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“The Ector Theatre beckons the picture loving public to an evening of entertainment in Odessa’s newest, most modern theatre.”-Odessa American
1951
The Ector opened its doors for the first time on Wednesday Aug 1, 1951, touted as Odessa’s newest most modern theater.Originally built by the Hodge Family, who owned and built several theaters throughout West Texas, it housed the second largest screen in the State of Texas and was the premier source of news, cartoons, and first run films for residents of the Permian Basin.
By 2001, The Ector expanded its offerings and hosted sold out shows of live performances and Broadway shows such as Cinderella and Chicago. The historic theater eventually closed its doors as competition from larger chain theaters and increasing infrastructure costs grew.
As part of the City of Odessa’s downtown revitalization efforts, The Ector was given a complete restoration and retrofit to accommodate grand scale live performances. Original parts of the theater have been painstakingly preserved; most famously, the wrap-around neon marquee which has been described as a 1950’s beacon of Hollywood proportions.
The Ector premiered it's first live show after it's reopening in April of 2021 and plans to bring world class, live entertainment to West Texas while remaining a platform for local talent.
Meet The Team
Adam Nunley
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Bio in construction...
Eli Hartman
House Photographer
A native of Midland, Texas, Eli Hartman is an accredited photographer who works as a photojournalist at the Pulitzer winning newspaper The Odessa American. Eli has been shooting since 2018 and began his photography career as a live music and band photographer capturing images of West Texas’ music scene. He has been featured in publications such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, VICE News, WIRED Magazine, Texas Monthly and more.
Greg
Watkins
Audio
Director
Bio in construction...
Soraida
Montoya
Lighting
Director
Bio in construction...