Arcadia Theater

Only time I was in the Arcadia was to see a reissue of South Pacific sometime in the late 1970’s. Unfortunately, I don’t remember what the place looked like inside; I was a regular at the Granada up the street because at the time it was a revival house for classic films.

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.

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

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

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
If anyone has any info on Arcadia or Former Owners or Employees I would like to here from You. Thanks

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!

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.

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

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………

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.

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.

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 –

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