Painting the interior of the historic Perot Theatre requires an artist's touch.
C.D.X. Little, a local artist and musician, is just the man for the job.
"I have been associated with the Perot for about 18 years. I have been all over this building. It's one of the true loves of my life," Little said.
About a month ago, Little went to work redoing the paint in the Perot's mezzanine area. He has a few more weeks of work.
"It's a very detailed job because of all the intricacies and details," he said. "When you look over the mezzanine and see the sculptures, the leaf work, it's hard to describe."
Little considers the task a one-man job.
"It would be hard to put a crew on it. You are peeling paint off some intricate stuff," he said.
About the Perot
In 1924, the Saenger family of New Orleans built the theater, designed by architect Emil Weil designed, with live acts in mind. The three-story brick building of Italian Renaissance design is fairly simple on the outside, but elaborate on the inside. Decor includes Grecian architecture, ornate paintings and gold-leaf trim. The faces of the angels and the babies in laurel leaf motif are said to have been sculpted in the likeness of Weil's child. In 1931, Paramount-Publix Corp. bought it and changed the name to the Paramount. Until the 1960's, the theater featured live productions and first-run movies. It went into decline and played second- and third-run movies until its closing in 1977. The city of Texarkana, Texas, bought the building in 1977 for $19,000 from S and H Theatre Corp. of New Orleans. An architectural firm was hired, and plans were made for restoration. H. Ross Perot, a Texarkana native who made his fortune in electronics in Dallas, and his sister, Bette, contributed $800,000 to the effort in memory of their parents. The city renamed it the Perot Theatre. Texarkana Regional Arts and Humanities Council is contracted by the city to program and manage the theater. SOURCE: trahc.orgLittle does most of the paint jobs for the city of Texarkana, Texas. He said he treasures working with the city and Texarkana Regional Arts and Humanities Council on maintaining buildings.
"The Perot is my favorite and it's also the first building I worked on. My grandfather got the job and handed it over to me. My grandfather taught me everything I know. I've been blessed and fortunate to work with these people all these years," he said.
The Perot Theatre, at West Third and Main streets in downtown Texarkana, opened in 1924 as the Saenger Amusement Co.'s "Gateway to the Southwest" theatre. Fully restored by the city of Texarkana, Texas, in 1979-80, the building is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. H. Ross Perot and his sister Bette contributed much of the restoration costs in memory of their parents.
Keeping a building as old as the Perot Theatre in top shape is an ongoing project. Something always needs done, said Randall Conry, operations director for the theatre.
Major paint jobs are done in the summer, when shows and events at the theater slow.
"C.D.X. is an excellent painter, and we call him whenever we need a job done. There is a lot of detail to the work, but he takes his time with it and really has the skills needed for the job," Conry said. "It takes an actual craftsman to take the time and add the extra detail and if he doesn't know something, he will take the time to find out the answer."
Little describes painting his favorite building as "a pretty neat job."
"I'm going through a hard time right now, and this is something I can lean on and immerse myself in," he said.
He hopes the Perot's patrons are pleased with his work.
"I hope they notice the improvements when they come back in for the new season," he said.