2019 1123 Teatro Victoria Dedicated to Theater Pioneers Viola and Ramon II Ruenes

Cover photo includes full-page ad announcing the opening of the theater 24 November 1946.  The classic beauty is Ana Berta Lepe who this blogger first saw on cover of Bellezas Del Cine Mexicano / Beauties of Mexican Cinema by friend and author  Rogelio Agrasanchez of Harlingen, Texas.

Entering from the side of Harrison St one enters the area where the theater once was.  

Mr Zamora with Ricardo and Carmen Ruenes.

Juan Velez 

Hilda Ledezma and Roman Gonzalez of the Carlotta K. Petrina Cultural Center presented a sombrero gifted to the Ruenes family by charro Miguel Aceves Mejía (a.k.a. "the King of the falsetto")

Mr Zamora was  the grand Master of Ceremonies in his tuxedo.  Left to right on wall, Mario Moreno as "Cantinflas". Pedro Armendariz, Luis Aguilar and Germán Genaro Cipriano Gómez Valdés de Castillo a.k.a. Tin-Tan

Another sombrero was unveiled by Ricardo and Carmen.  It once belonged to Pedro Infante who is Mexico’s most popular screen legend.

This lady recounted many happy memories of visiting the Victoria.

Many vintage photos, some personally signed and autographed by the movie stars who visited the Victoria were put on display.

Mrs Zamora shows a 1987 Valley Morning Start newspaper article with photos of Ramon Ruenes of Asturias, Spain and his wife Ester Ramirez who began showing silent movies in San Benito in the 1920s.  By the 1950s they, along with the Brady family, operated theaters and drive-in throughout south Texas with some theaters in Corpus Christi and San Antonio.  

This man is holding a full-page rendering of the 1946 Brownsville Herald ad that marked the beginning of an era for this small close-knit community that raised generations of family around it.

c2004 Photo taken by myself before hurricane Dolly broke the sign in half.  The Zamora family has been making inquiries to determine what it will take to create a replica of the neon sign.  A scale rendering will created using some of the photos and illustrations by yours truly.

2019 - photo taken while the plaque was being applied to the former theater

The Manley model 67 Vista Pop was the first of the Vista Pop machines. It was introduced in 1955. The Vista Pops feature a see-through Pyrex kettle that allows you to see the popcorn popping.  It was restored by the historical association's best mechanic on hand - Gene Balch with a li'l help from his friends too.

Some of the amenities include a billiard room with awesome pool tables but what totally surprised me was the amazing collection of wrestling masks covering the walls.  I think those are massage chairs or something....  The office space retains the original tiles that marked the space of the lobby or reception room where Ramon and Viola welcomed many visitors entering the Victoria.

A before/after look from the 14th St side to corner of E Harrison St.

Carmen and Ricardo experience the moment after unveiling the memorial with granddaughter Ali.

All the wonderful folks I was able to fit-in this photo shot from a tight corner.  

Business card and vintage photos courtesy of Ricardo Ruenes