Brauntex Theatre

Brauntex Theatre is a historic theater in downtown New Braunfels, Texas. Constructed in the late Art Deco period, it opened in January 1942 as a cinema operated by the Griffith Company. Its debut came during the Second World War, when local residents were seeking both entertainment and a temporary respite from anxieties about family members serving overseas. The opening presentation was Birth of the Blues, starring Bing Crosby. At its opening, the Brauntex was regarded as the most modern and prominent theater in New Braunfels. Its design was based on the Griffith Company's earlier Washita Theater in New Cordell, Oklahoma. The venue became an important part of the city's downtown life and operated as a movie theater for approximately five decades. Its early history included appearances connected with film production in the region, including a visit by Pedro Gonzalez during the filming of The Alamo. The theater was integrated during the 1960s; after integration, patrons were permitted to sit throughout the auditorium, with ticket prices differentiated between the upstairs and downstairs seating areas. Over time, the building declined. Its once-polished fittings and neon presentation were accompanied by deteriorating seats and neglected interiors, and the venue came to resemble an abandoned movie palace. A preservation effort began in September 1998 when a broad local group of public officials, artists, engineers, legal and financial professionals, technicians, and other residents began exploring how to save the building and adapt it for continued public use. The initial effort was delayed by the Central Texas floods of October 1998, but planning resumed after the city recovered. In July 1999, the Brauntex Performing Arts Theatre Association obtained nonprofit corporate status, elected its officers and directors, and began arranging professional assistance for management and fundraising. The association signed an earnest-money contract for the property on August 31, 1999, and completed its acquisition on December 10 of that year. Renovation followed soon afterward. The project expanded the small cinema stage into a full performing-arts stage and restored the balcony, which had previously been closed when a former owner converted the building into a two-screen theater. Local volunteers played a major role, including the New Braunfels High School USMC Junior ROTC and a group of women who sewed approximately 600 seat covers. The restored building reopened with a performance by the San Antonio Symphony. The reopening was sold out and marked the transition from a primarily cinematic venue into a performing arts theater. Today, the Brauntex is principally identified with live cultural programming and the preservation of a significant local Art Deco-era theater building. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and remains a recognizable cultural landmark of New Braunfels.

The Brauntex Theatre was built in downtown New Braunfels, Texas, during the late Art Deco period and opened in January 1942. The United States had recently entered the Second World War, and the theater provided local residents with a place to see films, follow the era's public mood, and momentarily escape wartime concerns. Its first film was Birth of the Blues, featuring Bing Crosby. The venue was owned and operated by the Griffith Company, whose design was modeled on the company's Washita Theater in New Cordell, Oklahoma. The opening established the Brauntex as New Braunfels's most advanced and prestigious cinema. The theater benefited from the decline or destruction of competing downtown venues, including the Palace, which suffered a major fire around the time the Brauntex opened. For roughly fifty years, the building functioned as a movie theater and became an important social and entertainment institution. Its local associations included a visit by Pedro Gonzalez during the production of The Alamo. During the 1960s, the theater was integrated. Afterward, customers could choose seating throughout the auditorium rather than being separated by location according to segregated practices; the historical account records different prices for upstairs and downstairs seats. The building's condition worsened gradually. Its ushers, neon sign, decorative fittings, and once-grand public presentation gave way to neglected interiors, damaged seating, and heavy cigarette odor. By the late 1990s, the building risked being lost despite its architectural and community significance. In September 1998, a diverse local preservation group began meeting to assess the structure and develop a viable future for it. Participants included city and county officials, artists, engineers, an attorney, a performing-arts technician, banking representatives, and other citizens. Their discussions concluded that the former cinema could be converted into a full-scale performing arts venue rather than simply preserved as an obsolete movie house. The project was temporarily suspended after the Central Texas floods of October 1998. Once recovery efforts allowed the city to resume normal planning, the theater initiative restarted. The Brauntex Performing Arts Theatre Association acquired nonprofit corporate status in July 1999, elected officers and directors, and hired or contracted outside assistance for management consulting and grant writing. An earnest-money contract was signed on August 31, 1999. On December 10, 1999, the association completed the purchase of the building. Renovation began soon after the acquisition. The most important functional intervention was enlargement of the small cinema stage to support live performing arts. The balcony was also restored after a prior owner had closed it to create a second screening room. The work relied heavily on community participation. Volunteers from several local organizations assisted with the overhaul, including the USMC Junior ROTC at New Braunfels High School. A volunteer group known as the Brauntex Sweatshop produced approximately 600 seat covers, illustrating the scale of hands-on local involvement. The completed renovation culminated in a reopening featuring the San Antonio Symphony. The first event was sold out and demonstrated that the building could have a new life beyond film exhibition. The Brauntex consequently shifted from a traditional movie palace to a performing arts theater while retaining its historic identity and architectural features. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and continues to serve as a cultural landmark and event venue in New Braunfels.

• 1999

  Nonprofit association formed and property acquired

  [1]Brauntex Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  The Brauntex Performing Arts Theatre Association secured nonprofit status and completed its purchase of the building on December 10.

• 1998

  Community preservation campaign begins

  [1]Brauntex Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  Local stakeholders organized a preservation and adaptive-reuse effort to rescue the deteriorating theater.

• 1960

  Integration during the 1960s

  [1]Brauntex Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  The theater was integrated during the 1960s, after which patrons could sit throughout the auditorium.

• 1942

  Opening as a movie palace

  [1]Brauntex Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  The Brauntex Theatre opened in January 1942 in downtown New Braunfels, premiering Birth of the Blues with Bing Crosby.

• Reopening as a performing arts theater

  [1]Brauntex Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  After renovation, the venue reopened with a sold-out San Antonio Symphony performance.

A locally rooted historic theater that combines preservation of a former movie palace with live performing-arts programming for New Braunfels and the surrounding Central Texas community.

• Venue · 1942

  Historic theater venue

  The Brauntex is a preserved late Art Deco theater building in downtown New Braunfels. Its auditorium, decorative elements, neon-associated historic identity, and restored balcony form the core of the venue experience. The building is used for public cultural events and is recognized as a historic property through its National Register of Historic Places listing.

• Live entertainment

  Performing arts program

  Following the late-1990s restoration, the former cinema was adapted for full-scale live performance. The stage was enlarged from its movie-theater configuration, allowing the venue to host concerts, orchestral performances, theatrical events, and other community-oriented programming.

• Film exhibition · 1942

  Cinema programming

  The Brauntex began as a conventional movie palace and premiered feature films during its original operating era. Film exhibition is part of the theater's historical identity, although the building's modern role is primarily associated with performing arts.

• 1998Brauntex preservation and adaptive-reuse campaign

  New Braunfels · Central Texas

  A locally organized campaign brought together civic officials, arts participants, technical professionals, financial representatives, and residents to save the deteriorating movie palace and convert it into a performing arts theater.

  Outcome. The effort led to the formation of the Brauntex Performing Arts Theatre Association, acquisition of the building, renovation, and its reopening as a live-performance venue.

  Source

• 1999

  Adopt adaptive reuse as a performing arts theaterStrategy

  Background

  The former movie palace had deteriorated substantially, while its historic architecture and civic importance made demolition or continued decline undesirable.

  Action taken

  The preservation association acquired the property and pursued a conversion from a cinema into a full-scale performing arts venue, including stage expansion and balcony restoration.

  Aftermath

  The renovated building reopened with a sold-out San Antonio Symphony performance and assumed a new role as a community cultural venue.

  Source

• 1999

  Brauntex Performing Arts Theatre Association acquires the property[1]Brauntex Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  After securing nonprofit status and completing an acquisition agreement, the Brauntex Performing Arts Theatre Association became the theater's owner in December.

• 1998

  Brauntex preservation effort begins[1]Brauntex Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  A coalition of local officials, arts representatives, technical specialists, financial institutions, and residents organized to preserve and find a new use for the deteriorating theater.

• 1942

  Brauntex Theatre opens as a new downtown movie palace[1]Brauntex Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The Brauntex Theatre opened in January with Birth of the Blues, starring Bing Crosby, and quickly became the leading modern cinema in New Braunfels.

• Restored Brauntex reopens as a performing arts venue[1]Brauntex Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch · Other

  Following a volunteer-supported renovation, the theater reopened with a sold-out San Antonio Symphony performance, formally beginning its modern performing-arts role.

1. 1Brauntex Theatreen.wikipedia.org