Alpha Theatre

221 Clifton Street,
Waco, TX 76704

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Additional Info

Styles: Streamline Moderne

Nearby Theaters

Alpha Theatre - Waco Tx Closed

The Alpha Theatre was opened in 1947 and operated to around 1970. Opened in Waco (still semi-called historically ‘Six Shooter Junction’ at the time) by residents; Heyward Weaver Jr.(1921-2005), Edward D. Bonner Jr.(1919-1986) and George L. Pryor(1918-1963), ex-GI’s returning home from World War II.

The Alpha Theatre was predominately the only African-American theatre in Waco other than the Gem Theatre (but, only for a period of time until the Gem Theatre closed). The Alpha Theatre was designated a Texas Historic Landmark in 2022.

Contributed by Randy A Carlisle - RAC Photography

Recent comments (view all 4 comments)

CSWalczak
CSWalczak on October 10, 2012 at 5:33 am

Some additional historical detail about the the Alpha and a picture of it when was operating can be read and seen here.

dallasmovietheaters
dallasmovietheaters on June 21, 2015 at 2:05 am

The $35,000 Alpa Theatre opened in 1947 and got its name from a nearly twenty year old restaurant called the Alpha Café which moved from Austin Avenue to the 219 Clifton next to the Alpha Theater. The east-side Alphas served locals in the African American business district and marketed to the nearby Paul Quinn College student population. The area was served by the last-remaining electrified streetcar line upon opening.

The theater closed during what was likely a 20 year lease and was vacant for a period. The Alpha Café became the Alpha Grill which out survived its neighbor with live jazz music until the early 1970s. The theater became a hair products factory in 1976 when the building was renovated and received a slight extension. Its longest period was vacant with stored junk for a lengthy period. Cleaned up in 2015 for potential renovation as children’s theater and community center. It can be listed as renovating.

Jake Bottero
Jake Bottero on May 12, 2021 at 11:22 pm

As of 2019, it was still disused for anything at all.

rivest266
rivest266 on June 23, 2023 at 6:06 am

Closed or placed its last listings in 1962. It has been recently taken over by the Just as I am ministries to be used as an “Musical & Theatrical Arts Center for Youth”

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