Today we’d like to introduce you to Channing Kingery-Boles.
Hi Channing, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I moved from North Austin to Taylor in 2016. Taylor sits northeast of Austin, about 11 miles from Hutto. I loved living in Austin, but I wanted to be in a small town just outside the city, always knowing Austin was only a quick 26-minute toll ride away.
In 2021, I opened a small artisan-style gift shop called Taylor Soap Bar, specializing in locally sourced soaps, candles, lotions, and other gift items. At that time, the Howard Theatre—diagonal from Taylor Soap Bar—had been closed due to the pandemic, though it briefly reopened for the holidays. After that, there were a few attempts at additional showings, but in 2022 the building suffered a flood. Under the previous owners, the Howard closed its doors for good.
The following spring, a Lease / For Sale sign went up in the window. My first thought was, It would be so great if someone bought this and reopened it. I felt strongly that the Howard could be a real boost for downtown Taylor and the surrounding businesses. I started casually paying attention—watching to see if anyone showed interest, if anyone made an offer, or if something might happen.
Then one day, I saw a social media post suggesting the building should be torn down and turned into an antique mall. I remember thinking, No. That moment was the turning point. I started wondering if there was anything I could do to possibly purchase it. This was completely unrealistic—I had no means to buy a historic movie theater—but I began brainstorming anyway. I talked to anyone who would listen, asking whether they thought reopening the Howard was viable and whether people would come if it returned.
I spoke with my partner, Clint, who agreed to join me on yet another one of my “crazy ideas.” From there, we set off trying to figure out how we could possibly buy the Howard. Luckily, my brother, Josh Pruitt, is a realtor and was able to get us a showing. Without him, I don’t think I would have ever gotten one foot in the door.
The moment I walked into the Howard, I felt a sense of ease. It was not in great shape after the flood—you really had to imagine what it had been and what it could be—but something about it felt right. I asked my brother to see if the owners would give us time to try to figure out how to buy it, again fully acknowledging that we had no money. Amazingly, they agreed.
From there, we did everything we could to raise funds: GoFundMe and Kickstarter campaigns, selling donor wall tiles, selling nearly anything we could, draining bank accounts, selling our cars, eating a lot of PB&J sandwiches, and asking family and friends for help wherever possible. So many people stepped up—and many still do.
In January of 2024, we were incredibly fortunate to close on the Howard Theatre. Since then, we’ve spent the last two years trying to bring it back to life. We received two grants that helped address a leaking roof and a few smaller but critical repairs. Nothing about the Howard is easy. Getting it into a condition where we could reopen and safely welcome people back has been, and continues to be, a difficult process.
The majority of the work has been done by just three of us. After two years filled with more trials and tribulations than I could ever fully explain, we were finally able to receive our Certificate of Occupancy this past December and reopen the Howard Theatre.
Since December, we’ve hosted several private rentals and a few public showings. We still do not have heat or air conditioning in the main theater, and our guests have been incredibly gracious—bundling up when needed, wearing coats, and bringing blankets. Every month has been a struggle to keep everything paid for and to keep this project going, but we truly believe that if we keep working, we can eventually make the Howard a true small-town movie theater again.
Soon, we plan to begin a more regular schedule of second-run movies on Fridays through Sundays, while continuing to rent the space privately during the week. We also hope to offer a few free showings and other special events along the way. Beyond movies, we have plans for live stand-up comedy, small film festival–style events, and Q&As. My hope is that independent filmmakers will eventually want to premiere and screen their work at the Howard—something like a small “SXSW-East” vibe.
My biggest concern every day is simply how to pay for one more month and keep going. We’ve come this far, and I don’t want to lose momentum now. I believe in Taylor. I believe in the Howard. And I believe that people will always want to go to the movies—to sit in a room together and share that experience with their family, friends, and a whole crowd of fellow movie lovers.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Nothing about the Howard has been easy. The main obstacle—like it is for so many small business owners and people driven by a cause—has been money, and the constant lack of it. Having a dream is one thing; funding that dream is something else entirely.
We’ve been fortunate in many ways, but we’ve also given everything we have to this project. We work two jobs—three now with the Howard reopening—and we regularly ask ourselves if we should add a fourth. Since starting this journey, I can count the number of days off we’ve had on one hand, but that part doesn’t concern me. Making this work is all we—I—think about.
The Howard is about 102 years old. The building has great bones, but nearly everything else has been a challenge—and continues to challenge us daily. This isn’t just climbing a ladder to paint or fix something simple; it’s climbing a 30-foot ladder and risking your life to hang curtains. There have been more than a few nail-biting moments.
Like the movies themselves, the Howard has been a thriller—part action, part drama, part comedy—all wrapped into one.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’ve lived all over the country—from New York to Alaska to Hawaii—but I grew up mostly out West, in Utah and Nevada. Central Texas became home in 1998, and I can’t imagine ever leaving.
Since I was a kid, a few things have always been true: I wanted to be a mom, I loved comedy, and I was an entrepreneur. I charged my family a quarter to grab them a soda from the kitchen, sold nightcrawlers to fishermen in Utah, flipped Beanie Babies in Alaska, performed stand-up, and eventually began producing comedy shows.
I was also a stay-at-home mom for 17 years. Along the way, I’ve owned an antique store and a thrift store, and worked more odd jobs than I can count. After a divorce in 2011, I moved to Austin and found my way back into the comedy scene for a while. In 2021, I opened my soap shop, and in 2024, I began the Howard Theatre project.
I love movies—though I’m definitely no expert—but I do believe I’m an expert at talking, and hopefully listening. I have long conversations every day with people in my shop, and now at The Howard. One thing has become very clear: people want to be together again. You can watch a movie on your phone, sure—but it’s different in a room full of people.
My hope is that The Howard becomes a place where you see an old movie and somehow experience it for the first time—on the big screen, the way it was meant to be.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
What makes me happiest is my family. Without them, none of this would matter at all. Beyond that, work brings me a deep sense of fulfillment. I work almost every day of the year, and I would work even more if sleep weren’t necessary. I know our time on this earth is short, and I want to do everything I can with the time I’ve been given.
Pricing:
- Matinees $5
- Evening Showings $8
- Free Showings during the week
- $99 private rentals Monday-Thursday
- $35-$60 Marquee rentals
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.howardtheatre.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehowardtheatretaylor/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/howard.taylor.343364
Image Credits
Jordan Michael Karver
