HOUSTON – For generations the Garden Oaks Theater in The Heights has been part of Houston’s story. Now that it’s days from potential demolishment, supporters are racing to save one of the city’s last remaining neighborhood movie houses.
KPRC 2’s Keith Garvin got a look inside to see why Houstonians are trying to save it.
Inside the building’s walls, you can see Houston history clinging at a chance to move into the future. On a recent summer afternoon -- we were led on a tour inside the vacant theater -- breaking quite the sweat since the power has been shut off for weeks -- the building stripped of all its electrical components. The tour was led by the founder and president of Arthouse Houston, Maureen McNamara. That is the non-profit trying to save the theater. They were formed years ago to save the historic River Oaks Theater, and were successful in those efforts.
McNamara pointed out the original murals still adorning the building’s ceiling. “You can see the garden kind of style there,” she said, revealing the artwork with a flashlight.
This theater once lit up the neighborhood before spending the last two decades as a church. The building was privately sold -- and it came within one step of being demolished according to council member Mario Castillo.
“People have come after the fact to say, ‘Well wait a second. How is this happening? Why is this happening,”” Castillo said.
Now, after Arthouse Houston stepped in -- the owner has agreed to hand it back to the community -- if supporters can raise the $7.1 million he paid for it. One of the loudest voices in that effort belongs to Houston foodie and social media influencer Shawn Singh.
“It’s been awesome,” said Singh, referring to the response from his followers. “I think everybody agrees that the garden oaks theater needs to be saved.”
Singh has enlisted his half-a-million followers for support.
“I like to compete and feel like, compared to New York, L.A., Atlanta. you know they have historic cinema theaters as well.”
As Houston keeps growing -- supporters say saving places like this means preserving the city’s character -- not just replacing it. And they’re not starting from scratch.
“There is such a ground swell of effort that has come in a short period of time to raise almost $2 million toward this effort,” Castillo said.
For many, this isn’t just about saving an old building. It’s about making sure Houston’s next chapter doesn’t erase the ones that came before it.
“Sometimes we look forward so much, that we don’t look at the past,” said Singh. “This is a dimension of not only preserving our history but it’s gonna add to the future as well.”
The goal is ambitious -- the clock is ticking. Supporters say the growing momentum has them believing this historic theater may have one more encore.
“We have so much support from the community,” said McNamara.
Supporters still have about more than $5 million to raise by the end of this month. With new donors and new voices joining the effort almost daily -- they believe the final curtain for the Garden Oaks Theater hasn’t been written just yet.