Rex Theater
S. Main Street,
Jal,
NM
88252
S. Main Street,
Jal,
NM
88252
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The Rex Theatre was opened in 1933. It was destroyed by fire on July 8, 1962. It was rebuilt and was still open in 1973.
Contributed by
Bryan Krefft
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Boxoffice, Aug. 6, 1962: “Word received on the (Dallas Film) Row that a fire destroyed the Rex Theatre in Jal, N. M. Bruce Wilkerson, owner, said he could attribute the fire only to faulty wiring.”
Boxoffice, July 23, 1973: “Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Norman Pender, Rex Theatre, Jal., N.M., whose daughter Lonna Ree Pender has nearly doubled her weight since her recent birth.”
Built by Griffith Theatres. The July 8, 1962 fire reportedly started in the projection booth after the last show of the day rapidly destroying the wooden building. Some folks said the fire occurred because the management was not observing the Sabbath by having two shows on Sunday.
Some history from the July 12, 1962 story in the Jal Record about the July 8 fire: “The (Rex) building was erected in 1933 and later was sold to C. C. Caldwell who operated the show and built the Panther Drive In, which he sold to (Bruce) Wilkerson and Morris Wood seven years ago. Wilkerson later purchased the two theaters from his partner.”