The Heights Theatre: 100 Years of Perseverance in a Demolition-Happy City

Built in 1923, the Heights Theatre officially opened for business in May of 1929. After undergoing several renovations and even an arson fire, the building is still standing in its original location.

In June 1969, arsonists destroyed the Heights Theatre in protest of its howing of I am Curious (Yellow), a Swedish sex film. The theater owners at the time, Mr. and Mrs. John Scott, were followed home multiple times. Their staff even received personal threats in response to the film. Bomb threats and stink bombs disrupted showings for its entire three-week run.

I am Curious (Yellow) was not only controversial due to its explicit sexual nature, but its themes of social justice and equality. The film infamously featured the main character, Lena, having a conversation with Martin Luther King, Jr.

In a June 7, 1969 interview with the Houston Chronicle, the owners accused the KKK of committing the arson. This was a reasonable suspicion due to the Ku Klux Klan literature on their front porch after the arson.

The fire completely destroyed the theatre, causing substantial physical damage to the interior. The charred shell of a building was used as a homeless encampment until its purchase by Gus and Sharon Kopriva in 1987. They spent a year on renovation and in 1988, re-opened it for use as an art space. In 2015, it was sold to its current owner, Edwin Cabaniss. After another series of extensive renovations, the Heights Theatre re-opened in 2016 as a venue to host concerts, independent film viewings, and local community events.