Lido Theater
2830 Samuell Boulevard,
Dallas,
TX
75223
2830 Samuell Boulevard,
Dallas,
TX
75223
3 people
favorited this theater
Showing all 14 comments
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!
The Lido Theater in Dallas.
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?
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?
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.
This is a duplicate to this listing
/theaters/28249/
1982 Photo
1982 Night Photo
1984 Photo
A 1990 photo can be found here.
Here is another photo of the Major/Lido Theater. Text with photo claims the building was converted to office space.
thanks don
I thought I was the only one who remembered the Lido. Right across from Samuell Park. They use to show porn movies, in the mid 80s early 90’s. I was still a preteen, but every kid seemed to know what type of theatre this was. Back in the day, you would drive through there and it looked like an ordinary neighborhood. At night, that whole block looked kind of seedy with neon lights and the other strip clubs,and liquor stores that use to be up Samuell blvd.. Those were the days.
It was the Major Theater up until the late 50s / early 60s, then became the Lido. I was always intrigued by the ads in the paper for the attractions at this theater during the 60s because it seemed like the quintessential ‘burlesque’ theater—showing films with Mamie Van Doren and featuring live strip-tease. That’s what the Lido was, at least according to the ads in the paper. A fun research subject for someone who has the time would be to document the list of double-features that played this place for a decade when it was the Lido.
In the early 90s, someone bought it, reclaimed the ‘Major’ name, and tried to show alternative films and cult films for about two weeks.
I always thought the Lido would be fun to go to, but I was just a pre-teen…now it’s an office facility, I think.
i always thought it wasnt in dallas but carollton.i mean im not from dallas but i would think since its in the carollton town square….
Photo of the Lido at this link.
www.flickr.com/photos/lastpictureshow/2177470714