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There's nothing new under the sun. Applause signs may have been introduced in New York, but Mrs. McSpadden, who owned the theater in the 40s, came up with a cheap substitute. Since the Grand's patrons had a reputation for being hard-to-please, "applause starters" were strategically placed in the audience to "prime the pump" and help convince Electrans that they were having a good time.

The Grand was sold after Mrs. McSpadden's death and has changed hands many times before being deeded to the City of Electra in 1990. The formation of the Save the Grand Foundation has insured that the theater will remain a part of Electra's (and Texas') history.

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The detail-rich history of the Grand Theater that we wrote this article from was written by Jan Greer Ekrut, a former Electran now living in Austin.

Main Street Program Manager Jannis Hayers promptly furnished this text so that we might present it for our October Drive-By Architecture. We were fortunate to have native Electran, Bob Holman, furnish us with the exceptional photographs he has taken of the Grand Theater.

Electra is in good hands. - TE

October 2000
© John Troesser