Majestic Theatre
Why it's listed
Majestic Theatre, at 1925 Elm Street in downtown Dallas, is a five-story, five-bay theatre designed by John Eberson in a Renaissance Revival manner. Its cornerstone was placed in October 1920 and it opened in April 1921, replacing an earlier Majestic of 1905 that had burned. Eberson was known for atmospheric theatres, and the auditorium kept its machinery for ceiling effects of clouds and stars, a fan-shaped plan seating 2,400 on three levels, and Roman garden paintings on the walls. Built as the flagship of Karl Hoblitzelle's Interstate Theatres, it hosted vaudeville and, from 1925, motion pictures, and many well-known performers appeared on its stage. Hoblitzelle introduced air-conditioning and sound films to southwestern theatres. Exterior changes were mostly confined to the ground floor, including a 1948 marquee, while the lobby and auditorium kept much of their ornate detail. The theatre closed in 1973 and passed to the City of Dallas in 1976, which planned restoration for performing arts use.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as a classic example of the opulent movie palace and an atmospheric theatre by John Eberson. It was the flagship of Karl Hoblitzelle's Interstate Theatres chain, which brought vaudeville and later films to the southwest. The building reflects the entertainment industry at its height in the 1930s and 1940s.
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 77001437, listed November 14, 1977. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1925 Elm St., Dallas |
|---|---|
| County | Dallas County |
| Listed | November 14, 1977 |
| Reference number | 77001437 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1921 |
| Architect / builder | John Eberson |
| Architectural style | Renaissance Revival |
| Areas of significance | Entertainment/Recreation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Closed as a movie theatre in July 1973 and given to the City of Dallas on 28 October 1976; the form marks it unoccupied and says the city intends to restore it as a performing arts center. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Dallas Downtown Historic District (Additional Documentation) |
| Coordinates | 32.78364, -96.79479 (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 77001437.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6737714
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.