No fewer than 11 pairs of scissors reached to cut the ribbon in front of Fifth Ward’s DeLuxe Theater at 3303 Lyons Ave. as it formally reopened yesterday. The 1941 movie-theater-briefly-turned-art-gallery, which has sat empty since 1973, will now host plays, classes, and other community and art events put on by Texas Southern University; TSU jazz students performed at the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The original facade and marquee have been restored and updated:
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The new theater stage comes with seating for 125:
The refurbished space contains a mural featuring Malcolm X and Marco Polo, painted in 1985 by Bert E. Samples for the original East End location of the Lawndale Art Center:
The snippers included representatives of the Fifth Ward Community Redevelopment Corporation, religious leaders, and local and state government reps, among others:
A former furniture store next door has been incorporated into the complex and converted to classroom space.
- Fifth Ward Celebrates Reopening Of Historic DeLuxe Theatre [Houston Public Media]
- DeLuxe Theater reborn in Fifth Ward [Houston Chronicle]
- Previously on Swamplot: The Grand Opening of the Fifth Ward’s DeLuxe Theater; The DeLuxe Theater’s Next Act: Fifth Ward Zydeco Library; DeLuxe Theater Breakaway Sculptors: All They Want for Christmas Is Some 117 Siding
Standalone photo of facade: Bayou City History; other photos: City of Houston Housing and Community Development Deparment via Facebook
Its not often we get good news coming out of the 5th ward. This building has great potential and can serve as the backbone for better things to come in the 5th ward area. Already artist, students, and professionals looking for an affordable place to live close to downtown have chosen 5th ward as a home. Hopefully this trend continues.
Doesn’t that look great! Congrats to those who made it happen. Was any one injured when Sheila elbowed her way to the front line, by the way?