The restoration is nearly done. Looks great inside and out. A few finishing touches to be done but it is operational and is lovely to look at. See photos at
https://flic.kr/p/BUU7TZ
The Nixon theater was torn down so this vacant lot is where it used to be. You can still see the ceramic tile flooring on the ground and the outline of the stadium seating isles on the wall of the building next to it. 219 N. Nixon Ave.
Here is a photo taken the night the new blade was lite. We celebrated the new blade along with our 100th birthday. Originally opened Oct. 11, 1915. The blade lighting event was Sept 23, 2015. https://flic.kr/p/z3VmuG
Don’s photo is how the theater looks now after restoration. It opened, as far as I know, as the UPTOWN. Don’t know when it was renamed “The Marble” but it was operated by Gene and Susan Spitzer until it closed circa 2003. The facing on the Marble was removed as seen in my photos, that’s how it looked before restoration.
As of 9Jun2014, the theater has 2 a/c units and 2 new exits on each of the north and south sides of the building with a sidewalk linking them back to the front of the theater. Also, in 2013 a Texas Historical Marker was set in front of the building. It sure looks nice now. Current photos added under the “photos” tab above. Also it looks like neon was added to the face of the building around the sides and top of the face.
Here is a set of photos I took of the drive in. Not sure of the year but I think it was approx 1981 or 1982. Was surprised to see (on google maps) that the tower is still standing.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/12335678@N00/sets/72157644544234163/
Still seems to be up in the air. The guy that owns it now has plans but many other irons in the fire. Might be more of a live event center in the future. But, who knows?
Above location photo in this neighborhood is north of the area where the theater was. This is the entrance to the drive in. You can see the old marquee in the distance. https://www.google.com/maps?ll=31.092445,-97.925922&spn=0.00369,0.003449&t=h&z=18&layer=c&cbll=31.092445,-97.925922&panoid=LqWpqbteSj6CnfJO9nu2Uw&cbp=12,121.7,,0,7.84
Looks like the tower and concession/booth/house is still there as seen on Google. (Jan 7 ‘14) https://www.google.com/maps?ll=31.090613,-97.921633&spn=0.001845,0.001725&t=h&z=19
As I recall, there were 3 theaters in a row on the right side of the building as you faced it in front. There was a central larger screen and 2 on the left side of the building. The building was pretty odd looking. It looked as if there were 4 inside theaters and then 2 more added later.
My friend and I visited the complex back in May of 1999. The back door of the drive in booth was open and we looked around. Vandals had pretty much destroyed what they could up stairs and downstairs in the main lobby/theater area. It was sickening to see this. So much so I didn’t even think of taking photos inside. As you can almost see, the Drive in screens had been disused for so long that pine trees had grown up in the lot and vines were growing across the screens. The projectors in part of the booth where there was room were turned over. Very sad end to a useful theater no doubt.
I’ve posted a few outside photos here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/12335678@N00/sets/72157639536196865/
This is the first picture I’ve seen of this theater. I wonder if it burned? The lot is empty except for the foundation of the theater through the mid 80’s.
To Pawnshop, it is both a movie theater and live theater now. We have a roll down screen and can do digital presentations there now. The blade out front has been restored and turned back on in the first week of Oct. 2013. New neon tubes, wiring and cleaned up and polished face of the blade.
Pulled some booth shifts here in the early to mid 70’s. It was a great booth. Almost as good as the Americana. Trans-Texas was good to work for and had some good friends there.
Photo was taken in the early 70’s before closure. I showed some films there as a relief operator in the early 70'. Nice drive in. There are other photos of the theater on either side of the above link.
To rdk, it may have played older films towards the end and also showed repertory films but, up until the mid 70’s, they did show first run. The first film I projected there was new to Austin. STRAW DOGS then THE LAST PICTURE SHOW the next day. Showed and saw a lot of first run films there.
The Grand reopened Nov. 22, 2016. https://www.yoakumgrandtheater.com/
I worked there in the mid 70’s and that rendering on the facebook page looks very much like the building itself.
The restoration is nearly done. Looks great inside and out. A few finishing touches to be done but it is operational and is lovely to look at. See photos at https://flic.kr/p/BUU7TZ
The Nixon theater was torn down so this vacant lot is where it used to be. You can still see the ceramic tile flooring on the ground and the outline of the stadium seating isles on the wall of the building next to it.
219 N. Nixon Ave.
Here is a photo taken the night the new blade was lite. We celebrated the new blade along with our 100th birthday. Originally opened Oct. 11, 1915. The blade lighting event was Sept 23, 2015. https://flic.kr/p/z3VmuG
Patsy, we get our new blade this fall in time for the centennial. It will be a new replica of the original blade.
Taken when the theater was still the Majestic as it was opened.
Don’s photo is how the theater looks now after restoration. It opened, as far as I know, as the UPTOWN. Don’t know when it was renamed “The Marble” but it was operated by Gene and Susan Spitzer until it closed circa 2003. The facing on the Marble was removed as seen in my photos, that’s how it looked before restoration.
The building was torn down and the lot cleared this summer. It’s all gone including the building across the street from it.
photos of the building by the local paper before destruction in the 2nd week of Aug 2014.
http://www.caller.com/news/building-our-future/melba-theatre
As of 9Jun2014, the theater has 2 a/c units and 2 new exits on each of the north and south sides of the building with a sidewalk linking them back to the front of the theater. Also, in 2013 a Texas Historical Marker was set in front of the building. It sure looks nice now. Current photos added under the “photos” tab above. Also it looks like neon was added to the face of the building around the sides and top of the face.
John
Here is a set of photos I took of the drive in. Not sure of the year but I think it was approx 1981 or 1982. Was surprised to see (on google maps) that the tower is still standing. https://www.flickr.com/photos/12335678@N00/sets/72157644544234163/
To Scott, yes, they kept part of the building. Not sure how much because of the added features. See this link. http://www.slackerwood.com/node/3877
Still seems to be up in the air. The guy that owns it now has plans but many other irons in the fire. Might be more of a live event center in the future. But, who knows?
The street address is for the shopping center but the theater actually faces at 10151 Old Jollyville Rd. according to the map.
Originally the General Cinema Corp. Great Hills 8 which closed in the fall of 2000. It opened in July of 1989.
Above location photo in this neighborhood is north of the area where the theater was. This is the entrance to the drive in. You can see the old marquee in the distance. https://www.google.com/maps?ll=31.092445,-97.925922&spn=0.00369,0.003449&t=h&z=18&layer=c&cbll=31.092445,-97.925922&panoid=LqWpqbteSj6CnfJO9nu2Uw&cbp=12,121.7,,0,7.84
Looks like the tower and concession/booth/house is still there as seen on Google. (Jan 7 ‘14) https://www.google.com/maps?ll=31.090613,-97.921633&spn=0.001845,0.001725&t=h&z=19
As I recall, there were 3 theaters in a row on the right side of the building as you faced it in front. There was a central larger screen and 2 on the left side of the building. The building was pretty odd looking. It looked as if there were 4 inside theaters and then 2 more added later.
My friend and I visited the complex back in May of 1999. The back door of the drive in booth was open and we looked around. Vandals had pretty much destroyed what they could up stairs and downstairs in the main lobby/theater area. It was sickening to see this. So much so I didn’t even think of taking photos inside. As you can almost see, the Drive in screens had been disused for so long that pine trees had grown up in the lot and vines were growing across the screens. The projectors in part of the booth where there was room were turned over. Very sad end to a useful theater no doubt.
I’ve posted a few outside photos here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/12335678@N00/sets/72157639536196865/
This is the first picture I’ve seen of this theater. I wonder if it burned? The lot is empty except for the foundation of the theater through the mid 80’s.
The above photo was taken circa Aug 1999. Wish I could have seen the inside.
To Pawnshop, it is both a movie theater and live theater now. We have a roll down screen and can do digital presentations there now. The blade out front has been restored and turned back on in the first week of Oct. 2013. New neon tubes, wiring and cleaned up and polished face of the blade.
Pulled some booth shifts here in the early to mid 70’s. It was a great booth. Almost as good as the Americana. Trans-Texas was good to work for and had some good friends there.
ndeed, it is BURNET with one “T”. Here is a better copy of my photo submitted by Mr. Cohen. See this link.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/12335678@N00/4566152431/in/set-72157613251270508
Photo was taken in the early 70’s before closure. I showed some films there as a relief operator in the early 70'. Nice drive in. There are other photos of the theater on either side of the above link.
To rdk, it may have played older films towards the end and also showed repertory films but, up until the mid 70’s, they did show first run. The first film I projected there was new to Austin. STRAW DOGS then THE LAST PICTURE SHOW the next day. Showed and saw a lot of first run films there.
John