Texas Theatre
Why it's listed
Built in 1931 at a cost of $250,000, this L-shaped theater on West Jefferson Boulevard was the largest suburban theater in Texas when it opened with 2,000 seats. Architect W. Scott Dunne designed it in the atmospheric style, with a Venetian Court interior featuring simulated canals, floating clouds and 118 twinkling stars, plus a large Barton organ. Its original brick and stone facade with a campanile was later covered in stucco, and the tower and marquee were removed in 1965. The theater served as the main entertainment venue for the Oak Cliff community, whose Jefferson Boulevard became the second-largest commercial district in Dallas. On November 22, 1963, Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested inside the auditorium, drawing lasting media attention. A fire in 1995 damaged the backstage area, and later owners, including a nonprofit foundation, pursued rehabilitation aimed at returning the theater to its 1963 appearance. It remains valued locally as a surviving movie palace.
Significance in brief: The theater is significant locally as a surviving example of the 1920s-30s "movie palace" era and as the largest, grandest theater serving Oak Cliff. It is also tied to the November 22, 1963 arrest of Lee Harvey Oswald inside the auditorium. The nomination also notes its role as an atmospheric design by Dunne.
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 03000187, listed April 1, 2003. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 231 W. Jefferson Blvd., Dallas |
|---|---|
| County | Dallas County |
| Listed | April 1, 2003 |
| Reference number | 03000187 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | W. Scott Dunne (architect) |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals: Italian Renaissance |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Entertainment/Recreation |
| Level of significance | National, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a theater; a rehabilitation effort was in progress to return the building to its 1963 appearance. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 32.74351, -96.82582 (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.
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 03000187.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q637074
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.