| Corpus
Christi PATCH
Positive Action Towards Cultural Heritage
Dedicated to restoring the Ritz Theatre in Corpus
Christi, Texas.
The
Ritz Theatre . A History
The
Ritz Theatre – A Corpus Christi Landmark
Bruce
Collins and the Robb and Rowley Circuit
1896, the year Bruce Collins was born, Thomas Edison unveiled
the first movie projector. The world was fascinated. Thousands
of movie houses popped up all over the country. Some were
full-fledged theatres, most were improvised screens to
satisfy the people’s hunger for this newfound entertainment.
In 1906, Bruce Collins and his family moved to Corpus
Christi and the young 10 year old was captivated by the
nickelodeon parlors. A Nickelodeon is an early 20th century
form of small, neighborhood movie theatre in which admission
was obtained for a nickel. They would show films which
were typically fifteen to twenty minutes in length. In
1923, at the age of 27, Bruce Collins acquired his first
theatre, the old Amusu in Corpus Christi. Bruce became
a theatrical pioneer, building some of the finest theatres in the state: the
Palace in 1926, the Grande in 1928, the Ritz in 1929,
the Tower in 1937, the Beach and Harlem in 1940, the Centre
and Port in 1942, and the Ayers in 1947. In the early 1930's, Hughes Franklin Theatres Corporation owned The Ritz in Corpus Christi. Howard Hughes was Chairman of the Board. Manager of the theatre was E. H. Rowley. Rowley became part of the Robb and Rowley Circuit, eventually taking over ownership of The Ritz.
Over the years,
Robb and Rowley became part of the now famous United Artists
Theatres.
The
Ritz, Opening Day, Christmas 1929
Opening day for the Ritz Theatre was an exciting one.
It was Christmas day, 1929. Patrons were anxious to escape
the reality of the stock market crash, just 3 months before,
and the beginning of what would become the Great Depression.
The first show at the Ritz was “It’s a Great
Life” starring the Duncan Sisters. The feature was
presented by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and included selected
shorts. The story was about two sisters working in the
sheet-music section of a large department store. They
get fired, enter vaudeville (variety shows), split up
when one of them falls in love with a piano player (Lawrence
Gray), become re-united and finally return to the stage.
The film included songs such as “Sailing on a Sunbeam”
by Dave Dryer and Ballard Macdonald. Ticket prices were
30 cents for adults and 10 cents for children, although
the lower floor price was raised to a whopping 50 cents
later.
The
Ritz Fantasy
Designed by St. Louis architect, Scott Dunne, the Ritz
was created to be an “image of fantasy” using
art deco style and Spanish Renaissance influences. The
elaborate interior, which seated around 1300, featured
a Spanish courtyard façade and illuminated sky.
Moving clouds were projected from two cloud machines mounted
on turrets near the ceiling. Stars twinkled in the sky
to further enhance the magical atmosphere. The decorator
was Peckenpaugh Construction Co. The lobby was a two-story
open space with a mezzanine balcony that circled the room.
The Ritz was declared “one of the finest in the
state” by critics, in addition to being one of the
largest.
Economic
Development
Even in the midst of the Great Depression, the Ritz Theatre
was a vehicle for economic development. 715 N. Chaparral
served as the flashy main entrance, while an additional
box office and entrance faced Mesquite Street. W.W. Jones,
a rancher, businessman, Port of Corpus Christi Navigation
Commissioner and owner of the Nueces Hotel, made the suggestion
to create the additional box office because he believed
property on Mesquite Street would be enhanced by the theatre’s
proximity. Next door to the theatre on Chaparral was Jack
Brown’s wood shop. Brown created one-of-a-kind driftwood
sculptures from Padre Island and was a professional cabinet
maker. He carved beautiful furniture from mahogany and
mesquite and built the first two domino tables for Artesian
Park, adjacent to the Ritz.
The
Ritz Entertainment
The Ritz was opened as a first-run movie theatre and vaudeville
house (stage entertainment offering a variety of short
acts such as slapstick, song-and-dance routines, and juggling
performances). During World War II, big-name bands entertained
military personnel as well as the local community. “Big
Screen” movies came on the scene and forced Ritz
management to strip many of the theatre’s embellishments
to make room for the bigger screens. This included the
ornate proscenium, the permanent framed opening, a sort
of picture frame around the stage, through which the audience
would see the play or entertainment. But the Ritz was
still grand and continued to thrive until the last regular
scheduling of films in 1972. It re-opened as The Ritz
Music Hall in 1974 and then Ritz Productions in 1976 and
featured such acts as Willie Nelson, Jimmy Buffett, Bruce
Springsteen, Metallica, Def Leppard, Motley Crue and many
others. Later, the Performing Players, an amateur theatre
group, held shows at the theatre, followed by another
amateur group, The Encore Theatre Corporation. The latter
occupied the Ritz until the 80’s.
The
Ritz – A Future?
The Ritz Theatre, once a state-of-the-art venue of its
day, has been closed for over 15 years and slowly deteriorating.
Today, the theatre’s future is in the hands of the
non-profit corporation, PATCH, and the community. Bruce
Collins created the Ritz with a long-term vision of entertainment
and excitement filled with culture and creativity. This
should continue to be the ongoing vision for the Ritz
and Corpus Christi. PATCH, established for the good of
the Ritz Theatre, has a responsibility to restore this
house of creativity. We want to respect the history and
the courage of those who found the passion and drive to
create the theatre in the first place. PATCH will restore
the Ritz Theatre, retaining the original style of Spanish
Renaissance, and develop the theatre into a state-of-the-art
entertainment venue worthy of the times and the name,
The Ritz.
The
Ritz Theatre Today
Change.
It has the power to uplift, to heal, to stimulate, surprise,
open new doors, bring fresh experience and create excitement
in life. Certainly it is worth the risk. —Leo Buscaglia
The
Ritz Revival
Built in 1929, the Ritz Theatre in Corpus Christi was
one of the largest in Texas at the time of its construction.
Opening day was three months after the stock market crash
and the start of the great depression. The Ritz soldiered
on, providing an escape for Texans into a world of imagination
for years. Today, the Ritz stands crumbling, forgotten,
one of the last great movie palaces yet to be restored,
and one of the few standing historic buildings in Corpus
Christi. By reviving the Ritz Theatre, we gain a new,
dynamic venue to stimulate the economy, inspire and support
the creative class and provide an anchor business downtown.
The Ritz will be an icon for hope and change and rebirth.
It’s something everyone can be a part of and say,
“I helped make that happen”.
Cultural
Promise
The stage is not merely the meeting place of all the arts,
but is also the return of art to life. --Oscar Wilde
The Ritz has so much to offer culturally. Dance, music,
drama, film, the list goes on and on. Theatres can be
a vital part of a downtown’s success. The Ritz can
strengthen the cultural community. PATCH, (Positive Action
Towards Cultural Heritage) the non-profit company heading
up the restoration project, exists as a catalyst to bring
the most talented people in a myriad of industries together
to create a theatre that is worthy of the most talented
entertainers. Recording and broadcasting capabilities
will be installed to allow for recording live performances
and national broadcasting events. The stage will be created
to accommodate the specific demands of top-level ballet
and performance professionals. Movie, sound and lighting
equipment will match those of the best venues. The Ritz
Theatre will be a major draw for local, national and international
artists looking to perform in a new venue with amazing
atmosphere. The year-round programming being developed
by PATCH, in partnership with various groups in Corpus
Christi, is exciting and will be a vital part of the success
of the Ritz Theatre.
In
Good Company
Two major new developments have been created adjacent
to downtown, in the port area, now being called the SEA
District (Sports, Entertainment and Arts). These venues
are The American Bank Center Arena and Whataburger Field,
home of the Corpus Christi Hooks, Double A affiliate of
the Houston Astros. It just so happens that the Ritz Theatre
sits right smack in the middle of the new SEA district
and downtown, connecting the two areas to serve the needs
of our expanding and flourishing community. The connection
between the new venues and downtown will boost business
and hotel sales and encourage people to stay downtown
for longer periods of time. The Ritz Theatre’s restoration
and the reemergence of a cultural hub will serve an important
turning point for the immediate downtown area and stimulate
others into action. The development of dynamic programming
and educational services will invigorate the community
and inspire more and more people to frequent downtown,
giving prospective business owners incentives to relocate
or create new businesses in the area.
The
Future of the Ritz Theatre
Upon completion of the restoration, the Ritz Theatre will
be operated as a performance and presentation facility
with a variety of events including:
- Professional
Performance – Vocal, instrumental and/or dance
artists will enjoy performing in a facility with outstanding
acoustics, stage, facilities and seating
-
Broadcast Performance – Original music performances,
broadcast to the public through an “Austin City
Limits” type show.
-
Cinema – The Ritz will show classic cinema and
art film presented in the “movie palace”
style. Vintage films, silent film festivals, current
foreign, art films and documentaries will also be exhibited.
-
Cultural Productions – Performances will include
those of local groups such as ballet, choir, community
theatre, dance, concerts and plays.
-
Conventions, Meetings and Lectures – Corporations,
churches and civic groups will be able to use the theatre.
Lectures and other such events will be held including
motivational, instructional or career training seminars.
Hi-tech communication interfacing capabilities with
other facilities throughout the country are planned.
-
Private Events – The Ritz will be a one-of-a-kind
rental space with amazing atmosphere available for private
parties, benefits, weddings, quincineras, and much more.
The
Ritz Restoration – You can help
The success of the Ritz Theatre depends on the entire
community. PATCH has been organized to restore the Ritz
to it’s original grandeur. Funds, donations and
volunteers will be needed at every step. PATCH is looking
for stories, photos, and all types of information to build
an accurate picture of what the Ritz was like in it’s
prime. We are creating a documentary of stories from the
past as well as the progress we will be making along the
way. If you would like to get involved or have information
that will help, please contact PATCH today.
Corpus
Christi PATCH Inc.
508 N. Mesquite St.
Corpus Christi, TX 78401
info@ccpatch.org
ph. 361-887-5054
f x. 361-885-0484
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