Cactus Theater, Lubbock, Texas
historic place
The Cactus Theater is a historic place in Lubbock, Texas. It was constructed in 1937 and officially opened in April 1938. Built for approximately $30,000, it was Lubbock's first suburban neighborhood-oriented theater. The original theater featured 720 seats and air-conditioning, with a marquee illuminated by 750 feet of neon lighting. It operated as a movie house until it closed in 1958. In 1993, a group of investors, Cactus Theater Inc., led by Don and Terri Caldwell, revitalized the building. The Cactus Theater was listed in the National Register of Historic Places by the U.S. Department of the Interior on May 8, 1998. This site is significant for its early role in Lubbock's entertainment history and its later preservation as a cultural venue.