AustinRemembers… “Collective Memory of Austin History SPRING, 2012 Austin & Travis County” Center Association The First Picture Shows: Historic Austin Movie Houses By Mike Miller

For more than 100 years, motion pictures have enlightened and entertained us. As important as the movies are, the places and spaces where we watch these movies are just as important to the experience. These spaces have changed and grown as cinema technology has changed, from the single person kinetoscopes to the 20+ screen megaplexes. The connection between cinema history and movie exhibition space is the topic of a new exhibit at the AHC, “The First Picture Shows: Historic Austin Movie Majestic Theater, ca. 1922. Austin History Center, Austin Public Library Image # Houses.” C01138. Now the Paramount Theatre at 713 Congress Avenue. The first motion picture exhibition in Austin occurred on October 10, 1896, at the Hancock Opera House, just a few films. Austin was home to around 20 nickelodeons along 6th months after the premiere of Edison’s Vitascope at Koster and Congress streets, notably the Yale, Casino, and Texas and Bial’s Music Hall in New York. These early pictures Theaters. were grainy and jumpy, and once the novelty wore off, few In the early 1910s, motion pictures evolved into more people showed interest. Early films were sometimes called complex stories. As these longer narrative films were being “chasers” because few people stayed for the movie, and made, the movie going public needed more comfortable theater managers used the films as a signal that the live spaces. The first theater in Austin built to exclusively show show was over to “chase” the audience from the theater. movies was the Crescent Theater, built in 1913 at 920 The business of showing movies became legitimate with Congress. Austin’s first “movie palace” was the Majestic the rise of the Nickelodeons (from the word “nickel” plus Theater, built in 1915 and now known as the Paramount. “odeon,” the Greek word for theater). They were multi- The Paramount Theater was built by Edgar Nalle and had its purpose theaters, usually in converted storefront buildings, grand opening on October 11, 1915. It opened with vaudeville and consisted of a few rented or borrowed chairs, a white and movie offerings, though the original emphasis was on sheet hung along one wall, and a hand-cranked projector on live performances. In 1921, the Majestic was joined by the a table. Small theater ventures took over storefronts along equally lavish Queen Theater across the street. The Queen Congress and 6th streets offering Austinites chances to see opened in 1921 by J. J. Hegman and was the first theater to have an electric light sign as well as the first to be wired for sound. It was designed by Walsh & Geisecke and cost over $200,000. Hegman was involved in an infamous battle over Texas’ blue laws, which at the time forbade most commerce from occurring on Sundays. Angry that the law seemed to be turning a blind eye to other businesses, specifically drugstores and cigar shops operating illegally on Sundays, Hegman began to openly defy the Blue Laws by advertising Sunday shows. Eventually, all of Austin had to close on Sundays to ensure equal enforcement of the law. The Golden Age of Cinema occurred in the 1930s, with Hollywood studios exacting strict control over film distribution, resulting in a corporatization of movie theaters. This manifested in Austin through the Dallas-based Interstate Crescent Theater, ca. 1918. Austin History Center, Austin Public Library Image # Theater Circuit (ITC), which in 1933 took over operations of the PICA 06735. Most recently the Belvederes Day Spa at 920 Congress Avenue. Continued on Page 3 Austin History Meet the Austin History Center Center Association, Inc. Newest Staff Members 810 Guadalupe By Jeff Cohen Austin, Texas 78701 512.974.7499 www.austinhistory.net Ashley Adair, Reference Archivist Mailing address Ashley Adair is a lifelong resident of Austin. She earned her P. O. Box 2287 Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology (2007) and Master of Science Austin, Texas 78768 in Information Studies (2011) from the University of Texas at Austin. While completing her masters degree, Ashley worked The mission of the Austin History Center in reference services at the Dolph Briscoe Center for American Association is to help the community History. value our past and build a better future - by supporting the Austin History Center to achieve excellence in its efforts to serve Jeff Carrillo, Administrative Assistant as the collective memory of Austin and Raised in Joplin, MO, Jeff Carrillo attended University of Missouri, Travis County. where he studied Drama and Art History & Architecture. Upon graduating, Jeff moved to Chicago where he played mu- Board of Directors sic on tour and worked at the Art Institute of Chicago. Jeff then Executive Committee worked in at Vanderbilt University. Jeff says he is learning about his new home town and its history as fast as he can! Lynn Cooksey, President Ann Dolce, First Vice President Cynthia Evans, African American Community Liaison Ken Tiemann, Second Vice President As the Community Liaison, Cynthia works with the public to Dale Flatt, Treasurer/Past President locate, collect and preserve the history of the African American Robert Sullivan, Secretary community in Travis County. She also performs outreach by presenting programs about the Austin History Center collections Evan Taniguchi, Member-at-Large and the history of the community. She has a BA in Business, an MA in Museum Science, and her previous work and volunteerism Directors at Large has combined museum, library, exhibit and archive work.

Charles Betts Molly Hults, Processing Archivist Cindy Brandimarte / Linda Bush Molly Hults is a Certified Archivist who received a Bachelors Kathleen Davis Niendorff degree in Anthropology from Hofstra University, a Master of Beth Fowler / Maria Ines Garcia Library and Information Science from the University of Texas and Brooks Goldsmith / Kay Hart a Graduate Certificate in Archives and Records Management Lauren Lovell / Dr. Fred McGhee from Western Washington University. She Has worked as a Mike Miller, AHC Archivist Young Adult Librarian, and then at the Microsoft Studios Media Jena Stubbs / Candace Volz Archives as the Senior Access Services Manager. While at Anne Wheat / Will Wilson Microsoft, Molly obtained archives training in a History graduate Program. After eight years of working with video, Molly decided to work in a local history archive. As the Austin History Center Processing Archivist at the Austin History Center Molly is responsible for registering Association, Exec. Director incoming donations, arranging and describing archival collections and assisting with Jeff Cohen reference work. As Molly suspected, working to preserve and make accessible the 512.484.4119 history of Austin is more interesting than working with Microsoft corporate videos. AustinRemembers… Nancy Toombs, Head of Public Services Nancy is almost a lifelong Austinite. She was born in her Beth Fowler, Editor/Creative Director parents’ hometown, while her father was a UT-Austin student. Rebecca Jarosh, Layout Lauren Lovell, Public Relations Nancy earned a Bachelors Degree in History, with a minor in Jena Stubbs, Photo Coordinator Government, and a Masters Degree in Library Science, both from UT Austin. She has worked for the Austin Public Library system, on and off for 25 years. She began her current position, as Head of Public Services for the Austin History Center, in July 2011. Her commitment to the history of Austin and her love of public service helped her integrate into her new home at the Austin History Center.

PAGE 2 MOVIE HOUSES from Page 1 ber 18, 1940 at 6600 Dal- ANGELINA EBERLY LUNCHEON, FEB. 1, 2012 las Highway (now Lamar). Eddie Joseph owned and Seven Mayors, Five City Council Members operated the theater, and he and Almost 200 History Buffs in Attendance also opened the Montopolis, Mayors Roundtable including Former Mayors Ron Mullen, Lee Cooke, and Sen. South Austin, and Delwood Kirk Watson with Emcee Charles Betts. See EBERLY next Pages 4-5. drive-ins. Drive-in theaters were a short-lived phenom- enon. Their demise was caused by a combination of Varsity Theater, 1936. Austin History factors—the rise of VCRs, Center, Austin Public Library Image Daylight Savings Time, and # PICA 06734. Formerly at 2402 the amount of real estate Guadalupe Street (at 24th). needed to run a drive-in ver- Paramount, Queen, Hancock sus running a multiplex. the Americana in 1965. you will have to come check (later renamed Capitol), and In 1948, the Supreme Court The rise of the multiplex in out the exhibit, which will be Texas Theaters. Undaunted Decision United States the 1970s marked a shift of up through August 19. So how by the Great Depression, the v Paramount drastically movie venues from the in- are we able to share this story ITC began a theater building changed how films were ex- ner cities to the suburbs and with you? In addition to mining boom, and over a few short hibited. This decision forced shopping malls. As moviego- the rich collections at the AHC, years, added the State (1935), a division between movie ers flocked to the malls and such as the Paramount The- Varsity (1936), and Austin studios and the distribution multiplexes, the one screen ater Records (AR.2001.018) (1939) Theaters to the movie of films, and studios could movie houses faced a sharp to find information and incred- house landscape. Alongside no longer own theaters to decline. Some became art- ible visuals for our exhibits, we the ITC were a number of control film distribution. This house or adult theaters, such use the exhibits as a tool to independents, such as the opened the door to other as the Texas Theater and add to our collections. Through Ritz on 6th Street, opened by corporate entities to run and the Austin (which became the exhibit process, we added Hegman in 1930, the Cactus build theaters. In 1952, the Cinema West). Some made some significant collections to (1939) on 6th Street, opened ITC sold the Queen and Tex- alterations to try to compete, the AHC. Jay Podolnick, son of by Richard “Skinny” Pryor, as theaters to the Trans Tex- such as the Varsity. It added Lena and Earl, provided much and the Harlem (1935) on as Theater Company. The a second screen on the bal- from what he has saved from 12th Street, a theater serving Trans Texas Theater Com- cony, becoming a “twin” the- the Trans Texas theaters, now Austin’s African American pany was formed by Louis ater. In 1993, there were 20 in the AHC as the Trans Texas community. Novy, his daughter Lena different theaters in Austin, Theater, Inc. Papers. Over the After World War II, the rise Podolnick, and son-in-law, with most of them being mul- last few months, the AHC add- of the automobile culture cre- Earl Podolnick. Trans Texas tiplexes or the newly created ed donations from the grand- ated a new phenomenon, bought the Capitol Theater “megaplex” (16+ screen the- son of J. J. Hegman, the son of the Drive-In theater. The first and ran the Capitol, Queen, aters). Only the Paramount, Eddie Joseph, and projection- drive-in theater was built in and Texas Theaters as well State, and Ritz theaters re- ists Jim Malloy and John Stew- Camden, NJ and opened on as the Chief and Burnet main as movie houses in art. These donations are hope- June 6, 1933. The first in Aus- Drive Ins. Trans Texas also Austin from this bygone era. fully only the beginning as we tin (and Texas) was the North built the first new theater in To learn more about the sto- strive to document the history Austin, opening on Novem- Austin in almost thirty years, ry of Austin’s movie houses, of Austin’s movie houses.

Waterloo Press...Giving the Gift of History... By Jena Stubbs Writing Austin’s Lives: A Community Portrait by the People of Austin was given to all attendees at the February 1 Angelina Eberly Luncheon. This 412-page anthology of stories, written by 127 Austinites of all ages from various neighborhoods and races and backgrounds, is a great book to keep on your night table….a collection of bedtime stories that don’t have to be read one after the other. All are about life in Austin in the recent past. This publication, a joint project between the UT Humanities Institute and Waterloo Press, is available for purchase for those who were not fortunate enough to receive a copy at the luncheon. The price of Writing Austin’s Lives is $18.00 plus tax. A Collection of art exhibited in the Austin History Center O. Henry Room by watercolor painter Mary Curtis was presented at the Eberly luncheon. Six original pieces she had donated to the Austin History Center Association were auctioned. The art was Historic State of Texas Sesquicentennial Art that she had created from photographs held in the Austin History Center. In a letter after the luncheon Mary stated that the “Austin History Center is my very favorite place. I learned so much there.” The Association is fortunate to have a friend like Mary. Nine paintings ranging from 1930s era Austin to a Congress Avenue scene and the Walter Tips Building c.1880 remain in the AHCA collection and are for sale.

PAGE 3 “In 3 short years...Eberly

AHCA President Lynn Cooksey and Rosalind Brinkley.

Sponsorship Signs at Registration.

Coffee Mixer in Maximilian Room.

Former Mayor Bruce Todd and Suzy Lindemann Adrienne Carter and Synder. former Mayor Frank Cooksey. Dr. Fred McGhee. Ann Dolce, Brooks Goldsmith, and Bill Luedecke. Jeff Cohen and Sen. Kirk Watson. Former Mayor Lee Cooke and Silent Auction Silent Auction Winner Coordinating Chair Rosalind Brinkley. Jena Stubbs.

Clift Price, Clift Bowman, and Sally Bowman, Mary Arnold. in memory of 2009-10 Author Liz Carmack and AHC Archivist Mike MIller. AHCA Past President Nancy Price Bowman. Mayors Roundtable Emcee Charles Carol Fredericks, Carolyn Goldston, Betts. and Carol Fowler.

Linda Bush and Delphine Larrouih.

Margie Kidd, Barbara Houston, Mandy Dealey. Dudley Fowler and George Shelley. and Maria Ines Garcia. PAGE 4 Luncheon... a Tradition.” - Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman

Kathleen Davis Niendorff, Waterloo Press publisher, and below, display of Waterloo Press sample books.

Silent Auction art featuring Austin sites by Texas Sesquicentennial Artist Mary Curtis.

Mayor Lee Leffingwell, John Wheat and former Mayor Gus Garcia. Texas Sesquicentennial Artist Mary Curtis.

Anne Wheat and Becky Heiser.

Carmen Luevanos and Robert Sullivan.

The Driskill Lobby with cannon Bob and Linda Thompson loaned by Randy Billingsley. with City Council Member Kathie Tovo.

Former Mayor Gus Garcia and Marina Garcia. Dale Lovell and daughter Lauren Lovell.

George Shelley, Mary Curtis, and Brooks Goldsmith.

Mike Buls, Katherine Burdine, Beth Fowler and Evan Taniguchi.

Maria Ines Garcia and Former Mayor Ron Mullen.

City Council Member Chris Riley and Former Mayor Ron Mayors Roundtable including Former Mayors Ron Mullen, Lee Cooke, Mullen. Sen. Kirk Watson with Emcee Charles Betts. PAGE 5 When you join, your membership in the Austin History Center Association helps promote community awareness and use of the Austin History Center. “One of the premier local archives in the country.” - LibraryJournal In 2010, our donors helped make possible the acquisition of Governor Elisha Marshall Pease’s papers. “A complete and accurate account of Pease’s entire life and his true significance to the history of Texas and the South.” Dr. Michael Parrish - Baylor University Linden G. Bower Professor of American History BECOME A MEMBER Please fill in the membership application below and mail with your payment.

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P. O. Box 2287 • Austin, TX 78767-2287 • 512-974-7499 • [email protected] We actively seek new individual and business members. You can help by sharing this newsletter with a friend interested in Austin’s past and present. For more information, email [email protected]. Or visit us in the O. Henry Room of the Austin History Center at Guadalupe & 9th.

Membership Categories Payment Information (check one) Benefactor $1,000 per year Check enclosed (payable to: Austin History Center Association) Patron $ 500 per year Please charge my account Visa Mastercard Card# Sustainer $ 250 per year Amount to charge $ Expiration date: Contributor $ 100 per year Billing address: Signature: Friend $ 50 per year destroy card information after transaction Other $ keep card information on file If you join or renew at $250 or above, you will receive a free copy of The Republic of Austin.

PAGE 6 AUSTIN HISTORY CENTER ASSOCIATION 2012 ANNUAL MEETING and ELECTIONS FRIDAY, MAY 25 ~ 6:30PM ~ 810 GUADALUPE with You’rePRESENTATION BY AUTHORInvited LIZ CARMACK

AHCA invites everyone – current and prospective effort including a sporting clay tournament, golf tournament, members and the public – to attend our Annual Meeting on wine tasting and gala. The year culminates in March with Friday, May 25th, at the Austin History Center, 810 Guadalupe. the organization’s signature event known as Rodeo Austin - Liz Carmack, author of Rodeo Austin: Blue Ribbons, Buckin’ sixteen days of non-stop events, including a livestock show, Broncs, and Big Dreams will headline AHCA’s 2012 Annual fair, rodeo, and concerts.” Meeting with a presentation on her new book and a book As with most AHCA events, there is no charge, though signing. optional donations are accepted. We ask those who are not Rodeo Austin: Blue Ribbons, Buckin’ Broncs, and Big members to consider purchasing a mem- Dreams is recently published (Feb. 2012) by Texas A & M bership. The Association’s Waterloo Press University Press and has a foreword by Bucky Lamb. The books will be for sale at the event. There publisher’s website states that the book “…tells the story of will be a brief business meeting, election of Rodeo Austin, a nonprofit enterprise whose face reflects its the 2012-13 AHCA Board of Officers and agricultural heritage but whose scholarship program is at the Directors, an author presentation, and a heart of its mission. Since 1981, when organizers became reception. fully committed to providing college scholarships, millions For more information, call Jeff Cohen of dollars have been raised through a year-long fundraising (512) 974-7499. Author Liz Carmack. In Memory of Nancy Price Bowman 1930 -2012 Longtime member of AHCA Board of Directors and 2009-10 Past Presi- dent Nancy Bowman, passed away recently. She cherishing every moment she spent at the Austin History Center. She inspired everyone with her heartfelt love of Austin’s history and her infinite vision for helping our community discover a connection to the city’s collective memory. May her memory be a blessing. “From the Archivist” - Pease Papers Acquisitions By Mike Miller A little over a year has passed since the AHC, with much fund through the AHCA for future purchases. These are enthusiasm and support from the AHCA, completed the exciting additions to the AHC’s flagship archival collection. $200,000 acquisitions project to add over 1300 items to The Pease Papers are important, more than just be- the AHC’s collection of papers related to Governor E. M. cause they reflect the work of one of Texas’s early gover- Pease and the Pease family. Researchers from across the nors. As we continue to build our Pease holdings, which state (El Paso to Houston) have made visits to use these covers four generations of one family in Austin, we are able additions. to offer a very detailed, intimate, and comprehensive look Since that last purchase, the AHC learned of more at 19th and early 20th century life in Austin. The Pease’s Pease material available for sale, providing opportunities seemed to save every receipt, letter, and note, painting a to add to this important collection. The seller from the vivid picture of everyday life in Central Texas. recent project found an additional box in an unsearched The AHC has applied for a grant from the National family storage unit, and just this March the AHC brought in Historic Publications and Records Commission to hire an additional 80 letters and documents. Also, we learned a project archivist to process and catalog all the Pease of a collection compiled by Robert Davis, former owner holdings at the AHC. If funded, this project will include a of Waco’s Texian Press. We are currently negotiating for website dedicated to the collection. We should hear news the purchase of this collection, numbering 82 letters and sometime this summer.Meanwhile, the collection is open documents. We are not asking for money for this project as and available for use, so come make yourself comfortable the AHC has funds available to complete the purchase, but in our Reading Room when you have a chance and spend we will always gladly accept donations to our acquisitions some time visiting with the Pease family. PAGE 7 Friday, May 25 April - Aug. 19 May 8 - Oct. 21 June - July (Dates TBD) Join us for the AHCA AHC Exhibit - “The AHC Exhibit - “O. Henry Historic Movie Houses Annual Meeting, First Picture Shows: in Austin” Photo Exhibit Lecture, Film, Reception, 6:30PM at AHC. Historic Austin Movie in the Holt Photo Gallery. & Tours. Stateside at the Reception & Author Houses.” In the Grand AHC holds one of the Paramount Theatre. For Liz Carmack. Hallway and Lobby. largest O. Henryana more information go to: (ANNUAL MEETING p.7) Calling all film buffs. collections in the nation. www.austinhistory.net Save these Dates

Saturday, Sept. 15 Sept. 18 - Mar. 3 Sunday, Sept. 23 Oct. 30 - May 12

“O. Henry’s 150th AHC Exhibit - Showing “Austin Museum Day.” AHC Exhibit - “Early Birthday Party.” the lives of African AHC partnership Mexican American Activities at AHC Americans in Austin with other Austin History in Downtown celebrate the master from 1839-1939. organizations provides Austin” Photo Exhibit short story writer’s In the Grand Hallway activities highlighting in the Holt Photo sesquicentennial day. and Lobby. museums and archives. Gallery.

Austin History Center (AHC) Hours: Tuesday – Saturday 10AM – 6PM & Sunday Noon – 6PM

Austin History Center Association, Inc. Non-Profit Org. P. O. Box 2287 U. S. Postage Austin, Texas 78768 PAID Austin, Texas Return Service Requested Permit No. 1545

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