Comments about Texas Theatre in Palestine, TX

DavidAndrews on May 10, 2020 at 4:52 pm

No. After two fires and a collapsed roof (in the late 90s), nothing remains of the original ceiling.

Patsy on May 9, 2020 at 6:26 pm

Is the atmospheric feature still intact?

DavidAndrews on May 9, 2020 at 6:05 pm

Dana Goolsby, local historian, writes that the Texas was built on the site of the Best Theatre. The Best opened in 1917 as a vaudeville house, converting to sound in 1923.

Patsy on March 14, 2013 at 12:02 pm

Is the atmospheric feature still intact?

atmos on March 14, 2013 at 5:28 am

The atmospheric version of this theatre opened in 1930.

kencmcintyre on October 24, 2009 at 7:25 pm

Here is another view of the Texas:
http://tinyurl.com/yjzdo94

Patsy on October 12, 2009 at 7:15 pm

Close enough Lost! LOL! Thanks for always caring and being there when needed! And be sure to check out the Vitrolite facade on the Rialto in Cedarsburg WS with its amazing amount of black tile from top to bottom!

Patsy on October 12, 2009 at 6:33 pm

I would love to see a photo of this theatre with its Vitrolite exterior!

Patsy on September 18, 2009 at 8:47 am

After comparing photos I guess the Vitrolite looking facade was removed to the present day look.

Joe Vogel on September 8, 2009 at 11:59 pm

Although the intro above says that the Texas opened in 1921, the April 15, 1930, issue of Motion Picture Times published an architect’s rendering of the theater, with a caption reading:

“This theatre, with a seating capacity of 1800, is to be built at Palestine for the R. and R. motion picture theatre interests. Designed by W. Scott Dunne, Dallas architect, the building will be one of the most modern with a balcony, lounge, rest, and smoking rooms on the mezzanine. The auditorium will be treated in an atmospheric motif in Italian style, with a forty-foot proscenium arch, flanked by tower motifs.”

This web page contains an essay about the Texas by Bob Bowman who says that the Texas opened in 1928, burned in 1929, was rebuilt in the late 1930s, burned again in 1939 and again reopened.

To add to the temporal confusion, the League of Historic American Theatres says the Texas was built in 1922. I suspect that if I searched the Internets I could find still other opening dates for the Texas. Somebody will probably have to search the archives of the local newspaper(s) in Palestine to get the actual history of this theater.