Alameda Theater

318 W. Houston Street,
San Antonio, TX 78205

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Showing 1 - 25 of 36 comments

Justwideman
Justwideman on August 4, 2021 at 2:19 pm

It has been sold to Texas Public Radio and they are building offices in the back. It will be along the new city water/art walk called San Pedros Creek(previously just a rain runoff ditch on the left of the building) so it will finally get some attention and admiration it has always deserved.

Prior to sale, it was pretty much derelict and referred to as the “Mexican Theatre” (for a grant it got from Mexico arts) and held some local events and non-profits for a while. Location was its demise as it is not in the main area of the other theatres like Majestic, Aztec, Empire, etc, and the Riverwalk tourist areas.

rivest266
rivest266 on January 12, 2020 at 4:08 am

Opened March 10tn, 1949. Grand opening ads posted

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on April 7, 2018 at 8:22 pm

Mid `50s photo added courtesy of Mase Mason.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on January 13, 2015 at 3:55 pm

Decorator Hanns Teichert wrote an article about the Alameda Theatre for Boxoffice. It appeared in the issue of February 4, 1950. Here are links:

First page

Second page

DR42887
DR42887 on November 11, 2014 at 3:23 pm

I wondered if anyone would know, did the Alameda theatre host talent shows a very long time ago, my dad is 86 years old and says he sang in a talent show many years ago and won second place. His only wish is a photograph of this event. Does anyone know anything about this?

Theaterbug
Theaterbug on October 21, 2012 at 3:16 pm

This site has recent photos of the interior: www.hillcountrydeco.com/theaters/alameda/

Luis Vazquez
Luis Vazquez on September 1, 2012 at 3:40 pm

Just passed the Alameda and it looks just as beautiful on the outside as the last time I was here over a year ago. Sadly, it looks just as forlorn on the inside. Looks like not a single thing has happened.

onetake
onetake on February 22, 2012 at 7:27 pm

My father, Jose Perez del Rio, mc'ed many shows at the Alameda, including the “caravanas” with many famous actors and entertainers from Mexico. When I was about 5 years old, he lifted me in his arms and took me onstage to introduce me to the audience, who I could not see because of the footlights. I spent many hours sitting near the backstage entrance watching all those wonderful movies while my Dad prepared his work. He did many things to entertain the audience between sets, including playing the part of “Dr.I.Q” and staging vaudeville type scenarios. I am very happy the Alameda remains with us now. By the way, I too became an entertainer.

BobFurmanek
BobFurmanek on September 18, 2011 at 6:23 pm

Here’s a link about the restoration of the murals: http://www.si.edu/mci/english/research/past_projects/alameda_mural.html

Luis Vazquez
Luis Vazquez on May 29, 2011 at 6:09 pm

Just stopped by the Alameda this morning. It is still just as beautiful on the outside, but the theater seems to be at a complete standstill. It looks abandoned on the inside with no sign of any activity, let alone restoration work. In the window there is a proud “proclamation” from Ford Motor Company announcing the a “sizable” donation to the restoration cause. It is dated 2005. It looks like nothing has happened since. Does anyone have any news? I assume the lights are no longer lit.

LawMann
LawMann on October 9, 2010 at 1:30 pm

I was in S.A. two years ago to visit my brother who moved down there and I saw this place from the outside. I would liked to gone inside. It looked good on the outside.

TLSLOEWS
TLSLOEWS on December 4, 2009 at 5:05 pm

Nice looking theatre, lots of neon on this place, looks great in the night shots.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on November 30, 2008 at 12:30 am

The architect for the restoration of the Alameda Theater was Killis Almond, of Killis Almond & Associates, a San Antonio, Texas, based firm specializing in the restoration of historic buildings. Click on their “Projects” link to find a link to a page about this theater, as well as links to pages about some of their other theater projects.

sarider
sarider on June 16, 2007 at 1:24 pm

The Alameda is featured in the middle portion of this clip from the News Hour with Jim Lehrer which focuses on the opening of an associated Museum of Latino Culture:

View link

sarider
sarider on April 15, 2007 at 10:22 pm

Recent photos of the exterior, including its illuminated marqee can be found at:

View link

sarider
sarider on April 15, 2007 at 10:22 pm

Recent photos of the exterior, including its illuminated marqee can be found at:

View link

Don Lewis
Don Lewis on February 26, 2007 at 7:25 pm

A close look up of the ALAMEDA’s remmarkable sign.

www.flickr.com/photos/lastpictureshow/404168174

Al Alvarez
Al Alvarez on December 25, 2006 at 10:53 am

Gents,

Please check out Rogelio Agrasanchez, Jr.’s excellent book, “Mexican Movies in the United States”.

The Alameda is the heart of the book.

Javi
Javi on September 13, 2006 at 6:34 pm

I used to go almost every weekend to this theater. I used to watch movies and see live performances from such performers as Antonio Aguilar, Cantinflas, Flor Sylvestre toname a few. to this day i still have great memories of this theater, its massive screen, Its beauty on the cellings and on the walls and giant red curtins that will lower at the end of every movie. I cant wait to revisit this theater after 40yrs since i last went. If you are in San Antonio, you should visit this theater if not for movies but for its beauty. You wont be disapointed

sarider
sarider on August 21, 2006 at 6:08 pm

Just found some links to a few photos from the interior. The first has some of the gallery that is housed in the building with some interior shots of the interior, the second link is of one of the interior murals, but it doesn’t do it justice unless you see it under the ultraviolet light, the third is of the marquee at night:

View link

View link

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dulce/34533069/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sethgaines/5609806/

Luis Vazquez
Luis Vazquez on August 20, 2006 at 2:53 pm

Thanks for letting us know!

sarider
sarider on August 20, 2006 at 12:45 pm

No, the interior murals are significant (read the earlier post!). However, as the entire interior is ungoing restoration, interior shots are not available and would not do it jjustice at this point.

Luis Vazquez
Luis Vazquez on August 16, 2006 at 9:10 am

Alameda’s web site has no interior pictures which I find quite odd. Is this theaters claim to fame all exterior?

Don Lewis
Don Lewis on July 16, 2006 at 5:07 pm

Hey Chuck!! Good to hear from you. Please give it another try.

Don

Don Lewis
Don Lewis on July 16, 2006 at 4:51 pm

Thanks for the tip sarider…it is now public.

Don