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The Swan Theatre has gone through several transformations since it first opened to movie audiences in the midst of the Great Depression.
The Swan was actually the fourth movie theater in Bastrop. C.J. Goodwin opened the first theater in a modest tin building around 1915. Then, finding success, he built the Princess Theatre in 1920 and the Rose Theatre in 1927.
The Morehouse Enterprise announces Goodwin’s plan to open a fourth theater in the July 4, 1935 edition. The Swan would be located in an existing building on West Madison Avenue formerly occupied by Tisdale & Tisdale, next to the S. Alvin Leopold Insurance office.
Goodwin told the Enterprise the Swan would be “modern and complete in every way,” with a state-of-the-art sound system and a seating capacity of 500 people.
“I believe Bastrop is large enough to support two good motion picture houses,” Goodwin is quoted. “Business conditions are improving and I have faith and confidence in the future of Bastrop.”
The Swan was advertised as a “popular price” theater, that is, more affordable for the average citizen during the lean Depression years.
The Enterprise reports on the grand opening of the Swan in the Dec. 19 and Dec. 26, 1935 editions. Theater manager C.M. Solly went to New Orleans to arrange for a special showing of “Whipsaw” starring Myrna Loy and Spencer Tracy.
A large crowd turned out for the opening show. Goodwin was “swamped with congratulations” and received several bouquets which were displayed in the theater lobby.
Fire swept through the Swan as reported in the Enterprise on Nov. 6, 1941. Employees of the Lester Ford Cafe across the street noticed the fire and called the firemen, who found the interior of the theater “entirely consumed.”
Goodwin told the Enterprise all the seats, projecting and sound equipment were lost in the fire. Losses were estimated between $25,000-30,000.
Goodwin said he planned to rebuild and re-open the Swan as soon as possible, but this might be delayed because steel structural beams were difficult to come by during World War II.
Charles Sisk and James Johnson, both of Bastrop, worked at the Swan and Rose theaters as high school students in the early 1950s.
“It was an active movie theater,” said Sisk. “I worked as an usher at the Swan, and then I sold popcorn at the Rose.”
Johnson said he worked at the theaters “all the way through high school” before graduating in 1953.
The Swan Theatre has gone through several transformations since it first opened to movie audiences in the midst of the Great Depression.
The Swan was actually the fourth movie theater in Bastrop. C.J. Goodwin opened the first theater in a modest tin building around 1915. Then, finding success, he built the Princess Theatre in 1920 and the Rose Theatre in 1927.
The Morehouse Enterprise announces Goodwin’s plan to open a fourth theater in the July 4, 1935 edition. The Swan would be located in an existing building on West Madison Avenue formerly occupied by Tisdale & Tisdale, next to the S. Alvin Leopold Insurance office.
Goodwin told the Enterprise the Swan would be “modern and complete in every way,” with a state-of-the-art sound system and a seating capacity of 500 people.
“I believe Bastrop is large enough to support two good motion picture houses,” Goodwin is quoted. “Business conditions are improving and I have faith and confidence in the future of Bastrop.”
The Swan was advertised as a “popular price” theater, that is, more affordable for the average citizen during the lean Depression years.
The Enterprise reports on the grand opening of the Swan in the Dec. 19 and Dec. 26, 1935 editions. Theater manager C.M. Solly went to New Orleans to arrange for a special showing of “Whipsaw” starring Myrna Loy and Spencer Tracy.
A large crowd turned out for the opening show. Goodwin was “swamped with congratulations” and received several bouquets which were displayed in the theater lobby.
Fire swept through the Swan as reported in the Enterprise on Nov. 6, 1941. Employees of the Lester Ford Cafe across the street noticed the fire and called the firemen, who found the interior of the theater “entirely consumed.”
Goodwin told the Enterprise all the seats, projecting and sound equipment were lost in the fire. Losses were estimated between $25,000-30,000.
Goodwin said he planned to rebuild and re-open the Swan as soon as possible, but this might be delayed because steel structural beams were difficult to come by during World War II.
Charles Sisk and James Johnson, both of Bastrop, worked at the Swan and Rose theaters as high school students in the early 1950s.
“It was an active movie theater,” said Sisk. “I worked as an usher at the Swan, and then I sold popcorn at the Rose.”
Johnson said he worked at the theaters “all the way through high school” before graduating in 1953.
“At the Swan, I took tickets,” said Johnson. “I was there to open it and close it. I usually stood right by the entrance during the movie.”
Johnson said H.G. Parker managed the Swan for George Goodwin, owner at the time. He recalls personal appearances at the Swan by Western stars Lash LaRue and Fuzzy Q. Jones.
Since few people owned cars, those who lived in Bastrop walked to the theater while movie-goers from Collinston came on a bus driven by Jack Watkins.
Johnson said he worked at the theaters seven nights a week and earned between $10-12 each week. Each night, after closing, he walked home with a friend.
One Saturday each month, Johnson and his fellow employees delivered handbills door to door.
“We weren’t making much, but back then we didn’t need it,” said Johnson. “It was hard times, but it was good times.”
The precise date when the Swan Theatre closed could not be found for this story. Local memory has it the building re-opened as a disco hall in the 1970s.
The Swan had been vacant for a long time when Bob Johnson decided to sell it in summer 2007, having purchased it several years before with plans to renovate that were sidelined due to illness.
Chuck and Sue Smith purchased the Swan in June 2007 and began renovating it as a single-family dwelling.
“When we bought it, it had a glass front that was boarded up,” said Chuck Smith.
Since no photos could be found to show how the Swan used to look, the Smiths restored the facade based on an Art Deco design by Main Street architect Ray Scriber.
The Swan’s transformation from crumbling theater to spacious home is nothing short of remarkable. However, certain features of the theater and its long history can still be found.
The original slope of the floor toward the screen can be seen in a downstairs closet, and the original staircase to the balcony remains.
Concrete steps and two side entrances -- bricked over long ago -- can be seen outside.
Upstairs, an area of exposed bricks remains darkened by the 1941 fire.
