970.
Operated by International Amusement Company, this was another Spanish language theater in town. It was the only one with a $7,000 Wurlitzer pipe organ. When the Pershing was built, it appears the Rex Theatre may have been the odd theater out in 1940. It became home to the PanAmerican Optimist Club Gymnasium.
Al Stoddard opened the 300-seat New Rex Theatre on May 28, 1928 with “7th Heaven” with a new Duplex organ and silent films. It was located on the East Side of the Madisonville town square. On January 1, 1930, Stoddard added sound showing talkies.
This venue appears to have become the Plaza Theatre launching November 23, 1937 now with a streamline moderne designed venue playing “This Way Please.” Long Theatres Circuit operated both the Plaza and the Mustang. A local resident appears to have then reopened the first Rex (not this venue) as the Madison Theatre briefly giving the town three simultaneously operating, hardtop movie houses in the late 1930s - a good number for a town with fewer than 2,000 residents.
The Plaza Theatre advertises for 15 years apparently closing in 1952. It reopens one more time as the Plaza Theater until fire strikes in March 4, 1961. Its final showing is “The Plunderers.” The building is repaired and converted for retail becoming home to the Carousel Clothing Store. The town is then long-served by the Pam / Madison (former Mustang) as well as the Mustang Drive-In Theatre.
Another entry handles the Mustang (hardtop) Theatre turned Pam Theatre and, finally, Madison Theatre. It was located on the Southeast Corner of the Madisonville town square.
The Mustang Theatre was a 250-seat venue on the southeast corner of the town square. It operated in the same era as the Plaza (formerly New Rex Theatre). Independent operator Lloyd Stone refreshed and relaunched the Mustang here as the Pam Theatre on October 27, 1962 with “X-15.” Stone was blinded by a gun accident and was a rare blind theater operator. He named the independently-run venue for his German Shepherd guide dog, Pam.
Under new operators, this venue appears to become the second location in the town’s history to become the Madison Theatre. The long running movie house was still operational in the late 1970s.
This entry should likely be the Madison Theatre formerly known as the Pam and the Mustang.
The Century Theater was built as a cinema for African American audiences. It’s listed at both 2300 and 2302 Metropolitan as it took up multiple lots. The $45,000 theater’s architect was W. Scott Dunne of the Melba, Texas, and many others, and owned by Palace Realty. Construction began in 1937. The theatre opened on March 3, 1937 with Bing Crosby in “Pennies from Heaven.” A fire July 9, 1941 closed the theater for a period of time. The theater re-opened in 1952 and closed thereafter.
The Birmingham Theatre closed at the end of its final 20-year leasing cycle on February 5, 1950 with “Johnny Stool Pigeon” and “Man They Could Not Hang.”
Wilby-Kincey built the 800-seat suburban luxury venue in Roebuck Shopping City plaza launching November 4, 1966 with “Texas Across the River.” The venue closed for Cobb Theatres on September 13, 1984 with “Initiation” and “Bolero.”
The New Theatre was opened by the H.M. Newsome Theatre Circuit on Feb. 11, 1913 with a naming contest. Newsome also operated Birmingham’s Amuse-U, Bonita and Princess Theatres at that time. The winner chose Trianon and won $50 in gold. A $5,000 Pilcher pipe organ
Miller, Martin and Lewis 1936 streamline moderne refresh architectural sketch in photos. The Venue closed January 26, 1958 with “Maked Paradise” and “The Flesh and the Spur”
Robert Dillon promoted art films as he did art in the lobby there and with his work at the Dilfin Art Gallery. But he simply ran out of money on his three-year art experiment from 1952 to 1955. The Avon closed permanently on November 28, 1955. He left the note, “We wish to thank our patrons for the last three years of operations. We hope that this type of theater can continue in the future under another sponsorship.”
Sadly, the final film shown was the four-wall, “Mom and Dad,” the highest profit film in the Golden Age of Hollywood from production cost to profit. And - yes - the an Elliot Forbes was there in person.The final film was to have been Machiko Kyo in “Gate of Hell” so if intent is of import, we can call it the final film in their heart.
Closed January 5, 2025 likely at the expiry of its 20-year lease
The Victor Theatre was the first African American movie theater in Port Arthur. That lasted until taken over by Holton Theatres in 1917. A policy changed turned it over to White audiences at that time.
1957… it was still open in 1977! It became an African American theater in 1955 and returned to segregated operation running blaxploitation films into the 1970s. Its star appears to have vanished on July 5, 1977 following a dollar night double feature of Richard Pryor in “Silver Streak” and Robert Hooks in “Trouble Man.”
On October 13, 1922 the Palace Theatre opened in a three-year old building, converting the City Drug Store into a long-lasting theatre space. The entire building was renamed the Palace Theatre Building and the first film was “Too Much Business.” Two Motiongraph projectors also played a Harold Lloyd comedy short on opening night. H.T. Hodge of the first Gem Theatre in Abilene was in charge.
Interstate Theatres operated the theater next steering it to closure in 1952 at the end of the venue’s 30-year lease. On November 22, 1952, the Palace became Abilene’s only African American theater relaunching for operator S.P. Nesmith with James Edwards in “The Bright Victory.” Nesmith had a 5-year lease. But that didn’t last long. The theater switched to White and Latin American customers January 10, 1953 playing second-run Hollywood fare on weekends and Spanish language films on weekdays.
The theater next switches completely to a Spanish Language theater. Bookings appear to end after the September 18, 1965 showings of “Buenos Dias Acapolco” and “Santo Contra el rey del Crimen.” The theater was targeted for demolition in November of 1969 and appears to have been demolished in January of 1970.
Operated by International Amusement Company, this was another Spanish language theater in town. It was the only one with a $7,000 Wurlitzer pipe organ. When the Pershing was built, it appears the Rex Theatre may have been the odd theater out in 1940. It became home to the PanAmerican Optimist Club Gymnasium.
Changed its name to the American Theatre with 239 seats. It closed in 1930 failing to make the conversion to sound.
Al Stoddard opened the 300-seat New Rex Theatre on May 28, 1928 with “7th Heaven” with a new Duplex organ and silent films. It was located on the East Side of the Madisonville town square. On January 1, 1930, Stoddard added sound showing talkies.
This venue appears to have become the Plaza Theatre launching November 23, 1937 now with a streamline moderne designed venue playing “This Way Please.” Long Theatres Circuit operated both the Plaza and the Mustang. A local resident appears to have then reopened the first Rex (not this venue) as the Madison Theatre briefly giving the town three simultaneously operating, hardtop movie houses in the late 1930s - a good number for a town with fewer than 2,000 residents.
The Plaza Theatre advertises for 15 years apparently closing in 1952. It reopens one more time as the Plaza Theater until fire strikes in March 4, 1961. Its final showing is “The Plunderers.” The building is repaired and converted for retail becoming home to the Carousel Clothing Store. The town is then long-served by the Pam / Madison (former Mustang) as well as the Mustang Drive-In Theatre.
Another entry handles the Mustang (hardtop) Theatre turned Pam Theatre and, finally, Madison Theatre. It was located on the Southeast Corner of the Madisonville town square.
March 4, 1961: end of the line for the Plaza Theatre. It will be repaired and converted to retail as a home for Carousel Clothing.
The Mustang Theatre was a 250-seat venue on the southeast corner of the town square. It operated in the same era as the Plaza (formerly New Rex Theatre). Independent operator Lloyd Stone refreshed and relaunched the Mustang here as the Pam Theatre on October 27, 1962 with “X-15.” Stone was blinded by a gun accident and was a rare blind theater operator. He named the independently-run venue for his German Shepherd guide dog, Pam.
Under new operators, this venue appears to become the second location in the town’s history to become the Madison Theatre. The long running movie house was still operational in the late 1970s.
This entry should likely be the Madison Theatre formerly known as the Pam and the Mustang.
Ads end on September 2, 1968 with “The Ghastly Ones” and “Gun Fight at Comanche Creek”
The State Theatre opened for African American audiences on January 20, 1927 with “Fingerprints.”
The Century Theater was built as a cinema for African American audiences. It’s listed at both 2300 and 2302 Metropolitan as it took up multiple lots. The $45,000 theater’s architect was W. Scott Dunne of the Melba, Texas, and many others, and owned by Palace Realty. Construction began in 1937. The theatre opened on March 3, 1937 with Bing Crosby in “Pennies from Heaven.” A fire July 9, 1941 closed the theater for a period of time. The theater re-opened in 1952 and closed thereafter.
Closed in December of 1929 and was not converted to sound.
The Birmingham Theatre closed at the end of its final 20-year leasing cycle on February 5, 1950 with “Johnny Stool Pigeon” and “Man They Could Not Hang.”
Listed for a period as an African American theater.
Operated for a period for African American audiences.
An African American theater - reportedly the only one that was Black Owned in Alabama at that time.
Wilby-Kincey built the 800-seat suburban luxury venue in Roebuck Shopping City plaza launching November 4, 1966 with “Texas Across the River.” The venue closed for Cobb Theatres on September 13, 1984 with “Initiation” and “Bolero.”
2016 Second Avenue.
Cobb closed on Oct. 28, 1968 with Fireball Jungle and Wild in the Streets. the Starlite was razed in 1969.
The New Theatre was opened by the H.M. Newsome Theatre Circuit on Feb. 11, 1913 with a naming contest. Newsome also operated Birmingham’s Amuse-U, Bonita and Princess Theatres at that time. The winner chose Trianon and won $50 in gold. A $5,000 Pilcher pipe organ
Closed January 6, 1957 with Davy Crockett and the River Pirates. It became a house of worship later in the year.
Closed with a chopsocky double feature of “Roaring Fire” and “7 Blows of the Dragon” on October 28, 1982.
Miller, Martin and Lewis 1936 streamline moderne refresh architectural sketch in photos. The Venue closed January 26, 1958 with “Maked Paradise” and “The Flesh and the Spur”
Robert Dillon promoted art films as he did art in the lobby there and with his work at the Dilfin Art Gallery. But he simply ran out of money on his three-year art experiment from 1952 to 1955. The Avon closed permanently on November 28, 1955. He left the note, “We wish to thank our patrons for the last three years of operations. We hope that this type of theater can continue in the future under another sponsorship.”
Sadly, the final film shown was the four-wall, “Mom and Dad,” the highest profit film in the Golden Age of Hollywood from production cost to profit. And - yes - the an Elliot Forbes was there in person.The final film was to have been Machiko Kyo in “Gate of Hell” so if intent is of import, we can call it the final film in their heart.