Broadway Theatre

4940 Broadway,
San Antonio, TX 78209

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Interstate Theatres Inc. & Texas Consolidated Theaters Inc.

Architects: H. F. Pettigrew, John A. Worley

Firms: Pettigrew & Worley

Functions: Office Space

Styles: Art Deco

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News About This Theater

Broadway Theatre ... San Antonio Texas

Opened June 30, 1939, this was a very attractive theatre in the Art Deco style. The large front façade with the upper portion in a dark pink polished granite with the Art Deco lines down each side and two sections in the middle. Large vertical “Broadway” sign. Lower portion of the façade in a cream color polished granite that is rounded on each side leading into the entrance of the theatre. It had a fairly large triangular marquee with three rows for attraction listings. The box office was to the right side of the entrance.

A large lobby with a good sized balcony. Carpeting throughout the theatre was in a burgundy with abstract patterns. A rather plain auditorium. Total seating was 912. The theatre is located in the Alamo Heights area. It was closed in 1977. A very impressive building and in great shape. With the acquisition of the adjoining property it would make a great multiplex using the existing theatre as the main auditorium much like the Esquire Theatre in St. Louis, Missouri.

Contributed by Chuck Van Bibber

Recent comments (view all 9 comments)

icebrg
icebrg on October 16, 2004 at 11:03 am

This movie house was converted into a spec office building in the late 80’s. Although the building has been converted and large windows penetrate the old theater walls, the marquee and Broadway sign remain without the neon lighting.

EAdkins
EAdkins on February 23, 2005 at 3:05 pm

As I remember, this was a subrun theater in San Antonio til 1956, when Interstate Theaters Inc renovated the house and made it the reserved seat 70 MM venue for San Antonio. Didn’t it open OKLAHOMA and AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS? I saw 80 DAYS there and what a presentation. I also think it opened BEN HUR.

Jim Miller
Jim Miller on July 4, 2006 at 4:30 pm

The Broadway had Todd A-O projectors installed for the first run of “Around The World In 80 Days”. Todd A-O was 70mm projection that ran 30 frames per second as opposed to the normal 24 frames per second. One of the original Brenkert BX-80 setups was left installed to run cartoons and 35mm coming attractions before the great 70mm show. The Broadway ran some of the biggest movies through the 1970s including “The Exorcist” and “Jaws”. There would be lines around the theatre for people to buy tickets for the blockbusters! There was a green curtain in front of the Broadway’s big screen. The houselights were simple stainless steel chandeliers that projected the light upward to the ceiling. There were lights on the side walls too. The Broadway also had a satellite snack bar on the mezzanine to the balcony.

Jim Miller
Jim Miller on July 4, 2006 at 4:41 pm

A friend of mine has one of the Todd A-O projectors from the Broadway. They were the very finest projectors ever made. Every gear and bearing are the originals.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on May 19, 2008 at 3:30 pm

Why does it say 1982?

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on July 27, 2009 at 11:59 pm

The Broadway opened in 1939, and was one of many theaters designed for the Interstate Circuit during that period by the Dallas firm of Pettigrew & Worley. H.F. Pettigrew and John A. Worley were members of the Advisory Board of Boxoffice Magazine’s Modern Theatre Planning Institute. The Broadway was featured in an illustrated article in Boxoffice’s issue of November 11, 1939.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on March 16, 2010 at 6:40 pm

Here is the article to which Joe referred:
http://tinyurl.com/y9vxmqz

rivest266
rivest266 on January 11, 2020 at 5:10 pm

This opened on June 30th, 1939. Grand opening ad posted.

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