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To fully list all of the Houston theatres that are now
lost would take a whole website to itself. The sad fact
is that most all of the historic theatres that the city
once possessed are now gone. While a few still stand, they
are mostly abandoned buildings that have long since been
used to run a motion picture.
The ones intact and in use can be counted on one hand:
The 1926 Ritz Theatre, later rechristened as the
Majestic Metro, is used for special events. It is
the only theatre from the silent era still intact in its
original condition. The River Oaks Theatre is still
used for motion pictures, and is beloved by film lovers
across the city. The Alabama Theatre underwent a
full restoration when converted into a Bookstop retail store
in 1984. While no movies are run there, it retains its original
decor.
The grand downtown picture palaces – the Majestic,
Loew’s State, Metropolitan, Queen, and Kirby –
are all gone (see the Picture Palaces page), as are many
others. Below are just a few of the lost.
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