TUESDAY JANUARY 4, 2022

Roy Rogers performs outside the Arcadia Theater in 1943. Look at the expressions on the faces of these young people — they show why Rogers was the most popular action star of the 1940s. Rogers was one of many stars who graced the stage at this popular venue. Later, the theater became one of several cinemas operating in Downtown Temple. The theater is expected to reopen in summer 2023.

By DAVID STONE, Our Town Temple

The Arcadia Theater was more than a movie house — for years, the Temple landmark was the home to live theater. Gene Autry performed there. So did Roy Rogers, Robert Mitchum and Sandra Dee.

After opening on Dec. 2, 1928, the Arcadia was home to vaudeville and silent films, and within a couple years it began showing talkies. As time went on, the big screen played a larger role and when the theater closed Dec. 2, 1978 — exactly 50 years after it had opened — the Arcadia was an aging cinema.

Soon after shutting down, the roof collapsed and the once-exquisite interior was heavily damaged.

Few people have wandered inside its ruins in the years that have passed, but a renovation effort by Waco-based Turner | Behringer Group is bringing new life to the Arcadia and neighboring Hawn Hotel and Sears building.

A sparkling Arcadia Theater will reclaim its status as a major destination in downtown Temple in about 18 months.

“Right now, we are focused on demolition work inside the Hawn and Sears buildings,” said Jonathan Garza, director of development for Turner | Behringer. “Demo work was done a few years back inside the Arcadia, so we really haven’t done much inside the theater at this point. But, once demolition is complete, we will work on all three projects simultaneously.”

Garza expects all three to be wrapped up in the summer of 2023.

The Arcadia will be used as a multipurpose venue, he said.

“It will host concerts — probably with a focus on Texas country music. We will host some kids’ shows, comedy acts, maybe some magicians, but we won’t be having first-run movies,” he said. “The sound quality just isn’t there in these older buildings. No matter how much we invest in a speaker system, sound is a problem. We learned that with some of our other projects.”

One of those projects, the Waco Hippodrome, initially showed movies after it was renovated by Turner | Behringer years ago.

“We tried it, but sound was an issue,” Garza said. “Eventually, we built three new cinemas at the Hippodrome.”

Wil Campos, current manager of the Hippodrome who will hold a similar position at the Arcadia, said the Temple theater will host events on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

“In the early part of the week, the Arcadia will be available for the community — recitals, charity functions, conventions,” Campos said. “We do that at the Hippodrome and it’s worked well. The weekends are high traffic times at the Hippodrome and we’re booked out for the calendar year — every weekend is full.”

Gage Nugent, marketing manager for Turner | Behringer, said preliminary discussions have been held with Temple organizations such as Academic Musique and some dance companies, and he will ramp up those discussions when the project nears completion.

According to Garza, the Arcadia will be able to seat 621 people. Some of the seats likely will be removable to allow for a larger stage for certain events.

“That’s something we are still looking at, but it’s definitely a possibility,” he said.

The Arcadia will feature a concession area with theater-style treats, and there will be an on-site bar as well. The theater will connect with the Hawn and its first-floor restaurants and retail shops.

“With all the great restaurants already in the area, the Arcadia will provide another reason to spend an evening Downtown,” Garza said. “Get drinks, eat at your favorite restaurant and go to the Arcadia.”

The refurbished Arcadia will sit between two apartment communities — the renovated Hawn and Sears properties — and across the street from Central Plaza Apartments. Central Plaza is being developed at another Temple landmark — the Professional Building.

About 31 one- and two-bedroom apartments will be built in the upper eight floors of the Hawn, and 26 apartments will be located on the second floor of the Sears building. An additional two or three apartments will be located in the old auto shop in the alley between the Sears building and the new Precious Memories Downtown location.

The apartments likely will rent for $900 to $1,500 per month, depending upon the size, Garza said.

“In addition to the apartments, the Sears and Hawn projects will include about 32,000 square feet of restaurant, retail and office space,” he said.

Temple City Manager Brynn Myers called the renovations a huge key to Downtown’s future success.

“The Hawn Hotel and Arcadia Theater have been pillars of Temple’s historic Downtown for nearly a century, so we are beyond excited to see these landmarks get a second life,” she said.

“There have been so many people dedicated to making this a reality, and I can’t wait to see what the end result will be.”

The Arcadia Theater and Hawn Hotel buildings are shown during November 2021, just days before crews began working on an 18-month project to restore the buildings to their former glory. David Stone | Our Town Temple

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A REALLY BIG LISTING OF THE AREA’S UPCOMING EVENTS

January 6, Thursday - In partnership with the Temple Community Clinic and other sponsors, the Living Well in Bell wellness series will debut at the CAC. The first presenters for the 2022 series will be Dr. Patricia J. Sulak and Dr. Jeffrey Waxman who will discuss all aspects of well-being. 6 p.m.

January 6, Thursday - Central Texas Arts League meets to plan a year of creative ventures. Open to the public.  6:00 pm to 8:00 p.m.  Come learn about the plans and meet with fellow artists in the Central Texas area.

January 7, Friday - On the first Friday of every month, historic downtown Temple transforms into a giant party. Enjoy street music and performances, drinks, food, and after-hours shopping.

January 8, Saturday - Cabin Fever: Stargazing Family Day at Temple Railroad & Heritage Museum. Learn about constellations, meteor showers and other celestial objects while checking out the night sky. 10 a.m.

January 8, Saturday — Great British Rock ’n’ Roll Name that Tune Bingo at Fire Base Brewing Co. 7:30 p.m.

January 9, Sunday — Larry Burgin & Texas Tradition at Tom Sefcik Hall in Seaton. $10, 6-9 p.m.

January 11, Tuesday - Shimmy and shake your way over to Sammons Community Center for a 6-week fun-filled Belly dancing course. Tighten your core by learning a mixture of movements with Colleen Pannell, Instructor. $90

January 14-15 - No Limits Monster Truck Winter Nationals & Mud Races. Some of the nation’s most competitive truck and motocross racers as they invade Bell County Expo Arena on Friday and Saturday. 7:30 p.m.

January 15, Saturday - Game Show Night by Texas Red at Fire Base Brewing Co. We have the night for you! 4 rounds of the game show questions and prize-winning for all! Free to play and Family Friendly! Who will walk away with the evening's Oscar? Play as a team or individual. Win free drinks and other prizes! 7-9 p.m.

January 16, Sunday — Downtown Drag at Corkys featuring Lacey Luxx, Luiz Fatale, Naima Fatale, Beauty and Rah’jai Mirage Jackson. $25 VIP, $15 general admission. 8 p.m.

January 16, Sunday — Jerry Haisler & The Melody Five at Tom Sefcik Hall in Seaton. $10. 6-9 p.m.

January 19, Wednesday - The city of Temple is undertaking the development of a Mobility Master Plan designed to produce a multimodal transportation system. The second public involvement meeting will be hosted online with a live event and in person at the Wilson Park Recreation Center on from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

January 22, Saturday — Name that Tune Bingo: 80s and 90s Mixtape at Fire Base Brewing Co.

January 23, Sunday — Bobby Dean & Timeless Country at Tom Sefcik Hall in Seaton. $10, 6-9 p.m.

January 29, Saturday - Parker McCollum Red Dirt Mardi Gras at Bell County Expo. 8 p.m.

January 30, Sunday — Old Friends dance at Tom Sefcik Hall in Seaton. $10, 6-9 p.m.

February

February 4, Friday - On the first Friday of every month, historic downtown Temple transforms into a giant party. Enjoy street music and performances, drinks, food, and after-hours shopping.

February 5, Saturday - Geek Out Family Day at Temple Railroad & Heritage Museum. Want to show off your geeky side? Come out to the museum for Geek Out Family Day. Dress up as your favorite superhero, cartoon, or video game character. Enjoy the nerdier side of life.

February 11-12 - Bell County Youth Fair Livestock Show & PRCA Rodeo. The Bell County PRCA Rodeo is currently in its 34th year of continuous operation at the Bell County Expo Center. Last year, the Bell County Youth Fair awarded over $25,000 in scholarships to local area youth. https://agrilife.org/bellctyyouthfair/

February 12, Saturday - Kyle Mathis plays an acoustic solo gig downstairs at Tom Sefcik Hall in Seaton. 8 p.m. to midnight

February 12, Saturday — 5th annual Onesie Bar Crawl. The comfiest bar crawl ever. Starts at Mo’s Rail Yard Saloon. Map will be available. www.crawlwith.us/temple/onesie#tickets

NO LIMITS MONSTER TRUCK WINTER NATIONALS & MUD RACES are coming to The Expo on Jan. 14 & 15. See some of the nation’s most competitive monster trucks and motocross racers as they invade Bell County. 7:30 p.m. both nights. Tickets at bellcountyexpo.com

LONE STAR GUN SHOW is going Jan. 15-6. Bring in your old gun and trade up. Look at all kinds of merchandise from New and Used Guns, Knives, Swords, Hunting Gear, Books, Coins, Medals, Ammo, Reloading Equipment and Supplies. 9-5 on Saturday, 10-4 on Sunday.

A SAMI SHOW: ARTS & CRAFTS MARKET will be in Assembly Hall from 10-5 Saturday, Jan. 22, and 11-4 Sunday, Jan. 23.

PARKER McCOLLUM RED DIRT MARDI GRAS features Texas mainstream country at its best. Saturday, Jan. 29 at 8 p.m. Buy tickets and select seats at bellcountyexpo.com

BELL COUNTY YOUTH FAIR & PRCA RODEO is coming to The Expo on Feb. 11 and 12. Details on this big show will be coming soon!

MOTHER EARTH NEWS FAIR will be held Feb. 19 and 20 with a dazzling array of workshops and lectures on how to grow and raise your own food, build your own root cellar and more. Details are coming!

TEMPLE AREA HOME BUILDERS HOME & GARDEN SHOW will be held Feb. 24-26. Check out the largest Home & Garden Show in Central Texas with 125 exhibits. Friday, 6-9; Saturday, 10-6; Sunday, Noon-5.

DEAN’S SERIES: KATHRYN FOUSE: Let the Games Begin with Kathryn Fouse, piano. Join us for an entertaining evening of music from popular video games. 7:30 p.m., Jan. 18 at Sue & Frank Mayborn Performing Arts Center at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor.

EXHIBIT OPENING: The next art exhibit opening will be Jan. 8 from 5 to 7 p.m. The featured artist is PHOKUS and the exhibit will feature a  mixed media presentation entitled "So tonight that I may dream.”

THE QUEEN’S CARTOONISTS: The College of Visual & Performing Arts at UMHB features a band that plays music from classic cartoons and contemporary animation while synchronizing the music to video projections of the original film. 7:30 p.m. Jan. 21, at the Sue & Frank Mayborn Performing Arts Center.

AIZURI QUARTET: This group will perform at the CAC on Jan. 22 at 7:30 p.m. Described as "genuinely exciting" by the New York Times and "elegant" and "inquisitive" by The New Yorker, the quartet presents a vibrant selection of new music and standards. The group was nominated for a Grammy in 2019. 

LION KING JR.: The Temple High School Theater Arts department will present a production featuring actors from across the school district on Jan. 27-30. The Jan. 27-29 shows will start at 7 p.m. and the Sunday matinee will begin at 2. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door. Tickets are available at CentralTexasTickets.com.

POPS CONCERT: The Temple Symphony Orchestra will feature trumpeter Allen Vizzutti in a January 29 Pops Concert at the Mary Alice Marshall Performing Arts Center at Temple College. Concert begins at 7:30 p.m.

THE CONTEMPORARIES TELETHON “THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT” will be held on stage Jan. 29 at the CAC. The telethon proceeds provide financial support for the building and the programming.

DEAN’S SERIES: EMILY & JONATHAN GRAY: College of Visual & Performing Arts at UMHB presents Emily & Jonathan Gary in concert at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 4  inside the Sue & Frank Mayborn Performing Arts Center.

INHERIT THE WIND: The Temple Civic Theater will hold auditions on Feb. 2- and 21, and the show will be presented April 1-10.

LAST OF THE RED-HOT LOVERS: The Temple Civic Theater show will run Feb. 4-13 at TCT.

MUSIC TO HELP OTHERS: Christ Episcopal Church is presenting a concert to benefit local charities at 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 6 at the church.  The concert will celebrate Black History Month and honor the memory of Martin Luther King Jr. The concert also will be streamed at https://www.facebook.com/christchurchtx and will benefit the Un-Included Club, a nonprofit organization that provides literacy, urban agriculture, and leadership programs for underserved youth. Donations will be accepted at the door or online. The Sunday afternoon concert series is a continuing ministry of the church. The concerts, featuring local musicians, have raised more than $14,000 for area charities, food banks and medical clinics serving those in need.

THE VANDOLIERS - The Cultural Activities Center’s Texas Music Series opens on Feb. 12. Season tickets are on sale at cacarts.org.

VISITING ARTIST JEFFERY CARL: Join us to hear Jeffery Carl, an artist based outside Chicago, whose work explores how our relationship to geography informs our self-understanding, the development of communities, and the ways in which we shape our environment. 4 p.m. Feb. 17 at the Sue & Frank Mayborn Performing Arts Center at UMHB.

WIND/JAZZ ENSEMBLES: An evening of musical entertainment from the UMHB wind ensemble and jazz ensemble at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 22 at the Sue & Frank Mayborn Performing Arts Center.

CAMP ROCK: THE MUSICAL: Performances are March 5 and 6 at the Cultural Activities Center.

JIMMIE VAUGHAN - The Cultural Activities Center’s Texas Music Series continues with guitar legend Jimmie Vaughan on March 19. Season tickets are on sale at cacarts.org.

STEEL MAGNOLIAS: The Temple Civic Theater will hold auditions on March 27-28 and the show runs May 6-15.

FESTIVAL OF PRAISE: This soul-stirring tour will be at the Bell County Expo Center on April 9 and will be headlined by Gospel music icon Fred Hammond, along with Marvin Sapp and Hezekiah Walker.

VALLEJO - The Cultural Activities Center’s Texas Music Series continues on April 23 with a performance by Vallejo. Season tickets are on sale at cacarts.org.

SEASON FINALE: The Temple Symphony Orchestra’s season finale will be at 3 p.m. May 8 at Temple College and will feature pianists Frances Renzi and Anthony Pattin.

RECKLESS KELLY - The Cultural Activities Center’s Texas Music Series continues June 11 with Reckless Kelly. Season tickets are on sale at cacarts.org.

FACING THE INFERNO: THE WILDFIRE PHOTOGRAPHY OF KARI GREER: Colorful, intimate, and intensely dramatic images that capture the work of wildland firefighters in this new exhibit that runs through Jan. 15. Amazing photography.

COMING NEXT MONTH! ALIENTO a TEQUILA: This exhibit explores and celebrates the landscape, culture, and traditions that gave birth to tequila. A series of photographs by Joel Salcido include the original distilleries that founded the industry, as well as several artisanal tequilerías committed to the ancestral ways of tequila-making, from harvest to bottle. Jan. 28-March 16.

GAULT SITE TOUR: Join us Feb. 12 at the Gault Site for a tour! It is a full guided 3 hour tour across the 2.5 miles long site. Learn about the many artifacts excavated and the Paleoindian culture found right here in Bell County! Pre-registration required; $10/person 11 years and older. All participants are asked to meet at the site at 8:30am. The tour will begin promptly at 9:00am. Maps will be provided a few days prior to the scheduled tour date. The site is 30 minutes from Belton, between Salado and Florence. Tickets are $10 per person, payable by debit or credit card only. Payment is needed within 5 days of registration. Please call the museum at 254-933-5243 to make payment. All proceeds go directly to the Gault School of Archaeological Research.

TEEN CRAFT CORNER: Every 4th Monday at 5 p.m. Join us for Teen Craft Corner! Take a break from the stresses of school and life, and create something fun during our monthly craft program! Our crafts will include projects such as string art, painting, learning about artists and their techniques, mixed media, and so much more! All supplies provided. (254) 298-5557

GREAT BOOKS ADULT BOOK CLUB: 2nd and 4th Mondays at 6 p.m. Seminal texts of Western civilization, pre-20th century philosophers, scientists and novelists. Readings span from Homer and Plato to Nietzsche and Freud. (254) 298-5557

BABY BOOKWORMS (Ages 0-12 months: Every Tuesday at 11 a.m.  A half-hour of book sharing, rhymes, songs, exercises and parachute play. (254) 298-5557

SCHOOL-AGE STORY TIME (K-3rd Grade): Every Wednesday at 4:15 p.m. A half-hour of short films, stories and constructive play. (254) 298-5557

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS (Ages 12-18): First Thursday of the month at 5 p.m. Looking to explore the world of D&D but not sure where to start? Join us at the Library for our Beginners Dungeons & Dragons Program!

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