Lido Theater
2830 Samuell Boulevard,
Dallas,
TX
75223
2830 Samuell Boulevard,
Dallas,
TX
75223
3 people
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Located in suburban East Dallas, this originally opened as the Major Theatre in 1947. It was built for Phil Isley Theatres Inc. Interior decorations were by R.V. Churchill, and a feature of the seating was the provision of double ‘lovers’ seats on the aisles of the balcony and a 24-seat cry room located on the left of the projection booth at balcony level.
It was renamed Lido Theatre in 1965 when it went over to screening adult movies. After closing an attempt was made to convert it condominiums or loft apartments.
A colorful and unique stand alone theatre was sacrficed in the process. It had a large marquee with "Lido" spelled out with unusual white letters on both sides on a red background with a large decorative tower on one side and lots of lighting and neon.
Contributed by
Billy Smith / Don Lewis
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Recent comments (view all 14 comments)
thanks don
Here is another photo of the Major/Lido Theater. Text with photo claims the building was converted to office space.
A 1990 photo can be found here.
1982 Photo
1982 Night Photo
1984 Photo
This is a duplicate to this listing
/theaters/28249/
Boxoffice of May 9, 1966, mentions the Lido: “Ramon Lence, who operates the Lido (formerly the Major) in Dallas, is converting the house to live talent and art movies….”
The house was still called the Major in 1965, when the March 29 issue of Boxoffice reported that Phil Isley had sold most of his circuit to John Rowley, but had retained ownership of the Major Theatre in Dallas and the Canyon Drive-In at Snyder.
I’ve found Phil Isley’s Major Theatre mentioned in Boxoffice as early as the issue of February 11, 1950, in an item saying that R.V. Scott had taken over as manager of the house. I haven’t found the opening date for the Major, but judging from the style of the building I’d say that it might have opened in early 1950 or in the late 1940s.
Did the opening of this theater lead to the closing of the East Grand (which closed in 1951, according to a poster on the East Grand page /theaters/27561/),,) which was located just a couple blocks west at the intersection of Samuell and Grand?
One more question about this location: what is (was) the “ex-theater-y” looking building presently right next to the Lido in the google maps street views (called the Beverage Depot)? it has the same stair-stepped roof profile of so many old theater buildings – – – but that can’t possibly be, right?
The Lido Theater in Dallas.
If anyone has any stories about going to/ working at this threatre in its adult days, I would love to hear them. I am chronicling the histories of adult theatres in the US. Please contact me at Thanks!