Crown Theatre

dallasmovietheaters on June 8, 2015 at 8:13 pm

Located at 110 S. Cuyler Street in the former and flagship Standard Food Market, Phillip C. Crown took on the building as Standard would move a block to the north. Opening Nov. 27, 1936 with the Olsen & Johnson comedy, “The Country Gentlemen,” Pathé Newsreel, Major Bowes short, and “Robinson Crusoe” serial short, the 540-seat theater was underway. It was Pampa’s fourth theater but first non Griffith Amusement Circuit operation. Crown Theaters had various locations in Oklahoma and Texas. The $25,000 theater had an initial ten-year lease and was modest but had a fully-equipped stage.

On May 29, 1938, the Crown hosted a broadcast about the forthcoming “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” explaining multiplane technicolor. The film would show twice at the Crown, once in initial release and once in repertory. The theater closed for several months in 1942 for a remodeling. It was then closed shortly thereafter and acquired by the Griffith Amusement Circuit including new upholstery and screen. The management urged patrons to not abuse the furniture as the “pinch” of the War would make updating a challenge. They would re-up for another 10-year lease, the final for the Crown. On December 8, 1949, Video Independent Theatres (VIT) Circuit bought the Griffith Theaters including the Crown.

Continuing on as manager, VIT’s Paul West announced the closing of the Crown occurring on April 15, 1955. The chain opting not to renew the lease coming due. The employees switched to the new Pampa Drive-In that was having its grand opening the next night. Initially, the Crown was going to simply take summer hiatuses while the Drive-In was open but that plan was scuttled. The Crown was listed thereafter with leasing information and it said, “Will remodel.” It became the regional Cretney Drug Store chain. As for the Crown, it appears that a revival to cure blindness, deafness, and the infirm on April 25, 1955 was the final event for the theater.