"West Texas' Finest Theatre" -- Big Spring TX
N 32° 15.089 W 101° 28.542
14S E 266765 N 3571000
The ghost sign on the back of the vacant and abandoned R&R Ritz Theatre at 401 Main Street in downtown Big Spring.
Waymark Code: WMJKXT
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 12/01/2013
Views: 3
The Ritz Theater was probably west Texas; Finest Theater when it opened in 1941 -- over 60 years later this boast is still visible on the back of the vacant and abandoned theater building.
For history of the Ritz in its heyday, see the Cinema Treasures website here: (
visit link)
The large ghost sign across the top contains the name "R & R Ritz Theatre" and proclaims it "West Texas' Finest Theater" R & R were the intials of the last names of the owners.
In the middle is an advertisement on a yellow shield for Warner's groundbreaking Vitaphone sound system, but Blasterz cannot read the whole sign. All we can read are the first 2 lines: "See and hear the biggest stars of stage and screen" and the last line, "with Vitaphone." There is an unreadable slogan at the bottom of this sign too.
On the left side of the Vitaphone ad, a very faded sign reads "Cooled by washed air." Blasters think this a reference to a swamp-cooler style of air conditioning.
On the right side of the Vitaphone ad a small sign reads "Matinee every Saturday."
The bottom of the sign reads "COMFORTABLY COOL" -- air conditioning was a major amenity in hot and dusty West Texas.