National Theater
Why it's listed
Located on the west side of the town square in Graham, Texas, this 1 1/2-story theater at 522 Oak Street was rebuilt in 1941 after fire destroyed the earlier theater that opened in 1920. The Dallas firm of Corgan and Moore, which specialized in movie houses, designed the new building and reused the surviving masonry walls and concrete floors. Its stucco facade, curved black and white neon-trimmed marquee, black tile, and structural glass ticket booth show Moderne and Art Deco influences, which were rare in Graham before 1941. Inside, red and cream colors, terrazzo flooring, and geometric detailing remain, along with many original seats. The theater was the first in Graham to have fluorescent lighting and air conditioning. Local contractors did the work, and it reopened in January 1941. It remained the town's only walk-in movie house by the mid-1960s, closed in 1987, and was later renovated. It was judged a fine local example of Moderne movie house architecture.
Significance in brief: The theater is argued to be a fine local example of the Moderne style under Criterion C in architecture. It is typical in plan of small-town Texas theaters of the late 1930s and early 1940s. The style was rare in Graham before 1941. The building also played an important role in community life through the mid-20th century.
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 93000565, listed June 24, 1993. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 522 Oak St., Graham |
|---|---|
| County | Young County |
| Listed | June 24, 1993 |
| Reference number | 93000565 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1941 |
| Architect / builder | Corgan, Jack; Moore, W.J. "Bill" |
| Architectural style | Modern Movement/Moderne |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a theater after a recent renovation that retained original materials; the stage area is used for storage until full restoration. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 33.10592, -98.59136 (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 93000565.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q42304908
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.