Looking ahead to the 80th anniversary of the Dobie West Performing Arts Theatre on January 1, 2026, I want to reflect on the life of the theatre across from the Live Oak County Courthouse. As President of the Board, I am proud to share the theatre’s history, current offerings, and its future. The vision statement of the theatre is: Dobie West Performing Arts Theatre strives to be the finest small-town community theatre in the State of Texas by offering a variety of arts programming presented in a historical theatre setting.
West Theatre Grand Opening
In December of 1946, the Live Oak County Herald headline announced, “West Theatre Opens New Year’s Eve.” Mr. W. D. Glasscock, a resident of San Antonio, who was born on Feb. 12, 1886 in Atascosa County, was one of seven members of a vaudeville troupe named “The Seven Leons,” the largest troupe of acrobats and tight-wire walkers in America. They had traveled across America and Europe and worked with Will Rogers and Fred Astaire. Mr. Glasscock retired in 1919 and started ranching and developing oil and gas interests around Clegg, Texas.
In 1938, he constructed a theatre in Blanco, and in 1946, he built another in Stockdale, which opened on Dec. 20, 1946. George West’s “West Theatre” opened on New Year’s Eve 1946. The West Theatre was named after the town’s founder, George W. West, and his wife, Kittie Searcy West.
All of Mr. Glasscock’s theatres were rated class “A” and were superior to many urban theatres. The opening act was Red River Dave and the Western Show Gang. The opening film by Warner Brothers was One More Tomorrow, starring Anne Sheridan, Dennis Morgan, and Jack Carson.
Just as the Dobie West Performing Arts Theatre opened before renovations were fully finished, Mr. Glasscock decided to open before all the supplies for the final completion were obtained. The following personnel were the first employees of the West Theatre: Manager H. T. Wales, Projectionist John Taylor, Cashier Mrs. H. T. Wales, Doorman Mrs. John Taylor, Ushers Doris Kleen, Bobbye Down, Mary Ruth Tetts, and Conway Flood. Mrs. W. D. Miller was in charge of the confectionery, but it was not open due to a shortage of supplies on opening night. Manager Wales and his wife Elsie Pearl formerly owned the Cascade Theatre in Boerne and a theatre in Franklin, Texas. He was well connected with “film row” and was a civic leader in Boerne and joined the George West Rotary Club upon moving to George West.
Closure and decline
The planned cost of the theatre was $75,000; the final cost of the completed theatre was $165,000. The West Theatre showed first-run movies from opening night until 1964, making it a “Baby Boomer.” After the theatre closed in 1964, it stood empty for several years and was used as business offices and for a church during the time it was dormant as a theatre.
These organizations eventually abandoned the building, which made it vulnerable to an aging roof, leading to water leaks that damaged the ceiling, which then resulted in mold. At some point, all of the seats in the theatre were removed from the sloping floor in the auditorium.
When this writer was asked by a neighboring business to “come take a look,” I was shocked. He simply picked up the front door and moved it to the side. Upon entering the foyer, we walked on “squishy” ceiling tiles that were black with mold. The bathrooms were broken and dysfunctional. There was no air conditioning, water, or electricity. The auditorium had no proscenium stage, and the screen was no longer functional. The leaking roof was pushing rainwater onto the roofs of the neighboring businesses.
My first thought was, “This is a great old building that I remembered seeing Gulliver’s Travels and Zorro as a child, walking from the primary school each year to see a movie!” My second thought was, “This is going to take a lot of money and work to renovate.”
Rebirth of the theatre
There were several challenges to overcome. First, finding a non-profit organization to accept the building, if the owners could be convinced to donate it, was vital to the fundraising efforts. Raising sufficient funds (a starting point of $300,000) from grants, fundraisers, and donations was critical, and the 501(c)(3) status was a must-have.
Assessing the structural repairs needed was also a critical step. The roof was a mandatory first step before other renovations could begin. Cleaning out the mold, fixing the broken bathrooms, removing the fallen ceiling tiles and asbestos, and developing a plan for construction, décor, and usage was a time-consuming and costly endeavor.
Designing, acquiring, and building a new proscenium stage was necessary to modernize the theatre, in addition to new electrical systems, air conditioning, and water access for bathroom renovations. Finding new seating was also a major expense. The seats were found in San Antonio. Getting the community engaged to participate and donate to this effort was also critical to the renovation of the theatre.
Renovations begin
In 2004, George West Storyfest approached to accept the deed to the West Theatre. This was the first step after asking legendary George West renovator Mary Ann Pawlik to step in and lead the renovation effort. She had recently led the successful renovation of the Buck West House, which is now home to the George West Chamber of Commerce.
Attorney Harvey Hardwick assisted with the legal work and negotiations with the church that owned the building. Others joining Mrs. Pawlik were Virginia Horton, Lamon Bennett, Charlotte Schroeder, and Novia Harris. These valiant citizens comprised the first board of the theatre.
As Storyfest held the deed, work began on the 501(c)(3) application, demolition and removal, and planning from roof to front door to the stage area. Not only did this board “talk the talk,” but they did much of the labor. Morrie Cook led the construction and installation of Styrofoam between the metal grid of the auditorium ceiling. Many citizens came and painted the Styrofoam panels.
Collaborating with the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI)-Three Rivers, much of the removal was done. One concrete barrier inside the auditorium doors had to be demolished by inmates with borrowed sledgehammers. Mrs. Pawlik picked them up, fed them lunch provided by various restaurants in town, and returned them to the FCI each afternoon. The board and the inmates’ hard labor was invaluable.
On April 28, 2010, the Internal Revenue Service issued the Dobie West Performing Arts Theatre a public charity status, 501(c)(3) designation, which allowed the deed to be transferred to this new entity from Storyfest and made all contributions from October 1, 2009, eligible for tax deductions. Thus, this month the Dobie West Performing Arts Theatre will be 15 years old, while the building will be 80 years old in 2026.
Renaming the theatre
The founding board of the theatre wished to honor Live Oak County’s favorite literary son, J. Frank Dobie, who was born in Lagarto and became a world-renowned southwestern writer, as well as a professor at the University of Texas and Oxford University for a time. Thus, the name was changed to the Dobie West Performing Arts Theatre.
The J. Frank Dobie Museum was added in the foyer to showcase his contributions, using hand-built mesquite display cases and donations of Dobie’s books and memorabilia from members of the Dobie family and others. A mastodon molar found in the banks of the Nueces River was recently donated to the museum, along with arrowheads found near the Lagarto area.
Today, the theatre offers a variety of arts programming, including plays, musical concerts, movies, cultural and educational programs, comedy shows, and dance performances, serving as a hub for community engagement and entertainment.
Renovations completed
In the last five years, a new roof has been installed after the damage done by Winter Storm Uri in 2021. The outside of the theatre has been painted with electrostatic paint to prevent water from seeping inside. A water heater was installed for use in the concession stand. In 2021, a 20’ x 16’ retractable movie screen was installed with funds from a generous movie buff.
New stage lights, brighter auditorium lights, sconces, a new dance floor, a new soundboard, and speakers and microphone headsets for 15 actors have been purchased in recent years. A new projector has now arrived that will show first-run and vintage movies in a first-class manner. The new marquee has been installed in living color. The next steps will be to upgrade the outside, Houston-facing side of the theatre.
Funds raised—over $500,000—through donations, grants, and Hotel Occupancy Tax from the City of George West have made these upgrades possible. Donors include Valero, ConocoPhillips, Behmann Brothers in Corpus Christi, the Texas Commission on the Arts, Humanities Texas, SouthTrust Bank, AEP-Texas, and several local donors who have asked to remain anonymous.
Board of directors
All of this work that was started by the original board of directors has continued with the current board:
- President: Glynis Holm Strause
- First Vice President: Missy Herring
- Second Vice President: Kevin Kerr
- Secretary: Susan Hensley
- Treasurer: Evelyn Cook
- Board Members: Patrick Burns, Kristin Gerth, Curtis Herring, Ella Lowrance, Robin McKinney, Mickey Mendez, Cindi Robinson, and Alfred Tumlinson
- Former Board Members: Wesley Alexander, Christine Cortez, Ray Harris, Celia Ruiz, and Thomasine Rushing
Theatre need YOU!
What does the theatre need now? You, your family, friends from town and out of town. We need community participation, just as the original board did during the renovations. So many times, we have booked great musicians, comedians, and movies, only to be disappointed by the number of people who show up. Plays are generally well-attended, especially when they have children as stars!
This theatre is unique, as it is one of 135 performing arts theatres in rural Texas. Many old movie theatres are now just empty shells (Kenedy) or just the ticket booth (Archer, Texas, the site of The Last Picture Show). This community has saved the West Theatre and made it into an enviable, working theatre—now called the Dobie West Performing Arts Theatre.
Now, only one to 350 things are needed—audience members and patrons.
- If you would like to participate as a patron, the board has developed the EGO Sponsorships. The levels are the Emmy, the Grammy, and the Oscar, and may be reviewed at www.dobie-westtheatre.com.
- The marquee may be rented for greetings, business ads, or event advertising by calling 361-449-1098 for more information.
- The theatre may be rented for parties, movies, or business meetings. Call the number above or email your request to ghstraus@ymail.com.
- If you have memories of the Dobie West Performing Arts Theatre, please post them on our Facebook page: DobieWestTheatre. We will look forward to reading your memories.
New for 2025
Coming attractions for 2025 include:
- Wicked (movie) – April 26 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
- Honey, Sugar, Lady, Doll (play) – May 2, 3, and 4
- Hometown Jamboree – June 28
- Kids Movies at 1 and 7 p.m. on July 8, 15, 22, and 28
- Quilt and Art Show – August 9 and 10
- Movie Night (TBD) – August 23
- Mariachi Las Altenas – September 27
- Hunny B’s Rhapsody – October 11
- Movie Night (TBD) – November 22
- New Christmas Play – December 12 and 13, 2025
See our Facebook page or website for more details. Make your plans now to help Mr. Glasscock continue his dream of a performing arts theatre in George West, Texas.