Palms Theatre

I was 13-years-old the first time I walked into the Palms Theater, in Sugar Land (now spelled Sugarland), Texas, was in 1975. My family and I saw the movie Doc Savage, starring Ron Ely. I saw many movies at the Palms, including the original Star Wars, which played at the Palms in 1977 for almost half of a year.

The Palms Theater had double-sided neon marques, (and Iâ€\m told once had a neon mural of palm trees on the right side of the building, the scraps were later kept in storage), a Deco neon post which stood on top of the building, and had a large flower planter in front of the large plate glass window in the front. Its exterior was painted white and had the same classic styling which most small town theaters of the time period had. The inside lobby featured wood, aluminum and glass, post 1930s Deco styling. It was also one of the only theaters in the Houston area at the time which had a true (standing) womanâ€\s urinal. Inside, the theater had both floor and balcony seating; a large perforated screen (which theater could look through at the audience and observe during a show); a large stage area in front of the screen; large red velvet curtains, which open and shut for each performance; a curved Deco ceiling with recessed (non visible) white neon which illumined the ceiling of airbrushed clouds against a painted blue sky, and the walls on either side of the inside of the theater were painted with murals of south sea islands with palm trees. The paintings were done by a man (with one leg) named Schubert, who painted all the murals at Tercar owned theaters during ownership, and worked for Tercar from 1945 until at least 1989, when the Palms was converted into a duplex Theater. I know, because I spoke with him about the murals, having always admired them. The projection booths, until the 1980 refit, contained to early 1950s, carbon arc 35mm film projectors.

I worked at the Palms Theater from August 1976 until about 1979. D.P. Morton was the manager of the Palms, and his wife Winnie, the Box Office attendant, both ran the theater until 1979, when they retired. I was 14 years old when Mr. Morton hired me for the concessions stand (for minimum wage, which was a whopping $1.25 per hour!), and I later worked as doorman (and for a short time as a projectionist, but couldnâ€\t stand the seclusion, and the nightmarish environment of a post WWII projection boothâ€"hey, I was 15-years-old). Sadly, the Mortons have both passed on but they will always have a special place in my heart. I still keep in contact with many friends who also worked at the Palms during that time.

During my time there, I met my high school sweetheart through a friend who worked at the Palms, and we’ve been happily married since June of 1981. I retired from the Air Force after 22 years and now work as a civil service 3D modeler and animator working for the US Navy. If any of you out there, at any time in the past 60+ years, worked at, or have pictures of the Palms Theater, I am currently looking for photographs in order to produce a 3D restoration. I would also be interested in being a part of any historic project to purchase the land and rebuild the Palms Theater in its original position as a historical monument and or cultural center for the city of Sugarland, Texas. If anyone has any information about the Palms, the Mortons, or pictures the Palms Theater, please post them here or contact me at: Thanks!

They are going to be replicating the Palms Theater in Sugar Land. Not in its' original location, but nearby I’m told. The refinery will also be refurbished and used for other purposes. Very exciting. At least they aren’t demolishing it like they did to the Palms.

Kayzer: I learned this information from my parents who are friends with Bruce Kelly of Sugar Land, one of the persons researching and acquiring information about old Sugar Land to give to the developers who are heading up this project. There was also a local news broadcast about it. I believe during the summer or just before. Everything is still in the developmental stage.

Mr. Kelley,

Bruce is just someone from Sugar Land who is involved in preserving its history. He has been going to all the older residents who have lived there and getting info on old Sugar Land. He and his family have just always been very involved in and around Sugar Land. I am told that he would appreciate any input. This is his email address:

The Palms Theatre was the birthplace of many special memories for me and my children. In the 1970s, one of our favorite summer pasttimes was to go to the Palms and chomp down on hot dogs, popcorn, and candy as we sat back and watched our favorite flicks. We still talk about going back and forth between the two screens to watch Star Wars on one screen and Grease on the other. Call it crazy, but we saw Stars Wars 7 ½ times and Grease 6 times—all at the Palms! I still get teary eyed each time I pass by and see the vacant lot; but, at the same time, I am filled with warm thoughts of the happy times shared by a mom and her children.