Rig Theatre
213-215 E. Hendricks Boulevard,
Wink,
TX
79789
213-215 E. Hendricks Boulevard,
Wink,
TX
79789
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Griffith Amusement Company
Architects: Gates Corgan
Nearby Theaters
The Rig Theatre was built by Griffith Amusements in 1928, and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2003. The theatre is awaiting re-use, although the building does not appear to be in the best shape.
Contributed by
Ken McIntyre
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Recent comments (view all 7 comments)
Here is another link:
http://tinyurl.com/gsapn
I like the oil rig over the canopy in the vintage photo,very interesting.
Yes,the oil rig was neat,guess it just in time fell apart.
The NRHP Registration Form for the Rig Theatre says that the house was built for the Griffith Amusement Company in 1928. Given that it was a Griffith house and built that year, it was almost certainly designed and built by Oklahoma City architect/contractor Gates Corgan, who handled over 100 projects for Griffith by 1939.
The NRHP form has a nice early exterior photo of the house. There is also a photo of the first band of Wink native Roy Orbison. There are plans to restore the Rig as a live performance venue in conjunction with the Roy Orbison museum.
We’re on GoFundMe now, so spread the word please and contribute what you can. The Rig Theater will shortly be a great destination with your help.
Billboard, May 16, 1953: “Paul W. Gay has taken over management of … the Rig Theater, Wink, Tex. He replaces Frank Love Jr., who is retiring.”
The Rig was the childhood cinema of singer/songwriter Roy Orbison. He also played there with his bands the Teen Kings and the Wink Westerners. Graffiti from 1951 by Roy and his friends was found in the stairway to the balcony in 1999 and was placed in the Roy Orbison Museum. It was hoped that the theatre would reopen and the museum relocated to the lobby. Sadly it did not.