The Forest was built about 1947 by Interstate Theatres, Inc. Its neighborhood was made up of Dallas' Jewish population. The theatre was the largest neighborhood house in Texas and was an example of a number of progressive features. Instead of stairs leading up to the balcony, it had a winding rampway. It was the last theatre built by the chain and probably the last built in Dallas. Times changed the neighborhood and white flight changed the demographics so that the theatre no longer could operate at a profit and closed. Later it was rescued and is being used as a music venue.
Myself and 3 others operated a nightclub at the Arcadia from 1992 to 1995. The theatre was completely refurbished from top to botton keeping the original decor intact. The Arcadia was built in 1926 as a neighborhood vaudeville and silent picture house seating around 900 persons. It is unique in that it was one of the first theatres to be designed as a stadium style house. It was also one of the first Dallas houses to be air conditioned by refrigerstion. It has a large stage with dressing rooms under the stage. It also had a theatre pipe organ which the owner later in the 1930s donated to Baylor University in Waco. The exterior is well kept with a huge marquee with large letter spelling the theatre name. At one time it also had a huge sign in the shape of aan oak tree with the theatre name in lights across it. To this day the building is well maintained and is being used as a music and club venue.
Glad that you enjoyed 25th St. Both Richard O and myself loved “our kids.” It’s been quite a while since the club was open and I often wonder where everyone is and what youall are doing. We enjoyed about 10 years in Waco—first at the Outer Limits and then at 25th St. I hope all our customers think of us sometimes and remember the fun times.
The downtown Dallas theatres on “Theatre Row” in the 1940s were: The Majestic, Melba, Tower, Palace, Rialto, Capitol, Telenews, Queen, Fox, and Hippodrome, (Joy, Wade, Strand). In the early 1930s there were: The Majestic, Melba, Tower, Palace, Old Mill, Capitol, Mirror, Queen, Fox, Joy. The Majestic and Palace were the first run houses plus stage shows in the 1930s. By that time vaudeville had died and the Majestic became strictly a first run movie house. The Palace became a first run movie house plus Paramount Publix Fancho & Marco presentation stage shows. The Palace had a 4 manual 26 rank Publix no. 1 Wurlitzer which played between features. They are all gone now, except for the Majestic which is owned by the City of Dallas and used for the performing arts presentations.
The Bristol Theatre was not one of the Interstate Theatres which were located in Texas. Interstate Theatres, Inc. general offices were located in the Majestic Theatre Building in downtown Dallas, Texas and the chain consisted on around 200 houses in Texas and in New Mexico
The “person” that left the above post who labeled himself “f-the-lakewood” is the one who sucks. Thank God, someone came in and rescued this magnificent example of 1930s art deco. I went to the Lakewood almost every Saturday when I was growing up. The Kid Show offered a double feature, a cartoon, a serial chapter, and a comedy short. It lasted all afternoon and it packed the house each week. This theatre deserves to keep going forever and the owner deserves bouquets of roses.
My mother’s family live in Hattiesburg and as a kid of 6, while visiting, I attended the Saenger. I wish I could remember what it looked like as that was 67 years ago. My uncle owned two grocery stores and at one time was the superintendeent of Gordon Van Tine, (sp?).
The Melba was originally named the Hope and was built by the Howard Hughes interests. It was opened as a legetimate house but later in the 1920s became an Keith-Orpheum vaudeville house. In the early 1930s, Interstate Circuit took it over and operated it as a “B' picture venue. It never turned a profit and was thought of as a "jonah” and was dark except for ocasional roadshows. After W War II, Interstate reopened it as a hold-over house for the first run Majestic, down the street. Due to the court order to separate the studios from their Theatres, the Mebla was sold to the Louis Novy interests and the name was changed to the Capri. The Novys later sold it to the Bart McClendon chain of theatres which operated it until it was demolished in the 1970s. The Wurlitzer organ was extensively used in the 1930s for the live radio WRR broadcasts of the WRR Kiddie Club.
The Dallas Majestic was a member of the Interstate Circuit vaudeville chain consisting of the Majestics in Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and Ft. Worth. Not the largest of the chain, (It sat about 2000), it was the “Flag House” headquarters of Interstate. The Majestics were all “atmospheric” style, (by theatre architect John Eberson), the San Antonio Majestic being the largest, (seating around 4000), and most opullent.
Yes, the above photo shows the Arcadia as it appears in 2005.
Did you include the Majestic in San Antonio? It was designed by John Eberson and is a 4000 seat atmospheric masterpiece.
The Forest was built about 1947 by Interstate Theatres, Inc. Its neighborhood was made up of Dallas' Jewish population. The theatre was the largest neighborhood house in Texas and was an example of a number of progressive features. Instead of stairs leading up to the balcony, it had a winding rampway. It was the last theatre built by the chain and probably the last built in Dallas. Times changed the neighborhood and white flight changed the demographics so that the theatre no longer could operate at a profit and closed. Later it was rescued and is being used as a music venue.
Myself and 3 others operated a nightclub at the Arcadia from 1992 to 1995. The theatre was completely refurbished from top to botton keeping the original decor intact. The Arcadia was built in 1926 as a neighborhood vaudeville and silent picture house seating around 900 persons. It is unique in that it was one of the first theatres to be designed as a stadium style house. It was also one of the first Dallas houses to be air conditioned by refrigerstion. It has a large stage with dressing rooms under the stage. It also had a theatre pipe organ which the owner later in the 1930s donated to Baylor University in Waco. The exterior is well kept with a huge marquee with large letter spelling the theatre name. At one time it also had a huge sign in the shape of aan oak tree with the theatre name in lights across it. To this day the building is well maintained and is being used as a music and club venue.
Kenna:
Glad that you enjoyed 25th St. Both Richard O and myself loved “our kids.” It’s been quite a while since the club was open and I often wonder where everyone is and what youall are doing. We enjoyed about 10 years in Waco—first at the Outer Limits and then at 25th St. I hope all our customers think of us sometimes and remember the fun times.
Richard K., (Big Richard).
The downtown Dallas theatres on “Theatre Row” in the 1940s were: The Majestic, Melba, Tower, Palace, Rialto, Capitol, Telenews, Queen, Fox, and Hippodrome, (Joy, Wade, Strand). In the early 1930s there were: The Majestic, Melba, Tower, Palace, Old Mill, Capitol, Mirror, Queen, Fox, Joy. The Majestic and Palace were the first run houses plus stage shows in the 1930s. By that time vaudeville had died and the Majestic became strictly a first run movie house. The Palace became a first run movie house plus Paramount Publix Fancho & Marco presentation stage shows. The Palace had a 4 manual 26 rank Publix no. 1 Wurlitzer which played between features. They are all gone now, except for the Majestic which is owned by the City of Dallas and used for the performing arts presentations.
The Bristol Theatre was not one of the Interstate Theatres which were located in Texas. Interstate Theatres, Inc. general offices were located in the Majestic Theatre Building in downtown Dallas, Texas and the chain consisted on around 200 houses in Texas and in New Mexico
The “person” that left the above post who labeled himself “f-the-lakewood” is the one who sucks. Thank God, someone came in and rescued this magnificent example of 1930s art deco. I went to the Lakewood almost every Saturday when I was growing up. The Kid Show offered a double feature, a cartoon, a serial chapter, and a comedy short. It lasted all afternoon and it packed the house each week. This theatre deserves to keep going forever and the owner deserves bouquets of roses.
Jake: I e-mailed you.
Richard
Richard would be happy to know that he had so many friends who love him and cherish his memory.
Richard Keiffer, (Big Richard)
My mother’s family live in Hattiesburg and as a kid of 6, while visiting, I attended the Saenger. I wish I could remember what it looked like as that was 67 years ago. My uncle owned two grocery stores and at one time was the superintendeent of Gordon Van Tine, (sp?).
The Melba was originally named the Hope and was built by the Howard Hughes interests. It was opened as a legetimate house but later in the 1920s became an Keith-Orpheum vaudeville house. In the early 1930s, Interstate Circuit took it over and operated it as a “B' picture venue. It never turned a profit and was thought of as a "jonah” and was dark except for ocasional roadshows. After W War II, Interstate reopened it as a hold-over house for the first run Majestic, down the street. Due to the court order to separate the studios from their Theatres, the Mebla was sold to the Louis Novy interests and the name was changed to the Capri. The Novys later sold it to the Bart McClendon chain of theatres which operated it until it was demolished in the 1970s. The Wurlitzer organ was extensively used in the 1930s for the live radio WRR broadcasts of the WRR Kiddie Club.
The Dallas Majestic was a member of the Interstate Circuit vaudeville chain consisting of the Majestics in Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and Ft. Worth. Not the largest of the chain, (It sat about 2000), it was the “Flag House” headquarters of Interstate. The Majestics were all “atmospheric” style, (by theatre architect John Eberson), the San Antonio Majestic being the largest, (seating around 4000), and most opullent.