Dale Theater
132 N. Court Square,
Ozark,
AL
36360
132 N. Court Square,
Ozark,
AL
36360
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: McLendon Theaters
Architects: H.L. Holman Jr.
Functions: Retail
Styles: Streamline Moderne
Nearby Theaters
The building was constructed in 1892. The Dale Theater was opened on October 19, 1937 with Spencer Tracy in “Big City”. It was designed in a Streamline Moderne style by architect H.L, Holman Jr. It became part of the Brackin Theater chain in the early-1960’s. In 2018 the building was in retail use as House of Hats.
Contributed by
Ken McIntyre
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Recent comments (view all 3 comments)
Do we know for sure if this theater is demolished? Something about the building at the northeast corner of Broad and Merrick seems “theatrical,” for the lack of a better word.
I think Andy might be right. That building is the right size and shape to be the Dale Theatre in the photo.
This page has the 1947 obituary of theater owner Walter J. Brackin. It says he came to Ozark in 1935 and took over the local movie theater. In 1937 he built a new theater, and in 1945 he built another, larger theater. As we have the Brackin Theatre listed with almost twice as many seats as the Dale, the Dale must have been the 1937 project. The art deco detailing on the facade was certainly characteristic of late 1930s design.
The Dale Theatre is part of the People Theatres of Alabama chain which operated by the one and only Fred T. McLendon (who would later be the president of the popular McLendon Theatres chain a couple of years later). With the theater being opened on October 19, 1937 with Spencer Tracy in “Big City”, the Dale Theatre was built on an old Dowerly property which became secured and was planned by the foremost architect of the territory named Mr. H. L. Holman. Jr. The Dale Theatre was converted from a building originally being built in 1892. The Dale Theatre would later become part of the Brackin Theatres chain right after the Brackin Theatre nearby opened its doors on October 26, 1945.
And yes, Walter T. Brackin is the one who owned the theater. He has been associated with Fred T. McLendon (of the popular McLendon Theatres chain) in Union Springs back in 1934, who had a partnership of an experience many years of a variety operations of theaters.