Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar
Buying a Piece of One's Childhood
RECEIVED Sat., June 16, 2007
Dear Editor,
I would like to add a point to your story about the historic Plaza Theatre in Vernon, Texas [“No Strangers to Drama,” Screens, June 15]. There is not only one Austin couple involved in the ownership of the theatre, but two. My wife, Sahar Arafat-Ray and I co-own the business but continue to live in Austin. In fact, we just returned from managing the theatre while Mark and Cathy took some time off.
When I noticed that the Plaza was for sale, Cathy, a friend since high school, was the first person I called. We pooled our resources, formed a partnership, and purchased the Plaza about a year later.
Being the oldest of the group, I can still remember the Plaza in its glory days before it was divided into two screens. The last movie I can remember seeing on the full screen was Jaws playing to a full house, but I’m sure other, less memorable features followed. By the time Star Wars came to town, the theatre had been divided into two houses.
The feeling of owning the movie theatre where you first saw True Grit with your parents, spent countless Saturday afternoons, and on one memorable Halloween midnight saw the original House of Wax (sadly not in 3-D) is like buying back a piece of one’s childhood … and then sharing it with the rest of the world – for $6 a ticket, $4 matinee.
I would like to add a point to your story about the historic Plaza Theatre in Vernon, Texas [“No Strangers to Drama,” Screens, June 15]. There is not only one Austin couple involved in the ownership of the theatre, but two. My wife, Sahar Arafat-Ray and I co-own the business but continue to live in Austin. In fact, we just returned from managing the theatre while Mark and Cathy took some time off.
When I noticed that the Plaza was for sale, Cathy, a friend since high school, was the first person I called. We pooled our resources, formed a partnership, and purchased the Plaza about a year later.
Being the oldest of the group, I can still remember the Plaza in its glory days before it was divided into two screens. The last movie I can remember seeing on the full screen was Jaws playing to a full house, but I’m sure other, less memorable features followed. By the time Star Wars came to town, the theatre had been divided into two houses.
The feeling of owning the movie theatre where you first saw True Grit with your parents, spent countless Saturday afternoons, and on one memorable Halloween midnight saw the original House of Wax (sadly not in 3-D) is like buying back a piece of one’s childhood … and then sharing it with the rest of the world – for $6 a ticket, $4 matinee.
Stephen Ray
