Cactus Theater
historical marker
The Cactus Theater, located at 521 East Sixth Street in Austin, Travis County, opened in 1939. It was owned by vaudeville performer Richard 'Skinny' Pryor. During the 1930s and 40s, the theater featured cowboy and Spanish language movies. Richard Pryor's son, Cactus Pryor, worked at the theater, selling tickets, popping popcorn, and operating the projector. This experience contributed to his later career as an Austin journalist and TV-radio personality. After Richard Pryor's death in 1948, the theater was taken over by the Luccahese family. By 1955, it was renamed the Carver Theatre, operating as an African American movie theatre until around 1961. It later became an art house in 1962, then Teatro Carlos for Spanish movies in 1963, and the Capri Theatre in 1964. In 1973, it was known as the Vagabond Theatre, and in 1975, the Sun Theatre. Today, the building houses the Velveeta Room comedy club. The Cactus Theater represents a significant part of Austin's entertainment history and the early career of a notable local figure.