A beloved piece of northwest Houston history could soon disappear.
The Houston History Bus was parked in front of the Garden Oaks Theater during a Feb. 15 protest aimed at saving the historic building from demolition. (Photo courtsey of Mister McKinney Media)
The Garden Oaks Theater, the 1947 neighborhood movie house marked by its iconic neon marquee along North Shepherd, is facing imminent demolition after a development company purchased the property late last year. Preservation advocates say the building could be torn down at any time unless the city steps in to delay the process.
Leading the push to save the theater is Arthouse Houston, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving cinema and film culture, and one of its founding board members, Houston historian and educator Mister McKinney.
“This is exactly how we lost other historic theaters—by the time most people find out, it’s already too late,” McKinney said. “Houston is a pro-development city, and that’s not a bad thing. But development has to be balanced with preservation, and right now the community isn’t being listened to.”
For many longtime residents, the threat of demolition has stirred deeply personal memories. Gene Ruple told of a brush with celebrity at the theater decades ago on social media.
The Garden Oaks Theater in 1948 (Photo courtesy of Mister McKinney’s Historic Houston Archives)
“My sister was there watching a movie and none other than Elvis Presley wandered in just after the movie had started and sat in the back and stayed until it was almost over,” Ruple wrote. “He smiled at my sis and gave her a nod. That had to be late ’50s or early ’60s.”
Others shared simpler but equally meaningful memories of growing up with the theater as a neighborhood fixture. “I grew up in Garden Oaks,” Louise Young wrote on Facebook. “Me, my friends and brothers went there many, many times through the years. I’m 73 now and remember it so well.”
McKinney is no stranger to preservation fights. Arthouse Houston grew out of the grassroots effort to save the River Oaks Theater, a 1939 landmark that was successfully preserved through a partnership between the city and a private operator. Today, that theater is thriving under new management.
Mister McKinney spoke to local media outlets during a rally on Feb. 15 to help spread the word about the impending demolition of the Garden Oaks Theater. (Photo courtesy of Mister McKinney Media)
“That project worked because the community spoke up and City Hall got involved,” McKinney said. “We’re hoping to create that same momentum here.”
The Garden Oaks Theater, which opened July 10, 1947, is part of a mid-century suburban shopping center complex that once included a pharmacy, storefronts and a post office. Designed by the same architectural firm that worked on the River Oaks Theater, it represents a period when movie houses followed Houston’s growth outward into new neighborhoods.
“It’s like what the Heights Theatre is to 19th Street,” McKinney said. “That marquee is a gateway into Garden Oaks. They don’t make signs like that anymore, and they’re never going to again.”
The theater’s history is closely tied to longtime owner Al Zarzana, who bought the building from the Interstate Theatre chain in 1975 and operated it for decades before selling it to a church in the 2000s. Zarzana also owned the Santa Rosa Theater in the East End and the Granada Theater on Jensen—another historic venue that was recently demolished.
“This is one of the last theaters connected to his legacy,” McKinney said. “If this goes, that chapter of Houston history goes with it.”
Not everyone, however, is convinced preservation is the only answer. Ruben Duron questioned in a Facebook post why the building, most recently home to Grace Church, was not protected years ago and whether its location makes saving it practical.
“How come the owners sold it to the church in the first place?” Duron wrote. “It’s just a building. How come no one wanted to preserve it then? I have memories there also. Nobody cried when Sears closed and then torn down. But it’s in a bad location, parking is not too good. Why preserve it, for a museum.”
Waltrip HS alumni and area residents tell Mister McKinney their memories of the Garden Oaks Theater during a rally to preserve the building on Feb. 15, 2026. Shown are Mister McKinney of Mister McKinney’s Historic Houston, Arthouse Houston founding board member, and founder of the open-air mobile classroom, the Houston History Bus; Judy Price (Waltrip HS class of 1967); Sherry Chavez (Waltrip HS class of 1984); Susan McMillian (Waltrip HS class of 1966); and Sharon McMillon (Waltrip HS class of 1966). (Photo courtesy of Mister McKinney Media)
Others argue the emotional and cultural value outweighs those concerns. “I was saddened when I first read about this,” wrote Broker E. Lopez. “So many memories I have watching movies there. It must be saved!!”
District C Council Member Mario Castillo told The Leader Monday that his office has been in active conversations with neighborhood leaders and the developer of the Garden Oaks Theater property to create space for meaningful dialogue between stakeholders.
In an emailed statement to The Leader, Castillo said he supports responsible economic growth in District H, but added that “that growth should respect the history and character of our neighborhoods.” He said he is committed to ensuring the community has a voice in decisions that shape its future and will continue working with residents, developers and City of Houston departments to explore options that balance preservation with progress. Castillo also said he plans to host a community education event in partnership with the Houston Planning Department to help residents and property owners alike better understand the process for historic and culturally significant landmark designation.
According to McKinney, the building itself remains in good condition, and the church that last used the space maintained it well. He also disputes claims often made by developers that older buildings are too expensive to save because of issues like asbestos.
“If you don’t demolish it, the asbestos isn’t a problem,” he said. “If you do demolish it, you still have to pay to remove it. The question is whether you invest that money in renovation or in tearing history down.”
The private developer, who represents a Dallas- and Houston-based investment group, has not publicly shared detailed plans for the site. McKinney said the theater itself occupies only about one-fifth of the total property, which also includes a large parking area and adjacent parcels.
“There is absolutely room to save the theater and still build whatever else they want,” he said. “This isn’t an either-or situation.”
Members of the community gathered at the Garden Oaks Theater on Feb. 15, 2026 to protest the building’s demolition. (Photo courtesy of Mister McKinney Media)
Preservation advocates are now racing against the clock to get the issue in front of the Houston Archaeological and Historical Commission, which could temporarily halt demolition. To do that, they need to demonstrate strong public support.
Arthouse Houston has launched an online petition, aiming to gather thousands of signatures in the coming days. McKinney said a similar effort helped save the River Oaks Theater years ago.
“People don’t have to live in Garden Oaks or Oak Forest to care about this,” he said. “This is about the fact that Houston has very few of these theaters left. Once they’re gone, they’re gone.”
McKinney also pointed to the broader history of the neighborhood, which was founded in the late 1930s by developer Edward L. Crain as his final residential project. “Garden Oaks is already losing pieces of its past,” he said. “If the community doesn’t stand up for this theater, it’s going to be gone—and so is another piece of their history.”
Residents and supporters can sign the petition by visiting arthousehtx.org and clicking the “Sign the Petition” link at the very top of the homepage, or by searching for “Garden Oaks Theater” on Change.org.
“This is urgent,” McKinney said. “The building could technically be demolished at any time. The only thing that can stop it now is the community making its voice heard.”
The Leader has reached out to Mayor John Whitmire’s office for comment. Due to the Presidents Day holiday, no response was received as of this writing. We will update this article as soon as possible.
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