Knox Theater
3212 Knox Street,
Dallas,
TX
75205
3212 Knox Street,
Dallas,
TX
75205
1 person
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The Knox Street Theater is listed as operating at least by 1941. It was still in operation in 1950, and by that time was known as the Knox Theater.
Contributed by
Billy Holcomb / Billy Smith / Don Lewis
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Recent comments (view all 10 comments)
1983 Photo
During the late 1960’s early 70’s, the theater building housed a popular nightculb/discotheque known as THE PHANTASMAGORIA. It was located just up the street from the original Highland Park Cafeteria. I have no recollection of the Knox movie theater; however, I remember quite well hearing promo spots for THE PHANTASMAGORIA on the popular Dallas station, KLIF 1190.
There is a Pottery Barn at this address now. No resemblance to the building in the 1983 photo.
The Pottery Barn is actually down the street from the building seen on the map view. If you look at the Cinematour photos you can see that the old theater building was probably converted into the retail business.
Knox Theatre was open at least by 1936. It was owned by Bob Glass, an electrician who made lots of money during the Depression converting theatres all over Texas to sound. With his money he bought the Knox Street Theatre, one on Oak Lawn Ave, and 2 in Beaumont. Out on the remodeling circuit he met my dad, Sam Brown Lewis, who was working for King Scenic as a contractor redecorating theatre interiors. My dad was very good at this; and became well-known in Texas in that industry. Bob hired Dad away from King Scenic to run (manage) the Knox and the Oak Lawn one. This, he did until Bob sold the two theatres to Interstate Theatres (Majestic, etc.) around 1938. My brother, Sam Jr., operated the popcorn concession at the Knox for 2 ½ years, both while Dad ran the place and after Interstate took over. Bob made Interstate honor the deal Bob made with my brother that he could keep the concession through school. My brother paid the shine man at the barber shop next door 75 cents a week to clean the machine. Sam, Jr. sold the machine for $100 the night he graduated from North Dallas High School in May, 1939. Jerry Lewis
The original name of this theatre was the Ronile, the name of the owner’s daughter spelled backwards. Then it was changed to the Knox Street Theatre – it was never just the Knox, so the title of this page needs to be amended to include “Street.”
matt54 do you know what year the name was changed. In my book it simply says the Ronile Theatre was in operation in 1939. It don’t even mention the Knox Street Theatre.
It was the RoNile in 1924, but don’t know when it changed.
Chuck, I sure don’t. Sorry.
Passing along some info I received from Ms Jeanette (Tomato Lady) on this Theatre……… here are the correct facts on first the Ronile which opened August 1, 1922 at 7PM showing Saturday Night, a Cecil B. deMille movie at 3220 Knox. There is a 1924 photo looking east with a pharmacy on the left, then the Ronile next door but the telephone pole blocks the vertical. The Knox Street Theatre opened July 15, 1932 showing Johnny Weismuller (sp) in Tarzan the Ape Man. It had changed hands a few times. Closed in 1952, but then it still showed up at the same address in 1956, Nov. of 1957, 58, 59 and the owner was Beruch Lumet who lived at 4616 Cole. In 1961 he also owned the Lumet School of Acting. This info came from Dallas Times Herald articles. In the Dallas directory by 1962 through 1965 there was no listing and the building was vacant. Then in the 1970s the Allyson Wonderland was in the building, the front of which had been remodeled kind of colored stripes as in Danny’s 1971 photo. Also Phantasmagoria (sp.) was a disco club in it during those years if you look up that bit. Also some time about 1936, it was sold to Interstate. The theatre had originally been one screen with about 500 seats. In 1972 Paul contacted a man named Mr. Roberdeaux offering to lease it and have it as a movie house once again but they couldn’t come to terms and Roberdeaux died.