The Ritz, Austin, TX

Historic theater in the 6th Street district in Austin, Texas built in 1929b y J.J. Hegman, who owned several movie theaters in Austin, Texas. The building's history includes use as a movie theater, music hall, concert venue club, and comedy house. In 1981, Shannon Sedwick and Michael Shelton took out a lease and turned management over to Craig Underwood, who began running the venue as a punk rock club. Shows such as Black Flag, which inaugurated the punk era on May 7, 1982, The Misfits, Hüsker Dü, The Circle Jerks, The Dead Kennedys, Minor Threat and others showed that there was an audience for hardcore and opened the doors for an influx of punk rock into the Austin music scene. They also began introducing music, from Texas bands to heavy metal acts such as Watchtower, King Diamond and others. It is currently the downtown location for the Alamo Drafthouse which occurred after a renovation in 2007.