Brauntex Theatre, Historic performing arts center in downtown New Braunfels, Texas.
Brauntex Theatre is a former movie palace turned performing arts theater in downtown New Braunfels, Texas. Built in 1942 in the late Art Deco style, its design was copied from the Washita Theater in New Cordell, Oklahoma. The auditorium retains original fixtures from its cinema days, and the balcony was restored during the 1999 renovation.
The theater opened its doors in January 1942 during World War II as a cinema for the local audience. Over the decades it evolved from a movie house into a multipurpose entertainment venue.
The theater transformed from a movie palace into a venue for live performances, where locals now gather for ballets, concerts, and theatrical productions. The space reflects how the community repurposed a mid-century entertainment hub for contemporary cultural activities.
The venue sits in downtown at West San Antonio Street and is easy to reach on foot. Visitors should check ahead on which events are scheduled, as the program changes seasonally.
The 1999 renovation was carried out quickly with help from local volunteers, among them the USMC Junior ROTC from New Braunfels High School. The same project enlarged the small movie stage into a full performing arts stage and reopened the balcony that a previous owner had closed off to create a second theater.
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