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                                                                     EXHIBIT 5.1


                                                (214) 740-8416
   
June 4, 1998
    

   
    

Hastings Entertainment, Inc.
3601 Plains Blvd.
Suite #1
Amarillo, TX 79102

         Re:     Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-47969)

Dear Sirs:

         We have acted as counsel for Hastings Entertainment, Inc., a Texas
corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the registration under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), of an aggregate of 3,377,333
shares of the Company's Common Stock, $.01 par value per share (the
"Securities"). We have examined such documents and questions of law as we have
deemed necessary to render the opinion expressed below.

         Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the Securities,
when issued and sold as described in the above-referenced Registration
Statement, will be legally issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

         We consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement and to the reference to our firm in the prospectus under
the caption "Legal Matters." In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit
that we come within the category of persons whose consent is required under
Section 7 of the Act or the rules and regulations of the Securities and
Exchange Commission promulgated thereunder.


                                        Sincerely,
 
                                        LOCKE PURNELL RAIN HARRELL
                                        (A Professional Corporation)

   
                                         By: /s/ KENT JAMISON
    
                                             -----------------------
                                                 Kent Jamison