No, we're not bringing you the old Twisted Sister video. Instead, we're bringing you Houston's own 80's cover band Molly & the Ringwalds' version of "We're Not Gonna Take It." Why? Because Carrie and Jennifer "Ringwald" are much cuter than Dee Snyder. The fact that Molly & the Ringwalds play at the Continental Club tonight (7 p.m., like most Friday nights) gives us a second reason to play this video. The third reason comes......

...for demolitionToday, Houston City Council voted to designate the River Oaks Shopping Center, River Oaks Theater, Alabama Shopping Center, and Alabama Theater as historic landmarks, though it will not afford the structures any protection from Weingarten Realty's current and future decisions to demolish them. According to Historic Houston, there were three dissenting votes from council members Michael Berry (big surprise), Addie Wiseman (who tagged this measure last week), and Pam Holm. Save Our Landmarks invites......

Tuesday, August 7 at 2pm is the last chance for the public to speak about the pending historic landmark status of the River Oaks Shopping Center, River Oaks Theater, Alabama Shopping Center, and Alabama Theater in front of City Council. Members of the public must sign up to speak by 12pm Tuesday by calling the City Secretary Anna Russell (713-247-1840), and people who have already spoken to City Council on this issue may not do......

Meet David Purdie, a true AstroWorld fan: When he heard that the park was going to close, Purdie decided to capture its last days on film. With a hand-held video camera, he visited AstroWorld every weekend in October 2005, filming everything he could — from the drive down Kirby to the walk over the pedestrian bridge to the slow climb up the first incline on the Texas Cyclone. And then, when cranes and bulldozers moved......

The Houston Archaeological and Historical Commission voted yesterday to begin the landmark designation process for the River Oaks Shopping Center, River Oaks Theater and Alabama Theater/Bookstop, the three significant Art Deco structures that have been in the news since news broke last summer that Weingarten Realty Investors could be planning to demolish them to make way for new development. The move toward designating the buildings city landmarks comes without Weingarten's approval — the first......

According to the Greater Houston preservation Alliance, the Houston Archaeological and Historical Commission might try to extend its preservation power in a new way: since 1995, the Commission has had the power to designate historic landmarks without owner consent, but has yet to do it. With the endangerment of the River Oaks Theater, River Oaks Shopping Center, and the Alabama Theater by Weingarten Realty Investors, the HAHC will discuss beginning the process of designating these......

Since Weingarten Realty Investors announced its plans Friday for the redevelopment of part of the River Oaks Shopping Center, Houstonist has gotten several e-mails from readers asking about the future of the other sections of the center. Specifically, we've heard a lot of questions about the fate of the River Oaks Theatre because of media reports including an article in the Houston Business Journal headlined "Theater safe as Weingarten plans $15M redevelopment at River Oaks......

Weingarten Realty Investors released news today (via BusinessWire - login required) that $15 million will be used to redevelop the northeast corner of the River Oaks Shopping Center. Two new multi-story buildings are going to replace what is currently on the site, but they assure that the curved facade will remain, and the new pieces will be architecturally sympathetic (kind of reminds us of the Royalton's Gulf Publishing frieze...). The release also mentions that "[Patty]......

Today, Preservation Texas named five Houston-area sites to its list of 2007's Most Endangered Places in the state: the River Oaks Shopping Center, River Oaks and Alabama theaters, the West Mansion in Clear Lake, the Capitan Theater in Pasadena and unprotected neighborhoods in Galveston. This year's list focuses on historic movie theaters, but all the sites made it for a reason — unfortunately: All of them are in imminent danger of being lost through demolition......

River Oaks Theater turns 67 years old next month, and to celebrate, they are throwing two parties and inviting everyone. Landmark Theaters, who owns the property, will feature two nights of double features. All four movies were filmed (at least in part) in Houston and the surrounding areas: Monday, October 30th, 7 p.m.: The critically acclaimed, off-beat comedy Rushmore with Bill Murray (filmed mostly at St. John's School and Lamar High School), and the now......

The Houston Archaeological and Historical Commission will meet at 2:30 this afternoon to discuss possible steps to take in order to help save the River Oaks Theater and shopping center. The main discussion will be whether or not to try and designate the theater and shopping center as historical landmarks. While the National Register of Historic Places provides historic recognition, it does not protect a building from being demolished by its owners:Listing in the National......

In all the outrage over the potential destruction of the River Oaks Theater, another Houston institution that could be bulldozed as well is the neighborhood speakeasy Marfreless. According to the Houston Chronicle, the undeground bar with no sign and no advertising would likely be part of the demolition of the River Oaks Shopping Center because it is in the same building as the theater. The quiet, dimly-lit establishment has been long known by regulars and......

With all of the hoopla over the historic River Oaks Theater, we thought there was probably no better way to give the lovelies who want to tear it down the proverbial finger than to support the theater by seeing a flick. Or two. And we deviants prefer to stay up until the wee hours of the night, so catching a midnight showing is perfect. Tonight and tomorrow night (at midnight… obviously) you can see......

Houstonist has never been much of one to mess with petitions, but we figured the possible demolition of the River Oaks Shopping Center (and the Alabama Theater) was as good a reason as any — better than most, in our book — to get started. So we're sponsoring a petition opposing Weingarten Realty Investors' plans to tear down the River Oaks center. If you missed the news this weekend, check out the Chronicle article. Here's......

One local movie theater has decided that kids are not welcomed in their theater after 9 p.m. No, it's not because they are showing Debbie Does Dallas. According to management at the Cinemark Tinsletown Westchase theater, past troubles with loitering is the reason for the new policy (which has actually been in effect since April). We have altering opinions about the new policy. While it’s not really fair to outcast the teenagers for late......

A night of improv sounds good, but you'd rather create than watch. Do you own a video camera? Do you want to take a stab at an acting career? Then come over to our house. Then maybe you need to participate in the 48 Hour Film Project. The touring 48HFP group is coming to Houston this weekend and is looking for would be filmmakers. Each team will draw a genre for their film, along with......

Good news: The Alamo Drafthouse Cinema is opening their second theater in the Houston area next Friday. Bad news: It’s in Katy, not Houston. If you’re not familiar with the Alamo Drafthouse, here’s a brief tutorial: Take a traditional movie theater, remove every other row of seats and replace with rows of tables, add food and beverages (including the adult kind) and, viola! – you have the Alamo Drafthouse. It began in Austin in 1997......