Contact: Monica Sawyer, President
361-887-6055
info@ccpatch.org
www.ccritz.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE!

Corpus Christi’s Historic Ritz Theatre Donated to PATCH
Non-profit group to raise funds, restore building and preserve local history

(Corpus Christi, TX – January 27, 2011) Mayor Joe Adame announced that The Ritz Theater, a landmark historic building in downtown Corpus Christi, owned by Mr. Robert Rowling of TRT Holdings and Omni Hotels, has been generously donated to the non-profit organization, PATCH, a local group founded to revive The Ritz. Mayor Adame made the announcement on Thursday, January 27th, at the State of the City address. The donation was made via a gift deed, filed by Corpus Christi Ritz Theatre, Inc., owned by Mr. Rowling, on December 22nd, 2010. The deed was donated with the expectation that PATCH would raise the necessary funds to fully restore The Ritz Theatre.

“Something very special has happened... Let's continue to pray for that project and help and support it," Mayor Adame said during his address.

PATCH will be holding a press conference at The Ritz, located at 715 N. Chaparral Street (on the corner of Chaparral and Taylor), on Friday, February 18th, at 10:30 a.m. Upcoming event announcements will be made and the building will be open for viewing at this time. All volunteers, past sponsors, and supporters are invited to attend this event to help celebrate this major milestone for Corpus Christi.

“The gift of The Ritz represents an exciting opportunity for the revitalization of downtown Corpus Christi,” Monica Sawyer, President of PATCH, said. “We are incredibly grateful for the chance to move forward.”

The Ritz opened on Christmas day in 1929, two months after the start of the Great Depression. Bruce Collins successfully operated The Ritz as a first-run movie theatre and vaudeville house despite the economic struggles. The venue was also a site for USO shows. Eventually, the theater became a major music venue as the Ritz Music Hall, featuring acts such as Bo Diddley, Willie Nelson, Bruce Springsteen, David Allan Coe and Metallica. Before it closed in 1989, The Ritz was home to local dramatic theatre groups such as the Encore Theatre Corporation.

PATCH was formed to restore and develop the Ritz Theatre into a state-of-the-art, multi-purpose arts and entertainment venue. Once restored, The Ritz will operate as a performance, presentation and educational facility with a variety of events such as film, drama, dance, music, comedy, and rental events. Currently, The Ritz hosts paranormal investigations in the building.

Donations can be made online at www.ccritz.com or to PATCH at 402 Peoples Street, Suite 1A, Corpus Christi, TX 78401.

Corpus Christi PATCH, Inc. is a 501 (c)(3) organization.