Opened on San Jacinto Day, April 21, 1931, as the largest suburban theater
in Dallas. Only the Majestic and the Palace Theaters in downtown Dallas
exceeded the Texas' capacity of 2000 patrons. It was touted as the first
theater in Dallas to be constructed specifically for talking motion
pictures, and it also featured a pipe organ played by Dwight Brown. The
first week's program included the Fox Movietone News, a Mickey Mouse
cartoon, and the Buster Keaton talkie, "Parlor, Bedroom and Bath." Price
of admission: 35, 25, or 10 cents depending on which show you attended.
I remember going to the Texas on weekends all during the sixties. I think the first movie I saw here without any parental supervision was "Thunderball". Classic James Bond, which was mostly over my head.
At
left is an artist's rendition of what the Texas looked like on opening
night. with original sign and marquis. The bright lights and Italian
Renaissance facade led some to label West Jefferson a new "Amusement
Way."
For more info see
History of Texas Theater
Below, how the theater looked like on Nov 23,1963.
My dad was in the theater that day when Oswald came in. Oswald sat next to my day (then 18 years old) and then got up and went and sat by another man sitting by himself. Oswald left the theater and the lights came up. My dad went to see what was going on and shortly after saw Oswald being removed from the theater. Dad believes that Oswald was looking for someone but didn't know who.
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