Ritz Theater
715 N. Chaparral Street,
Corpus Christi,
TX
78401
715 N. Chaparral Street,
Corpus Christi,
TX
78401
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Related Websites
Ritz Theater, Corpus Christi (Official)
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Robb & Rowley-United Inc., Rowley United Theatres Inc., United Artists Theater Circuit Inc.
Architects: W. Scott Dunne
Styles: Atmospheric, Spanish Renaissance
Previous Names: Ritz Music Hall
Nearby Theaters
News About This Theater
Opened by the Robb & Rowley-United Inc. circuit on December 22, 1929 with The Duncan Sisters in “It’s a Great Life”. It was closed on May 11, 1946 to be remodeled in an Art Deco style to the plans of architect Robert L. Volger. Reopening on August 30, 1946 with Anita Louise in “Personality Kid”. Further alterations were carried out in 1953 when CinemaScope was installed. By 1957 it was operated by Rowley United Theatres Inc. It was later operated by United Artists, and they closed it as a movie theater on August 29, 1972 with Lee Van Cleef in “Return of Sabata”. It was used for concerts until 1989, hosting stars such as Bob Dylan & Willie Nelson. Later it was used for theatrical performances.
Now it is closed, but restoration work is ongoing.
Contributed by
Howard Karsh
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Recent comments (view all 25 comments)
August 2009 photo of the Ritz:
View link
From my July 2010 trip to Corpus Christi:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/aonghais/4795343338/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/aonghais/4795343102/
They have been holding a number of fundraidingevents, some of them at the theatre itself, haunted halloween and ghost hunting type events in fall of 2010.
Interesting – the Ritz has a long lobby from the street and also, straight back, a long and narrow auditorium.
A recent article about the effort to restore the Ritz, including an interior photo that will enlarge if clicked upon: View link.
The building has been listed on the 2012 list of Texas' Most Endangered Places. Here’s an article from a recent tour of the Ritz Theatre: http://www.unvisiteddallas.com/archives/1342
1970’s photo added courtesy of Derek Galvan.
8/21 not much “restoration” going on, just a mural on the southern wall. (see new pics)
grand opening ad:
Ritz theatre opening 22 Dec 1929, Sun Corpus Christi Caller-Times (Corpus Christi, Texas) Newspapers.com
The Ritz received a major interior refresh when it closed on May 11, 1946 to the plans of architect Robert L. Volger in 1946. The “new” Ritz interior was streamlined at its grand relaunch on August 30, 1946 with “Personality Kid.” In 1954, the theater’s interior received another refresh with widescreen projection to present CinemaScope film titles.
United Artists Theatres shuttered the Ritz on August 29, 1972 in “Return of Sabata.” It would become a live performance venue called the Ritz Music Hall beginning on July 27, 1974 and would host concerts by major artists including Bruce Springsteen, AC/DC, Rush, and Metallica in its 15-year run.