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If you’ve never heard of the Texas Theatre, you’re missing out on an important piece of Southwest history. Opened in 1931, the theater was part of a chain of cinemas owned by Howard Hughes. It’s also known for being the first theater in Dallas to feature air conditioning, which if you live in this area you’ll know can be a very big deal. But perhaps the most notable aspect of this landmark is it served as the location where Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested shortly after President John F. Kennedy was assassinated on November 22, 1963. The assassination took place at 12:30pm, and the fatal shooting of Officer J. D. Tippit at approximately 1:16pm, Oswald entered the Texas Theatre shortly after 1:30pm without paying for a ticket. It’s believed he did so to escape police, who were informed by the theater’s assistant manager that a man came in without paying. Needless to say the historical significance of this theater is undeniable.
The new lobby of The Texas Theatre
In 1989 the Texas Theatre closed, but was bought in 1990 by the Texas Theatre Historical Society, who allowed JFK director Oliver Stone to remodel the front for his 1990 movie starring Kevin Costner. Through the years since then, the theater has changed ownership several times, and opened and closed many times as well. In August of 2010, Aviation Cinemas Inc. consisting of partners Barak Epstein, Adam Donaghey, Jason Reimer and Eric Steele, signed a lease to own and operate the theater as an independent and repertory cinema. On December 9, 2010 – the doors officially opened once more. We were on hand to document this occasion, which was marked with a VIP party and ribbon cutting ceremony, attended by many notable Dallas personalities, including Mayor Tom Leppert. Below you can see video of the dedication speech (in which Mayor Leppert speaks as well), footage of the ribbon cutting, and finally our rather impromptu interview with Adam Donaghey. If you’re ever in Dallas, you owe it to yourself to stop by the historic Texas Theatre. Grab a drink, watch a movie, and and marvel at the now 80-year-old building still filled with charm. Barak Epstein also informed me they’re going to be showing 16mm movies and shorts, which in these days of everything being digital in very nostalgic and cool. This is my kind of place… if you love film, it should be yours too.
Official website for the Texas Theatre – also find them on Twitter
Born and raised in Dallas, Mark has been a movie critic since 1994, with reviews featured in print, radio and National TV. In 2001 he started the Entertainment section of the Herorealm website, where he contributed film reviews and celebrity interviews until 2004. After three years of service there, he started Bigfanboy.com, which has become one of the Dallas film community's leading information websites. Bigfanboy hosts several movie screenings in the Texas area, and works closely with film and TV studios and promotional partners to host exciting events and contests. The site also features a variety of rare celebrity and filmmaker interviews, and Bigfanboy.com regularly covers the film festival circuit as well. In addition to Hollywood reporting, Mark has worked for many years as an advertising and sci-fi/comic book artist. Clients have included Lucasfilm Ltd., Topps Trading Cards, The Dallas Mavericks and The Dallas Stars. From 2002 until 2015 he managed the Dallas Comic Con, Sci-Fi Expo and Fan Days events in the DFW area. He currently catalogs rare comic books and movie memorabilia for Heritage Auctions, and runs the Dallas Comic Show conventions, but remains an avid moviegoer and cinema buff. 
