Arcadia Theater

I worked in this theater when it ran Spanish-speaking movies from 1974 through 1983. It has(had) a lot of interesting design and vaudeville leftovers from the 1920s-30s. It is now called the "Milk Bar" (i think its some sort of vague reference/homage to A Clockwork Orange. Anyway I'd like to know if anyone has any idea where to research old theaters like this one?

Myself and 3 others operated a nightclub at the Arcadia from 1992 to 1995. The theatre was completely refurbished from top to botton keeping the original decor intact. The Arcadia was built in 1926 as a neighborhood vaudeville and silent picture house seating around 900 persons. It is unique in that it was one of the first theatres to be designed as a stadium style house. It was also one of the first Dallas houses to be air conditioned by refrigerstion. It has a large stage with dressing rooms under the stage. It also had a theatre pipe organ which the owner later in the 1930s donated to Baylor University in Waco. The exterior is well kept with a huge marquee with large letter spelling the theatre name. At one time it also had a huge sign in the shape of aan oak tree with the theatre name in lights across it. To this day the building is well maintained and is being used as a music and club venue.

Hello. I have been researching the Ritz theatre in Corpus Christi and came across a 1929 newspaper story that has the following quote, "Mr. Dunne, the architect (Ritz) is from Dallas and is a theatre speacialist. He has been associated in construction of the Melba and Arcadia in Dallas; the Howell theater in Coleman; the Ritz theater in Big Springs; the Texas theate in San Angelo; and new theaters that will be constructed in 1930 at Sweetwater, Laredo, Sherman, Littlerock, Ark; Roswell, New Mexico; and the new Plaza, a Publix house at El Paso that will seat 2,700 persons." The Ritz theater in Corpus Christi is done in a very similar Spanish style to the Texas in San Angelo but it's different. That may be because the Ritz has suffered some renovations over the years that destroyed a lot of it's interior. I hope someone from this WEB site will read this and add these other theaters to Scott Dunne's credit.

The website that I found this photo on claims that this is the Arcadia Theater in Dallas.

Yes, the above photo shows the Arcadia as it appears in 2005.

The photo used from Lost Memory was taken around the time you and Richard operated the club....we started out sundays with Retro Dance then later changed the name to Retrocadia......I probably put those letters on the marquee, since Richard had me do it instead of him doing it until I left in March 1993

I dont know if anyone is interested but I got the "On the Road with the Ramones" and they had a photocopy of the original agreement for them to come play at the Arcadia in Dallas. I thought that was neat that the Ramones had played there, right on Greenville, a place I walk by everyday. Why doesnt someone buy it up and reopen it up? That would make a great venue for art, entertainment, music, etc. With Deep Ellum losing its zeal, artists and audiences alike are looking for a new venue to flock to. Itd be a great business investment since its got such history and poise.

The Arcadia Theater on Greenville Avenue in Dallas, TX, more recently known as the nightclub "Liquid in the Arcadia" is burning as I make this note. A fire that began at 4:00 PM in an adjacent restaurant spread to the theater during the six-alarm fire. A full roof collapse occured about 5:00 PM, June 21, 2006. The smoke from the fire still billows from the area as I finish this note at about 5:30 PM, obscuring the skyline of downtown Dallas from my vantage point about seven miles North of the fire.

Does anyone know how to get in touch with Richard or if he is in Dallas?

Richard Keiffer is listed on the membership rolls at 16mmfilmtalk.com. If you're a member there you can send him a private message.

Sadly this theatre was destroyed by fire today.
Dallas history gone. Big lost for me personally as my friend Richard Olsen once co-owned this venue as a nightclub.

OH MY GOD!!! The Arcadia is gone. I always felt this building was cursed ever since my friend & mentor Richard Olsen was murdered in the building November 23, 1993. I guess this fire confirms it.
Now maybe his ghost can rest in peace once and for all.

So sad to see the Arcadia gone. Jake, sorry you lost your friend there. It's 6:42pm in Dallas now, and the fire is under control, total loss. Looks like the sign with the big "A" on it is still up, for now. Does anyone know if Stevie Ray Vaughan played there during his time? I've been trying to find out, but can't find anything on it.

I work with a news station in dallas and am looking to speak with anyone who etiher worked in or owned the Arcadia. If anyone has any information please let me know. Thanks

email me at jakevanek@yahoo.com or call me 303-587-6877

Jeannie I believe Stevie DID infact play there during the 802 when Angus Wynne ran it as a concert venue.
Keisha I was an employee there in 92-93 when it first operated as a nightclub.

The Arcadia Theater, and most of the block it's in, burned today. The fire appears to have started in the restuarant next door, and quickly spread, and went to 6 alarms. It appears that the Arcadia, and most of the block will be a total loss. The theater was 80 years old.

Jake, what is "802". I've heard Angus Wynne's name before, but can't remember why.

sorry, that was a type-o I meant the 80's.
Angus I believe is related to Shannon Wynne, Dallas restauranteur.

Jake- I just emailed you

i havent gotten anything, try it again. thanks

Thanks, Jake. I'll see if I can find an exact date.

so, I just got home from work and found out. is the building still in tact? Whats going on with it? Does someone still currently own it? I'm just curious. If it's still a functional building, I'd love to find out who is working on getting it back together (possibly up and running maybe?) because if it is in fact still usable, I'd love to help out and be apart of that. It's a piece of history.

I've had a love for old theaters since my childhood in the 1960s. As a fairly new resident of DFW it was heartbreaking to watch the live WFAA ABC 8 and KDFW FOX 4 helicopter shots of the building on fire this afternoon and evening. About 6 the roof burst open with flames as well as the screen/staging area. The video of the Arcadia sign on top of the 4 story structure surrounded by flames was almost cinematic as featured in so many great films. I've seen many turned into nightclubs or other venues but always am saddened someone doesn't save more of them in preservation efforts. Its true most's land or area value exceeds its restoration potential - but the real death nail seems to be its adjoining tennents with restaurants and kitchen fires taking the final toll. That seems to be the case this afternoon.

I've been a part of saving several theaters in my time, the Plaza in El Paso, the Yucca in Midland, and a friend once owning the Ritz in Big Spring Texas. There are still gems all over the metroplex worth saving as well as Texas. Some operate as performing arts centers. If I just had the budget as a television producer (struggling businessman) I'd mutli-purpose one here in the mid cities or outlying bedroom communities (towns) as a multi-camera studio and arts and/or classic film house, community theater, melodrama theater or again multipurpose with the ability to maintain/restore them to former glory. Sadly, by the time they've had one, two or three nightclubs they are pretty well on the way towards a careless demise. RIP Arcadia -

I am afraid that this is gonna be a total loss. As a former employee from 92-93(Light Technician), I know that this building was built from wood, brick & stucco. When I saw the roof collapse I knew it was indeed over. Seeing the neon sign on the north end surrounded by flames was intense, especially remembering climbing the latter from the stage to the roof several times. But the roof collapse hit me hardest. Just to think that 13 years ago I was inside that roof helping install and wire the lightshow and now it as well as the rest of the block is gone....forever. GOODBYE ARCADIA!!! YOU WILL BE MISSED!!!

I remember me and my little cousins going to this theater no less than 10 times to see Help! (Beatles movie). Then, in the 90s visiting it when it was a great disco. Sorry to see it go and wish I had visited it more often. Lower Greenville Avenue holds alot of history for me and my family. My mammaw's house was on Willis Ave. and we would walk to Wilson's Supermarket. Go to eat at Orange Julius. Watch movies at the Granada and the Arcadia. Remember Here Tis Burgers? Going to the Ice House (a 7-11 built around a concrete and steel ice room where the blocks of ice were stored)? I really must be dating myself. Just feeling a little nostalgic right now.

This theater, built in 1926, was destroyed by fire on June 21, 2006.

Keisha Curtis,
My dad, Ramon Medrano partly owned the Arcadia Theater in the mid to late 70's to early 80's.It was opened as a spanish movie theater back then. Three of my brothers and my older sister and I all worked there. My 1st job as a ticket taker.. This place will be sorely missed.. I'm mad at myself for never making it out there to go inside and see it since . My brothers and I explored alot of this place...The Arcadia's backstage was creepy of course the ladder that took you to the roof or attic was really scary, it looked like it was never ending.. I never made it to the top, just halfway, but my brothers, I believe made it up there, and doors that took you I dont know where, to me at that time, one door seemed to be in an odd place, next to the ladder, not quite at the top> in between sorta..What I remember the most is the velvety curtains and seats, opening up to some funny spanish movie of La India Maria or Cantinflas.. The carpet and wall decor were all unique too, very rich yet old.. all of this is something I wish I could have shared with my kids.

Lots of fond memories hanging out at the Arcadia back in the late 80's when Angus owned it - place really rocked. Hard to believe it's gone.

The Arcadia anchored a cultural and nightlife center on lower Greenville Avenue. Over the years it lived a variety of lives and touched many. My wife and I attended a Lene Lovitch concert there in the 80's. BTW Angus Wynne was the original founder and owner of Six Flags amusement park. (I worked there in the 60's.) When asked where anything in the area was the answer always started with "You know where the the Arcadia is?..." Over the last couple of years my radio group performed at a number of venues near the old theater. I guess now when asked I'll have to start with "You remember where the Arcadia was?..." Sad.........

I don't understand why Cinema Treasures invites someone to submit a theater described "in ones own words", as I did with the ARCADIA, and then takes it upon themselves to dump a good description in favor of a news flash describing its demise in a fire.

Can't we all read about that in the comments!?

(Not the only submission of mine that has had the description altered)

Don Lewis

When was this theater demolished? This is a photo dated June 22, 2006 and it appears that the building is still standing.

Unsure as to who you are adressing your question to Lost, but closed or demolished is something else that I did not enter in my description...................

Don Lewis..........

It wasn't addressed to anyone in particular Don, just to anyone that knows the answer I guess. I was curious how this theater could be listed as demolished already when a one week old photo shows the building still standing. Even if the interior was destroyed by fire, the building still stands. On the other hand, if the building isn't going to be rebuilt then we might as well leave the status as demolished.

Hello Lost. Am hoping you might share with me how you are able to show a picture "here" without displaying the entire url.

Thanks in advance!!

Don grapevine1usa@msn.com

Also, it's always a good idea when using BBS code to hit the "Preview" button first instead of the "Submit" button, and then test the link before submitting the post, to make sure it's been set up right and that it actually works! I didn't do that just now, and ended up using the wrong URL for my link! Here's the right link to the CNET forum page: BBS Code.

D'OH!

Don...I'll send you an email and try to explain those codes to you.

Hi My name is Gerry Craig I use to dj for Retrocadia live on KDGE Fm on The Edge in 1994-1996. I can be reached at whiteslave@hotmail.com
If anyone has any info on Arcadia or Former Owners or Employees I would like to here from You. Thanks

Here is a June 2006 article about the fire:
http://tinyurl.com/y44fee

Here is a photo of the former Arcadia Theater from 2002 and this one is dated 1999.

Here are photos of the demolition:
http://tinyurl.com/2umeby

Here is a 1983 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/d5qxqt

Here are some 1982 photos:

Photo1

Photo2

Photo3

Photo4

The Arcadia Theatre suffered a major fire some sixty five years before the conflagration that finally destroyed it. The Arcadia was partly destroyed by fire in the early 1940s, and the auditorium was gutted, but the house was rebuilt.

The rebuilt Arcadia of 1941 was designed in the Art Moderne style by the Dallas firm Pettigrew & Worley. Partner John A. Worley published an article about the project in the June 21, 1941, issue of Boxoffice Magazine. There were numerous photos.

I saw several hard rock / heavy metal acts there in the late 80s including Fishbone, Soundgarden, Slayer, Anthrax, Motorhead, Grim Reaper and Exodus. Anthrax did an in-store at the record store next to the theater and released at least one live track from that show on their I'm The Man EP.