Grand Avenue in 1941. The Melba Theatre is located at right. This image was from a postcard and later reprinted in the Houston Herald.
The Melba Theatre in downtown Houston during its early years.
Pat Hutsell poses in front of the Piney Inn in the 1950s. The hotel was directly across from the Melba Theatre on Grand Avenue.
An advertisement in the Houston Herald advertising shows playing at the Melba Theatre when it opened in 1938.
- A rendering of the proposed Melba Theatre renovation.
A look at yesteryear at the Melba.
Fliers like this one were used to advertise movies. Employees would head to the country and place them in gates and screen doors. This handbill dates to 1932 before the Melba opened, and movies were shown further north on Grand Avenue.
Phyllis Masters bought popcorn at the Melba Theatre around 1952. These political candidates were featured on the popcorn carton.
The Melba Theatre in Houston opened on Grand Avenue in 1938. That year, “You Can’t Take It With You,” won the academy award for best picture. James Stewart was one of the stars.
A sketch of the Lone Star Plaza annex, which is situated north of the Lone Star Plaza. The space would be used for community meetings, the Friends of the Library bookstore and the Houston Farmers Market, which needs refrigeration and public restrooms. The effort is part of the Melba Theatre project.
Herald multi-part series on Melba Theatre