Lena and Earl Podolnick

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EARL AND LENA PODOLNICK

 

Lena Novy, at age 18, an actress and singer working in Hollywood, alongside John Wayne on RKO’s “Mesquiteers” movies. She was managed by MGM’s legendary Roger Edens whose only other client was Judy Garland. While attending UCLA, Lena met Earl Podolnick and decided that having a family would bring more happiness into their lives as opposed to life in the sharp edged entertainment industry. They married at Karl Hoblitzelle’s home in Dallas. Shortly after, Earl opened Gem Jewelers next to the Paramount Theater. He later sold Gem Jewelers for $1 dollar to his dear friend, Frankie Mann. It relocated two blocks north, on Congress Avenue, and continued to stay in business until the late 1990’s.

 

After Louie’s and his brother Buster’s passing, Earl and Lena took over the reins of Trans Texas Theaters with movie houses across Texas. They included: The Americana Theater, The Texas Theater, the Chief and Burnet Drive In’s, the Southwood and the Aquarius Theaters in Austin; The Capri Theater in Dallas (one of first Cinerama Theaters in America) and The Fine Arts Theater across from the SMU campus in Dallas; The Hollywood in Ft. Worth, The Capri in El Paso, and The Texas in Denton.

 

Many fundraisers were held at the Americana Theater including projects that were instrumental in raising funds to build Seton Hospital and the beautification of Town Lake with longtime friend Lady Bird Johnson. Earl was President of Congregation Beth Israel. Both Lena and Earl were honored, receiving the “Lion of Judea Award” by Yitzhak Rabin, who flew from Israel to Austin to personally give the award to the couple. They were also co-chairs in organizing and presenting the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra directed by Zubin Mehta to Austin.

 

Beginning in the early 1960’s Earl bused hundreds of 3rd grade to 6th grade age students to Austin’s Americana Theater to view To Kill a Mocking Bird. The film’s message of equality, social justice and civil rights was tremendously important to the Podolnick Family. They wanted children of that age to experience, visually, the powerful message within the context of the film. This program continued for 15 years due to the philanthropy of the Podolnick Family. The Podolnick Family were also the first to integrate movie houses across Texas in the face of picket signs and death threats.

 

The legacy of the theatrical and motion picture industry in Texas was, in large part, contributed to by Louis Novy and the Podolnick Family to the benefit of millions of people and their communities.

 

(This history was written by Lena and Earl Podolnick’s son, Jay Podolnick, who lives in Austin, Texas.

 

 

 

Lena, Earl and Gloria de Havilland

 

Lena and Earl Podolnick with Olivia DeHaviland

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lena, Earl and Bette Davis

 

Lena and Earl Podolnick with Bette Davis