This post was on the front side of the screen. You'll notice that it is not as well trimmed as the other post. Although it isn't visible in this picture, several rows of red brick also lined the edge of the foundation on this side of the screen.
Having completed his examination of the foundation, Rick moved on deeper into the property. The exit lane paving was in surprisingly good condition. Rick followed it to yet another discovery.
Not far from the foundation, we discovered this pile of debris. Even from a distance, we could tell that it was the final resting place of the Stardust's screen.
Many have described Rick as an irresponsible risk taker. Here's yet another example of this behavior. Without even considering the possible negative outcomes, he began climbing up the "bones" of the Stardust.
Reaching the top of the pile, he paused to evaluate the remains.
Some of the large posts have steel tubes attached to them. While it's possible that these steel tubes served as cross-members to strengthen the screen, it is also possible that they were used to support the screen facing. You'll notice that these tubes are all partially painted green. And in every case we saw, the green paint didn't come all the way up to the wooden posts. Nor were any of the bandss around the posts painted. This suggests to me that the tubes may have extend outwards from the screen tower and only those portions visible to the public were painted. As of this writing, I haven't advanced this theory to Rick, but could these tubes be evidence that the screen at the Stardust was widened at some point in the past? Or perhaps even replaced?
This is exactly what happened at the Mission in San Antonio. The original screen on the screen tower is no longer used. A much larger screen was built in front of the original screen and connected to the screen tower for support. Why? Can you say "wide screen"? In the battle against television, theaters widened their screens so as to provide a viewing experience that the square television screen couldn't match.
Here is an "end on" view of one of the poles. You can see the steel tube, painted partially green, attached to it. A forest of nails can be seen just in front of it. The remains of two very large, and very wide, boards are attached to the end of this pole. What purpose could these boards have served? We'll never know!
And those reports we received that this theater was still standing just a few years ago? This is what Rick had to say about them:
"Look at the tops of the cut off poles. The sun and weather have worn down the poles until the rings are in relief instead of flat chainsaw cuts. I think it would take several years to make that happen."
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