Texas Theatre facts for kids
Texas Theatre during restorations in 2006
|
|
 Texas Theatre
Location in Texas
Texas Theatre
Location in the United States
|
|
| Address | 231 W. Jefferson Blvd. Dallas, Texas United States |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 32°44′36″N 96°49′32″W / 32.74333°N 96.82556°W |
| Owner | Oak Cliff Foundation |
| Operator | Aviation Cinemas |
| Type | movie palace |
| Acreage | 0.2793 acres (0.1130 ha) |
| Screens | 2 |
| Current use | Cinema |
| Construction | |
| Opened | April 21, 1931 |
| Architect | W. Scott Dunne |
| Builder | Oak Cliff Amusement Co. |
|
Texas Theatre
|
|
| Architectural style | Italian Renaissance |
| MPS | Oak Cliff MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 03000187 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | April 1, 2003 |
The Texas Theatre is a famous movie theater and a special landmark in the Oak Cliff area of Dallas, Texas. It became very well known on November 22, 1963. This was the place where Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested. He was suspected in the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Today, the theater shows classic movies and hosts many different events.
Contents
History of the Texas Theatre
The Texas Theatre first opened its doors on April 21, 1931. It was the biggest movie theater in the Dallas suburbs at that time. The theater was part of a group of theaters funded by Howard Hughes, a famous businessman.
Early Features and Technology
When it opened, the Texas Theatre was very modern. It was the first theater in Dallas to have air conditioning. It also offered many other luxurious features for its visitors.
A Day in History: November 22, 1963
The theater is most famous for an event that happened on November 22, 1963. On that day, Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested inside the theater. He was watching movies called Cry of Battle and War Is Hell.
Johnny Calvin Brewer, a shoe store manager nearby, followed Oswald to the theater. He told the ticket seller, Julia Postal, that Oswald had gone inside. Police quickly arrived and arrested Oswald.
The Famous Seat
After Oswald's arrest, people wanted to remember the spot. The words "Lee Harvey Oswald, November 22, 1963" were later written in gold paint on a chair. This chair was supposedly the one Oswald sat in. However, the original chair was actually removed by the theater manager. Another chair was put in its place, which the FBI later took as evidence.
Challenges and Closures
The Texas Theatre closed in 1989. The Texas Theatre Historical Society bought it the next year. This allowed filmmaker Oliver Stone to use the theater for his 1991 movie, JFK.
By 1992, the Historical Society could no longer afford the building, and it closed again. In 1993, Don Dubois helped save the theater from being torn down. But two years later, a large fire badly damaged the building, causing another closure.
Saving the Landmark
In 1996, Pedro Villa tried to save the theater from being replaced by a warehouse. However, he could not get enough money to fix it. The fire-damaged building remained empty for three years.
In 2001, the Oak Cliff Foundation took over the theater. They started renovations after getting $1.6 million in funding. The foundation has since raised more money to continue restoring the building.
Modern Era and Reopening
The Oak Cliff Foundation used the funds to make the building safe and repair the damage. Soon after, the theater started showing movies and hosting special events again.
In September 2010, a company called Aviation Cinemas, Inc. began operating the theater. They wanted to show independent and classic films. They also hoped to host live plays and concerts in the future.
In November 2017, a historical marker was placed outside the theater. It reminds everyone that Lee Harvey Oswald was caught there on November 22, 1963.
After being closed for most of 2020 due to the COVID pandemic, the theater was updated. It reopened in September 2021 with two screens. The main theater can seat 670 people, and the balcony theater has 165 seats.
On November 22, 2023, the theater held several events to remember the 60th anniversary of the JFK assassination.
See also
In Spanish: Teatro Texas para niños
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Dallas County, Texas
- Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks in Dallas County
- List of Dallas Landmarks
Images for kids
-
The seat Lee Harvey Oswald briefly occupied before his arrest
-
Theatre interior in 2005
-
A replica marquee, added c. 2006, and restored facade in 2008
