Plaza Theater, Laredo Texas
Posted by: 
linkys
N 27° 30.292 W 099° 30.274
14R E 450164 N 3042457
The Plaza is a well preserved example of an Art Moderne style theater which is now closed.
Waymark Code: WM3CCE
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 03/14/2008
Views: 78
Built in 1947 in what was then the heart of downtown Laredo, the Art Moderne style Plaza Theater featured first-run American and Mexican films. It seated 1,586, had striking hand painted murals which adorned its interior spaces and with its large, neon lighted vertical marquee visible up and down Hidalgo Street, it was epitome of the modern movie theater of the time. Unfortunately just some 20 years later, the growth of the city and the death of downtown shopping changed the theater forever, and by the early 70's it had been carved up into three small auditoriums, two on the main floor and one by closing off the balcony.
It opened New Years Day 1947 with the just released movie Renegade Girl which starred Ann Savage and Alan Curtis, both of whom, just like the Plaza, faded into obscurity. Currently the theater is closed, with a chain link fence garishly placed across the entrance. One thing that has been maintained is the colorful neon marquee, even though a part of it has been modernized. Through the fence you can see the beautiful wood of the entrance doors, and the same wood was even used in the door to the stand alone ticket booth. There is currently a plan to resurrect the theater as a preforming arts center, so in the future it may live once again.
As is so many times the case when theaters are in an older downtown setting, getting a good photo is difficult. Here is a photo taken from across the street.
Closeup showing the details in the exterior lobby, it also gives a glimpse of that ugly, but necessary chain link fence.
The vertical marquee towers over the sidewalk.
