Saenger Theater
Also known as: Paramount Theater
Why it's listed
Opened on November 18, 1924, the Saenger Theater at 219 Main Street in Texarkana, Texas, was built by the Saenger Amusement Company of New Orleans to designs by architect Emil Weil. Brashears Construction Company of Texarkana served as general contractor. The Italian Renaissance building has golden-colored brick, concrete trim, a terra cotta hip roof and pilasters with Corinthian capitals marked with an "S". Inside, marble lobby floors, gilded plaster ceilings, Greek-themed ornament, boxes beside the stage and a 1,675-seat auditorium with a ninety-foot clear span made it one of the largest in the South. Although planned for motion pictures only, it was altered to include a full stage after public demand. It hosted touring performers, local Follies productions and films, and was later renamed the Paramount. It closed in March 1977 and was bought by the city, which planned restoration as a performing arts center. It is the last downtown Texarkana theater.
Significance in brief: It was the largest and most opulent of Texarkana's many theaters and is the only one remaining downtown from a once-thriving theater center. It reflects the city's long tradition of live theater and the rise of motion pictures. It also has ornate plaster work and intact stage and projection equipment.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 78002897, listed July 12, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 219 Main St., Texarkana |
|---|---|
| County | Bowie County |
| Listed | July 12, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78002897 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architect / builder | Emil Weil, New Orleans, La.; Brashears Construction Co. |
| Architectural style | Italian Renaissance |
| Areas of significance | Art, Entertainment/Recreation, Architecture, Communications |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Vacant at the time of nomination; closed as a theater in March 1977 and purchased by the city of Texarkana in December 1977, with plans for restoration as a performing arts center. Structurally described as quite sound. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Coordinates | 33.42152, -94.04479 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 78002897.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110001046
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.