Exploring Theaters & Drive-ins of Brownsville, Texas

Thanks to all who read article on the Queen Theater.  We'll take a look at another one of Brownsville's earliest theaters in a future post.  We don't have a full history of each theater but we've come a long way since 2005 this was created in an early version of CorelDraw.   

2005 Javier R. Garcia

 If you'd like to find more stories on Bronsbil Estacion blog you can point mouse to orange blogger "B" at top left and enter search term to find more vintage photos and articles posted here by various sources. 

Sometimes you can find the search term links at the bottom of a post which will show related articles on this blog.  

thanks

If you would like to share a south Texas related history with us contact Brownsvilletrain@yahoo.com.  

1928 Signs of Better Days Downtown

by Jose Cazares

1928 was a busy year for Electric street signs. Two new electric signs, one on Levee street and one on Washington lighted up the city streets of Brownsville's skyline. 

The Hotel El Jardin sign costed about $1,500. It was about thirty feet high and fifteen feet wide and had letters almost three feet high. It was was placed on the Southeast corner of the hotel, beginning at about the fifth story and extended to the top. M. Reich of San Antonio, who designed the huge "Solid Light" glower, was in charge of its erection. The letters were made of "Reich-Light" glass, a specially patented glass which admits of greater illumination and reflection than any glass known at that time.

The Capitol theatre also placed its sign in 1928.  (Editor's note:   Capitol Theater sign of 1928 had nation's Capitol building as icon on top.  The new sign may have replaced original after 1933 hurricane or 1938 when Capitol was completely upgraded.)

 1938 Brownsville Herald ad page

Another of Mr Reich's signs was the Cameron Hotel sign on Washington street.

In 1928, The Missouri Pacific Lines constructed the "International Bridge" ornamental sign at the entrance to the bridge road leading to the International bridge. Train schedules and general information was posted on this sign, it is said and it was illuminated at night.  (cropped section of 1942 Arthur Rothstein photo colorized by Javier R. Garcia)

"Yours with a Roar," Manuel King

Brownsville says goodbye to another homegrown legend.  His father W.A. "Snake" King  concluded corresponding letters with his signature "Rattling Yours ... Snake King" and Manuel made it a custom to sign autographs in similar fashion with "Yours with a roar!! ...  Manuel King."  

1964 cover of book written by William Abraham King, Jr.  It tells about how his father W.A. "Snake" King built a wild animal farm near Palm Blvd (Palm Village Shopping Center today) and called it Snakeville.  He became world famous and his son went on to become the World's Youngest Wild Animal Trainer.  The book has plenty of anecdotes to keep the reader entertained but (no spoilers) by the end you'll have a special place in your heart for Snakeville.

This Snake Catching Contest held at the Fort Brown during the Mid-Winter Fair is a freeze-frame from a 1914 film by Adolph Dittman.  Dittman built the first movie theater in Brownsville and occasionally filmed for Pathe' news clips.  His "Battle of Matamoros" film clips in June 1914 went national.

If you want to see what the Texas Archive of the Moving Image did with a 35mm nitrate film (which is highly combustible) click on THIS.

No need to tell whole Snake King's story with this post but here's a blank to to check again for future posts.   Raising lions at the animal farm produced about ten cubs as once.  One time Manuel's father caught him playing with the cubs after having been warned not to and Manuel thought he was in for it!

Manuel had made friends with the cubs and gave them names.  His closest was Yo-Yo and he named the other cubs Mickey, Dynamite, Prince, Bubbles, Tiger, Spitfire, Ruth, Leo and Nero.  With them he emulated his lion trainer hero Clyde Beatty, the most daring wild animal trainer of all time who stunned audiences with fight scenes between a Bengal tiger and African lion in The Big Cage (1933).  If you don't believe me, just Google that and enjoy the fights. 

Manuel's father met John C. "Chubby" Guilfoyle who was a first-class trainer even after he lost his arm in the 1920's during a lion/tiger mix-up which went really bad.  W.A. King hired him to train Manuel to train lions.  Guilfoyle thought the Snake King was insane to ask a man who lost an arm in the cage but he was talked into making a visit to Snakeville.  This photo was taken in 1933 the first day Chubby and Manuel met.

John Guilfoyle next to cat cage while traveling with the Christy Circus c1925 (from John C. Guilfoyle Collection)

 Manuel had names for all these lions.  If you can find the book, grab it and read.  John's wife was also a trainer and she lent her outfit to Manuel which he also wore for a Universal Newsreel clip.

Click HERE if you want to watch it.

 May 1934 handbill from the John C. Guilfoyle Collection courtesy of Leah Malasko.  W.A. "Snake" King had it all set-up.  He alerted the press, got a bite, and soon enough Manuel was ready to take his show on the road.

Here are two trucks used to haul the lions and crew to carnivals, circuses and preferably big county fairs.

One thing Manuel liked to remind me was that they never use the ter Lion "tamer" -- It's Trainer - not tamer.  The belief that these lions raised from cubs can be "tame" is to not understand the unpredictability of these magnificent cats.  

The rolling barrel trick was no trick at all.  This was one of the most difficult feats to do smoothly but Manuel was well trained and while the lions gnarl and roar and paw at Manuel it's all an "act" but the potential danger can come if the routine is not followed, such as a sudden noise or movement.

A very rare photo of W.A. and Manuel King together circa 1934-35 courtesy of Leah Malasko.

 W.A. Snake King at a zoo wrapped in a python (from the John C. Guilfoyle Collection)

 The Million Dollar Pier in Atlantic City, New Jersey (1935) was where Manuel spent a summer or two and it looks like he must have had a swell ol' time.

 Bronsbil Estacion version of the poster in the above photo

He saw his name in lights 

1935-36 taken by Fred Parker-photographer Louisville Times At Fontaine Ferry Park-KY (John C. Guilfoyle Collection)

 The lion training arena at Snakeville.

Manuel told me that Clyde Beatty did not like the idea of teaming with a boy and his lions but there were no worries -- Manuel brought his own lions to act with.  The film is shot in 15 episodic "cliffhangers" which were major theater draws for folks wanting to catch the next installment.  

May 1936 ad announcing Manuel's big screen debut.  Only two years before had he made his debut on a theater stage (see handbill above).

 from the Brownsville Herald's Memories of Home (colorized by Bronsbil Estacion)

Manuel continued in the business a few years, joined the army, returned home and continued working with animals the rest of his life.  Thanks to Mr. King for sharing his collection of photos and memories and Leah Malasko and family for their sharing of photos from the John C. Guilfoyle Collection.  It was truly an honor to have met with Manuel and William Abraham King back 10 years ago while researching Snakeville for a historic exhibit.

Brownsville likes to honor it's builders, it's wealthy entrepreneurs and vast land owners and that really is the thing to do but very few places have been homes to legends such as W.A. "Snake" King and the "World's Youngest Wild Animal Trainer" or "WYWAT," as his older brother Bill called him.

~ Javier R. Garcia

John C. Fanning and the Annual Capitol Christmas Party

Story compiled by Javier R. Garcia from Brownsville Herald archives

(Brownsville Historical Association photo colorized by Javier R. Garcia)

On a cold rainy day on December 23, 1947, strings of colored Christmas lights stretched across E Levee St., candy canes decorated a light pole and an ebony Christmas tree stood on a platform in front of the marquee of the Capitol Theater.  The long line of kids numbering close to 1500 who received free tickets earlier that week stretched around the corner to the alley and perhaps back across the street.  Across the corner was a man and a rain slicked street wearing a raincoat with a large camera on a tripod.  It might have been the photographer from nearby Rogers Studio who snapped a photo and managed to get the attention of almost every brown faced kid anxiously waiting to get inside for the fun to begin.

It was the annual Christmas Party at the Capitol which originally began in 1930 with 100 children as guests its first year.  Thereafter kids were invited to receive gifts of fruit and candy by the Christmas tree in front of the theater and see a free matinee inside.  It was John C. Fanning who lead the parade while donning the Santa costume.

This news photo would have been after 1933 or 1938; depending on when marquee was changed.

Businessman Morris Edelstein had nice furniture giveaways in 1940!

Mr. Fanning played Santa for nine straight years until becoming ill in the early 1940s.  In 1941 he suffered a stroke and was in Mercy Hospital while a substitute Santa passed out gifts in front of the Capitol.

In 1943 Fanning was the honored guest of the Brownsville Fire Department which hosted the procession from the Central Fire Station on E Adams and 10^th to the Federal Building /Post Office.  Ol’ Saint. Nick rode a hook-and-ladder truck (instead of his sleigh) which was led by a motorcycle cop, local junior high school band and jeep carrying Mr. Fannin.  With his health declined he may not have been up to the task of donning the red suit this last night.  He had once been an avid fisherman and had photos of himself with fish he caught in the gulf on the wall in his office but after the stroke of ’41 he had sold the boat and his civic work had to be less arduous.  And then he suddenly he died the next night from heart failure at the age of 68. 

The heart attack struck him while he was walking past El Jardin Hotel to his home apartment on the upper level of the Capitol.  He had been under the close supervision of his doctor and traveled to San Antonio for treatment.  He felt he recovered and made leisurely travels to Kansas and later, Mexico City.  County Attorney Franklin Graham was at his side when tragedy struck and with the help of an unknown sailor and night watchman, the three helped Mr Fanning to his room.  A doctor was called and fire department dispatched to bring their “pulmotor” to revive Fanning back to health.  Mr. Fanning repeatedly assured his last companions on earth “I’ll be alright,” but twenty-five minutes after having his stroke he was gone.

With his wife Bertie they had raised two daughters who lived in Fort Worth and a son who lived in Lubbock and supposedly had a hat called the Fanning named after him by the Knox Hat Company.

John Cullen Fanning was born August 21, 1875 in Natchez, Mississippi but raised in Fort Worth, Texas and by the time he arrived in Brownsville in the early 1920s from Cisco and Mineral Wells (places near Dallas, Texas), he already had experience operating movie theaters beginning in San Angelo since 1911. 

He partnered with Ed Brady, President of the Delta Amusement Company of San Benito and its vice-president, Brown White to operate the Texas Theater in downtown Brownsville.  Paco Betancourt, who operated the Queen Theater, joined the three men and they became the “Brownsville Amusement Company” which incorporated the Capitol, Queen and Texas theaters in 1928.  The Dent Theater chain bought out Fanning’s partners while he retained his interest in the theater.  Dent sold to Publix and Publix sold to Interstate in 1932.

The Capitol opened on Valentine’s Day 1928 to much fanfare and had a capacity to seat 1,000 persons.  By 1938 Interstate Theater gave the Capitol a complete renovation.  Fanning stayed on as its manager. 

Our story begins in the early 1930's after the Great Depression left many people out of employment.  Civic organizations in Brownsville answered the call for charity around Christmastime.  Volunteers of America, Red Cross, American Legion’s Southpoint Chapter of Disabled American Veterans, local city churches and local fire department urged the more fortunate in Brownsville to contribute to these causes for disadvantaged children. 

December 22, 1933 Brownsville Herald announcement

The Capitol was also one of sixty theaters across the United States to host the Mickey Mouse Club Theater program for kids which began in 1930.  Fanning also conceived the St. Patrick’s celebration of 1931, the Fourth of July celebration of 1929 and Better Brownsville celebration of 1932.  He also organized the “Kid Parades” to celebrate the opening of the Port of Brownsville in 1936 and was a participating organizer of Charro Days in 1937 and yearly Easter egg hunts.

Each year Fanning erected a tall ebony tree in front of the theater which was decorated with the help of local store merchants, the Brownsville Fire Department and Junior Chamber of Commerce.  This tradition probably followed the one which had begun on the former James Wells property in front of the Federal Courthouse/ Post Office on E Elizabeth and 10^th St.  It was a giant 20-plus foot tree with a spreading 12 ft branch which lighted by the local electric company to honor the memory of W.B. Clint who was director of the Brownsville Chamber of Commerce for many years.  Christmas carols were broadcast down E Elizabeth St businesses over loud speakers and various groups appeared on the streets of Brownsville.  By the way, that property later became the Majestic Theater built by Interstate in 1949.

James Wells house on corner of E Elizabeth and 10th circa 1920.  There's no need to point out a large ebony tree for you to get the picture.

But the photo this story is about was taken three years after John Fanning died.  It was Interstate Theater who continued the tradition.  They ran ads with “Your theatre man – Jimmy McNeil says – Seasons Greetings to you all and suggests you -- Give Entertainment” by buying their coupons redeemable at any of their Rio Grande Valley Interstate Theaters.

The free matinee was “Philo Vance Returns,” a mystery film which seems like a lame choice for children but we'll assume they enjoyed the fun of having seen cartoons with free popcorn and candy.  What’s amazing is the absence of parents in the photo.  Where were they?  

Anyways, you get the picture.  It’s doubtful the Capitol tradition carried on much longer after Mr. Fanning’s demise.  Once the Star Drive-in was built in 1948, followed by the Majestic Theater and Charro Drive-in in 1949, the Capitol would last a few years into the late 1950s or early 1960s but its place as Brownsville’s main theater was long gone and as generations passed, the memory of John C. Fannin would fade away.

Here are a couple of more Brownsville Herald photos printed in memory to John Fanning.

2005