Are you a fan of DALLAS? Not just the city, but the TV series? If so this Sunday is a date you won’t want to miss. Our friends at the Texas Theatre have got something pretty cool going on this Sunday. For the past month, they’ve been hosting special showing of the original DALLAS series to enthusiastic crowds of fans. This Sunday none other than Larry Hagman (the man who played J.R. Ewing!) will be in the house to introduce the show at 8:00pm. The event is being sponsored by Southfork Ranch – how cool is that? What a rare treat to have the show’s most memorable star on hand to kick off the fun. Plus Bigfanboy.com will be there as well, and we’ll have some cool goodies and prizes for all attendees. DALLAS was played in over 80 countries during its run and made the city famous for things that didn’t even exist. To this day it’s still referenced the world over as an international phenomenon. It’s time for Dallas to get in touch with DALLAS! Come see 2 episodes back to back with a small intermission between. You are greatly encouraged to “dallasify” your dress…. WINNERS WILL RECEIVE WEEKLY GIFTS. Be there this Sunday night at 8pm to watch J.R. get things started. Please note, Mr. Hagman is attending to introduce and speak before the show, this is not by any means a meet and greet or autograph session. It’s also pretty well known that Mr. Hagman does not sign autographs at public events, so please only attend if you’re attending to watch the show with a very special intro.
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.
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. 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. They also show 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.
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THE FINE PRINT
The show starts at 8:00pm – Larry Hagman will be introducing
Seating is first come first served – call the Box Office for more info (214) 948-1546
The Texas Theatre is located at 231 West Jefferson Blvd, which is along the historic Jefferson Blvd shopping district and 3 blocks from the Bishop Arts District in Oak Cliff.
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WHERE TO PARK
FREE Parking is available along Jefferson Blvd after 4pm, (meters before 4pm are .25 cents/hr. FREE Parking is at the Bank of Texas lot at 12th & Centre.
More info at the Texas Theatre website.
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. 
