Roxy Theatre

dallasmovietheaters on August 21, 2026 at 11:15 am

The Isis and the Russell are two different theaters. The first movie house in town opened as the Isis Theatre with a benefit for the local football team on November 1, 1913 followed by its regular opening on March 4, 1913 with Barney Gilmore as “Kelly From Emerald Island.” The Isis closed April 4, 1925 with “Baffled” and was converted to a retail store.

This entry covers the Russell Theatre turned Roxy. The Russell opened on July 4, 1923 with “Safety Last” with Harold Lloyd. It was hailed as “the biggest picture ever shown in a country town” according to the proprietors. W.S. Owen was deliberate converting to sound to remain viable on February 28, 1930 - behind some of the nearby theaters in other communities.

Elmer and Jonnie Bills bought the Russell in 1935 from H.T. Till. It received a streamline makeover and relaunched on August 3, 1935 as the Roxy Theatre with W.C. Fields in “The Man on the Trapeze.” Just prior to showtimes on November 24, 1943, an explosion took out the Roxy and five adjacent buildings with “So Proudly We Hail” showtimes not taking place that night.

The theatre moved to temporary digs across the street in the Myer Building while the New Roxy - renamed the El-Jon prior to opening after a contest - was prepped for an early 1945 launch. I’d lean for status as mega-demolished.

50sSNIPES on March 29, 2026 at 7:28 am

Destroyed by a fire in 1943.