Ritz Theater

The Ritz Theatre was designed by St. Louis architect Scott Dunne in an elaborate Art Deco style with Spanish Renaissance influences and opened on Christmas Day, 1929. Dunne, a prominent Dallas-based movie palace architect who designed more than forty theaters in Texas and Oklahoma, created a colorful Spanish Renaissance-style interior for the atmospheric Ritz, replicating a courtyard under a night sky. The elaborate interior, seated around 1,300, featured a Spanish courtyard façade and illuminated sky, with two cloud machines mounted on turrets near the ceiling projecting moving clouds and 58 twinkling stars to enhance the magical atmosphere. The theater was hailed as one of the finest and largest entertainment venues in the state of Texas.

After operating as a movie palace and later as a concert venue, the theatre gradually fell into disrepair until 2014, when an organization called Corpus Christi PATCH dedicated itself to the restoration of the theatre, with the goal to repair, restore, and revive the historic theatre to its former glory.

As part of the restoration team, EverGreene is conducting a historic color investigation, using chemical analysis of paint residue on original plaster samples. This enables the accurate determination and recreation of the theatre’s authentic 1929 finishes. The discovery revealed a vibrant Spanish-style color palette: bright red and gold accents throughout the lobbies and auditorium, a deep blue starry-night ceiling, and patterned roofwork that creates an outdoor plaza-like experience. The original colors had not been visible for nearly a century.

EverGreene is currently executing the full restoration program, repairing damaged medallions, restoring the theater’s original craftsmanship, and continuing to test paints and materials that match the building’s historic look. A test section was completed as proof of concept. The project is scheduled for completion by the theatre’s centennial in 2029.