Majestic Theater

Where is the Dallas Majestic located, and do you have a list of upcoming events at the Majestic in 2002? Thanks

What are the coming events at the Majestic in Dallasfor 2002?

Hello,
I am a freshmen at Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington D.C., and I am doing a technical report on your theater and would like to know about the rigging, lighting, and sound system. I also am interested in the dimensions and any interior photos you have of the theater. Thank you for your consideration. You can fax me any information at 202-547-8255, or send me an email at spikester_spike@yahoo.com. Thank you.
Deirdre Bier

The Dallas Majestic was a member of the Interstate Circuit vaudeville chain consisting of the Majestics in Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and Ft. Worth. Not the largest of the chain, (It sat about 2000), it was the "Flag House" headquarters of Interstate. The Majestics were all "atmospheric" style, (by theatre architect John Eberson), the San Antonio Majestic being the largest, (seating around 4000), and most opullent.

Following is a link to a photograph of the Majestic shortly after opening. From the University of Minnesota Libraries Collection.

When the Majestic Theatre was a movie during the mid 50's it seated 2284 people.

I was an usher at the Majestic and also the Melba in 1950 and our uniforms had a shoulder patch stating United Theaters with red and white stripes running up and down under the lettering. So I believe the chain would have been United Theaters. Some of the other theaters under United were the Melba; the Towers and I believe the Palace Theater.

Hello, I made a error in the name of the chain of the Mejestic. I said it was United Theaters, but it was Interstate Theaters

The website is: http://www.dallassummermusicals.org/

The downtown Dallas theatres on "Theatre Row" in the 1940s were: The Majestic, Melba, Tower, Palace, Rialto, Capitol, Telenews, Queen, Fox, and Hippodrome, (Joy, Wade, Strand). In the early 1930s there were: The Majestic, Melba, Tower, Palace, Old Mill, Capitol, Mirror, Queen, Fox, Joy. The Majestic and Palace were the first run houses plus stage shows in the 1930s. By that time vaudeville had died and the Majestic became strictly a first run movie house. The Palace became a first run movie house plus Paramount Publix Fancho & Marco presentation stage shows. The Palace had a 4 manual 26 rank Publix no. 1 Wurlitzer which played between features. They are all gone now, except for the Majestic which is owned by the City of Dallas and used for the performing arts presentations.

The Majestic Theater, Dallas was used as an extensive film location shoot soon after closing in 1973. The theatre is seen to great advantage in many scenes of Brian De Palma's "Phantom of the Paradise" (1974) starring Paul Williams. It is available on DVD.

About the time this great place closed,another grand old theater down the street was either closed or on it's last legs.It had been multi screened.What was it?when was it torn down?

March 22/2005

To those of you in Dallas with the heart to keep this Grand theatre alive, BLESS YOU!!!!!

Funny, the only time I've ever been at the Majestic...per this location, was in the movies. Phantom of the Paradise- William Finley--Jessica Harper--Gerrit Graham--. Odd, to be emotionally attached to a building I've never seen the inside of. Well, maybe one day.

Anyway, on behalf of myself and 'Mr. Winslow Leach', thanks again, for keeping the Majestic up and going. Tragedy is, there just aren't enough classic theatres around anymore.

Joanna Oznowicz-Davis (Faust)

Winnipeg, Canada

Vintage photo of the Majestic Auditorium.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y147/Chuck1231/Texas%20Theatres/MajesticTheatreProsceniumDallasTx.jpg

The Majestic Theater opened April 11, 1921. The Majestic Theater closed July 16, 1973. The last movie shown was the James Bond film “Live and Let Die”. The Hobilitzelle Foundation turned the Majestic Theater over to the city of Dallas in January of 1976. Dallas Summer Musicals Management Group operates the theater. The Majestic re-opened on January 28, 1983 as a performing arts center. The Majestic Theater now has 1667 seats. The style is given as Renaissance Baroque.

Here is a modern photo of the Majestic Theater in Dallas.

Marquee at night:
http://community.webshots.com/photo/365048609/365048609UhVlZU

I frequented all of Dallas's Elm Street "theatre row" establishments back when I was a kid young enough to have been admonished by an usher--yes, we had ushers back in the 1950s--to go back down and walk up those Majestic stairs! And they were, indeed, "majestic!" I suggest that the main factor in booking differences between the Majestic and its down-the-street neighbor, the Rialto, was that the schlock booked at the Majestic was of a slightly higher class, if "class" can be applied here, than the Rialto. Randolph Scott's initial Budd Boetticher-"Ranown" production, "The Tall T," for instance, played the Majestic, while his subsequent fare mostly played the Rialto, if not citywide (In the Fifties, playing "citywide" largely meant booking "dismissal;" the term is wholely different now.) The Rialto also played an occasional misnamed "B-movie," such as John Huston's "The Asphalt Jungle," arguably his finest single film. The Tower was for holdovers moved from the Majestic or the appropriately named Palace, which was exactly that, a palace, what with that magnificent intermission organ and all. Skip another block, and you had the Fox, which showed "nudies," the Fifties equivalent on "porn;" my mother wouldn't even let me look at that one out of the passing bus window! Oh, and the Capitol, directly next door to the Rialto: By the Fifties, it had really fallen on hard times, booking-wise. I remember catching two first-run masterworks there: "The Bowery Boys Meet the Monster," and "Cat Women of the Moon." Aaaah, for the good old days of 3-D!

Houston Theatre Memories
by William Burge




My name is Bill Burge I am a Native Houstonian. When I was ten years old, my Dad, Robert Burge, had to go on a weekend trip to Downtown Houston. He took me past the Majestic Theater on Rusk Ave near Walker St. I noticed the big Majestic Theater marquee sign out front read in big bold letters marked ''STAGECOACH'' all star cast. Below the marquee sign had Norman Rockwell paintings of each star in the film- showing- RED BUTTONS- MIKE CONNERS-ALEX CORD- BOB CUMMINGS- BING CROSBY- VAN HEFLIN- ANN MARGRET- SLIM PICKENS- STEPHANIE POWERS- KEENAN WYNN. If I remember correctly, the date was around mid June 1966, on a very hot day during the summer. The film was produced by 20th Century Fox.They were famous for advertising this great western. My eyes grew huge seeing the big three sheet posters on each side of the ticket booth. On the bottom of the posters had two lobby cards in separate frame holders. Wow! Boy I was hooked on how the theater was grabbing the attention of the movie going public. It stopped traffic, people looking at this great movie marquee.


My next story is about the Alabama theater on Shepherd at West Alabama, my parents took the family to see the SOUND OF MUSIC -1965 another fox film. In the front of the theater it had what looked like a Billboard size poster showing Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer. I remember this film was doing great business, the Alabama held the movie over for a year into 1966. Then another Julie Andrews film replaced it called HAWAII.


In the winter of 1972 I waited in line for an hour to see the POSEIDON ADVENTURE-- the big poster that covered half the side of the theater front got everybody in line excited. We waited as strangers, but all of us spoke on the growing anticipation of this wonderful film. Just huddled around trying to stay warm, of course it was packed and sold out. When in the lobby everybody noticed how big the movie screen looked, it was HUGE!! Before the film started they showed a Looney Tune cartoon, the previews of Coming Attractions, and then the 20th Century Fox music fanfare started the film. I noticed the film was shot on a 70 millimeter screen, I was in heaven! Great sound system, felt like you were in the middle of the film.


The next story I remember, I was going to the Tower Theater on Westheimer near Montrose Dr. It was the winter of November 1974. The marquee out front in bold black letters said EARTHQUAKE in Sensurround sound!! I went in the lobby to get to our seats and noticed a group of big speakers in the back of the theater. They were added for the film's special Sensurround sound. About 30 minutes into the film, when the earthquake hit California, the speakers in the back (3 rows behind us) vibrated the walls of the theater so much it knocked the plaster off the ceiling to come down. WOW!! Great special effects from Universal Pictures! I thought the roof was falling down. Obviously the guy whose head the plaster hit ran out of the theater like chicken little screaming, "The sky is falling!!"


The next story is from the Woodlake Three at Gessner at Westheimer. The theater faced toward Westheimer Rd. The front of the theater had steps going up to the front box office. Those were the very same steps (years later) that my children: Jennifer & Robert had stood on waiting to see RETURN OF THE JEDI- 1984, they were on T.V. 13 Eyewitness news interviewed them to see which actor they liked best. Continuing on, inside the lobby had a big concession stand separated by three movie screens. The film that opened the theater was called the HINDENBURG October 1974 by Universal Pictures.


The last story I have is from the last Historical movie theater in Houston. River Oaks theater on West Gray at Shepherd. I like the theater because it has the old neon marquee out front that shines at night. I saw midnight shows that starred the Beatles film in order- HARD DAYS NIGHT, HELP!, YELLOW SUBMARINE, & LET IT BE. The sound was turned up to get the crowd excited! It worked, a packed movie house. My daughter, Jennifer is a little upset River Oaks stopped doing the midnight showings of ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW. In 1993 the director Martin Scorsese and Miramax films put over 2 million dollars to restore EL CID-1961, to keep the film from turning into nitrate dust. El Cid starred Charlton Heston and Sophia Loren. I sat in the theater with my mouth to the floor in amazement and wonder! How the colors of the costumes seem to jump out at you so clear. Great Dolby sound in 70 millimeter . It was a long film almost 3 and a half hours with a 15 minute intermission so everybody could take a break and come back refreshed. When the film was over everybody left the theater accept a lady in her mid 30s. She approached the manager saying (in tears) " They don't make pictures like that anymore!"


That's why they are classics for all time, you just don't see too many film makers willing to take the risks to bring such life & beauty to the screen. Hope you enjoyed my film memories of the great Houston interstate theaters.

I found a website on the movie THE MAJESTIC starring jim carrey the film came out in 2001 tells the story of how a town got together and restored an old movie palace. this site shows photos from the film just click on the bottom selections of the webpage and if you have not seen this great film its on dvd from warner brothers. the site is http://majesticmovie.warnerbros.com/main.html

Added to the National Register of Historical Places in 1977

Majestic Theatre ** (added 1977 - Building - #77001437)
1925 Elm St., Dallas
Historic Significance: Person, Event, Architecture/Engineering
Architect, builder, or engineer: Eberson,John
Architectural Style: Renaissance, Late 19th And 20th Century Revivals
Historic Person: Hoblitzelle,Karl
Significant Year: 1921
Area of Significance: Architecture, Entertainment/Recreation
Period of Significance: 1900-1924
Owner: Local Gov't
Historic Function: Recreation And Culture
Historic Sub-function: Auditorium, Theater
Current Function: Recreation And Culture
Current Sub-function: Auditorium, Theater

Interestingly enough, I understand that one of the major donors to the 1983 restoration of this theater was RepublicBank, the same bank that demolished all but the facade of the 1926 Texas Theater in San Antonio that same year.

There is a 1910 photo on this site of another Majestic Theater in Dallas, but that one may not have shown films:
http://tinyurl.com/2kjkg3

In this 1932 ad, the theatre is listed as the RKO Majestic: www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/rkousa.jpg

That 1932 ad also mentions an RKO Capitol for Dallas, but I can find no listing for a theatre of that name at Cinema Treasures. The 1932 Film Daily Year Book says that the Capitol had 1,034 seats.

The "Related Website" mentioned in the introduction needs to be corrected. It has been changed to www.liveatthemajestic.com

The Majestic was considerably larger than the 1,667 seats mentioned in the introduction. The September 1922 issue of Architecture Magazine reports 2,800 seats, and the 1934 Film Daily Year Book says 2,774. Perhaps 1,667 is for the current performing arts center, which may have removed or closed down some sections of seats.

A Kilgen theater organ opus 3054 size 2/8 was installed in the Majestic Theater in 1921.

my father in law Harvey Don Hill ran the films for over thirty years until he passed away in 1965. Along with Charles Harcum they were members of Local 249. They would be proud to know that the Majestic is still operating and has been restored to once again a show place of Dallas Texas

Here are several exterior and interior photos of The Majestic Theatre

http://catalog.dallaslibrary.org/web2/tramp2.exe/display_attachment/A04rm988.001?type=image&server=1home&item=1&item_source=1home
http://catalog.dallaslibrary.org/web2/tramp2.exe/display_attachment/A04rm988.001?type=image&server=1home&item=2&item_source=1home
http://catalog.dallaslibrary.org/web2/tramp2.exe/display_attachment/A04rm988.001?type=image&server=1home&item=3&item_source=1home
http://catalog.dallaslibrary.org/web2/tramp2.exe/display_attachment/A04rm988.001?type=image&server=1home&item=8&item_source=1home
http://catalog.dallaslibrary.org/web2/tramp2.exe/display_attachment/A04slfnt.001?type=image&server=1home&item=56&item_source=1home
http://catalog.dallaslibrary.org/web2/tramp2.exe/display_attachment/A04slfnt.001?type=image&server=1home&item=181&item_source=1home


Two other theaters in Dallas called the Majestic

The Majestic on Commerce Street circa 1910
http://catalog.dallaslibrary.org/web2/tramp2.exe/display_attachment/A04slfnt.001?type=image&server=1home&item=182&item_source=1home

The Majestic on Elm street circa 1920
http://catalog.dallaslibrary.org/web2/tramp2.exe/display_attachment/A04rm988.001?type=image&server=1home&item=14&item_source=1home

A Majestic Theater photo in Dallas.

www.flickr.com/photos/lastpictureshow/2224116630

Here is a close-up view of the Majestic.

Sirs et madams...My father was the featured organist at the Majestic, Palace and Melba theaters in the 1930' and 40's. He was featured on radio with Organ music by Raymond Le Pere from the Palace theater. He played the Early Birds show at WFAA at 7am, then ventured to the Palace for a live broacast from 11:30 to noon daily. On Saturdays, he was busy at the Melba with the Kiddie klub and on Thursday evenings was the organist for the Dr. I.Q. program. Sundays, he had a morning Hymns show on the organ from the Palace. We didn't time much for vacations since he was working 7 days a week. As Hope would say, thanks for the memories. Raymond Le Pere

I am looking for info on my grandfather who had a contract in 1929 with a Dallas theater Co. doing vaudeville. Can anyone help me with which possible theater co that might have been?. He was a violinist as well as an actor. Thank you for any assistance, SD

I am looking for info on my grandfather who had a contract in 1929 with a Dallas theater Co. doing vaudeville. Can anyone help me with which possible theater co that might have been?. He was a violinist as well as an actor. Thank you for any assistance, SD

This is a recent photo of the Majestic Theater.

Here is a photo, circa 1940s:
http://tinyurl.com/a65xrg

The Majestic Theater captured on this vintage postcard.

An old movie theater ad from 1949 for the Majestic Theater.

1977 Photo

Here is a 1942 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/n66th9

Here is a 1949 photo that is being sold on eBay:
http://tinyurl.com/lz4nxc

Are they giving away free samples again?

The Grand opening section can be seen at http://www.scribd.com/doc/21227533/1921-Majestic-Theatre-Opening

From 1949 a photo set of ads and promotions from the 1949 world premier of Audie Murphy starring in Bad Boy at the Majestic in Dallas.