Brownsville in Cameron County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Majestic Theatre

Majestic Theater Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 18, 2018

1. Majestic Theater Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

(English)
Built in 1948, designed by the firm of Pettigrew & Worley, it was part of the interstate movie theater chain founded by Karl St. John Hoblitzelle. Interstate was an influential vaudeville and later movie theater company in the South. The building has stylistic influences of the modern architectural movement. The interior features Art Deco murals, stairway and terrazzo floors. Portions of the original façade, including the theater marquee, still remain.

(Spanish)
Construido en 1948, diseñado por la firma Pettigrew & Worley, era parte de la cadena de cines de la compañía Interstate que fue fundada por Karl St. John Hoblitzelle. Interstate fue una compañía de teatros, vaudeville y de cines importante en el Sur. El edificio tiene influencias estilísticas de la arquitectura del movimiento moderno. El interior tiene murales y una escalera estilo arte y pisos de terrazo. Partes de la fachada original, como las marquesina del teatro aun permanecen.

Erected by Brownsville Historical Association.

Topics and series. This historical

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marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Art Deco series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1948.

Location. 25° 54.136′ N, 97° 29.971′ W. Marker is in Brownsville, Texas, in Cameron County. Marker is on East Elizabeth Street (Business U.S. 77) south of East Tenth Street, on the right when traveling south. Marker is mounted at eye-level, directly on the subject building, just to the left of the large front windows, and facing Elizabeth Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1002 East Elizabeth Street, Brownsville TX 78520, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. U.S. Federal Building (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named U.S. Federal Building (a few steps from this marker); Whitman's Store (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Celaya Building (about 600 feet away); Central Fire Station (about 600 feet away); Federal Court Site (about 600

Majestic Theater (<i>tall view; marker visible at eye-level, just left of front windows</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 18, 2018

2. Majestic Theater (tall view; marker visible at eye-level, just left of front windows)

feet away); San Fernando Buildings (about 700 feet away); Public Market and Town Hall (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Brownsville.

More about this marker. Marker is in the Brownsville Historical Trail series.

Also see . . .
1. Majestic Theatre, Brownsville, Texas. (This link presents a picture of the Majestic c. 1960, when it was showing a movie called "Black Gold.") The Majestic Theatre was a textbook example of Art Deco style design when it opened in 1949, but neglect combined with proximity to Mexico (so that the population center of Brownsville moved steadily farther and farther away to the north) reduced it in its final years to showing second run films downstairs and adult fare in the converted balcony in the evenings. (Submitted on June 27, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. Once Majestic, Theater Now a Relic of Brownsville's Past. Those of us who grew up here remember going to the Majestic Theater. On Saturday, a quarter would get you in to the show and you’d have enough left over to get some popcorn and pop. Those days are gone, but not forgotten. Those were the days when you could also go down another two blocks on Elizabeth, turn right and go to the Capitol to see the standard “Land that Time Forgot” for the same price. There was also the Grande Theater,

Majestic Theater (<i>wide view; marker visible at eye-level, just left of front windows</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 18, 2018

3. Majestic Theater (wide view; marker visible at eye-level, just left of front windows)

El Iris, and, of course, El Mexico. It’s amazing that all these theaters were operating downtown at the same time, and on weekends all were full. (Submitted on June 27, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Majestic Theater (<i>corner view</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 18, 2018

4. Majestic Theater (corner view)

Credits. This page was last revised on August 26, 2020. It was originally submitted on June 26, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 535 times since then and 119 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 27, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.