Dreamland Theatre

dallasmovietheaters on July 26, 2026 at 1:41 pm

Dreamland “#1” opened in the Hotel Main Building on May 24, 1907 after a test screening two days earlier at 206 N. Main in the Hotel Main Building at 208 N. Main. Lina Clark accompanied the songs and the Pathé films that were mixed in with live acts. Vitagraph and other films were part of the mix as the short movies were easier to program and enjoyed. It has its own entry as the Dreamland Theatre.

Chris Taylor moved the venue across the street here to new digs in 1912 as Dreamland “#2”. That building apparently replaced the existing Dickey Building. When Willard J. West, he of Galesburg’s West Theatre, took on the venue in 1913, he renamed it the Willard Theatre That’s this entry which spent more time as the Willard Theatre - the name of this entry. He had it reseated with 300 white maple opera house chairs and renamed it the Willard Theatre beginning on December 12, 1913.

Taylor reacquired the operation closing it on January 8, 1922 with “False Brands” and “Dixie Madcaps” supported by a serial. With the closing of the Willard, the continuing serial moved to the Rialto. In February of 1922, the white maple seating and projection equipment was gone in favor of a retail store.

In the 1910s, Taylor had opened the Tabard Theatre which became Dreamland “#3” at 108 W. 3d Street (it has its own entry - likely as the Garden Theatre).

So to recap: Dreamland “#1” was in the Hotel Main Building - carrying the 206 N. Main address at the Hotel Main at 208 W. Main. (The picture above is from 1910 and it not from 205 N. Main but 206 N. Main and should be moved to that entry.)

This entry: Dreamland “#2” became the Willard Theatre at 205 N. Main. This entry should be the Willard Theatre formerly the Dreamland (“#2” if that helps).

Dreamland “#3” became the Garden Theatre after opening as the Tabard Theatre (108 W. 3rd Street). Its entry should be the Garden Theatre (formerly the Tabard and formerly the Dreamland [“#3” if that helps]).

SethG on August 21, 2021 at 8:45 pm

Correct address was 205. The theater was located in the southern section of what was built as the Hotel Main, sometime between 1892 and 1899. The 1905 map shows this as a grocery.

By 1910, the building was known as the Saratoga Hotel, and the theater is shown. By 1918, the theater is still in operation, and a one story addition has appeared at the rear, possibly to expand the auditorium. The theater on 3rd is also shown, but perhaps the name was moved to the newer theater.

The status is also incorrect, as this building is still standing, although with an ugly modern ground floor. It seems to be used by the furniture store that occupies several buildings on both sides of Main.