Reel Theatre
211 W. Broadway,
Hobbs,
NM
88240
211 W. Broadway,
Hobbs,
NM
88240
2 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Griffith Amusement Company
Architects: Jack M. Corgan, William J. Moore Jr.
Firms: Corgan & Moore
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The Reel Theatre was opened by the Griffith Amusement Company in 1937 screening Jeanette McDonald in “May Time”. The first movie that I recall seeing in a theatre was at the Reel Theatre about 1955. It was Helena Carter in “Invaders from Mars”, which is about all I can recall about the theatre. The Reel Theatre was still open in 1957.
Contributed by
Don Lewis
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Recent comments (view all 7 comments)
The Reel Theater is listed in Film Daily Yearbooks;1941 & 1943 editions as having 460 seats. In the 1950 edition of F.D.Y. as seating capacity of 816 is given.
Newspaper advertisements from August 1945 and August 1946 indicate that The Reel was operated simultaneously by the same company with another theatre in Hobbs called The Scout.
The Reel was located in the 200 block of West Broadway.
The Reel was opened in 1937 at 211 W. Broadway. The opening movie was “May Time”* starring Nelson Eddy and Janette McDonald. It was operated by Griffith Theaters.
Thanks for the update Mark!
-Don
A photo of promotional signs in front of the Reel Theater’s box office taken in the early 1940’s can be seen here.
Boxoffice, June 3, 1950: “HOBBS, N. M. – The Reel Theatre here got big publicity for its showing of "Chain Lightning” recently, when a Piper Pacer airplane flew the film to the theatre, landing in the street just in front of the Reel. Through cooperation with the police and fire departments, the street had been cleared so that the plane could land."
The Reel Theatre—or more particularly, attending the Reel—is recalled fondly in N. Scott Momaday’s “The Names”. He spent many a Saturday afternoon there as a youth in the early 40s seeing the likes of Ingrid Bergman, Lon Chaney, Jr. and Hedy Lamarr among others.