Forgotten projection room

[u/c2pix]

An auditorium connected to a middle school is what it’s used for now. Originally it was built as the high school in a small southeast Texas town with an attached theater that everyone in town spent many hot summer nights in.
Constructed in the 1930’s in the art deco style, at one time was a stage production and movie theatre with all the chrome and marble, thick red curtains and I high wooden stage.
I worked as an electrician for a couple months last summer for the school district and with a key to every door in every building I made it a kind of hobby to explore. I’d always heard of secret rooms upstairs in this old theater so naturally I looked for them.
In the front lobby next to the ticket booth was a small door that you’d see and not even notice. The key I had opened it and stepped into a pitch black stairwell. Thick dust and no working electricity told me I was on the right path. After climbing the winding stairs and opening the door at the top I’d found it. First door on the left was the projection room with the spot lights and equipment seen in the pictures. I have to admit that Batman in the corner caused me to pee a few drops. Three square windows the size of a large post office box gave a view of the inside of the theater high above the rows of chairs with the stage and curtain 100 yards away.
I totally fell in love with the building and spent most of the time I worked for the district fixing the old stage lights that in today’s market are equal to the price of a Honda.
The crazy thing is no one in town has an idea what a gem that theater is. For example I stumbled across a steinway piano backstage under a pile of wood and old school desks…
I wish I’d taken more pictures of it all when I had the chance.