TITLE: Commemorating the history of the Select Theater in Mineola.

SUMMARY: Commemorating the history of the Select Theater in Mineola.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, There is perhaps no fonder memory for Texans of all generations than the experience of watching a film in a small town theater, and the Select Theater in Mineola has been providing audiences with fine motion picture entertainment for 93 years, making it the longest continuously running movie theater in the State of Texas; and WHEREAS, The theater was opened in 1920 by a local woman, Mattie Hooks, who had a passionate interest in film; as the only place in Mineola County to see movies, it soon became a social hub as well as an entertainment venue; after Mrs. Hooks died in 1953, it was taken over by her son, Robert Hooks, Jr., and when he passed away in 1961, two longtime employees, James Dear and Truman Thomas, took over the business; since 1986, the theater has been run by the Lake Country Playhouse; and WHEREAS, Over the decades, countless people have delighted in watching movies at the Select, including actress Sissy Spacek, who grew up in nearby Quitman, and Mineola natives such as actor Noble Willingham of Walker, Texas Ranger and former San Francisco mayor Willie Brown; and WHEREAS, Today, the theater screens films every weekend, and five times a year it is the venue for live performances of the Lake Country Playhouse, as well as four performances a year of the Lake Country Orchestra; the theater also often stages "opries" for local musicians, two of whom, Miranda Lambert and Kacey Musgraves, have gone on to become stars in Nashville; and WHEREAS, The history of the Select Theater and its central role in the community have been captured in a new documentary, The Pride of Mineola,which debuted recently at the theater and features interviews with many of the Select's employees and patrons over the years; and WHEREAS, For nearly a century, the Select Theater has allowed the people of Mineola and the surrounding communities to thrill to the gleaming images of everyone from Charlie Chaplin to Leonardo DiCaprio projected 40 feet high on a silver screen and to participate in one of the greatest delights of small town life, the shared experience of watching a movie with one's friends and neighbors; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas Legislature hereby pay tribute to the 93-year history of the Select Theater in Mineola and extend to the theater's owners, staff, and patrons sincere best wishes for continued happiness; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for the Select Theater as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Hughes Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 2384 was adopted by the House on May 22, 2013, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House