Lake Theatre

dallasmovietheaters on July 3, 2024 at 6:21 pm

William Abbott opened the first Gem Theatre on February 27, 1913 with L. Rogers Lytton in “The Vengeance of Durand; or, The Two Portraits” supported by “A Busy Day in the Jungles.” It was housed a block from its future home in the Abbott Building with the Abbott Saloon. In its eight years, the Gem was doing well and a brand new theatre was built.

The New Gem moved a block away to its new home in the 200 block on January 26, 1921 with Gloria Swanson in “Something to Think About” on the new big screen. It was the secondary theatre in town after the Panida was build and, under the Gem moniker, it did not convert to sound. It continued with silent film through showtimes on November 13, 1930. It was then sporadically used as a live event house. Plays and political speeches occurred through 1944 under the Gem nameplate.

It was finally converted to sound in a streamline moderne makeover and renamed as the Lake Theatre opening on August 8, 1946. Ten years later, it closed with “The Solid Gold Cadillac” on November 20, 1956. It again was used for live events and rummage sales very sporadically over the next nine years. In 1967, a campaign to save the theatre was launched though proved unsuccessful. After the campaign failed, in 1968, the floor was leveled and in 1970 all exterior elements were removed from the former Gem/ Lake Theatre.