Movie night at the Forest Theater circa 1950s. Courtesy of the Dallas history archives division of the Dallas Public Library.
A new exhibit entitled “Forest Forward: The Future is Here” was unveiled at NorthPark Center, showcasing the $75 million investment towards renovating the Forest Theater.
The exhibit delves into the landmark’s history since its inception in 1949 and outlines the South Dallas-based nonprofit plans to revitalize the space and surroundings. This renewal will encompass mixed-income housing, innovative arts and education solutions and economic development. All these efforts are to create a comprehensive cradle-to-college education pathway in collaboration with Dallas ISD and the Martin Luther King Jr. Arts Academy.
“The exhibit exists so that the story of the Forest Theater can be told,” senior pastor of Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church and board member of the project, Pastor Matthew Ruffner said. “Forest Theater is a symbol for a holistic community revitalization project that encompasses education, housing, and wellness through the arts. The theater will serve as a community anchor so that families and the community of South Dallas can once again have a vibrant and whole life.”
The exhibit sets viewers back in time and starts with a replica of the iconic neon marquee sign and shows archival photographs of the theater in its heyday complete with lines of crowds, fresh and plush velvet seats and performances from legendary and local acts. It also documents the neighborhood’s transformation and how 1,300 homes were demolished due to the construction of that the S.M Wright Freeway (State Highway 175).
“I believe that our lives matter and that our lives should count for something bigger than our own,” Ruffner said. “This project allows me to invest in a model that ensures that we break the cycle of intergenerational poverty and the zip code and to hear the voices of those who had been on the margins for far too long. It creates a pathway so that our neighbors in this city and the people that we belong to live a full and abundant life.”
Forest Forward founder and CEO Elizabeth Wattley announced the “Forest Fund” is designed to continue the community’s support and offered a 5-to-1 donation match made by residents living in the 75215 neighborhoods. Dallas community leader and activist, Willie Mae Coleman, was eager to make the first donation and described the initiative as “the People’s Campaign.”
“It’s going to be transformed into a living theater once again,” Ruffner said. “It’s also going to play a larger part in allowing Martin Luther King Jr. Arts Academy their students to have a home base for art education through Dallas ISD. While this is about a theater, it really is about a community and how we invest back into the community so we can live like we belong to one another in Dallas.”
These endeavors are all striding towards seeing Forest Theater return to life with new and diverse changes. It has been mostly vacant since 2009 before it was acquired by a philanthropic couple in 2017 who were set on using the space for arts and education.
The exhibit is located on level one between Nordstrom and Macy’s and is free and open to the public. It is on view now until Oct. 17.
