Historic Theaters Help Revive Region’s Downtowns
Published Sep 15, 2008
Step right up to the checkerboard box office at the Palace Theatre in Canadian.
It had become a real mess. The Cactus Theater in Lubbock – an old B-movie house built in 1938 – closed in 1957. Afterward, the interior was basically gutted, and the building was rented out for storage.
However, all that changed in 1994 when 25 local investors signed onto a 20-year bank note to redo the entire interior and exterior.
“It was my brainchild to renovate the Cactus, and I’ve since bought most of the stock back – only five people are involved with the theater today,” says primary owner Don Caldwell.
He has long been involved in the music recording industry and had wanted a place in Lubbock where he could showcase West Texas talent.
“So now, every Friday and Saturday night throughout the year features concerts at the Cactus Theater,” Caldwell says. “The theater has also helped to rejuvenate what is called the Depot Entertainment District of downtown Lubbock. It’s exciting stuff.”
The excitement level also has risen at other renovated theaters in The High Ground of Texas region. For example, the upgraded Palace Theatre in Canadian brings first-run motion pictures to a community that otherwise might not have access to them.
At the La Rita Performing Arts Theatre in Dalhart, the downtown venue hosts a wide variety of theatrical and musical productions throughout the year, featuring both amateur and professional performers.
Meanwhile, the Gem Theatre in Claude, which dates from 1915, received a massive renovation in 1993 to upgrade the historic building to its present, impressive condition.
“The Armstrong County Museum purchased the Gem in 1993 after the building had been closed for many years, and we immediately started renovations because they certainly were needed,” says Roy Rutherford, director of programs for the Gem Theatre. “Now it is a beautiful facility. In fact, the interior woodwork actually looks prettier today than what was originally installed.”
Although the Gem originally was a movie theater, Rutherford says the Armstrong County Museum decided to change the focus.
“The city of Claude is too close to Amarillo to compete with the big theater chains there, so we decided to have live stage shows at the Gem,” he says. “Our 190-seat theater now hosts a variety of musical acts during 20 to 30 weekends each year. Like its name says, the Gem has become a true gem again in this community.”
Story by Kevin Litwin
Photo by Courtesy of Jackie Klein
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