Malco theaters leased the auditorium of the Fort Smith Masonic Temple. It was open to the public except for about ten days a year when it was used for Masonic activities. The lease was rumored to be a lifesaver for the Masons who were having trouble paying their mortgage.
The Temple Theater was the second A movie house Malco theater in Fort Smith. The larger Joie Theater was the first. Malco had a monopoly on all Fort Smith movie theaters until two drive-in theaters opened in the late 1940’s.
Malco errected a large independent sign on the B street side of the building. It served as a marquee showing what movie was playing. The 11th Street side of the building was the main entrance to offices in the building. A hall outside the auditorium became the movie theater lobby. Some former emergency exits had become the movie theater entrance.
Today the auditorium is used only for Masonic activities. The marquee sign is long gone. The building is well maintained and looks good. No one would ever imagine that it had been a movie theater at
one time.
The Temple Theater had refrigerated air conditioning like the Joie Theater. All the other Malco theaters used evaporative cooling.
Malco theaters leased the auditorium of the Fort Smith Masonic Temple. It was open to the public except for about ten days a year when it was used for Masonic activities. The lease was rumored to be a lifesaver for the Masons who were having trouble paying their mortgage.
The Temple Theater was the second A movie house Malco theater in Fort Smith. The larger Joie Theater was the first. Malco had a monopoly on all Fort Smith movie theaters until two drive-in theaters opened in the late 1940’s.
Malco errected a large independent sign on the B street side of the building. It served as a marquee showing what movie was playing. The 11th Street side of the building was the main entrance to offices in the building. A hall outside the auditorium became the movie theater lobby. Some former emergency exits had become the movie theater entrance.
Today the auditorium is used only for Masonic activities. The marquee sign is long gone. The building is well maintained and looks good. No one would ever imagine that it had been a movie theater at
one time.
The Temple Theater had refrigerated air conditioning like the Joie Theater. All the other Malco theaters used evaporative cooling.