The Gayety Picture Show renamed the Gayety Theatre at 115-117 Bridge was the first African American movie theater in Waco. It opened in 1915 and was still operating in 1929 as a silent theater. The Gayety converted to sound to remain viable but was listed as closed in October 1936.
Sometime in the late 1930s – most likely 1939 – the Gem Theatre opened and was the African American Theatre of choice on the square. Its roof collapsed onto the auditorium destroying the theater space despite all four walls standing during the May 11, 1953 deadly tornado that ravaged downtown Waco. That storm also damaged the former Gayety Theatre building, as well as destroying the Joy Theatre and damaging the Fox Theater.
The Gem operators repaired and reconfigured the damaged 115-117 Bridge Street / Gayety Building. The former Gayety location comes back to life as the “New” Gem Theatre beginning Dec. 19, 1953 and advertising until January 1962. It’s likely that the theater operated through a ten-year lease until March 1963 without advertising as the theater space is offered for lease in 1964. The space was next used for the Gayety Hotel.
In 1969, the building housing the Gayety Hotel and former “New” Gem Theatre at 115-117 Bridge was marked for demolition by the Waco Urban Renewal Agency and a fire on October 28, 1969 did a great deal of the work. A second fire on August 30, 1970 completed the task as around 200 people gathered to watch the building burn. Its remnants were cleaned up not long after.
The Fox Theatre operated consecutively for 35 years opening in May of 1924 on a grind house policy playing exploitation films and third-tier double-features of Hollywood fare. It called itself the “dime theater” in its earliest days because of its ultra low admission price. Not associated with the Fox Theatre Circuit, the independent movie house was located on Waco’s Square at 105 South Third Street first advertising in 1924. However, in 1926 owner J.A. Lemke expanded the Fox and its seating into the Rosenberg Building at 103 South Street. Lemke also operated Waco’s Crystal Theater and the Palace Theatre in West, Texas.
The Fox converted to sound to remain viable on September 25, 1930 with The Marx Brothers in “The Coconuts” supported by the comedy short, “Whirls and Girls.” During its run, the theater survived a screen fire, a projection room fire, and the massive tornado of May 11, 1953 that caused death and destruction while destroying some of the 100 block of Third Street. Somehow the Fox was spared as the twister opened only a major hole in the Fox’s roof and decimated businesses
As then-owner W.R. Phillips was repairing the tornado-damaged roof, burglars went in during off-hours through the roof’s hole and stole the change from both the peanut vending machine and the penny scale. Undaunted, the Fox continued past its third decade of operation. It tried Spanish language films on weekdays in the late 1950s, exploitation films on weekends. The venue even had a brief run as the Mexico Theatre. The Fox initially closed following the Feb. 28, 1959 screenings of “The Curse of Frankenstein” and “Johnny Trouble.” Likely an end-of-lease situation and probably a 35-year run though could be longer for the Fox.
It used for non-cinematic purposes into the early 1960s. But it came back from non-cinematic operation in the 1960s before closing permanently on September 15, 1966 with a double-feature of “Yo, el Mujeriego” and “Suicidate mi Amor.” The building became home to a furniture store before an urban renewal demolition plan in the 1970s. At that point it became home to a parking lot; but the former theater’s location houses the Waco Chamber of Commerce built in 2008.
Appears to have closed June 30, 1928 likely at the end of a 10-year leasing period with Fred Thompson in “Thundering Hoofs” supported by a Jimmie Adams comedy short.
The Lake Air Mall opened theatre-less on March 16, 1961. But three years later, the mall would rectify that was General Cinema leased what would become an outparcel building behind the mall for a single screen theater. The Cinema at Lake Air Center missed its May 30, 1965 opening by five months but finally made it November 9, 1965 opening with “The Cincinnati Kid.” The theater had 822 with a 50x22 screen.
General Cinema twinned the venue on October 12th, 1977 as the GCC Lake Air Cinema I & II. On March 23, 1984, Plitt took over the Lake Air venue. Cineplex Odeon bought Plitt in December of 1985. Cineplex Odeon decided against a renewal of its 25-year lease in November of 1990 moving on from the property on November 15, 1990.
Waco’s Herman DeLeon reopened the venue after Cineplex Odeon . DeLeon relaunched November 23, 1990 as the Lake Air Cinema Dollar Movies I & II with “Flatliners” and “Postcards from the Edge.” It flatlined quickly but former Cineplex Union Projectionists reopened it on March 8, 1991 with “Ghost” and “Hunt for Red October.”
The Lake Air Cinema closed again on May 9, 1991. only to be relaunched by Arlington, Texas-based CineMagic Theatres on March 19, 1993 with a new look lobby. CineMagic vanished in June of 1998. Henry Harlow took the baton breathing life into the Lake Air until April 25, 1999 when it finally closed permanently with “A Bug’s Life” and “Prince of Egypt.” The Lake Air Cinema building joined the parking lot brigade - demolished in May and June of 2004 to make way for Target parking.
Cinemas Southwest Theatre Circuit opened the Diamond Point Theatre on September 27, 1974 with “That’s Entertainment” and “Walking Tall.” It was the first twin and the first theater built in Waco since 1965. The circuit would open the Ivy Square twin three weeks later in Baylor. The seating capacity of each Diamond Point screen was identical at 273 in the 6,500 square foot facility. Waco Mayor Oscar DuConge was there for the opening along with Z.F. Cook, head of Cinemas Southwest. Both the Diamond Point and Ivy Square theaters were automated and were originally supposed to have opened under the American Automated Theatres Circuit out of Oklahoma City.
Cinemark took on the Diamond Point as the Cinemark Diamond Point Theatres 2 on December 12, 1979. Plitt Theatres took on the location on March 14, 1980 when it purchased the Cinemark chain as it was at that point renaming here as the Diamond Point Theatre I & II. It then moved from Plitt to Cineplex Odeon when Cineplex bought Plitt in December of 1985. Cineplex renamed the venue as the Diamond Point Twin Cinemas I & II.
Carmike took over the Waco Square Six and Cinema Richland Mall 1 & 2 in 1992 leaving Cineplex with the Richland Mall 3&4 and the Diamond Point. Cineplex closed up the Diamond Point after Labor Day 1992 with the managers of the Cineplex Odeon venue taking it on independently as the Diamond Point Theatre. The independent operators closed the Diamond Point permanently on January 16, 1994 with “My Life” and “Jurassic Park.” And Cineplex Odeon had left the marketplace in July of 1993 leaving the Richland Mall 3&4 behind.
At this address was Joseph Michel’s Hall / Michel’s Hall (1907-1911), Prospect Hall (1911), Zimmerman’s Hall (1912-1914). The estate of John Frank Crawford built the Crawford likely incorporating some elements of the existing building. The new Crawford Theatre opened late in 1914 as an 800-seat movie house. Louis H. Gold of Gold Theatres took on the venue from the Crawford family in 1920 renaming it as the Treat Theatre after Newark co- founder, Robert Treat.
Gold continued it as a film theater and also converted the venue to sound to keep it viable. Orange Theatre Corp. took on the venue and sued both Brandt Circuit and Rayherstz in 1940 for antitrust violations claiming that they were denied quality second-run features (they ultimately lost the case of Orange Theatre Corp. v Rayherstz Amusement in 1943). A 1954 advertisement for a free showing of “From Here to Eternity” overwhelmed the theater. Operator Lewis Tortoriello had to call in the police and fire department to remove folks.
The Treat moved from Hollywood fare to porno chic rated “X” films in the 1970s getting charged with obscenity counts along its journey. It rebranded to the Cameo Theatre which moves from a grind policy of “X” rated films to unrated “XXX” adult films in the home video era of the 1980s ultimately operating as a twin-screen facility to its August 22, 2010 closure.
As best as can be determined, this is the timeline of this venue.
Opened as the Jobson Opera House on October 31, 1889. By 1897, Col. F.W. Blees takes over and calls it the Blees Theatre. Harry E. Logan took on the venue continuing as the Logan Theatre on August 12, 1909 with the live play, “Casino Girls” . Motion pictures were later added to the live mix with the theatre becoming primarily known for motion pictures.
This is where things become a bit tricky. The Logan goes dark late in 1918 and very briefly reopens in a new location in 1919. On October 3, 1919, the original Logan was taken over by W.D. Woods of Kansas City. The Princess Theatre launched on October 11, 1919 with “His Majesty, Bunker Bean” and listed as “formerly the Logan.” The short-lived Logan location became the original location of the Grand Theatre. The original Grand opened in July of 1919 – it, too, was also listed as “formerly the Logan.”
On January 1, 1923, the Princess under new owners relaunched as the Yale Theatre with “My Old Kentucky Home.” After closing in June of 1923, the venue relaunched under J. Earl Hayes as the Royal Theatre on August 25, 1923 likely with the film, “Wife in Name Only.” Hayes sells out to R.W. Rice after just a week. The Royal Theatre’s “ghost sign” /outside advertisement was maintained into the 21st Century.
On January 1, 1930, the theatre became the Dickinson Theatre installing RCA sound and converting the interior to a Moorish architectural design. The first film was Belle Baker in “Song of Love.” Dickinson sold his interest in the theatre and one of his employees took on the house. Under new operation, it re-launched October 28, 1936 as the long-running Macon Theatre. In 2004, the facility became live theatre opening its first season as the Maples Repertory Theatre.
That all may be incorrect but it’s the best timeline based on the local papers and the trade press.
The Gem Theatre became the Gem Cinema moving from English to Spanish language films on April 30, 1954 with “Susana” and “Ana Galena en Mexico.” After reverting to the Cinema Theatre moniker, the venue closed permanently with “Micaballo Prieto Revelde” and “Mi Esposa me Comprende” on September 7, 1969. Five years later it was still vacant and offered for sale. It was later demolished.
The State Theatre closed for the season on June 15, 1959 with “Ghost of Crossbones Canyon” and “Never Love a Stranger” with a hopeful message of, “See you next fall.” That wasn’t meant to be. The building became home to an auto dealer in 1960.
Cinemark left at the end of lease on August 26, 2024. It was rebranded as the Seneca Starvue with a soft launch on September 6, 2024 and a grand opening on September 25, 2024.
William Hamilton and William D. Grumbley reopened the theatre on January 17, 1964. On Christmas, 1,000 patrons showed up for the Theatrofilm concert, “The T.A.M.I. Show.” Unfortunately, a riot caused by a knife wielding teenager made the December 25, 1964 showing the final for the Michigan Theatre.
The Jeffers Theatre launched in 1902. On September 25, 1915, the venue switched from live plays to film reopening as the Jeffers-Strand Theatre with Edith Story in “The Island of Regeneration.” That didn’t work out well so it switched to vaudeville in 1916. The Jeffers-Strand Theatre turned to live plays and closed January 5, 1929 with a play. It remained empty until its signage was removed in 1932. I don’t believe it ever operated as the Strand Theatre.
The Wolverine Theatre was dropped after its second 20-year lease by Butterfield Theatres. It closed permanently on April 27, 1952 with “Father’s Little Dividend” and “Breakthrough.” The theatre was redeveloped for retail in 1954.
The Marr celebrated its 20th Anniversary but limped to a close three years later shutting after a double features of “Let No Man Write My Epitaph” and “The Wild One” on May 14, 1961. A week later it became a house of worship for the Gethsemane Evangelical Luthern Church. It has been converted to a multi-occupant business center still in use in the 2020s.
After a soft launch that lasted a period of time, the formal opening of Janes Theatre took place on December 27, 1934 with Joe E. Brown in “The Circus Clown.” Janes Theater veteran Frank D. Brown closed up on June 23, 1957 with “Loophole” and “Star of Texas.” It then became a house of worship called the House of Corinthian Church / Corinthian Missionary Baptist Church. In the 2020s, it was home to the Emmanuel Church of Deliverance.
The Gayety Picture Show renamed the Gayety Theatre at 115-117 Bridge was the first African American movie theater in Waco. It opened in 1915 and was still operating in 1929 as a silent theater. The Gayety converted to sound to remain viable but was listed as closed in October 1936.
Sometime in the late 1930s – most likely 1939 – the Gem Theatre opened and was the African American Theatre of choice on the square. Its roof collapsed onto the auditorium destroying the theater space despite all four walls standing during the May 11, 1953 deadly tornado that ravaged downtown Waco. That storm also damaged the former Gayety Theatre building, as well as destroying the Joy Theatre and damaging the Fox Theater.
The Gem operators repaired and reconfigured the damaged 115-117 Bridge Street / Gayety Building. The former Gayety location comes back to life as the “New” Gem Theatre beginning Dec. 19, 1953 and advertising until January 1962. It’s likely that the theater operated through a ten-year lease until March 1963 without advertising as the theater space is offered for lease in 1964. The space was next used for the Gayety Hotel.
In 1969, the building housing the Gayety Hotel and former “New” Gem Theatre at 115-117 Bridge was marked for demolition by the Waco Urban Renewal Agency and a fire on October 28, 1969 did a great deal of the work. A second fire on August 30, 1970 completed the task as around 200 people gathered to watch the building burn. Its remnants were cleaned up not long after.
The Fox Theatre operated consecutively for 35 years opening in May of 1924 on a grind house policy playing exploitation films and third-tier double-features of Hollywood fare. It called itself the “dime theater” in its earliest days because of its ultra low admission price. Not associated with the Fox Theatre Circuit, the independent movie house was located on Waco’s Square at 105 South Third Street first advertising in 1924. However, in 1926 owner J.A. Lemke expanded the Fox and its seating into the Rosenberg Building at 103 South Street. Lemke also operated Waco’s Crystal Theater and the Palace Theatre in West, Texas.
The Fox converted to sound to remain viable on September 25, 1930 with The Marx Brothers in “The Coconuts” supported by the comedy short, “Whirls and Girls.” During its run, the theater survived a screen fire, a projection room fire, and the massive tornado of May 11, 1953 that caused death and destruction while destroying some of the 100 block of Third Street. Somehow the Fox was spared as the twister opened only a major hole in the Fox’s roof and decimated businesses
As then-owner W.R. Phillips was repairing the tornado-damaged roof, burglars went in during off-hours through the roof’s hole and stole the change from both the peanut vending machine and the penny scale. Undaunted, the Fox continued past its third decade of operation. It tried Spanish language films on weekdays in the late 1950s, exploitation films on weekends. The venue even had a brief run as the Mexico Theatre. The Fox initially closed following the Feb. 28, 1959 screenings of “The Curse of Frankenstein” and “Johnny Trouble.” Likely an end-of-lease situation and probably a 35-year run though could be longer for the Fox.
It used for non-cinematic purposes into the early 1960s. But it came back from non-cinematic operation in the 1960s before closing permanently on September 15, 1966 with a double-feature of “Yo, el Mujeriego” and “Suicidate mi Amor.” The building became home to a furniture store before an urban renewal demolition plan in the 1970s. At that point it became home to a parking lot; but the former theater’s location houses the Waco Chamber of Commerce built in 2008.
It looks like the final film was actually June 3, 1979 with “Children of Sanchez.”
Appears to have closed June 30, 1928 likely at the end of a 10-year leasing period with Fred Thompson in “Thundering Hoofs” supported by a Jimmie Adams comedy short.
The Lake Air Mall opened theatre-less on March 16, 1961. But three years later, the mall would rectify that was General Cinema leased what would become an outparcel building behind the mall for a single screen theater. The Cinema at Lake Air Center missed its May 30, 1965 opening by five months but finally made it November 9, 1965 opening with “The Cincinnati Kid.” The theater had 822 with a 50x22 screen.
General Cinema twinned the venue on October 12th, 1977 as the GCC Lake Air Cinema I & II. On March 23, 1984, Plitt took over the Lake Air venue. Cineplex Odeon bought Plitt in December of 1985. Cineplex Odeon decided against a renewal of its 25-year lease in November of 1990 moving on from the property on November 15, 1990.
Waco’s Herman DeLeon reopened the venue after Cineplex Odeon . DeLeon relaunched November 23, 1990 as the Lake Air Cinema Dollar Movies I & II with “Flatliners” and “Postcards from the Edge.” It flatlined quickly but former Cineplex Union Projectionists reopened it on March 8, 1991 with “Ghost” and “Hunt for Red October.”
The Lake Air Cinema closed again on May 9, 1991. only to be relaunched by Arlington, Texas-based CineMagic Theatres on March 19, 1993 with a new look lobby. CineMagic vanished in June of 1998. Henry Harlow took the baton breathing life into the Lake Air until April 25, 1999 when it finally closed permanently with “A Bug’s Life” and “Prince of Egypt.” The Lake Air Cinema building joined the parking lot brigade - demolished in May and June of 2004 to make way for Target parking.
Cinemas Southwest Theatre Circuit opened the Diamond Point Theatre on September 27, 1974 with “That’s Entertainment” and “Walking Tall.” It was the first twin and the first theater built in Waco since 1965. The circuit would open the Ivy Square twin three weeks later in Baylor. The seating capacity of each Diamond Point screen was identical at 273 in the 6,500 square foot facility. Waco Mayor Oscar DuConge was there for the opening along with Z.F. Cook, head of Cinemas Southwest. Both the Diamond Point and Ivy Square theaters were automated and were originally supposed to have opened under the American Automated Theatres Circuit out of Oklahoma City.
Cinemark took on the Diamond Point as the Cinemark Diamond Point Theatres 2 on December 12, 1979. Plitt Theatres took on the location on March 14, 1980 when it purchased the Cinemark chain as it was at that point renaming here as the Diamond Point Theatre I & II. It then moved from Plitt to Cineplex Odeon when Cineplex bought Plitt in December of 1985. Cineplex renamed the venue as the Diamond Point Twin Cinemas I & II.
Carmike took over the Waco Square Six and Cinema Richland Mall 1 & 2 in 1992 leaving Cineplex with the Richland Mall 3&4 and the Diamond Point. Cineplex closed up the Diamond Point after Labor Day 1992 with the managers of the Cineplex Odeon venue taking it on independently as the Diamond Point Theatre. The independent operators closed the Diamond Point permanently on January 16, 1994 with “My Life” and “Jurassic Park.” And Cineplex Odeon had left the marketplace in July of 1993 leaving the Richland Mall 3&4 behind.
Closed permanently on January 16, 1994 with “My Life” and “Jurassic Park.”
August 8, 1997 grand opening ad for the Hollywood Jewell in Waco
Closed by Lightstone Theatres as a deep discount movie house with 99 cent shows on June 6, 1982 with “Chariots of Fire.”
At this address was Joseph Michel’s Hall / Michel’s Hall (1907-1911), Prospect Hall (1911), Zimmerman’s Hall (1912-1914). The estate of John Frank Crawford built the Crawford likely incorporating some elements of the existing building. The new Crawford Theatre opened late in 1914 as an 800-seat movie house. Louis H. Gold of Gold Theatres took on the venue from the Crawford family in 1920 renaming it as the Treat Theatre after Newark co- founder, Robert Treat.
Gold continued it as a film theater and also converted the venue to sound to keep it viable. Orange Theatre Corp. took on the venue and sued both Brandt Circuit and Rayherstz in 1940 for antitrust violations claiming that they were denied quality second-run features (they ultimately lost the case of Orange Theatre Corp. v Rayherstz Amusement in 1943). A 1954 advertisement for a free showing of “From Here to Eternity” overwhelmed the theater. Operator Lewis Tortoriello had to call in the police and fire department to remove folks.
The Treat moved from Hollywood fare to porno chic rated “X” films in the 1970s getting charged with obscenity counts along its journey. It rebranded to the Cameo Theatre which moves from a grind policy of “X” rated films to unrated “XXX” adult films in the home video era of the 1980s ultimately operating as a twin-screen facility to its August 22, 2010 closure.
As best as can be determined, this is the timeline of this venue.
Opened as the Jobson Opera House on October 31, 1889. By 1897, Col. F.W. Blees takes over and calls it the Blees Theatre. Harry E. Logan took on the venue continuing as the Logan Theatre on August 12, 1909 with the live play, “Casino Girls” . Motion pictures were later added to the live mix with the theatre becoming primarily known for motion pictures.
This is where things become a bit tricky. The Logan goes dark late in 1918 and very briefly reopens in a new location in 1919. On October 3, 1919, the original Logan was taken over by W.D. Woods of Kansas City. The Princess Theatre launched on October 11, 1919 with “His Majesty, Bunker Bean” and listed as “formerly the Logan.” The short-lived Logan location became the original location of the Grand Theatre. The original Grand opened in July of 1919 – it, too, was also listed as “formerly the Logan.”
On January 1, 1923, the Princess under new owners relaunched as the Yale Theatre with “My Old Kentucky Home.” After closing in June of 1923, the venue relaunched under J. Earl Hayes as the Royal Theatre on August 25, 1923 likely with the film, “Wife in Name Only.” Hayes sells out to R.W. Rice after just a week. The Royal Theatre’s “ghost sign” /outside advertisement was maintained into the 21st Century.
On January 1, 1930, the theatre became the Dickinson Theatre installing RCA sound and converting the interior to a Moorish architectural design. The first film was Belle Baker in “Song of Love.” Dickinson sold his interest in the theatre and one of his employees took on the house. Under new operation, it re-launched October 28, 1936 as the long-running Macon Theatre. In 2004, the facility became live theatre opening its first season as the Maples Repertory Theatre.
That all may be incorrect but it’s the best timeline based on the local papers and the trade press.
Rebooted by Daniel Theater owner Daniel G. Bernstein on May 15, 1951 as the Roxy Theatre with “Kansas Riders” and “Mystery Submarine.”
The Gem Theatre became the Gem Cinema moving from English to Spanish language films on April 30, 1954 with “Susana” and “Ana Galena en Mexico.” After reverting to the Cinema Theatre moniker, the venue closed permanently with “Micaballo Prieto Revelde” and “Mi Esposa me Comprende” on September 7, 1969. Five years later it was still vacant and offered for sale. It was later demolished.
The State Theatre closed for the season on June 15, 1959 with “Ghost of Crossbones Canyon” and “Never Love a Stranger” with a hopeful message of, “See you next fall.” That wasn’t meant to be. The building became home to an auto dealer in 1960.
Cinemark left at the end of lease on August 26, 2024. It was rebranded as the Seneca Starvue with a soft launch on September 6, 2024 and a grand opening on September 25, 2024.
Website - https://senecastarvue.com/home
William Hamilton and William D. Grumbley reopened the theatre on January 17, 1964. On Christmas, 1,000 patrons showed up for the Theatrofilm concert, “The T.A.M.I. Show.” Unfortunately, a riot caused by a knife wielding teenager made the December 25, 1964 showing the final for the Michigan Theatre.
The Jeffers Theatre launched in 1902. On September 25, 1915, the venue switched from live plays to film reopening as the Jeffers-Strand Theatre with Edith Story in “The Island of Regeneration.” That didn’t work out well so it switched to vaudeville in 1916. The Jeffers-Strand Theatre turned to live plays and closed January 5, 1929 with a play. It remained empty until its signage was removed in 1932. I don’t believe it ever operated as the Strand Theatre.
The Goff Block was a three-story brick building that housed the Jeffers turned Strand Theatre long after the venue closed.
The Wolverine Theatre was dropped after its second 20-year lease by Butterfield Theatres. It closed permanently on April 27, 1952 with “Father’s Little Dividend” and “Breakthrough.” The theatre was redeveloped for retail in 1954.
Closed following the May 10, 1953 double feature of The Lion and the Horse and Moonlight Bay. It was converted to an upholstery shop soon thereafter.
The Marr celebrated its 20th Anniversary but limped to a close three years later shutting after a double features of “Let No Man Write My Epitaph” and “The Wild One” on May 14, 1961. A week later it became a house of worship for the Gethsemane Evangelical Luthern Church. It has been converted to a multi-occupant business center still in use in the 2020s.
After a soft launch that lasted a period of time, the formal opening of Janes Theatre took place on December 27, 1934 with Joe E. Brown in “The Circus Clown.” Janes Theater veteran Frank D. Brown closed up on June 23, 1957 with “Loophole” and “Star of Texas.” It then became a house of worship called the House of Corinthian Church / Corinthian Missionary Baptist Church. In the 2020s, it was home to the Emmanuel Church of Deliverance.
Closed March 2, 1952 with “Kon-Tiki”. Was remodeled for two storefronts in 1955 in Milton’s Clothes and Boston’s Shoes.
Final showtimes: April 3, 1955 with “The Nebraskan” and “Drums of Tahiti.”
The new-build Franklin Theatre opened with vaudeville on January 25, 1915 - and was sold out weeks prior to its launch.