Theatre Architects

Born: 1893 (Carrizo Springs, Texas)

Died: 1932 (San Antonio, Texas)

Robert Bertram Kelly began his architectural career in 1912 as a draftsman for San Antonio architect H.A. Reuter. He moved to the A.A. Herff Company in 1914, returning briefly to Reuter’s firm in 1917.

After serving as Henry T. Phelps’s draftsman in 1918, Kelly entered into partnership with Harvey P. Smith in 1919, an association that lasted until circa 1922.

Around 1923, Kelly and partners Arthur A. Seeligson (attorney and financier) and builder H.C. Wood formed the Kelwood Company, a firm that both designed and built residential and commercial buildings.

The Kelwood Company was first listed in the 1926 San Antonio City Directory (there are no directories for 1923-25), advertising their work in architecture, construction, and financing. Seeligson served as president, Kelly as vice president, and Wood as secretary/treasurer. The firm appears to have functioned until 1930, perhaps impacted by the Depression.

Kelly practiced alone in 1931, and in 1932, he committed suicide.

Information in part sourced from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley .

Theatres on this website in which this architect was involved:

Aztec Theatre, San Antonio, Texas, USA