HISTORY
OF BUILDING
The history of the Goode-Crowley Theater Building is somewhat vague, but local historians
believe
it was probably built in the late 1930's or early 1940's as the “Big Bend Feed Store”
by George A. Howard and Kenneth Smith.
In addition to being a place to purchase livestock supplies, the local ranchers seemed to enjoy meeting
at the Big Bend Feed Store to discuss their property, animals and the weather
In the 1970's, the building was bought by Hugh Howard,
a cousin of the Howard family to be used as a flea market.
In 1998, the building was purchased by Lynn and
Tim Crowley but it remained vacant until 2000, when the
Marfa Studio of Arts
used the building as a venue for a site
specific exhibition
of ceramic artists and its inaugural exhibition.
In 2001, Rob Weiner, Associate Director of the Chinati foundation, directed a production of Wallace Shawn's play , “Bruce and Marie” in the building. A simple wooden platform stage and a house with wooden risers with classic wooden theater seats purchased from Ebay allowed the building to be utilized for the first theatrical production and for subsequent productions.
The Crowley Foundation was established in 2004 to fund the ongoing renovation of the theater to provide a facility with appropriate lighting, sound and projection equipment to serve many potential events and productions generated by the Marfa Community. The facility has undergone extensive renovation yet
retains the charm of a community theater.
HISTORY OF
BUILDING