The Arcadia Theatre was built in 1911, and was operated as a Dry Goods Store by J.N. Flores & Bros. Until January 9, 1928. On that date Mr. Carl Johnson had a dream of turning the building into one of the most modern picture theatres in south Texas. Johnson invested approximately $20,000 in converting the building into a theatre that would seat around 400 moviegoers. The building was cooled throughout with a late model “Artic-Nu-Air” cooling system, an orchestra pit in front of the stage with a new re-produced Pipe Organ, and an indoor restroom for the ladies. The theatre opened May 25, 1928 as the “Arcadia Theatre” to a sell out crowd. The first movie shown in the theatre was “Old Ironsides.” Johnson operated the theatre until 1960 when George & Virginia Dziuk of Floresville purchased it. Their family ran the theatre from 1960 to 1979.
In the early 80’s, the theatre played a part in one of Jackie Chan’s first movies, entitled “The Big Brawl.” Part of the movie was filmed in Floresville, which the movie referred to as “Battlefield, Texas.” During Jackie Chan’s final fight scene, he encounters several bad guys inside the Arcadia Theatre building, throws one from the balcony, and beats the bad guy boss despite being stabbed in the process.
George and Virginia later sold the theatre to John Winhoven and Gary Shank in 1979 and the theatre was used as a storage building until December 1998 when Galen K. Jansky purchased it. The building underwent major renovation and the Arcadia Theatre was reopened February 11, 1999 once again to a sell out crowd. This time the first movie was “Patch Adams” starring Robin Williams. In June 2000, Jansky acquired a lease for the building next door, opened up a second screen, and made it possible to book more first-run movies at the Arcadia. Galen and his wife Jennifer have hopes of always providing good family entertainment at reasonable prices a family can afford.
