Downtown Dallas Movie Palaces

posted by legsdiamond on November 8, 2005 at 7:30 am

As a Dallas native—now transplanted to the upper midwest—I long to see entries on this site about the Elm Street theaters that once defined downtown. Elm Street was known as ‘theater row".

The Palace was demolished when I was about 13; The Tower (home to roadshows of “My Fair Lady” et al), has always fascinated me because I never got to go there and it seemed to get the ‘big’ films; The Melba/Capri(the Cinerama house—crudely divided and expanded into a 6 screen multiplex and billed as ‘the largest theater in the world" as painted on the rear of the building on Pacific St.; and the Loew’s Downtown—the last 'palace’ built on Elm St in 1969 and demolished soon after—I think in 1974 or so.

The Majestic is the last remaining palace and has been beautifully preserved and utilized for all kinds of events. I was at the last showing of “Live and Let Die” (how ironic is that?) when I was a teen.

I spent many happy hours in these theaters as a boy; but I’m hoping that a few of you would have pictures, memories, stats…that kind of thing.

There were at least a half dozen other theaters along Elm at one time or another-the Capitol, the Rialto, the Telenews…..any memories anyone?

Theaters in this post

• Capri Theatre
• Majestic Theatre