Comments about Mexia Theater in Mexia, TX

Joe Vogel on January 19, 2022 at 1:01 pm

The Mexia Theatre was in the planning stage as early as 1947, with the plans being drawn by Dallas theater architect Raymond Smith, but construction was delayed by postwar materials shortages. Boxoffice of June 28, 1948, said that construction was slated to begin as soon as long-delayed structural steel became available. Apparently there was further delay, as the recent opening of the Mexia Theatre was noted in the November 19, 1949 issue of Boxoffice. The Mexia was built for Maurice Easterling, then owner of the National and Palace Theatres in Mexia. The house opened with 680 seats.

David_Schneider on January 18, 2022 at 2:56 pm

To add to Patsy’s comment above from March 5, 2007, I watched an episode of “20/20” reviewing the life of Anna Nicole Smith broadcast on August 13th, 2021 in which her childhood friend explains to Anna Nicole’s daughter that there was little to do while growing up in Mexia and that “There’s no movie theaters”. I looked up the town on Cinema Treasures to see if there had ever been any and it appears all four were gone before her time, (though as I post this comment this page does not indicate when the Mexia Theater closed).

The episode includes Jim’s Crispy Fried Chicken as a place she had worked at as a teen and I see from Google Maps at least that is still open. : )

Wow, mine is the first comment on this page since 2008. Also it was fun responding to a comment that was left 15 years ago, and by someone who is still active on Cinema Treasures today. : )

Don Lewis on January 26, 2008 at 12:52 pm

A 1997 photo of the Mexia in Mexia.

www.flickr.com/photos/lastpictureshow/2221522670

raybradley on September 1, 2007 at 12:52 pm

To see vintage images type in word “theatre”,
View link

Patsy on March 5, 2007 at 7:23 am

Well, I couldn’t help notice this theatre in Mexia TX listed under recent comments and realize this is the same Mexia TX that one Anna Nicole Smith was from!

sabumnim on March 5, 2007 at 6:26 am

Are the seats available?

Don Lewis on February 27, 2007 at 4:14 am

A close up of a siesta at the MEXIA.
www.flickr.com/photos/lastpictureshow/404639530