A history of motion pictures in Mineola – Part II
By James O. Dear

In 1933, the Hooks family returned to Mineola and bought the Select Theatre back from Gus Doering. Mr. Hooks died soon after returning to Mineola, leaving the theatre to his wife, Mattie, and his son, R.T. Hooks, Jr., who later purchased his mother’s interest. I continued working at the Select and had risen to assistant manager by 1937.

On January 4th, 1937, R.T. Hooks, Jr. opened a theatre on the west side of North Johnson Street in the second building south of Kilpatrick Street. It was named the “Leroy” for LeRoy Bickel and it featured many family movies. The best ones I can remember were the “Andy Hardy” series with Mickey Rooney, Ann Rutherford, and Lewis Stone as Andy’s dad.

We used to fill the house on Friday nights and Saturdays with Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, Charles Starrett as the Durango Kid, and William Boyd as Hopalong Cassidy.

John Wayne was just starting out in what we called the “Saturday Western” at about this time. We showed all kinds of serials including the Lone Ranger and Batman and Robin. Popular comedies were the Three Stooges and Andy Clyde. There were not very many cartoon comedies at this time, however, Popeye was going strong with his spinach.

I worked at both the Select and the Leroy until I went into the army in September of 1942. I served in the 849th Signal Intelligence Service, the 123rd signal radio intelligence company. I was later transferred to the air force intelligence department, known as the 9th radio squadron, where I worked with the 12th and 15th Air Force and the British Royal Air Force.

During this time, I was showing movies at night to various outfits in addition to my regular duties. After being discharged from the U.S. Air Force in November 1945, I returned to the Select and Leroy theatres and was promoted to manager.

In 1948 the Select Theatre was completely remodeled and enlarged by extending it to the back by 20 feet. The front of the building was also remodeled with a tower, a new marquee and new neon signs. The Leroy Theatre was closed in 1952.

In May of 1952, the Sky-Vue Drive-In Theatre was opened. It was built by B.C. Shaffer and located just off Highway 80 east of Mineola. It was sold to R.T. Hooks in February of 1953.

After the death of R.T. Hooks in 1961, Truman Thomas and I bought the Select and Sky-Vue theatres from Kathleen Hooks, the widow of R.T. Hooks, Jr., and the estate of R.T. Hooks. Truman Thomas and I formed a partnership on June 13th, 1961. We closed the Sky-Vue in the spring of 1980 and continued to operate the Select Theatre.

Over the years, the Select Theatre has shown all the major motion picture productions and continues to show the best of new productions.

On October 31st, 1986, I completed 58 ½ years in show business and my partner, Truman Thomas, completed 44 years. At this time, we decided to retire. The Lake Country Playhouse wanted to buy the Select but could not raise the money. On November 1st, 1986 we gave the Select to the Lake Country Playhouse. By so doing they would have a permanent home and Mineola could continue to have a motion picture theatre. After 77 years (1918-1995) of continuous motion picture entertainment in the city of Mineola, the Select Theatre carries on the tradition of attracting crowds from Mineola and the surrounding area. The Select is the oldest continuous operating motion picture theatre in the state and maybe the nation.

Over the years there were many young people who worked at the Select Theatre while attending high school. They have all grown up and made useful citizens: doctors, dentists, editors, ministers, policemen, firemen, writers, United States marshals, educators, lawyers, accountants, nurses, homemakers and many that have served with honor in the armed service of our country. Some have held high ranks in the intelligence departments.

In December of 1993, Mrs. Hooks offered the Select Theatre building for sale. In January of 1994, the Lake Country Playhouse asked the Meredith Foundation for $5,000 for the down payment and for $4,860 to cover the monthly payments for the first year. This request was granted and in February of 1994, the purchase of the Select Theatre building was completed.

Since 1986, the Meredith Foundation has been paying the managing director’s salary in the amount of $22,000 per year.

This history of motion pictures was updated on May 22nd, 1995.

(Editor’s Note: The Select Theatre continues to operate today, offering first run movies most weekends and the Lake Country Playhouse continues to offer it’s season of live productions. Several years ago, the interior was restored to its art deco style of decoration along with new seats, wall décor and carpets. Prior to this, an enhanced sound system was installed. Kathleen Hooks passed away about three years ago. The author, James Dear continues to live in the Mineola area. He has been instrumental, along with the Meredith Foundation, in preserving a landmark which is of high historic significance in Texas and the nation. For readers who are not familiar with it, the Meredith Foundation was founded by the late Mineola banker and oilman, Harry Meredith. The foundation also helps support the Mineola Memorial Library and has come to the aid of a long list of worthy civic causes in Mineola.)