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Crown Jewel of Montgomery County
Shines 80 years after Opening Night

By Meagan Ellsworth
 


Michael Minasi
The Crighton Theatre, which is celebrating its 80th anniversary,
is pictured on Saturday off of Main Street in downtown Conroe.

While 1934 is etched into the cornerstone of the Crighton Theatre in Downtown Conroe, it wasn’t until Nov. 26, 1935 that it hosted its first show, opening the venue to 80 years of entertainment on Main Street.

The opening night featured Pat O’Brien in “Stars over Broadway.” Contrary to popular belief, the Crighton was never a vaudeville venue, but a movie theater.

Going back through the tales on the timeline of the “The Crown Jewel of Montgomery County,” its story will tell you about Conroe Mayor Harry Crighton, who discovered oil on his property, went into the business and decided he wanted to give back to the community with a grand gift.

Back then, going to a show may have been a little more challenging than loading up a minivan with a bundle of joy and a six-year-old’s birthday party to see the latest Disney movie, a third time, with tickets reserved online.

Crighton Theatre Executive Director Jim Bingham said films were only nationally produced with five to six traveling master copies.

“If you didn’t see it that weekend,” Bingham said. “You didn’t see it.”

Bingham said the mayor’s gift gave the people an option to see the show right in Downtown Conroe, instead of having to travel all the way to Houston. Plus, he said at the time the 600-seat venue meant most of the town with a population of about 1,200, “if you count a few cows,” could see it in one weekend.

Then, the modern multiplex came to town. The theatre couldn’t compete and closed its doors in the mid-1960s.

When the lights went out, the pigeons moved in. After nearly a decade, the passing days took its damaging toll.

In 1976, Frank and Hallie Crighton Guthrie and their financial administrator Chuck Stealey approached Chamber of Commerce President Bruce Scott to present the idea of donating the theatre to the county.

It was in bad shape—with the once elegant tile broken and an orchestra pit filled with water. But architect Harry Devlin and the community stepped in.

The city and local businesses raised thousands of dollars’ worth of funds to restore and rejuvenate the Crighton Theatre to its glory with at least one major change — no movies.

Instead, the cornerstone provided a live stage for the performing arts. There have been hundreds of productions and concerts throughout the years since, including Vince Gill, who Bingham said complimented the acoustics.

Over time and with the help of theatre designer, David Nibbin, committees, and the establishment of the foundation — the Crighton would become a centerpiece to downtown.

While the modern performances keep tourists coming to the theatre, as well as to local restaurants and other businesses, Bingham said the theatre also reminds local visitors of the past.

“Loving thoughtfulness resides within these walls,” Bingham said. “Buildings like this tell time for a community. It marks time.”

He said the theater was one of the first air-chilled buildings by blowing fans on a block of ice to keep the attendees cool. Others remember their honeymoon, high school classmates, and taking a break from the lake to see the show somewhere cool and dry.

The Crighton Theatre doesn’t have an anniversary show planned to celebrate 80 years at this time, but Bingham said there will be a fundraising event soon to help raise funds for the theater’s next remodeling project.

He said maintaining the theatre is expensive, explaining the recent purchase for $81,000 lights and the courtesy of an electrical company that donated thousands of dollars’ worth of its time.

Fortunately, the theatre is receiving a grant from the city of Conroe, who has supported the theatre throughout its history. Bingham said the funds will aid the plans to triple the lobby size, including the addition of bathrooms, and expand the atrium.

Although donations are needed and nice, he said one of the best ways the community can continue to support the theatre is by coming to see the shows.

“That’s what it’s all about,” Bingham said. “We do all of this to entertain the patrons.”

The theater is home to Stage Right Productions, the Montgomery County Performing Arts Society, and the Sounds of Texas Music Series.

This coming Friday will be the start of Stage Right’s “Christmas Belles,” a comedy that will play for three weekends, Dec. 4-20, at 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. on Sundays. Tickets range from $15 to $20.

“It’s a unique show in that in a bit of circumstance the Crighton was going to be closed and dark over Christmas,” Bingham said. “That’s how Stage Right was formed — (the group said it) couldn’t stand the thought of it being closed over Christmas season.”

 

Conroe Courier

December 1, 2015

 

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