Rio Theater Mission Texas
Posted by: 
capbat
N 26° 12.635 W 098° 19.526
14R E 567389 N 2899180
The Rio Theater was built in 1912 by Spanish emigrant Juan Bautista Barbera as a brick building originally named El Teatro La Paz
Waymark Code: WM17XV
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 02/16/2007
Views: 60
The Theater was used as a center for lectures, for putting on plays, films, and during the Great Depression, as a building to deliver food to the needy.
Spanish classics, like Don Juan Tenorio and Mexican classics, like Llorona Malditas Sean Las Juieres were proudly showcased at the Theater. In addition, the Theater was used to crown the Dieciséis de Septiembre (16th of September) Fiesta Queen. In 1945, Enrique Flores, Sr. bought the Peace Theater and changed the name to the Rio Theater. He and his wife operated the Rio Theater for many years and willed it to their son, Enrique Flores, Jr., who continued to operate the Theater. Under this new management, the Rio Theater became a center for the arts, and the Xochil Art Institute, a non-profit organization with a board of directors was established but dissolved soon thereafter. Today, the Rio Theater has returned to being a cultural center that houses a restaurant, an art gallery, and theater performances. For Mexican-Americans residents of Mission, the cultural significance of this building cannot be overstated.
Theater Name: Rio Theater
Country: USA
Address:
516 Doherty St,
Mission, TX USA
78572
Web Site: [Web Link]
Venue: Other (specify in narrative)
Type of Productions:
Historical Theater.
Stage Type: Other (specify in narrative)
Restored Building: Not Listed
Date of Construction: Not listed
Architect/Designer: Not listed
Seating Capacity: Not Listed
Special Productions/Events/Festivals: Not listed
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