Wow The Ritz what a history. Right here on East 6th Street stands a building with a story to tell. The Ritz a historic theater opened its doors in 1929. It was Austin’s first theater built specifically for talkies. Architect Hugo Kuehne designed it. He also designed the Austin History Center. The Ritz was initially a long narrow space. Sadly it was segregated. A separate entrance led to a balcony for people of color.
Initially the Ritz showed mostly Westerns. Ticket prices were lower than other theaters. Stars like Wild Bill Elliott and Dub Taylor appeared. Country music acts performed before the movies. In 1937 Elmo Hegman took over. He expanded the theater to 800 seats. Westerns continued until television’s rise. Elmo closed the theater in 1964. Cary White a famous production designer worked there as a projectionist and janitor.
The Ritz remained closed until 1970. It reopened as an adult theater for three years. Jim Franklin and Bill Livinggood renovated it in 1974. It became a music venue. The programming was eclectic. It included classical music rock live theater and movies. This phase was short-lived. The club closed in 1975. Various groups occupied the space. Center Stage a theater group used it. They closed off the balcony. The Ritz experienced decline including a return to adult films.
Shannon Sedwick and Michael Shelton leased it in 1981. Craig Underwood managed it as a punk rock club. Legendary bands like Black Flag The Misfits and Hüsker Dü played there. The violence led to the loss of their liquor license. The Ritz closed again in late 1982. Stevie Ray Vaughan played there in 1983. Sedwick and Shelton moved their comedy troupe Esther’s Follies nearby. The Ritz continued as a music venue bar and pool hall. The Red Hot Chili Peppers played a famous show in 1986.
In 2007 the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema moved downtown. They renovated The Ritz. The grand opening featured a triple feature. The Ritz thrived as a movie theater. Unfortunately the Alamo Drafthouse filed for bankruptcy in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They closed The Ritz. Joe Rogan bought and remodeled it. In March 2023 he reopened it as The Comedy Mothership. The original Ritz sign remains. The Ritz a resilient landmark continues to entertain Austin.