Breathing New Life Into the Ritz Theater

By John Jackson

The last 20 years have seen a growing interest in restoring classic theaters. Following in the footsteps of the Paramount in Austin, the Majestic in San Antonio, and the Plaza Theater in El Paso, the Corpus Christi PATCH (Positive Action Towards Cultural Heritage) is working to restore the Ritz Theater in downtown Corpus Christi.

Originally opened Christmas Day, 1929, the Ritz's first film was the musical comedy "It's a Great Life," starring the Duncan Sisters, a vaudeville act that had crossed over into cinema. The film was semi-autobiographical. After being fired from a department store for back talking the manager, the pair sing and dance their way to stardom through relationship conflicts, break ups, make-ups, and everything in between.

Reviews of the film were decidedly mixed. It did poorly in major cities, but very well in small towns like Corpus Christi. (the population at the time was around 25,000)

"Hundreds of laudatory remarks were made," said the Corpus Christi Times, "by people who thronged the foyers and auditorium of the new playhouse,"

The Ritz is modest compared to some of it's architect, Scott Dunn's earlier theaters. Like the Plaza in El Paso, the theater has a Spanish Rennaissance style. However, the auditorium is smaller than some other theaters of the period, and even in its hey-day, the foyer was not nearly as glossy.

"The Depression was already on," said acting PATCH consultant, Dr. Clifford Edge, "and most of his theaters [at that time] were second tiers."

Still, for over forty years, the Ritz continued as a first run movie house, featuring such classic films as "Gone With the Wind," "The Wizard of Oz," "It's a Wonderful Life," and "Ben Hur."

However, in the 1970s, the Ritz's fortune began to change.

"There was very little public support for the theater at that time," Dr. Edge said, "and the downtown area had pretty much declined."

In 1972 the theater closed its doors. Two years later, in 1974, the playhouse reopened as the "Ritz Music Hall," a name which changed to "Ritz Productions," in 1976. Still, old problems persisted. Despite such big names as Willie Nelson, Jimmy Buffett, and Bruce Springsteen playing there, it was difficult to turn a profit. The Ritz was also subject to constant vandalism, which tapped its resources. As a result, they were forced to close their doors again in 1989.

For 15 years, the theater lay idle, and slowly deteriorated.

Then, in 2004, graphic designer, Monica McCloud Sawyer took an interest in the Ritz, and began to investigate what its renovation would involve.

"When we first walked in the theater," Mrs. Sawyer said, "it was like someone had just left."

Sawyer said that the costumes, paperwork, and props of long ago acts were still scattered all over the theater.

"Also, there were homeless people camping out there," she said, "and trash was scattered all over everywhere."

As she sought advice from groups such as the League of Historic American Theaters, and the Corpus Christi Downtown Management District, Sawyer came to realize that the total cost of renovation would be upwards of $20 million.

Some of the cost would go towards repairing the electrical system and plumbing. The rest would involve booking acts to play there, and hiring a fulltime consultant and staff to run the Ritz's day to day operations.

Some of the group's biggest fundraisers are the "Ritz Theater Ghost Hunts." At a cost of $20 a person, fans of the theater can be "spooked," by phantom performers, such as "the restless spirit of a woman...wandering the downstairs seating area...who was murdered by a jealous boyfriend."

Ritz supporters also hope to solicit donations from the fine arts community and the public schools, in the hope that school plays might one day be performed there as well.

So far, the renovation has been grassroots, and has come about in 3 phases.

Phase 1 took place in Nov. 2005. The result of a joint effort between PATCH, and the now defunct FOCUS, (Focus on Creative Urban Society) a group of young professionals, it involved cleaning out the garbage from the lobby and auditorium.

"We also made new seat covers," said Sawyer, "because at that point, the seats in the lobby were pretty nasty."

Phase 2, which took place March 1st, 2008, brought PATCH and the Junior League together, and focused on cleaning the work and dressing rooms, the office, and the snack bar. As they worked, they made some astonishing discoveries.

"We found old close up photos of actors and actresses," she said, "along with playbills, letters, and old newspapers."

This phase earned PATCH, the J.L's "Helping Hands Award," which they give every year to a worthy non-profit organization.

In April, 2009, the group teamed up with the Junior League again to clean the projection rooms, and found something else surprising.

"We believe, judging by pictures, said Sawyer, "that the chairs have been replaced 3 times."

"We think though that the chair in the projection room is an original," she said, "and it's in pretty bad shape."

The group hopes to have the theater up and running by 2014.

"It all depends on funding though," Sawyer said, "and that goal is very aggressive."

Are They Still Lobbyists, and Does it Matter?

By John Jackson

"Saul Ramirez, the executive director of national NAHRO was instrumental in recommending the stimulus to the Obama administration," said former Texas NAHRO President, Richard Franco.

NAHRO (National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials) is a non-profit organization that raises funds for housing authorities across the country. They were always upfront about their efforts to lobby the Federal Government as well-until recently.

The United States Housing Act of 1937, came out of a substantial push from NAHRO, and has provided large amounts of funding to housing authorities across the country ever since.

"From the 1950s through the 1970s," says the group's website, "NAHRO maintained its leadership role by initiating and supporting Congressional legislation."

NAHRO worked to influence the 1995 Congressional session on various bills as well.

In 2005, Hurricane Katrina took a financial toll on the group's finances.

As they planned their recovery at Texas NAHRO's annual meeting in Austin, on Mon, Oct. 17 of that year, then Austin Housing Authority CEO, Henry Flores told Franco, "The only thing missing from the budget is funds for lobbying."

Franco assured him, "This will be covered under existing contracts."

The Internal Revenue Service however had growing concerns over NAHRO's lobbying efforts, and began a year long investigation into their finances.

As a result of the audit, there was a different mood at the next year's Texas NAHRO conference, held Sun, Oct 22, 2006, in Abilene.

"We have to work on a really serious issue," said board member, Elizabeth (Becky) Spenser, "the IRS has serious views on lobbying by tax exempt organizations.

"If the organization makes a payment to a legislator for the purpose of influencing a vote," she said, "that is lobbying."

Actually, Federal Tax Regulation 56:49 2 defines lobbying more broadly as "influencing legislation[and]...any attempt to influence legislation through communication with a member or employee of a legislative body or any government official or employee."

"In ignorance," Franco said, "we did a number of things. This will not happen again."

Still "NAHRO continues to make its position known at HUD," (The Department of Housing and Urban Development) the group's website says "and in the Halls of Congress."

NAHRO officials have been vague of late as to whether they are still a lobbyist group

"I don't know what the technical designation of NAHRO is," Franco, now CEO of the Corpus Christi Housing Authority, candidly admitted.

Texas NAHRO VP, Riza Nolasco would not answer any questions except to say, "Check the website."

"We represent a point of view. We educate Congressmen and Senators," said John Bohm, head of NAHRO's Legislative Programs and Media, "informing them on a perspective."

As it stands now, a total of $3 billion has been allocated out of the Obama stimulus to housing authorities nationwide, of which $120 million will go to Texas.

The group's 2010 budgetary recommendations to Congress are also in place, and if enacted, they would place an additional $37 billion in the Housing Authority's coffers.

Life Gets In the Way

Due to some things I need to take care of, I will be taking the next week or so off. I do hope however to continue next week. Thank you for your patience, and your support.

Housing Authority and Leathers Update

By John Jackson

In an effort to spread awareness of the situation at the Corpus Christi Housing Authority and D.N Leathers, I spoke with Nueces County Sheriff, Jim Kaelin on Fri. May 29, and hope to meet with other prominent city and county officials as well.

Sheriff Kaelin showed a deep concern for D.N Leathers, and encouraged me to keep going, saying that "the squeaky wheel gets the grease."

In related news, last month I filed a Freedom of Information request to the CCHA to find the exact plumbing, electrical, and other renovation costs. After leaving one copy with Miss Yvette Torres, secretary to CEO, Richard Franco, and another with Dennis Peacock, a construction employee who works closely with Mr. Franco, neither responded, despite a legal obligation to do so within ten days.

After calling Torres again on Weds. June 3rd, she told the Authority's attorney, Jordan Anderson, to call me back. Miss Anderson eventually did, and assured me that she would do her best to get me the information within the next week.

What Did Bonilla Mean?

As readers may be aware, I have spent the past few days reporting on circumstances related to the Corpus Christi Housing Authority which included the cost of renovations at a number of projects, the conditions at D.N. Leathers, and the burden of relocations for the residents.

An interesting exchange took place between myself and Housing Authority Chairman William Bonilla at the Authority's April 28 Board of Commissioners meeting:

Mr. Bonilla: I did an interview with that young man (behind you, Mr. Garcia). Why don't you stand up and tell us your name and who you represent.

John Jackson: I'm John Jackson, and I'm with the--

Bonilla: John what?

Jackson: I'm John Jackson--

Bonilla: John Jackson?

Jackson: I'm with the Corpus Christi Examiner (original name of the publication I am working with).

Bonilla: Corpus Christi?

Jackson: Examiner, it's a new publication, ah--

Bonilla: Weekly paper?

Jackson: It's a new publication--we haven't put out an edition yet--

Bonilla: Ok--

Jackson: But--

Bonilla: Well, we've been doing this for a long time, and I just wanted you to know, you're here and you're recording this meeting, but we're also recording this meeting ourselves--this is a public meeting.

Note: It may be up to the reader to decide what Mr. Bonilla's intentions were during this exchange.

Housing Project Remodeling Finances Seem Unclear

By John Jackson

Unresolved questions persist about how much the remodeling effort at 3 of Corpus Christi's 11 housing projects will cost.

Clairelaine Gardens resident, Ron Kolb, said that outgoing Housing Authority Chairman William D. Bonilla told him that all renovations combined would only cost $590,000. Kolb said Bonilla then added, "I'm busy, I'm a lawyer, that's the total."

Mr. Bonilla, said in an interview however that phase 1 and phase 2 of the remodeling effort will each cost around $600,000. The actual cost so far has proved to be much more than that.

Bonilla himself at the March 31st Housing Authority meeting made a motion to accept Hoover Construction Inc.’s bid for phase 2 renovations, which alone totaled $957,477. This does not include other expenses for phase two, such as contracts for moving, electrical, and plumbing for the buildings. The measure was ultimately supported by the board.

CCHA Sr. Vice President, Lorenzo Buitron later added that the cost of the first two phases combined would be cost between $1.5 and $1.6 million.

However, the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) website revealed in fact that more than $3 million had been budgeted for phases 1 and 2 of Clairelaine Gardens renovations, which are still being implemented. Phase 3, which has not yet been voted on, was budgeted for nearly $2 million. The costs of Phases 4 and 5 have neither been budgeted nor voted on as of yet.

The Corpus Christi Housing Authority report for the fiscal years of 2004 through 2008 revealed that a total of $8,263,370 was budgeted for remodeling of the 3 apartment complexes, along with an additional $1,426,978 for repairs on 3 other projects.Some of the funds from the Obama stimulus package (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act) were also diverted to Phase 2 renovations, but it is yet unclear how much.

At the same meeting, earmark projects were also approved for "energy efficient" windows at Ruthmary Price, as well as the removal of asphalt from parking lots there and at Parkway Place, and small ornamental bus stanchions at four complexes. Surprisingly, the only proposal relating to security was the installation of security cameras at 6 of the projects.

Housing Projects Remodeling Effort Brings Out Questions

By John Jackson

With construction now complete on Parkway Homes, the Corpus Christi Housing Authority is still continuing renovations on two of the city's 10 other housing projects, Clairelaine Gardens and Treyway Terrace. The changes, CCHA officials say, will make them more attractive and more accessible places to live. Until things stabilize, residents will be reassigned to different apartments. Eventually however, CCHA officials say they will likely be able to come back to the same apartments they lived in before--with their conditions improved. Not everyone believes that renovations are necessary though, and some residents are worried about going to one project in particular, D.N. Leathers.

“This move is unnecessary,” said Ron Kolb, a longtime resident of Clairelaine Gardens, “it is a burden to the disabled and elderly, and it’s a waste of millions of taxpayer dollars"

"Not only that," he said, "they just had a remodeling in 2001."

Others shared Kolb's sentiments.

"The housing here at Clairelaine is okay," said a middle aged resident, who did not wish to be named, "It's not the ritz, but it's good."

"Clairelaine was built in the 1940s," he said, "so it is more comfortable than [housing projects built] today."

"Water used to come down [inside of the] walls during heavy rains," he continued, "but that got fixed in the last two years."

Since Clairelaine Gardens was initially a private apartment complex, before it was bought out by the CCHA in 1963, dwellings are generally larger and more spacious than most other housing projects in Corpus Christi.

Outgoing Housing Authority Chairman, William D. Bonilla, emphasized nonetheless that construction must go on, and that residents concerns about Leathers were unfounded.


“Leathers has been modernized,” Bonilla said emphatically, “and I’ll bet you ten to one that anyone going there will realize that.”


The quality of the buildings at Leathers appeared slightly better than the neighboring Winnebago St. area. (known to many Corpus Christi residents as "The Cut") Within walking distance of Solomon Coles High School, the housing project was also near a baseball field, basketball court, and a swimming pool.

The battleship gray apartments however had cracks along their baseboards.
Many of the air vents were also either partially or completely exposed. A rodent could easily climb into the vents from the outside, and either nest there, creating an infestation, or die, creating a foul odor throughout the building.
In addition to that, the sidewalks were badly cracked, and they appeared too narrow for wheelchair usage.

The washing machines in the laundry room were rusted on top, and the dryer had graffiti on it.


Since $222,200 was allocated to Leathers in the 2006 Housing Authority budget for purposes of painting and decorative trim, there has been no listing on the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) website for any further funding.

The modernization effort to which Bonilla referred did not seem not evident. One senior citizen who was moved from Clairelaine to Leathers several months ago, and wished to remain anonymous, agreed

“It’s dirty,” he said, “there’s too many thefts, and too many dogs.”“I’m afraid for my health,” he said, “ and I wish at night the could put in more security.”“At 2 and 3 in the morning,” he said, “people knock on my door.”“I think they’re on drugs,” he added.

Rosario Sanchez, another senior citizen, was concerned about a rise in troubled youth when she lived at Clairelaine, but did not want to go to Leathers either.

“They said you have to go wherever they send you,” Sanchez said, “Then they told me,” she said, “if I don’t go where they send me, they’ll kick me out of the HUD program, and not let me back in.” After saving a little money, and getting help from her children, she eventually moved to private apartments. Sanchez is trying to get back in to government housing though, and believes that it may be two years before she is considered.

Bonilla said that the Housing Authority did the best it could to accommodate residents as they were reassigned.
“If they’re gonna remodel a particular building,” he said, “they give them an option, sometimes there is no option".

Contrary to what he said earlier, "There is in fact, no modernization effort at Leathers," Mr. Bonilla later conceded, "in fact, we've been informed that there is standing water underneath the ground at Leathers, so we are considering closing it altogether."

"I think in the near future," said CCHA CEO, Richard Franco, "D.N. Leathers should be closed, and replaced with energy efficient homes."

"So many things are up in the air [about Leathers]," said CCHA Sr. Vice President, Lorenzo Buitron, "Some people [who live there]also say their kids have asthma because they are so close to the refineries."