Electra in Wichita County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Grand Theatre

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 14, 2016

1. Grand Theatre Marker

Inscription. Electra’s population surge in the 1910s led local business leaders to hire Meador & Wolfe of Ft. Worth to design a theatre to accommodate the town’s growing entertainment needs. It opened here in 1920 and featured vaudeville, operas, boxing and other events. It included an orchestra pit which later housed an organ and piano for silent movies. It has been both a movie house and a performing arts venue. The Grand’s eclectic design features Mission and Classical elements done with emphasis on fancy and fantasy. Panels with swags and piers frame a vault motif.
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark – 2006

Erected 2006 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 13670.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Entertainment. A significant historical year for this entry is 1920.

Location. 34° 1.839′ N, 98° 55.145′ W. Marker is in Electra, Texas, in Wichita County. Marker is on North Waggoner Street north of West Cleveland Avenue, on the right when traveling north. Marker and Texas Historical Medallion are mounted at eye-level, directly on the subject building, near the southwest corner of the building, facing Waggoner Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this

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postal address: 114 North Waggoner Street, Electra TX 76360, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 3 other markers are within 12 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Electra State Bank (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Tenth Cavalry Creek (approx. 9.8 miles away); The Old Buffalo Road (approx. 11.9 miles away).

Regarding Grand Theatre. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark (2006)

Also see . . . The Grand Theatre. The Grand had 6 loges, just in case they did host an operatic performance. Like most theaters of its day, there was a pipe organ to accompany the silent films. Jack Teagarden, trombonist of the 30s, 40s and 50s, played in theaters like the Grand early in his career, accompanying his piano-playing mother. Since the family was from nearby Vernon, it's entirely possible that they occasionally played at the Grand. (Submitted on January 17, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Grand Theatre Marker (<i>tall view</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 14, 2016

2. Grand Theatre Marker (tall view)

Grand Theatre (<i>wide view; marker visible on wall to the right of the front entrance</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 14, 2016

3. Grand Theatre (wide view; marker visible on wall to the right of the front entrance)

Credits. This page was last revised on June 25, 2022. It was originally submitted on January 17, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 257 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 17, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.