25th Street Theatre
1006 N. 25th Street,
Waco,
TX
76707
1006 N. 25th Street,
Waco,
TX
76707
9 people
favorited this theater
Showing 126 - 150 of 164 comments
“that which we persist in doing becomes easier for us to do. not that the nature of the thing itself has changed, but our power to do it has increased” – emerson
This is good to know. I definitely would not want to hurt someones' memory. 25th is definitley about the good memories and pictures. I would love to share good times with anyone. The 80’s were the best especially when 25th was open. me and my sister used to sneak to Waco to go and there were many times that my dad would come looking for us in an old cowboy hat, some ruff clothes and old lawn mowing cowboy boots. How can anyone forget that? Anyway, I’m sure that many of us know each other by face, but that was quite a while back. Maybe someone can put together a 25th club kid reunion. LOL!
hello all you x-heads,
this is robert-bob. i am sure that any of you out there in the ether net who partied at 25th will certainly remember me. i have often wondered over the years if anybody used to sit back and think of 25th and me like i have thought about all of you. there are just a few of “us” who are personally connected to 25th and richard olsen, such a myself, big richard, jake vanek, chris pinero, christopher carrow, keith lindemann, michael sullivan, thurman jackson. i knew little richard for over ten years and indeed, part of my soul is missing since he was murdered. with that said, there is nothing that should stand in the way of this grand ol' lady from being demolished if the only way to save it is through little richard’s father. little richard would never want us to save this building if it meant that we had to go to his father. it is an abomination that richard’s father is somehow involved in the effort to save 25th from being demolished. i tell you right here, right now that little richard himself would push the button to dynamite the building before he would have his father involved. this is just the plain truth. it is hard to hear. but if little richard’s father is involved in the effort to save 25th, we must all abandon efforts to save it. it IS what little richard would want us all to do. we all have our memories and they will last our lifetimes. i appeal to all of you, please have nothing to do with saving 25th if it means that little richard’s father is involved with the effort. thank you – thank you very much.
Oh My gosh! I stumbled upon this website and I am so happy that others feel the same way as me about 25th St. I cried when I heard they were going to tear it down. I miss everything about 25th St. the club in general, the music, the friends and the excitement. Anyway, I would love to see the old videos and see old pictures. I am going to try to look for my old pictures. I am ready to help in whatever way to save this place. Trina and Kelly, Hello! Anyone else who remembers me, please get in touch!
As a resident of this neighborhood, married to a native of this neighborhood who has fond memories of movies at the 25th, I would love to see this theater revived. From a purely commercial standpoint as a small business owner, I think it would help revitalize the neighborhood commercially. Look at the downtown area.
KennaD,
You won’t remember me by name, but YOU, my dear, are unforgettable. It’s so nice to read your kind words. You obviously understand what the 25th Street Theater represented on a more sublime level – not just a nightclub, but a place for misfits like us to find companionship and acceptance. Such was Little Richard’s heart – larger than life, always wanting to help others. Big Richard was the silent partner in that outward expression of compassion. Jake, Rob-Bob and I have been exchanging numerous messages these last few weeks. It has been a sort of therapy, exorcising all the old ghosts. All of us took Richard’s murder very personally. We never had the chance to thank him for everything he did for us. This forum is such a blessing for all of us. It is so good to hear from any and all the regulars (and irregulars!) from that period. Please send me an e-mail message to the following address: I have a link to some of Richard’s favorite music I’d like to share with you.
Chris P
Richard-
I wanted to add to my earlier comment a little “thank you” for letting me come in every Friday and Saturday night. You didn’t have to but I think you kind of understood that most of us who came to your doors seeking shelter from an otherwise boring an lothsome teenage experience, you let us in. We or at least my friends and I respected that and never did anything illegal within a few blocks of the club. Anyway, without getting all hokey on ya, literally, I would not be here today if that club had not been available to me as a teen and young adult. Many Thanks!!
Kenna
It’s so comforting to know that some of the beautiful people who used to frequent the club are still that way, beautiful, kind and interested in reviving/saving this local treasure. As one of the “under-age regulars”, I’m in my 30’s now, I was there even on the nights when the place was virtually empty, you see, being a mature, rather strange 15 year old, I had no where else to go. I found many friends there and I was accepted, this place was a constant for me for many years. It is very dear to me and I’m very interested in doing what ever I can to help. Jake, I’ve emailed you. BTW, Has anyone contacted KXXV about possibly getting the tapes from that 25th Dimension Show? It used to come on Sunday nights, remember, most of the footage was taken when the house was packed wall to wall, might be worth looking into.
Jake: I e-mailed you.
Richard
Oh My God!!! Big Richard how in the hell are you doing? I hope all is well with you. All is good with me.
I have returned to Waco and found out the status of the 25th, and with luck have met Mr. Olsen and another man who is trying to get things done. So far the progress is going good, but tons more needs to be done. Please email me at
Richard would be happy to know that he had so many friends who love him and cherish his memory.
Richard Keiffer, (Big Richard)
Yes the sketch was still in that room against the wall, but it has been moved to a dryer spot on the stage, surprisingly its the driest area of the theatre….the rest of the upstairs is a complete mess. Lots of water damage from the roof leaking over the years. The brunt of the water damage is in the auditorium. The mural is pretty much gone. As is the plaster which has collapsed all the way down to the brick. Several spots on the ceiling the plaster has fallen. But the roof is still in one piece, and is in no danger of going anywhere as is the rest of the structure. As I mentioned on April 30, 2004: there is something in the works and I am proud to be apart of it, but am limited on what I can let “leak” out.
hey chris, the sketch of the mural was traced by consuelo and another woman. the plastic sheets were rolled up and put in the marque letter/number room upstairs next to the projection room. after richard’s murder, andy and big richard came to 25th to clear out all the video editting equipment to bring it up to arcadia in dallas. the last i knew, the mural tracings were still in that room along with some old records, etc.
The last owner of the 25th Street Theatre in Waco was Little Richard…one of the kindest men I have ever known. I think many folks' comments here are really a tribute to Richard Olson, not to a simple brick and mortar structure. [Jake, Rob-Bob, good to know you two are still alive. (hee-hee)] I don’t know how the 25th Street Theatre can realistically be brought back to life. It would require someone with the dedication, experience and money such as our mousie once had. I completely agree with the historical value placed on this structure, but it would require some serious capital investment to restore this building to even safe occupancy levels – much less into a show-place. I would personally dedicate time and effort to such a project, but I think a more fitting project would be some sort of tribute to Richard, not trying to re-create a party place in the middle of a gang-war…ask Ray Talley what he thinks…is he still around? I miss all my friends (and a few of the enemies, too) from those days. Maybe we can collect our stories about that time and write a fitting tribute to the man who brought all of us together? We can never re-create those glory days, but we can help others better understand a man who was terribly mis-understood, even after his death. Richard Carl Olson was buried in a grave near my grand-parent’s in a cemetery in Houston. I attended his funeral along with Ken and Kris and some of Richard’s family. Believe me, they had no idea what a kind soul and heart Richard had. Instead of trying to find another party room, let’s pay tribute to one of my personal heroes: Richard Carl Olson.
Chris P. heydj23-outerlimits at yahoo dot com
p.s. Hi Jake! Hi Rob-Bob!…. stop that wallerin'!! (just kidding)
p.p.s. I’m looking for the few photos of the 25th Street I do have. You remember the scketch mousie had made of the mural? I wonder where that is??!!
SOMETHING MAJOR IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN, AND IT ISNT DEMOLITION…..I WILL KEEP EVERYONE POSTED AS EVENTS UNFOLD.
NEW WEBSITE DEDICATED TO THE PRESERVATION OF THIS THEATRE
http://25thstreettheatrewaco.org/
Mr. Miller, I am deeply touched by your comment. Please contact me ASAP, I need someone like you that has as much love and appreciation for this as me to join my team and get something done.
or
You know, those of us who are old enough to have been hanging out at the theater in its glory days are old enough to realize the building’s historical significance. I know that there are those folks out there who might think that this is a silly “cause” or a futile effort, but those folks just don’t understand what it meant to grow up with that theater. I can’t even remember how many movies I saw there as a child. My Mom remarked the other day about how she and Dad used to take me there when I was a baby and sit in the soundproof room for parents with children. To grow up with that majestic building…and then be able to enjoy it after it became the best damned club that this town has ever seen (or is likely to EVER see) was like a gift. Those who have memories of this place (in whatever form) should realize its significance to the community, no matter what neighborhood it’s in. I agree with Jake that downtown Waco was a MESS before the city got off its high horse to do
something about it. I know that all of the historical homes in this city are important, but does the Historical Waco Foundation REALLY have to spend all of its time and effort on those? Does the City REALLY need to build another park or add another mile to the Riverwalk? I remember when this place was open as a club how people from Dallas and Austin used to come HERE to go dancing. The City keeps saying how it wants to attract more tourism…how about helping to bring this place back to its former glory…as a theater, museum or whatever?
what is your email info edward and i’ll send you Mr. Olsen’s address.
I will be writing a letter to him myself in an effort to get him to either sell it or Donate it, possibly to myself, then start a fund-raiser to at least get it back up to code, then go from there.
My intentions for it would be for private functions, plays, pageants, reunions, etc, then possibly branching out in other areas.
Everyone I have told my ideas to think it would work but there is only one problem…….The Buildings ownership.
Jake, the building definitely seems worth preserving. The sign is great and worth relighting in itself. (even if the building is used for an alternate purpose) Mr. Olsen needs to be convinced of the importance of preserving this building. It is often difficult to convince people that post-war theatres are equally as important as early examples.
hey trina … remember downtown was a dump before they restored the HIPPODROME.
i have started a webpage devoted to it, heres the link
http://hometown.aol.com/savethe25th/index.html
Hey Rob Bob…it’s Trina! How have you been sweetie? I ran into Jake and he wants to organize something to save the old theater. It has had a red sticker on it for some time now. With the neighborhood it is located I really don’t think the ladies who lunch will be very interested in this project. But who knows…it is always worth a try.
Hopefully there is still time to save this.
Here is updated information on what I first posted.
The 25th Street Theatre opened in November of 1945, the first movie to be played was “Thrill of a Romance”, with Van Johnson & Esther Williams. Admission was 40 cents on Friday and Saturday Nights,30 cents for weekday matinees and 12 cents for children all the time.
Interstate Theatres built and operated it.
It contained 780 seats but after 2 screen enlargements dropped the number down to 646, not the 900 that I originaly posted, that was the occupancy rating when it was a club.
When she opened in 45, she was considered the “NEWEST AND MOST MODERN OF ITS KIND”, complete with aircondtioning & state of the art sound equipment.
The Charioteers Mural that adore the Theatre walls were designed by Eugene Gilbo.
Some of the movies that played there include, STAR WARS, GONE WITH THE WIND (rereleased in the 60s), OLD YELLER (which held Waco attendance records for many years and still might), and BAMBI (the LAST film played there when it closed as a theatre in July 1982).
I am trying to compile as much Historical data on this building and then present it to the City Of Waco and try to get it designated as a Landmark, in an effort to stop demoltion.
my email is
I have some pictures of Keith and Thurman.