I'm a sucker for old movie theaters - a fool for them, so when I got a call from a friend of mine that he knew of one up for sale I had to go check it out.
The place is not in running order and it would take a pretty penny to get it there, but what kept my interest as a buyer is the fact that most of the original architecture is still there - be it painted over or even in some cases boarded over, the grandeur lies beneath some sweat and elbow grease.
While there, we discovered an office behind the main stage and screen - i say discovered because there were cabinets built over the entrance. The owner helped up pull them down and we walked into a room that has not been used since the seventies - we know this because there were posters on the wall (Hot Lead and Cold Feet, If Ever I See You Again and You light Up My Life) and log books showing the upcoming movies, one of them being Superman. i haven't dug through that room yet, but believe me - even if I don't buy it, I plan on asking. There's also an underworld beneath the stage filled with boxes - two I know are old refreshment articles - popcorn boxes and cups, but there's at least 15 more down there I want to get a peek into. The balcony is in pretty good shape - still fitted with ASH TRAYS (I thought smoking in the theatre was always a no no). And an outdoor deck that would be perfect for lawn chairs and a bar b q pit - originally built for intermission.
The price is not the problem - it's what to do with the thing if I DO purchase it. It's always been a dream of mine to restore one of these places to it's full glory and show old movies - all the way up to the 80's, running double features like Indiana Jones, Superman, the Godfather and maybe a Kubrick night or Citizen Kane and Magnificent Ambersons - not to mention Hitchcock. I have a pretty big collection of prints and I know where I can always get more - I'd even like to do some Anime - or screen some 2 hr pilots from Television. i can't charge for any of this - and wouldn't want to. i just want to the kids of today to see what they missed and maybe get to see some of the stuff I missed on the big screen.
Now, i've already asked and checked with local zoning and YES - I can actually LIVE in the place if I desire - and I absolutely do desire. I'd love to convert part of it into a bedroom and have an arcade and all that jazz - it would honestly be the coolest digs you could ever dream of having. Here's what's holding me back a little -
12 people DIED there in the 50s because of a fire in the balcony. Now, I'm not superstitious per say, but the owner told me repeatedly the place IS HAUNTED. They actually had a team of "ghosthunters" out there who filmed their experiences and it was shown on some television show. They picked up EVP of someone saying "You don't belong here" and "Please, let me go". They captured some faces on film and using infra red caught doors opening and closing a well as what looks like someone walking back and fourth in the projection room. He showed me some of the photos and said the man he bought the place from also would attest to the ghostly activity, also claiming the place was closed because everytime they ran a film for an audience there were shadows on the screen and sometimes the movie would start to run backwards. :eek
He's had six people look at the place and four backed out when they found out about the deaths. I have no idea what to do here. i love this joint, but as i said I plan on living here sometimes when my family and i are in Texas. -
Advice Advice Advice.
BTW - This theatre was also once visited by Elvis in the early seventies - they closed it off to the public for a few hours while he and his crew watched a movie. He was in town to do a show and the place was owned by the same man who owned the concert hall he was to be performing in.
The place is not in running order and it would take a pretty penny to get it there, but what kept my interest as a buyer is the fact that most of the original architecture is still there - be it painted over or even in some cases boarded over, the grandeur lies beneath some sweat and elbow grease.
While there, we discovered an office behind the main stage and screen - i say discovered because there were cabinets built over the entrance. The owner helped up pull them down and we walked into a room that has not been used since the seventies - we know this because there were posters on the wall (Hot Lead and Cold Feet, If Ever I See You Again and You light Up My Life) and log books showing the upcoming movies, one of them being Superman. i haven't dug through that room yet, but believe me - even if I don't buy it, I plan on asking. There's also an underworld beneath the stage filled with boxes - two I know are old refreshment articles - popcorn boxes and cups, but there's at least 15 more down there I want to get a peek into. The balcony is in pretty good shape - still fitted with ASH TRAYS (I thought smoking in the theatre was always a no no). And an outdoor deck that would be perfect for lawn chairs and a bar b q pit - originally built for intermission.
The price is not the problem - it's what to do with the thing if I DO purchase it. It's always been a dream of mine to restore one of these places to it's full glory and show old movies - all the way up to the 80's, running double features like Indiana Jones, Superman, the Godfather and maybe a Kubrick night or Citizen Kane and Magnificent Ambersons - not to mention Hitchcock. I have a pretty big collection of prints and I know where I can always get more - I'd even like to do some Anime - or screen some 2 hr pilots from Television. i can't charge for any of this - and wouldn't want to. i just want to the kids of today to see what they missed and maybe get to see some of the stuff I missed on the big screen.
Now, i've already asked and checked with local zoning and YES - I can actually LIVE in the place if I desire - and I absolutely do desire. I'd love to convert part of it into a bedroom and have an arcade and all that jazz - it would honestly be the coolest digs you could ever dream of having. Here's what's holding me back a little -
12 people DIED there in the 50s because of a fire in the balcony. Now, I'm not superstitious per say, but the owner told me repeatedly the place IS HAUNTED. They actually had a team of "ghosthunters" out there who filmed their experiences and it was shown on some television show. They picked up EVP of someone saying "You don't belong here" and "Please, let me go". They captured some faces on film and using infra red caught doors opening and closing a well as what looks like someone walking back and fourth in the projection room. He showed me some of the photos and said the man he bought the place from also would attest to the ghostly activity, also claiming the place was closed because everytime they ran a film for an audience there were shadows on the screen and sometimes the movie would start to run backwards. :eek
He's had six people look at the place and four backed out when they found out about the deaths. I have no idea what to do here. i love this joint, but as i said I plan on living here sometimes when my family and i are in Texas. -
Advice Advice Advice.
BTW - This theatre was also once visited by Elvis in the early seventies - they closed it off to the public for a few hours while he and his crew watched a movie. He was in town to do a show and the place was owned by the same man who owned the concert hall he was to be performing in.
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