Cactus Theater facts for kids
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| Address | 1812 Buddy Holly Avenue Lubbock, Texas U.S. |
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| Coordinates | 33°34′42″N 101°50′41″W / 33.57839°N 101.84473°W |
| Owner | Cactus Theater Inc. |
| Type | Movie theater |
| Capacity | 426 |
| Screens | 1 |
| Current use | Cinema, live event venue |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1938 |
| Opened | 1938 |
| Reopened | 1995 |
| Architect | Robert Maxey |
| Website | |
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Cactus Theater
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Architectural style | Art Deco |
| NRHP reference No. | 98000447 |
| Added to NRHP | May 8, 1998 |
The Cactus Theater is a cool place in Lubbock, Texas. It's a theater where you can watch live music, fun musicals, and exciting plays.
History of the Cactus Theater
How the Theater Started
The Cactus Theater first opened way back in 1938. Three businessmen, Joe H. Bryant, M. A. Sanders, and Glenn Woody, built it. It was Lubbock's first movie theater outside the main city area. The building was designed by architect Robert Maxey in the cool Art Deco style. It could seat 720 people and had special "washed air" cooling. A bright marquee with over 750 feet of neon lighting lit up the front.
Why the Theater Closed (for a while)
The Cactus Theater showed movies for about 20 years. But by 1957, Lubbock had 17 other movie theaters. Plus, six new drive-in theaters became very popular. All this competition made it hard for the Cactus Theater to stay open. So, it closed its doors on May 6, 1958.
A New Beginning for the Theater
Bringing the Cactus Back to Life
In 1993, a group of investors led by Don Caldwell bought the Cactus Theater. They wanted to bring it back to life as part of Lubbock's Depot District. They fixed up the old theater to be a place for live shows and movies. The theater kept its original balcony and sloped floor. A full stage was added for performances.
Modern Updates and Art
The old wooden seats were replaced with 383 comfy, modern ones. The old movie projection room was changed into a place for spotlights. To celebrate West Texas, artist John Russell Thomasson painted amazing murals on both walls. These murals show scenes from Caprock Canyon.
Famous Performers and Plays
After reopening in the mid-1990s, the theater hosted many popular shows. These included "Nostalgia Nights" and the "Cactus Family Christmas Celebration." Local artists and groups like The JD's, a doo wop group, also performed. Famous Texas musicians such as Joe Ely, B. J. Thomas, Gary Morris, Jerry Jeff Walker, and The Maines Brothers Band played there.
The Cactus Theater also put on many live plays. Some popular ones were Fiddler on the Roof, The Odd Couple, Jesus Christ Superstar, and Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story. They also showed The Rainmaker, Hello Dolly!, and Oklahoma!. Local writers even debuted their own musical plays, like Heavenly Country.
The Cactus Cuties
Singing Stars from Lubbock
The Cactus Cuties were a very popular singing group that performed at the Cactus Theater. These talented girls were coached by Cameron Caldwell. The original members were Baylee Barrett, Blaire Elbert, Andi Kitten, and Madeline Powell.
Going Viral and TV Appearances
In 2007, the Cuties were invited to be guest stars on Disney Channel's "Cory in The House." Around the same time, in early 2008, their first YouTube video became super popular. The video showed five Cactus Cuties singing their own version of the "Star-Spangled Banner." It quickly got over three million views in just one month! People loved their unique harmonies and charm. By 2017, the video had over 10 million views.
The Cactus Cuties performed on many TV shows. They appeared on The Rachael Ray Show and the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon. They also sang at the National Day of Prayer in Washington, D.C. They even performed for Oprah Winfrey's "Search for the Most Talented Kids." You can find their singing on a compact disc and a DVD called Cactus Cuties: Live at the Cactus 2009. In September 2010, Andi Kitten left the group. Makenzie Patton joined the remaining three girls soon after.
Developing Young Talent Today
The Cactus Theater still helps young artists grow. It hosts programs like "Holly Ave" and "Cactus Kids." These programs are all about finding and developing new talent.
See also
