"Lantex Theater opens to overflow crowd in 1927"
The Llano Buzz & County Journal, Tuesday, May 24, 2005, Page 1
By Dale Fry
Reprinted with permission of the Llano Buzz
On February 10, 1927, two Llano men, S.D. Rainier and George Shaw, announced that they had entered into a contract with a local builder by the name of J.R. Blackmore to erect a building on Main Street which would house a new theater for Llano. They had not decided on a name for the new business at that time.
An article which appeared on the front page of The Llano News on that date reported that the "play house" was to be a large and modern, Spanish-style structure built of stucco measuring 34 by 70 feet. The plans were to elevate the auditorium, which was also to provide seating for up to 290 people. The balcony was to accommodate 75.
ELABORATE PLANS
"The blueprint shows a most elaborate and attractive front," the reporter wrote. "The box office is to be in the center, with two large double doors, one on either side, leading into the lobby. This will be a room 16 by 10 feet, and on one side of it will be the office room, while on the other side will be a ladies rest room."
The writer described the stage area at the front of the auditorium. There was to be "an orchestra pit of sufficient size to care for any orchestra that might ever use it. Above the pit will appear (a) large arch, well illuminated, and then the stage, which will be 20 X 15 feet, and two dressing rooms, one on either side."
Apparently Rainier and Shaw planned to present live theater in the building--which accounts for the dressing rooms and orchestra pit--in addition to movies. Orchestra pits also provided space near the stage for a pianist who always provided background music for the silent films of that day, before "talking movies" came along.
The building was also to provide plenty of exits and ventilation, and would meet all other state requirements. The News reported that it would "be furnished (with) comfortable opera chairs...plenty of electric fans... (and) proper heating facilities..." Thus it would be "one of the very best play houses to be found in any of the smaller towns of our State."
Shaw told the News also that he intended to furnish the public "high class pictures at all times" and that they were going to "do their best to give Llano something it has needed for a long while." (Another theater, the Llano Opera House, located at the south end of the bridge on the east side of Ford Street, was in operation at that time, but apparently it was not providing the quality of entertainment and surroundings which Shaw and Rainier felt Llano needed.)
The News article ended with, "These gentlemen are to be congratulated upon this progressive step, and for the great faith which they are placing in our town.
Success to this new enterprise."
MAKING ROOM FOR
THE NEW THEATER
Rainier and Shaw had purchased the site on Main Street for their proposed theater from a Mrs. E.W. Heard, who had been renting the two frame buildings at the site to the owner of the Palace Meat Market and to Dr. G.L. Gray. Soon after the sale the renters moved out, and on the last Monday of that month--February--workers began to tear down the old buildings to make way for the new one.
Blackmore, the contractor, said he intended "to push this construction with all possible speed, and with the approach of the first day of May, Llano should have a new opera house in perfect order..." (Note the use of "opera house," "play house" and "theater" in reference to the project.) Blackmore promised also that this building would house "one of the most...comfortable play houses to be found in the State."
Shaw assured News readers that he would have all the "furniture and other equipment" in town by the time the building was completed, and that he could have them all in place and the theater open to the public within a couple of days thereafter. He and Blackmore predicted that the theater would open in either six weeks, or by no later than the first of May.
COMING UP WITH A NAME
Since neither of the partners had come up with a name for the new theater, they decided to enlist the help of the community: They would sponsor a contest with a cash prize for the best one. A little over three weeks later, on March 24, the Llano News announced the contest: "The new theater now being erected here wants a name and is offering a prize of ten dollars for the name submitted which will be selected by the committee. In this issue appears a quarter page ad dealing with this subject. Be sure to read it, secure the full details and then endeavor to win this ten dollars, besides having the distinction of naming the new play house." Those appointed to the committee included Grady Faubion, E.W. Tarrence and C.H. Appleton.
The same article reported that George Shaw had returned the week before from an extended trip, during which he had bought all of the equipment needed for the theater, and that the furnishings were to arrive in Llano in time for workers to install them before the opening.
DATE CHANGED FOR OPENING
Some three weeks later, on May 12, the News wrote that Blackmore had finished the construction of the building; that a man by the name of Leo W. Hargon was "working overtime placing the opera chairs and looking after the few final details;" and that the theater was scheduled to open the following Thursday, May 19.
The writer commented also that "This is a real theatre building in every respect, and one of which all Llano should be proud, air cooled, well lighted and ventilated, and carrying all the modern improvements usually found in up-to-date play houses."
THEATER'S NAME SELECTED
The writer continued: "Mr. Shaw has selected the name of his new show place, but it will not be made public until the opening night when the name will be given out and the prize of ten dollars in gold awarded to the lucky one who selected the name."
THEATER OPENS
TO PACKED HOUSE
A News writer reported that the new theater opened to a packed house, and that "for more than an hour before the doors were swung back, the crowd packed the sidewalk and street near the place of entrance, and once the ticket window was opened, these eager ones began crowding in, until every available seat was taken, save eight rows in the center of the auditorium, which were reserved for the high school graduates and faculty, Luncheon Club members, their wifes and friends, also for the Theatre Party of the Misses Norton." Tickets for the movie were 30 cents for adults and 10 cents for children .
Before the movie began, Shaw appeared on the stage, expressed his appreciation for the people who had come and then announced that the name of the theater was to be the "Lantex."
Following this announcement, the members of the committee who had selected the winning name came to the stage and announced that two people had submitted it--Audrey Rabensburg and "little James Carl"--but that the prize would go to Rabensburg, since his entry had arrived before Carl's had.
So many people were present for the grand opening of Llano's fancy new theater that the Lantex had to run a second showing of the movie.
FIRST MOVIE IN
NEW THEATER
Shaw had told the News earlier that he had selected Universal Studio's "The Fourth Commandment" for the christening of the theater. This was a new release which critics were predicting would become a huge hit. It starred popular movie star Belle Bennett, Robert Agnew, a leading man of the day, and a talented supporting cast that included Mary Carr, Henry Victor, Kathleen Myers, June Marlowe and "little four-year-old" Wendell Phillips Franklin. Shaw said that both he "and the Universal people had gone to extra expense in securing the very best one on the screen for the initial show."
The News commented: "Few pictures have ever carried so powerful a message to humanity as (this one) featuring Belle Bennett and a superior cast of Universal actors.
"An epic of mother love, true to life and seething with sensational situations, it will be the dramatic treat of the season, for the "Fourth Commandment" is being acclaimed the work of genius. Its smashing story of everyday life is brought to the screen with a dramatic sympathy and fire that is regarded as one of the fine things of the cinema world.
"As Virginia, the wife and mother who fails in the test and chooses between love and luxury, Belle Bennett eclipses her former accomplishment in "Stella Dallas." Magnificent in disaster, irresistible in happiness, Miss Bennett's performance is outstanding."
A SPECIAL PARTY FOR
GRADUATES AND FACULTY
Another article in the May 19 issue of the News informed its readers that the Luncheon Club, a prestigious social group of that day, had decided to hold the annual party it sponsored for the high school graduating class and the school's faculty, in the Lantex that night. The Club normally held the dinner at the American Legion Hall.
We quote: "Manager George Shaw has reserved some 50 or more seats for the party , and is giving the best seats in the house, although they are all good. After the show, the guests will be served with light refreshments, and this will end the party.
"For the past two years, the Luncheon members have been entertaining with a dinner near the close of school, but owing to the fact that this event was falling on the opening night of the show...Llano's businessmen, desiring to show their cooperation in the first movement of Llano's new enterprise, changed the program from a dinner to (a) theatre party."
And thus ended one of the most outstanding social and business affairs of 1927.
