Cole Theatre in Historic Downtown Rosenberg, Texas during the 1900’s was the place to hang out to catch the latest movie or to attend a community event with friends, family, boyfriends and girlfriends. It is now a nostalgic after-thought as it’s been closed for decades. Cole had an indelible impact upon Rosenberg and memories remain, so much so that, according to rumor, the interior is haunted by those who just can’t seem to let go.
To help revitalize downtown Rosenberg, the current owner hired us to enliven the façade and create conversation by simulating from a distance that the building interior is being restored and the theatre is once again operational.
Through our simulated half-removed weathered wood façade, our image incorporates a contractor restoring the interior in the midst of freshly-popped popcorn that awaits the next order. Weathered exterior posters advertise the showing of classic cinemas. This was a fun project, and an amazing experience, especially when you consider . . .
. . . The Apparition . . . one Saturday afternoon, in the midst of Paul’s exterior image creations, he heard the front door behind him slam shut. Paul saw that the unlocked door remained closed, with his ladder still leaning against it, eliminating the possibility of the door having been opened or closed. Through the window, Paul saw the back of a medium-build Hispanic middle-aged man in jeans with his head turning to face Paul, as he walked forward into the dark building interior. The Apparition smiled then nodded to Paul in an apparent salutation, then disappeared, not to be seen again.
Assessing the situation, it occurred to Paul that the front door could not have been opened with the ladder obstructing the path, and the back doors were secure with padlock and chains from the inside not allowing anybody to enter the building from the rear nor exit without leaving the rear doors unlocked. No electricity was accessible from the inside, leaving the entire theater in total, pitch darkness. This apparition walked into the abyss, never to return. When loading up for the day, Paul entered the theater not wanting to lock anybody inside, although that would have been impossible. He called out to the middle-aged man that he encountered earlier, only to be met with sheer silence and complete darkness.
Paul exited the building in a nano-second, claiming extreme hunger and an effort to quickly order tacos as the reason. Paul attributes his observation to genuine apparition and not Texas heat overexposure. Very strange, indeed!
August 2016 – Cole Theater – Historic Downtown Rosenberg, Texas
Design: Simply Artistic, Inc.
Project Scope: 6 Murals 126.5 Square Feet of Mural Painting
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