Nightime Shot of Kilgore Crim Theater
by Kathy White
Title
Nightime Shot of Kilgore Crim Theater
Artist
Kathy White
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
The Crim Theater, located in Kilgore, Texas is a beauty at night time with its colorful, bright neon lights, and its restored, carefully-maintained art deco facade. The Crim is housed in the Former Kilgore National Bank Building. It was built in the 1930's during the height of the East Texas Oil Boom.
When I took this photo, the city had just had The Crim Theaterror, a fright house sponsored by the Kilgore Main Street Program, to raise money for renovations to the iconic downtown Theater.
According to the Kilgore College Flare student newspaper, "the 6,000-square-foot theater had a seating capacity of slightly less than 1,000 and was designed with the art deco style of the era. Revolutionized “push-back” seats were put in place. The theater ultimately cost approximately $150,000 to complete.
It was unequaled in the East Texas area, with a grander and cutting-edge style scheme that could not be rivaled. Many black-tie premiere showings were held at the Crim. A world premiere with the filming of the film “Strike it Rich” was in Kilgore.
In the late 1950s television was making headway into the realm of entertainment and the theatre was eventually closed, sold and later used as a warehouse. It remained vacant until the 1960s."
In 1987, the Main Street Project Resource team suggested the city renovate the theater because of its history and prominence in the downtown area. The Crim was then sold at public auction for non payment of taxes and the City of Kilgore was able to obtain the deed.
Uploaded
December 18th, 2012
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