Arcadia Publishing releases a new book next week titled, “Historic Dallas Theatres” by local historian D. Troy Sherrod. The book examines Dallas as the showbiz capital of Texas during the 20th century.
There was a time when the city had more than 100 theaters. In fact, Elm Street had almost as many vaudeville theaters and movie houses as Broadway. Only a few iconic structures remain today. The book takes us through different neighborhoods, including Downtown, East Dallas, Oak Cliff and devotes entire chapters to the burlesque scene and segregation.
Chapter 8 focuses on theaters around our neighborhood, particularly in North Dallas and the Park Cities. Likely the most well-known, the Inwood Theatre opened in May 1947, and several features that exist today are from the original design, such as the aquatic mural seen in the lobby.
Neighbors new to Preston Hollow, however, may not know that Preston Royal Village once was home to an “ultra-modern” movie theater, which opened in 1959, showing “The House of Intrigue.” It closed in 1983 to make way for retail.
Plus, did you know that the city’s first drive-in movie theater was at Hillcrest and Northwest Highway? It was called the Gemini Theatre The Northwest Highway Drive-in, opened in 1941.
Sherrod, the author, is a fourth-generation resident of Dallas with roots in local showbiz. His research and photos came from his own collections as well as Dallas Morning News archives, the Dallas Public Library and SMU libraries.
To see more photos of historic theaters around Preston Hollow and the rest of the city, get a copy of the book when it comes out Feb. 3.
