COUNTY LIFE
Now showing: Texas Theater returns
By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
The Texas Theater was established on the Saint Jo town square in the 1920s during an era of the first “talkies” led by “The Jazz Singer” and popular Saturday serials like “Rin Tin Tin.”
John Wayne surely ran many a head of cattle through the theater, while Greta Garbo’s sultry style filled the screen. Bugs Bunny followed Flash Gordon, not to mention all the gangster and monster movies filled the square.
Today the former dry goods store, theater and Masonic Lodge has been given life again as a theater bringing Hollywood to small town Texas.
The history
The theater is the creation of Craig Olden and Tom Weger, plus Weger’s daughter, Kate Clark and a team of creative craftsmen. Weger operates Coppell Construction in Saint Jo and has been active on the local business scene as the former owner of King’s Hotel on the town square
The theater building is on the west side of the square a few doors north of the Saint Jo Tribune. It operated as The New York Store, a dry goods store. Built in 1879 it was composed of two long, narrow buildings. Later it was modified into a theater in the 1920s,and in 1956 it was purchased by the Masonic lodge.
Used by the group for many years it was sold to Craig Olden around 2015. Weger says Olden bought it with the intention of doing something like the theater. The Masons had decided to downsize as far as a building was concerned, so the group purchased another building a few blocks way Weger assisted with renovating the new lodge building.
Olden and Weger began talking about the theater project as they both wanted to put it back into public use whether it be with movies which Olden liked or live theater which Weger liked.
Read the full feature in the weekend Bowie News.
COUNTY LIFE
Bowie, Nocona libraries wrap up summer reading this week
Local libraries wrap up their children’s summer reading programs this week.
The Bowie Public Library brings the popular Creature Teacher with all their spectacular animals for the final event on July 23 at the Bowie Community Center.
The program begins at 10 am. The children also will receive their prize books for their summer logs.
The Nocona Public Library ends its program at 10 a.m. on July 24 at the H.J. Justin Building at 100 Clay Street. The program will be “Our Own Action Heroes -” Nocona fire, police and EMTs.
Top photo – Smokey Bear visiting Bowie last week at summer reading.
COUNTY LIFE
Color added to outside kennels at Bowie Animal Shelter
Rachel and Roger Whitaker gave this metal storage container a fresh look with this colorful mural at the Bowie Animal Shelter. (Photo by Barbara Green)
COUNTY LIFE
Youngsters attend swimming lessons this week
Swim lessons for youngsters of all ages were conducted the past two weeks at the city pool. It was a good place to be during this summer heat. See more photos in the weekend News. (Photos by Barbara Green)
-
NEWS2 years ago
2 hurt, 1 jailed after shooting incident north of Nocona
-
NEWS8 months ago
Suspect indicted, jailed in Tia Hutson murder
-
NEWS1 year ago
SO investigating possible murder/suicide
-
NEWS2 years ago
Wreck takes the life of BHS teen, 16
-
NEWS12 months ago
Murder unsolved – 1 year later Tia Hutson’s family angry, frustrated with no arrest
-
NEWS1 year ago
Sheriff’s office called out to infant’s death
-
NEWS2 years ago
Bowie Police face three-hour standoff after possible domestic fight
-
NEWS2 years ago
Driver stopped by a man running into the street, robbed at knifepoint