Lafayette Theater

dallasmovietheaters on February 15, 2022 at 10:25 am

Architect Carl P. Berger created the the plans for the Lafayette Theatre on behalf of operator Michael Stiefel. It was built by B. Katchums and Son and opened late in 1913. The Lafayette sat 1,300 and its arched 20'x80' lobby was still recognizable from the 2914 Kensington Street entry in the 2020s. The auditorium portion is well back from the lobby sitting at the interior of 2919-2927 E Street. The Lafayette was a movie theater for its entire run of less than 17 years. Its halcyon days were when it had a contract with Paramount films. It also had a neighboring confectioner that served as the de facto concession stand.

The Lafayette did not make the transition to sound and was sold to a drug store operator in 1930. It’s not clear what happened to the Lafayette after 1930. When the building was next transferred in 1951, it was still referred to as “the former Lafayette Theatre.” The lobby portion of the former theatre was part of a car wash operation in the 2020s having had its interior gutted. The E Street auditorium was apparently still used for community events.