Irving Theater
717 E. Irving Boulevard,
Irving,
TX
75060
717 E. Irving Boulevard,
Irving,
TX
75060
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Someone in the comment section said that they closed the theater in 72 they didn’t the last movie I saw there was High Plains Drifter with Clint Eastwood which I believe was in 73 or maybe 74 I lived close by I spent my Saturdays there every week
This facility replaced the former Irving Theatre on Main Street which had opened in September of 1924 likely on a 15-year lease. Owner Hans Smith opted to build the New Irving Theatre, a streamlined moderne facility, launching in 1939. The 600-seat house’s interior and at least one wall was decimated by fire on August 7, 1941 and rebuilt with a new interior adding 40 feet to the structure as a 730-seat theatre relaunching in the Fall of 1941. Purchased by the Meagher Circuit in 1959, the theatre was redecorated. Meagher closed the theatre in 1972.
I lived in Irving from about 1948 until 1981, and I saw many movies in both theaters, the one on Main Street, and the one on Irving Blvd.
You may not know this, but there was another movie theater in the early days located just up the street (north) on the same side as the Irving Theater. It was called the Rio and burned down sometime I estimate in about 1949 or 1950. The lot there was never built on after the Rio burned. What I remember was that the inside of the theater was lined with open flame gas heaters to keep the audience warm, as it seemed to be a lot colder then in winter than it is now. That’s probably why it burned. And it’s a wonder we didn’t all die of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Michael Bell
McAllen, Texas
956-4540618
Diapason, the Buena Vista Theater operated from the late 1960s to the early 1980s. It closed because of competition from the multiplex in the Irving Mall and other theaters around Dallas. The Buena Vista then was converted to a “live theater” fpr plays, musicals, and as a rentable auditorium. However, that even changed when the Irving Arts Center was built. It is located across from MacArthur High School in the MacArthur Medical Plaza, but is soon to be demolished to make way for assisted living condos for seniors. “Friends Of The Irving Theater” was allowed to pull all of the 500 seats out (& what a job it was!)and we put them in storage until the day we can purchase, restore, and reopen the old Irving Theater. Thanks for your question and checking out our Website!
Sincerely,
Doug Connolly Executive Director & CEO Friends Of The Irving Theater (FOIT) Phone: 972-415-3662 Website: FriendsOfTheIrvingTheater.com Emails: or .com
I notice the site for Friends of the Irving Theater says they have received the gift of 500 theater seats from the Buena Vista theater. Where is/was the Buena Vista? A CinemaTreasures search turned up only one Buena Vista, located in Tucson AZ.
Looks like the Irving Theatre is going to be revitalized!! Good luck!! Looking forward to some updates how this goes!
Randy A Carlisle — Historical Photographer — RAC Photography
The photo of the Theatre above is the 2nd Generation Irving Theatre. This is the original Irving Theatre, taken back in 2008.. *I have submitted the original Irving Theatre to CT.org..
Randy A Carlisle — Historical Photographer
My name is Doug Connolly, and I am the Executive Director of the “Friends Of The Irving Theater,” a grassroots non-profit organization whose goal is to purchase, restore, and reopen the old Irving Theater! FOIT’s website is at: FriendsOfTheIrvingTheater.com and we also have a very active Facebook Group. The theater at 717 East Irving Blvd is indeed the Irving Theater. However, the original “Irving Theater” was on Main Street in old downtown Irving, but closed before this theater was opened in 1951. This Irving Theater is the Movie Palace that is remembered by the “baby-boomer” generation (like myself) as the home of the historic “Saturday Kids Matinee” where 6 Pepsi bottle caps got a youngster free admission to see 2 features with a twenty minute intermission. During the intermission there was games like hulahoop, limbo, & dance contests, all with prizes donated by local merchants! The theater ceased operation in 1967 because of competition from the Irving Mall Cinemaplex and other more modern theaters in the area. Before closing, the owner Jerry Meagher tried a number of different marketing ideas like $1.00 movies, but the theater closing was a sign of the times. FOIT wishes to reopen the Irving Theater as a multi-venue entertainment center, showing not only classic movies, but booking national regional and local acts, corporate conventions, civic meetings, dance and music recitals, weddings, and of course Spanish films and acts for Irvings large Hispanic population. FOIT is a true grassroots organization, wishing to see the Irving Theater reopened for ALL OF IRVING! For More Info or donations please go to our Facebook Group, our website, or call Doug Connolly at 972-415-3662. Sincerely, Doug Connolly, Executive Director, Friends Of The Irving Theater
I grew up in Irving, but sadly wasn’t born until this theater was closed down. Until tonight, I didn’t even know there had been an old theater in Irving. There is a nonprofit called the Friends of Irving Theater and they are trying to purchase and renovate the theater to be used as a community arts center. They have a couple of old pictures with the original marquee. Check it out: http://friendsoftheirvingtheater.com. You can also like the group on Facebook.
It was my mistake; it was late and I was excited. Very sorry, nice to chat with you just the same.
Thanks
P.S. The term I used, “In the Booth” harks back to an article that was in Box Office magazine by a man named Tony Francis and some of us who worked in the projection booth took to using it. Again, I sure didn’t mean to mislead.
Oops! A misunderstanding here. The years I spent working in the movie theatre industry weren’t here in Irving. All that was in California. I was responsible for any and all projection equipment in houses from Calexico to Sacramento and lived in San Diego. I came here to retire. I loved the business back then and am always interested in old local houses and their history. I sure didn’t mean to mislead. I’m going to try to get over and jaw with Mr. Seay in the next couple weeks.
DanW,
I was very pleased to see your response. I had almost given up. Yes, Mr. Seay is very friendly and a great source of information. I have been (not a family friend) but an aquaintence for fifty years. The original theatre opened in 1939 and operated until 1950. The new theatre opened June 1st, 1950 and like Mr. Seay, I too, do not know when it ceased operation as a theatre. It is very good to see that you have fond memories of the old theatre. A large portion of the best times of my teenage years center on that theatre. Unfortunately, some those memories have faded. If you read this and do not mind, would you please provide descriptions of what you do remember? Mainly, the lobby, the tower, projection booth, and so-on.
Thanks
Dear Saint-Exupery
I took your advice and called Mr. Seay. What a wonderful and friendly source of information he is! I’m going over there to jaw with him in person as soon as possible. He says that the house on E. Irving Blvd. was also called the Irving and that it opened after the older house on Main St. closed. He also said that it ceased operation as a theatre and became a movie filming studio but he couldn’t recall just when that happened. I myself was “in the booth” just a bit shy of 30 years (the first 7 as a rank-and-file projectionist, the remaining time as a roving chief projectionist) and I knew at first glance that the building on E. Irving Blvd. was a theatre at one time. I think film emulsion and projector oil must get into the blood in the movie theatre industry just like printer’s ink is said to do in the newspaper industry. Those were some of the happiest years of my life. After a heart attack and a stroke, I don’t think I could take the pressure and the stress that’s involved any more, but it sure was fun.
I grew up in Irving, Texas (1948-1991). The original Irving Theater was, indeed, on Maim St. I don’t know when it moved from Main St. to the Irving Blvd location (or Lee St.or if it had a sign actually calling it The Irving Theater. What I do know is that everyone on the southside of 183 called it The Irving Theater. The last owner that I knew personally was a man named Jerry Meager. Many of the kids I went to high school with also knew him because he also owned 2 other theaters and many of us worked for him at one place or the other. The owner of MAL Hobby Shop located at 108 Lee St.will have answers to these questions. His name is Ed Seay Jr.. He and his family have operated the hobby shop since 1945. I believe the phone # is 972/438-9233. If anyone knows it will be him. Hope this helps.
Thanks,
Saint-Exupery
This appears to be an error in identification, combining information about two separate theaters.
The pictures that can be accessed through the links, as well as the address at 717 East Irving Blvd., are indeed the location of a defunct theater. But it is not the Irving Theater and could not have been “operating prior to 1941” because it was not constructed until the 1950’s.
The “real” Irving Theater was located in the business block on Main Street. It dated from 1933 and can be seen in many historic photos with the “Irving Theater” marquee clearly visible. This is the theater that was “operating prior to 1941.” It has been remodeled into retail shops, but its original function is still clearly visible.
The 1950’s theater on East Irving Blvd. may have been named the Bowie. We’re trying to pin down an exact identification.
B.E. in Irving
Views of the Irving Theater here and here in Irving, Texas.