Ritz Theater

dallasmovietheaters on June 5, 2024 at 11:02 am

The Ritz Theater closed in 1968 and the operators were evicted along with virtually all of the Black-owned businesses on stretches of Jefferson Street in 1968 as the government strategically put Interstate 40 right down the middle of the African American neighborhood to disperse the community and create the new highway. Opportunities were made for the folks in the 1700 block to move to the 1900 or 2000 block of Jefferson and for the folks in the 2600 block to move to the 2800 block. Protests occurred because in many instances, there was no property available for such moves while the government said the businesses could move their possessions or the demolition crews would it do it for them.

The Ritz Theatre at 1714 Jefferson was most definitely bulldozed for the project with Interstate 40 about 250 feet away. The incorrect report of the Ritz remaining as a “recognizable landmark” above is because folks didn’t understand that - unlike many businesses and residents who couldn’t find new homes - the Ritz did move to a nondescript building at 2019 Jefferson, just three blocks away and across the street. The Ritz Cinema has its own page. The notion that the New Ritz was closed after the stabbing is also factually incorrect. Though a fatal stabbing did take place there in 1972, the theatre continued operations into 1975.

Ken Roe on December 26, 2006 at 4:48 pm

The Ritz Theatre opened around April 1937.