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Author Topic: Southwood Theatre, Austin TX John H. Crawford Film Handler Posts: 38 From: Carbondale Illinois USA Registered: Mar 2005 posted 08-09-2005 06:43 PM                     Hello everyone, I was looking at cinematour.com and saw this rather "interesting" theater in Austin, the Southwood Theatre. Who has heard of this theatre and knows about it? http://www.cinematour.com/tour.php?db=us&id=4677 Here's a pic of the booth, how many have a Lazy-Boy and a television? http://www.cinematour.com/location/usa/tx/tourtx/swood09.jpg  |  IP: Logged William T. Parr Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 823 From: Cedar Park, TX Registered: Nov 2000 posted 08-09-2005 10:35 PM                     The Southwood theatre was built in the 60's by Trans Texas Theatres as a single screen house. It was in the Southwood shopping center on Ben White Blvd. Both the theatre and shopping center stand at present day. The theatre was converted into a twin during the 70's, most likey around 78 when Presidio built the Lakehills 4 just up the road. About the same time Mann built a 3 screen at Westgate, and AMC built an 8 screen in Westgate Mall all within 1/2 mile of this location. The theatre is currently used as a Laser Tag facility called Blazer Tag.  |  IP: Logged John H. Crawford Film Handler Posts: 38 From: Carbondale Illinois USA Registered: Mar 2005 posted 08-09-2005 11:46 PM                     According to cinema-treasures.com, it opened in 1964 with 800+ seats, and ten years later, in 1974 it was bought and twinned by AMC, and in 82 it was bought by the Presidio chain. Also it ran dollar shows throught the 80's. And I guess it was closed in about 1996-1997. I guess those pics of the booth and auditorium were taken about 72-73 as it hasn't been twinned yet. Regarding those pics, it sure was something to see a spotless clean booth, and a pair of Centurys (look like JJ's to me) mated to Strong Futura's!  |  IP: Logged John Walsh Film God Posts: 2490 From: Connecticut, USA, Earth, Milky Way Registered: Oct 1999 posted 08-10-2005 06:01 AM                     It looks like a Drew Eberson (architect) theater, but I don't know for sure.  |  IP: Logged Robert Throop Master Film Handler Posts: 412 From: Vernon, NY USA Registered: Jun 99 posted 08-10-2005 09:05 AM                     Those are Century heads but the soundheads look like RCA to me. Not sure about the penthouses. Bob  |  IP: Logged Richard Fowler Film God Posts: 2392 From: Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA Registered: Jun 2001 posted 08-10-2005 10:26 AM                     Looks like a Magnasync penthouse.  |  IP: Logged John Stewart Film Handler Posts: 67 From: Austin, TX, USA Registered: Sep 2001 posted 08-10-2005 04:32 PM                     The Southwood had Century C's w/RCA sound heads. The sister theater, the Americana, had JJ's and was a little larger than the Southwood. The Americana opened in 1965 and the Southwood in 1967. The photos of the Southwood booth and the house were taken the night before they closed for the twin job. You can see the shipping tubes with the new screens laying under the screen. The theater was twined before AMC purchased it. Just talked to the projectionist that worked there and even he couldn't remember when it was twined. John  |  IP: Logged John H. Crawford Film Handler Posts: 38 From: Carbondale Illinois USA Registered: Mar 2005 posted 08-10-2005 06:31 PM                     John, what movie's end credits were shown in that one 1974 theater pic? It's a scope film for sure, that'd be my only hint.  |  IP: Logged John Stewart Film Handler Posts: 67 From: Austin, TX, USA Registered: Sep 2001 posted 08-10-2005 11:30 PM                     Wish my memory was that good, but I don't recall what it was. Sure was a nice theater in it's day. Was a dream to work. John  |  IP: Logged

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