713 Congress Ave
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 472-2901
100+ year old historic theatre in downtown Austin
713 Congress Ave
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 472-2901
The Ritz is a historic theater in the 6th Street district in Austin, Texas. The building's history includes use as a movie theater, music hall, club, and comedy house. It reopened after renovations in fall 2007 as the new downtown location for the Alamo Drafthouse.HistoryThe Ritz was built in 1929 by J.J. Hegman, who owned several movie theaters in Austin, Texas. It was the first theater in Austin to be built specifically for the talkies. The architect was Hugo Kuehne, the founding dean of the University of Texas School of Architecture, who also designed the Austin History Center (originally the Austin Public Library). The Ritz was originally a long narrow space, and was segregated like most movie theaters in Texas and other southern states at that time; there was a separate entrance leading to a balcony reserved for people of color.The theater opened on 6th Street on October 13, 1929. It showed primarily first-run westerns with a lower ticket price than any other theater in town and frequently brought in stars like Wild Bill Elliott and Dub Taylor, along with country music acts who performed before the movies.In 1937, Hegman's son Elmo took over management and expanded the theater to 800 seats by widening the theater by 25 feet. He continued showing Westerns until television siphoned off the audience; Elmo closed the theater in 1964.Cary White, the production designer for The Faculty and Spy Kids, amongst other movies, was the projectionist and janitor at the Ritz during some of its last days as a movie house.
July 2011 the Honor Flight Austin joined forces with the Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter 1919, a 501c19 non-profit organization. Several Austinites asked themselves what they could do to honor and thank our Veterans – especially our WWII Veterans - whose courage and determination to do the job they were sent to do still echoes down the years. These patriotic individuals joined forces when they saw an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of our Veterans.
How does this BENEFIT you? - Networking Opportunities - A Platform to Exchange Ideas - Policy Trainings & Education - Peer to Peer Relationship Accountability - Visibility - Mentorship
Red Apple Project is the students and teacher's best friend. Texas ISDs can cut education spending without cutting teachers or schools.
Texas state parks face a funding crisis and at least 7 of them could soon close. Parks improve our quality of life and generate hundreds of millions of dollars in economic development. Join the grassroots movement to restore funding for state parks so that families can continue enjoying the great Texas outdoors!
In Texas we take pride in customer choice, fair competition and a free market society. But special interests are trying to eliminate an industry that helps people stay in their homes and businesses Forcing 75 companies to close and losing hundreds of Texas jobs. Lawmakers, please preserve the current lien priority for Tax Lien Transfers Let customers decide who wins. You deserve financial choices. Legislative Advertising by Jim Arnold Protect My Texas Property 815 A Brazos PMB 545 Austin TX 78701
Motorcycle Ride and Concert benefitting the Texas Chapter of the ALS Association
The Texas Motion Picture Alliance (TXMPA) serves the film, video, interactive, and digital media production industry. TXMPA is the industry advocate before legislative, regulatory and judicial bodies, representing a robust community of professionals seeking economic and creative incentives for media work in Texas. Through its programs and activities, TXMPA educates its members, legislators, and the general public on all forms of media production and the tremendous economic impact that production generates within the state.
The TX Identity Theft Network hosts bi-monthly meetings to address Identity Theft issues in Texas, focusing on the mental health needs of victims.
TX Fair Share stands for an America where everyone gets their fair share, pays their fair share, and does their fair share; and where everybody plays by the same rules.
EAMA opened its doors in 2014, implementing private guitar, piano, and percussion lessons for the students of the Texas Preparatory School during their elective period and as part of the afterschool program. The students are taught by musicians, music professors, and industry professionals. All proceeds from the Austin Area Jazz Festival benefit EAMA.