Uptown Theatre

dallasmovietheaters on August 23, 2026 at 4:50 pm

The $75,000 Wilcoxson Opera House opened elsewhere in town on April 22, 1898 with Clay Clement in “The New Dominion.” That was an above average price for an opera house as it vied for major acts after Kansas City playdates about 70 miles away. The theatre was beautiful by all reports and pictures. By World War I, Opera Houses were under financial pressure in smaller cities such as Carrollton. The Wilcoxson burned down on February 23, 1912 avoiding what was certain demise business-wise. And yet, the town decided it needed a new Opera House and built right here.

The New Opera House had iron support beams and, learning from its predecessor, was built to last more than a thing of beauty. In its opening ad, the second line under New Opera House was “Absolutely Fire-Proof.” Its opening programming on Nov. 9, 1914 was a hybrid live vaudeville with The Aerial Kesters of Ringling Circus fame and the three-reel film, “Shadows of the Past.” It didn’t work out well for the New Opera House. At a dime a head (a nickel for kids), the economics didn’t work out.

The venue had one full year of operation and then scuffled under two other operators not able to come close to filling a single season - combined. Percy Jones took the venue on November 19, 1918 renaming it as the Royal Theatre with Will Rogers in “Laughing Bill Hyde” supported by Harold Lloyd in “Kicking the Germ out of Germany” and a live orchestra. In 1929, the Royal was adding Western Electric sound-on-film to present talking pictures. And then it was subject to liens and back mortgage issues - which at the outset of the Depression - the end of the line for the Royal.

However, the first woman exhibitor in Carrollton’s movie industry, Ethel Jones, took on the mess that was the Royal late in 1929. She got help from beyond in Tip-Top Theatre operator’s Mr. Jarboe’s will about the building’s purpose as a theatre. So Ethel Jones installed the Western Electric sound on film technology for Thanksgiving of 1929. It was an expensive undertaking as the more expensive of the options at that time. And she put the family name on the building calling it the Jane Johnson Theatre in honor of her actress daughter who had moved to New York City.

Johnson was no pushover as she was mugged by two men as she carried the box office take to the bank. They got no money for their efforts. And she gave money to save the City Park from further dilapidation. People called it the Ethel Johnson Theatre in her honor although it went by Johnson Theatre. (Ethel claimed that the venue was always the Jane Johnson Theatre.) The Johnson Theatre closed on December 7, 1936 with Shirley Temple in “Dimples” as it was sold to Commonwealth Amusement two weeks earlier on November 26, 1936. Commonwealth had the entire face of the theatre removed to make a new, streamline moderne front as the Uptown Theatre. Old seats were donated to the high school.

Commonwealth launched the Uptown Theatre on December 19, 1936 with “Banjo On My Knee” supported by Popeye in “I’m In The Army Now”, an Our Gang comedy short, and “Hills Of Old Wyoming” with Robert Benchley. It was converted to widescreen in the 1950s. Additionally, Commonwealth took over the drive-in in 1969. They appears to have given up regular film exhibition in 1972 although the venue was used for Christmas screening in 1972, 1973, and 1974 to eke out a 60th Anniversary of operation. And it was demolished after its 100th birthday. Not bad.

50sSNIPES on March 29, 2026 at 7:38 am

Actual opening date is December 19, 1936 with Barbra Stanwyck in “Banjo On My Knee” along with the Popeye cartoon “I’m In The Army Now”, an unnamed Our Gang comedy, and the Roger Benchley short “Hills Of Old Wyoming”.

uptownjen on April 1, 2008 at 3:36 pm

that photo is recent?!

the theatre doesn’t look open…but i could be wrong.