Historical Marker

Best Theatre Building

Historical marker location:
218 N Main, West, Texas
( 218 N Main)
Marker installed: 1994

Constructed by town founder Thomas M. West and local contractor J.W. Bridges about 1890, this building housed two saloons until prohibition in 1919 promoted its conversion into a grocery store and bakery. Jim Tobola modified the building in 1923 to house the Best Theatre, which offered vaudeville, local entertainment, and movies before closing in 1976. The building's whimsical architecture includes metal semicular awnings and cast concrete globe-like finials.

Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1994.