Alabama Theater preservation inspirational
Montrose was a scary place to be avoided in the 1980’s according to southwest Houston suburbanites… well, actually, it was an underground fairyland for precursor hipsters and the likes of me. Never mind that I was told by overly concerned officemates to never, never go east of Kirby. Kirby?!? As soon as I heard those dire warnings I found myself plotting how and when to breach the barrier into no-man’s-land.
The old Alabama Theater on Shepherd presented a perfect opportunity – late-night Saturday showings of the Rocky Horror Picture Show. Even if I was a bit too exurban for all-out costuming to mimic a character, I had great fun with toast and a squirt gun and expressing creative self while discovering a bit of the inner city.Regrettably, iconic landmarks are destined to come and go.
As a movie theater, the majestic Alabama gave way in favor of more profitable multi-screen venues, but rather than long for the past, I always looked for ways to keep them alive or bring a little bit of them back. Lucky for me, the good ole Alabama played a role in a second act when it turned into the world’s most incredible bookstore, the Book Stop, with the first Starbucks in town – I think – perched way up in the mezzanine overlooking totally involved customers perusing many aisles of books below.
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Much of the theater’s art deco fixtures and accents were preserved, too, even the carpet. And the movie screen stage was converted into maybe the best newsstand in town. I learned to write and create in that book store and discovered how much I like coffee – a lot.
The book store is gone now but a primo Trader Joe’s filled the void with an inspired third act, and I can’t help but think that a lot of the creative energy from the 1980’s and 1990’s is still floating around the place. The first time I stepped foot in the store was after a stressful move from D.C. with the holidays fast approaching. I needed gifts – and sugar! I heard laughter… and music… and carolers. The employers were singing Christmas carols as they pranced around like happy little elves past colorful displays and illuminated decorations. Customers joined in, too. Talk about festive, my holiday spirits went Santa-sleigh-high after I joined in and more so when I found a full display of candy-striped mint Jo-Jo’s cookies. Yum, yum, yum!
Wonder what my old oil-co pals think about Montrose and Upper Kirby now?
— Ed Draper
