On April 11, 1921, the new Majestic Theatre opened it’s doors during the Vaudeville era. The Majestic hosted a variety of acts from Houdini to Mae West and Bob Hope. As Vaudeville began to fade and the era of talking pictures emerged, the Majestic Theatre began hosting movie premieres and their stars such as Jimmy Stewart, Gregory Peck and John Wayne. The Big Bands featuring Cab Calloway and Duke Ellington continued the tradition of live entertainment at the Majestic. On July 16, 1973 the Majestic Theatre went “dark” after the final showing of the film, “Live and Let Die”. On January 31, 1976, the Hobilitzelle Foundation, owner of the Majestic Theatre presented the theatre to the City of Dallas. Restoration where possible; Renovation where necessary was the order at the Majestic. Restoration of the Renaissance Baroque exterior and the reapplication of the 23K gold leaf to the extensive interior decorative accents and moulding were meticulously completed. Interior improvements also involved acoustics, seating, lighting and stage renovation. The Majestic Theatre was named to the National Register of Historic Places and re-opened on January 28, 1983, as an elegant center for the performing arts.

At the top of the grand staircases overlooking the main lobby is the Terrace Room which is designed to accommodate a variety of affairs such as wedding receptions, meetings, company parties and dinners. The Terrace Room can comfortably accommodate a dinner party for 130 or reception up to 220 guests. With extensive catering capabilities, the Terrace Room can be a special location for intimate events.

Located on the edge of downtown Dallas, The Majestic Theatre is convenient to downtown hotels and entertainment areas. DART Light Rail is only steps away from The Majestic’s rear stage entrance. The 1704 seat theatre provides a variety of opportunities for presentations for musical productions, dramatic plays, national pageants, dance and concerts or a grand theatrical setting for dinner on stage.

07/03/2002
By KIMBERLY DURNAN
Dallas Web Staff

The Majestic Theatre has been holding court over Dallas’ entertainment for nearly a century, beginning with the vaudeville era of Houdini’s magic to the more recent Pulitzer Prize-winning play Proof.

Performances during the theater’s early years included entertainers such as Mae West, Red Skelton and Cab Calloway. But the Majestic Theatre eventually evolved into one of the nation’s most illustrious movie houses with the advent of motion pictures in the 1930s.

The Dallas theater became a draw for Hollywood’s A-list actors who came to promote their films, which often premiered at the Majestic Theatre. Joan Crawford, John Wayne, Bob Hope and Bing Crosby were known to make personal appearances to meet fans and administrators of the Interstate Circuit, which controlled most of the major theaters in Texas. The Majestic Theatre was the Interstate Circuit’s flagship theater, which housed the corporate headquarters.

Now the theater is owned by the city and features plays, musicals, concerts and dance performances. It is operated by Dallas Summer Musicals Management Group.

The theater originally opened at the corner of St. Paul and Commerce streets in 1905. The building burned down in 1916 and reopened in the Old Opera House at the corner of St. Paul and Main streets the same year.

A new Majestic Theatre was built on Elm Street, for $2 million, and opened April 11, 1921, with a performance featuring actress Olga Petrova. Movies began to become more popular than vaudeville acts in the early 1930s.

“Those were the best years during the Depression,” said Bill Curtis who worked for the company for 49 years, starting in 1937 at age 17. “We did a tremendous amount of business. We would open with a movie and then the stage show.”

Mr. Curtis, now 81, worked as an usher and an elevator operator and eventually worked his way into the executive offices. He met lots of celebrities, but thought most highly of Mae West.

After a show, ushers would take flowers to the performers. Ms. West learned the names of each of the ushers who brought her the flowers and gave them $25 each. “None of the others did that,” Mr. Curtis said. “She was real nice. She was great.”

Mr. Curtis also recalled meeting John Wayne, who was seated at the time of the introduction. “I’m 6 feet tall and when John Wayne stood up he kept going. He was a tall, big man.” Mr. Curtis has less fond memories of actor Mickey Rooney. “He was a kid movie star so that gave him a bit of an ego.

The lure of motion pictures

As the demand for movies grew, lines to buy tickets wrapped around the building. By the 1960s teens would camp out the night before a popular movie opening.

“I went out front one night to stretch my legs a little bit and I noticed some teenage girls with sleeping bags,” said Ken Irby, who was an usher during the 1960s. “They said they were going to be the first ones here to buy tickets the next day for the Beatles movie A Hard Day’s Night.

In the 1960s, the ticket-taker wore a tuxedo and the ushers wore double-breasted uniforms, Mr. Irby said. Even the patrons wore dresses and suits to watch a movie.

During this time the Interstate-owned movie theaters enjoyed a monopoly on first-run movies and were able to show them about six weeks ahead of movie theaters in the suburbs. But new laws forced moviemakers release the films at the same time, and the suburban competition forced the Majestic to close its doors.

The Majestic Theatre closed after the final showing of the James Bond film Live and Let Die on July 16, 1973.

Back to life

Although the creator of the Majestic Theatre, Karl Hoblitzelle, died in 1967, the Hoblitzelle Foundation resumed ownership of the building and gave it to the city in 1976. After a long restoration process that restored the overhead trellis and 23 karat gold leaf to the accents and molding, the theater reopened on Jan. 23, 1983.

Now the theater offers plays, musicals, concerts and a variety of other entertainment and artistic events, said Managing Director Reyn Longino. There are acting workshops for children and adults and an area used for rehearsals.

“Performers always tell us how much they enjoy playing here,” Mr. Longino said. “Everybody who is a star has performed here at one point in time.”

Used with permission.
E-mail kdurnan@dallasnews.com

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