The Texarkana Saenger theatre opened in 1924, the same year as the Saenger Theatre in Pine Bluff, Arkansas.
Architect Emile Weil for both ofhis earliest Saenger-named theatres, utilized handsome Federal-style facades & ornate Adamesque interiors. Interior decoration of the Texarkana Saenger was a royal blue Italian Renaissance scheme, & the theatre was equipped with a 2 manual, 6 rank theatre organ from the Robert Morton Organ Company.
The large downtown theatre declined as a first-run house in the 1970s, but still ran movies until 1977. It was closed only from 1977 to 1980, whle acquisition by the city of Texarkana was completed, & restoration was planned & carried out.
Roughly two-thirds of the $2.4 million restoration costs were raised by the City of Texarkana, Texas through grants and contributions of local citizens before the Perot Foundation was approached. The Perot Foundation and the Perot family were key to completing the restoration of the beautiful facility and their contribution was acknowledged by renaming the theatre. The Perot Theatre is now a performing arts center hosting plays, musicals, & concerts.
The Perot Theatre is owned by the City of Texarkan, Texas, & operated by the Texarkana Regional Arts and Humanities Council.
In 1911, the Saenger Brothers, Abe and Julian, operators of a drug business at Louisiana and Milam streets, decided to enter the amusement field. They were impressed with [Shreveport movie theatre operator E.V. Richards] and induced him to join them in their new field of endeavor.
The Texarkana Saenger theatre opened in 1924, the same year as the Saenger Theatre in Pine Bluff, Arkansas.
Architect Emile Weil for both ofhis earliest Saenger-named theatres, utilized handsome Federal-style facades & ornate Adamesque interiors. Interior decoration of the Texarkana Saenger was a royal blue Italian Renaissance scheme, & the theatre was equipped with a 2 manual, 6 rank theatre organ from the Robert Morton Organ Company.
The large downtown theatre declined as a first-run house in the 1970s, but still ran movies until 1977. It was closed only from 1977 to 1980, whle acquisition by the city of Texarkana was completed, & restoration was planned & carried out.
Roughly two-thirds of the $2.4 million restoration costs were raised by the City of Texarkana, Texas through grants and contributions of local citizens before the Perot Foundation was approached. The Perot Foundation and the Perot family were key to completing the restoration of the beautiful facility and their contribution was acknowledged by renaming the theatre. The Perot Theatre is now a performing arts center hosting plays, musicals, & concerts.
The Perot Theatre is owned by the City of Texarkan, Texas, & operated by the Texarkana Regional Arts and Humanities Council.
Info abovefrom: http://www.saengeramusements.com/theatres/texarkan/texarkan.htm
For learn more about the Perot theatre and see some nice photos visit: http://www.trahc.org/perot.htm
In 1911, the Saenger Brothers, Abe and Julian, operators of a drug business at Louisiana and Milam streets, decided to enter the amusement field. They were impressed with [Shreveport movie theatre operator E.V. Richards] and induced him to join them in their new field of endeavor.
Read the rest of the story about Saenger Theatres at:
http://www.saengeramusements.com/corp/corp.htm