Arcadia Theater

The Arcadia Theater is a historic movie house in downtown Kerrville, Texas, located at 717 Water Street with the back of the building facing the Guadalupe River. It opened on June 29, 1926, originally designed in a Spanish Mission style and later remodeled with a magnificent intact Art Deco foyer, featuring eight Coming Attractions display cases, a tiled ticket booth, and an exterior neon tower beacon bearing the theatre's name. The main level seated 338 patrons, with an additional 120 seats in the balcony. The theater operated as a movie house for more than six decades before closing in 1988. After its closure, the Arcadia passed through several hands. Three years later it was bought by a private individual, Carmen Avery. A nonprofit called The Arcadia Theatre Group was formed to restore the theater, but after twelve years it dissolved without meeting its goals, gifting the building to the City of Kerrville along with $250,000 raised for rehabilitation. The City commissioned an architectural firm, a feasibility study for a community events center, and twice issued calls for proposals to operate the Arcadia. In 2009 the City approved a proposal by local businessman and restaurateur Hossein Hagigolam for a New York-themed night club and sold him the theater for $10, with conditions that $250,000 be invested in renovation and five years pass before title transferred. After meeting those obligations, Hagigolam brought legal action against his contractor/partner. Current ownership rests with The Arcadia Theater LLC, held by Steve and Shawnna Huser of Huser Construction Company. Structural renovation is nearly complete, the building is in no danger of demolition, and the interior has been gutted. The theater remains closed. A grassroots group of Kerrville residents maintains the website arcadiatheater.org to advocate for restoring the Arcadia as a community-based movie house and cultural center, supporting independent film and downtown revitalization. The site is a member of the League of Historic American Theatres and an affiliate of the Art House Convergence. The group is prepared to incorporate as a nonprofit and seek 501(c)(3) status should developments warrant. Note: Wikidata (Q42298639) describes a former movie theater in Dallas, Texas, which appears to be a different Arcadia Theater. This dossier focuses on the Kerrville, Texas, Arcadia Theater as documented by its official website.

The Arcadia Theater opened on June 29, 1926, in downtown Kerrville, Texas, at 717 Water Street, with the rear of the building on the Guadalupe River. It was originally built in a Spanish Mission architectural style and later remodeled in Art Deco style, retaining a magnificent intact Art Deco foyer with eight Coming Attractions display cases, a tiled ticket booth, and an exterior neon tower beacon displaying the theater's name. The main level seated 338, and the balcony held 120 more. For over sixty years it served as a movie house and community gathering place. The theater closed in 1988. Three years later it was purchased by a private individual, Carmen Avery. A nonprofit organization, The Arcadia Theatre Group, was established to restore the theater. After twelve years, having failed to meet its goals, the group dissolved and gifted the theater to the City of Kerrville, along with $250,000 it had raised for rehabilitation. The City engaged an architectural firm, commissioned a feasibility study for a community events center in the theater, set aside funds, and on two separate occasions issued calls for proposals for operation of the Arcadia. In 2009, the City approved a proposal by local businessman and restaurateur Hossein Hagigolam for a New York-themed night club and sold him the theater for $10. The agreement stipulated that $250,000 must be invested in renovation and that five years must pass before title would transfer to him. When these obligations were met, Hagigolam brought a legal action against his contractor/partner. The outcome of that litigation is not detailed in the available sources. As of the official website's account, current ownership is The Arcadia Theater LLC, held by Steve and Shawnna Huser of Huser Construction Company. Structural renovation is nearly complete, the building faces no danger of demolition, and the interior has been gutted. The theater remains closed. A grassroots group of Kerrville residents runs the website arcadiatheater.org to advocate for restoring the Arcadia as a community-based movie house and cultural center, emphasizing independent film and downtown revitalization. The site is a member of the League of Historic American Theatres and an affiliate of the Art House Convergence. The group states it is prepared to incorporate as a nonprofit and apply for 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status if developments warrant. Separately, Wikidata item Q42298639 refers to a former movie theater in Dallas, Texas, which appears to be a distinct Arcadia Theater. This dossier concerns the Kerrville, Texas, Arcadia Theater as documented by its official website.

• 2009

  City approved Hossein Hagigolam's proposal for a New York-themed night club and sold him the theater for $10 with renovation conditions.

• 2003

  The Arcadia Theatre Group dissolved after twelve years, gifting the theater and $250,000 to the City of Kerrville.

• 1991

  Purchased by private individual Carmen Avery.

• 1988

  Closed after more than six decades of operation.

• 1926

  Opened on June 29 as a movie theater in downtown Kerrville, Texas.

• Current ownership by The Arcadia Theater LLC (Steve and Shawnna Huser); structural renovation nearly complete, interior gutted, theater closed.

A historic downtown movie house and cultural center envisioned as a community-based cinema and arts venue in Kerrville, Texas.

Product categories. Movie screenings · Cultural events · Community events center (planned)

1. 1The ARCADIA | Arcadia Theater, Kerrville, Texasarcadiatheater.org
2. 2About | The ARCADIAarcadiatheater.org
3. 3About Us | The ARCADIAarcadiatheater.org
4. 4Arcadia Theater - Wikidatawikidata.org