Texas Theatre

History

The Texas Theatre opened on April 21, 1931. The Texas Theatre was the largest suburban movie theater in Dallas and was part of a chain of theaters financed by Howard Hughes. It was the first theater in Dallas with air conditioning and featured many state-of-the-art luxuries.

The theater is most famous for being the site of Lee Harvey Oswald's arrest on November 22, 1963. Warren "Butch" Burroughs, manager and concession stand attendee the afternoon of Oswald's arrest, said that Oswald came into the theater between 1:00 and 1:07 pm. Burroughs further claimed he sold Oswald popcorn at 1:15 p.m. Julie Postal, the ticket seller, who was posted out in front of the entrance, told the Warren Commission that Burroughs initially told her the same thing although, when she later discussed the event with him, she became skeptical about his version. Julia Postal, however, never saw Oswald enter the theater, relying on the account of Johnny Calvin Brewer, a manager at Hardy's Shoe Store's which, according to the official government report, happened at 1:35 p.m.. Texas Theatre patron Jack Davis also corroborated Burroughs' time, claiming he observed Oswald in the theater prior to 1:20 pm. The films presented that day were Cry of Battle and War Is Hell, which Oswald briefly viewed.

As a commemoration of the historic capture, the words "Lee Harvey Oswald, November 22, 1963" were later inscribed in gold paint on the chair Oswald (supposedly) occupied — three rows from the rear, five seats from the aisle. However, the actual chair was removed by then manager "Butch" Burroughs, who took it home and replaced it with another which the FBI confiscated the next day for evidence thinking it was the original Oswald seat.

The theater closed in 1989 and the Texas Theatre Historical Society (TTHS) purchased it the following year. This allowed Oliver Stone to remodel the exterior façade for his 1991 film, JFK. However, by 1992, the Society was no longer able to fund the property and the theater closed again. Former usher and sign changer Don Dubois of Texas Rosewin-Midway Properties saved the theater from the wrecking ball in 1993, but two years later, it was nearly destroyed by a five-alarm fire, forcing another closure. In 1996, Pedro Villa stepped in to rescue the theater from another plan which would have demolished the structure and replaced it with a furniture warehouse. However, he was unable to obtain financing to restore the theater and it defaulted to Texas Rosewin-Midway Properties. The fire-damaged building remained vacant for three years, open to vandals, stray animals, and the elements.

In 2001, the Oak Cliff Foundation acquired the structure and began renovations after receiving $1.6 million from the Dallas Neighborhood Renaissance Partnership. Since then, the board of the Oak Cliff Foundation has raised an additional $2 million of the estimated $9 million needed for the complete renovation of the theater. The foundation used the funds to secure and restore the building needed after years of neglect and fire damage and the venue began hosting movies and special events soon after.

In September 2010, Aviation Cinemas, Inc. signed a lease to operate the theater as an independent and repertory cinema, with hopes of presenting live theater and concerts in the future.

In November 2017, a historical marker was installed in front of the theater which read "On November 22, 1963, following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, Lee Harvey Oswald was apprehended in the auditorium".

After being closed for most of 2020, during the height of the COVID pandemic, the theater was remodeled and reopened in September 2021 as a two-screen venue, with main theater capacity of 670 seats and 165 balcony theater seats.

On November 22, 2023, the theater organized several "JFK 60 Day" memorial events.

The theater occasionally holds premieres and screenings. On July 29, 2025, Francis Ford Coppola screened his film Megalopolis as part of a nationwide tour, followed by an in-depth interactive discussion and Q&A called “How to Change Our Future.”

On November 21, 2025, actor Fred Armisen received Dallas Video Fest's Ernie Kovacs Award at the theater. The event included screenings of Ernie Kovacs and Buster Keaton films featuring accompaniment by Ben Model.

Image:TexasTheater oswaldsSeat.jpg | The seat Lee Harvey Oswald briefly occupied before his arrest Image:TexasTheater interior.jpg | Theatre interior in 2005 Image:Texastheater.JPG | A replica marquee, added c. 2006, and restored facade in 2008

References

References

1. {{NRISref
2. Madeleine B. Johnson. (October 10, 2001). "Ordinance No. 24750". City of Dallas.
3. Turner, Nigel. ''The Men Who Killed Kennedy'', Part 4, "The Patsy", 1991.
4. "History Matters Archive - Warren Commission Hearings, Volume VII, pg".
5. (November 25, 1963). "Lee Oswald Nabbed In Rowley Flagship".
6. Selwyn-Holmes, Alex. (22 November 2013). "Aisle 2, Row 3, Seat 5, Texas Theatre, 231 West Jefferson Boulevard, Dallas, Texas". Iconic Photos.
7. (28 April 2010). "History of the Texas Theatre". [[Theatre Historical Society of America]].
8. "History". Oak Cliff Foundation.
9. Donaughey, Adam. (6 September 2010). "Historic Texas Theatre — New Lease on Life". Theatre Historical Society of America.
10. Appleton, Roy. (3 September 2010). "Dallas-Fort Worth filmmakers to take Texas Theatre in new direction". dallasnews.com.
11. (2017-11-22). "Oak Cliff's Texas Theatre gets new JFK historical marker that fixes the record".
12. (2020-12-22). "Texas Theatre Expands During COVID-19 Pandemic In Hopes Of Luring More Folks To The Movies".
13. Gallagher, Danny. "Texas Theatre Officially Opens Its Second Floor, 165-Seat Screen".
14. "11-22-63- JFK 60 Day".
15. "WFAA: Texas movie theater to reenact Lee Harvey Oswald's arrest in JFK assassination".
16. Gaughan, Liam. (2025-06-18). "Legendary Filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola is Coming to The Texas Theatre".
17. Jr • •, Michael Gibson. (2025-11-23). "Fred Armisen Receives Dallas Video Fest Ernie Kovacs Award at the Texas Theatre".