Majestic Theatre

Dallas' Majestic Theatre stands today as a reminder not only of the city's architectural heritage but also of its social and cultural past. A classic example of the once prominent, opulent movie palace that is all too quickly disappearing, the Majestic's physical quality reflects cultural preferences that no longer exist. The present structure was built to replace an earlier Majestic that had been built in 1905 but had burned. The first building had been one of four original theatres that would later grow into the great chain known as Interstate Theatres. The new Majestic cornerstone was placed on 18 October 1920 and the theatre celebrated its opening night on 11 April 1921.
Karl Hoblitzelle (1879-1967) was the main force behind the Majestic, as well as the entire Interstate group. Hoblitzelle was instrumental in the organization of Interstate Amusements in 1905. This chain acted as a link for entertainers traveling between the east and west coasts. Originally he did not wish to be actively involved in the operation and took over reluctantly when his backing was required. By 1906 he had become president. It was his intention to bring good clean entertainment to the people of the southwest and vaudeville was his medium. Concerned with the potentially questionable, risque nature of vaudeville, Hoblitzelle personally screened each act. If the act could not be altered to meet certain standards of respectability, it was discarded. It was in the interest of the corporation and its president to provide entertainment for the entire family. Safety, comfort, and courtesy were stressed by the patron; "Dedicated to community service" was the motto. When movies became part of the entertainment package, it was his practice to show films of diverse viewpoints if he felt they were beneficial to the public.

Hoblitzelle was a pioneer in the theatre industry. His were the first theatres in the southwest to install air-conditioning and they were the first to be wired for the new sound films. Hoblitzelle was also an innovator in the use of earphones in the seats for the hard-of-hearing, crying rooms where mothers could take their children and continue to watch the show and "kiddie" seats so that children could see better. Also known as a philanthropist, throughout his life he was involved in operations beneficial not only to the community but also to the nation. He worked for the establishment of a Texas Rural Development Commission to help Texas farmers through rural planning. With a $250,000 gift, he founded and helped fund the Texas State Research Foundation. During WWI he went to Washington to assist the Red Cross in organizing entertainment programs for hospitals. His contributions aided the Southwestern Medical Foundation, Southern Methodist University, and the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts. During and after WWII Hoblitzelle was awarded for his activities during the conflict.

In 1930 Hoblitzelle sold his group to RKO (Radio-Keith-Orpheum) and Paramount Pictures. Intending to retire, he took his wife on a tour of Europe. As it became apparent that neither company was able to maintain the chain due to financial problems caused by the depression, he decided to return home and repossess the organization. By doing so, he saved the jobs of many of his associates and employees.

Originally, the bill was for seven acts of vaudeville twice daily, but in 1925 with the increasing influence of the film industry, motion pictures were added to the fare. Until the mid-30s, films supplemented live entertainment. But vaudeville was dying out and movies became the chief source of entertainment. The Majestic was known as the "action house" for it was here that movies of an adventurous nature were most often shown in Dallas. In 1949, a serious attempt was made to revive vaudeville at the theatre. This endeavor was not successful and eventually, the theatre again offered only movies. In 1951, the Interstate organization was once more sold to Paramount, but the Majestic was not included when the one hundred and sixty-five theatres changed hands. It remained in the possession of the Hoblitzelle Foundation. Movies were shown at the Majestic until it closed in July 1973. After three years of negotiation, the theatre was given to the City of Dallas on 28 October 1976.

The list of theatrical, musical, vaudeville, and motion picture stars that have performed on the Majestic stage is impressive. The opening night performance was given by the "incomparable" ballerina, Olga Petrova. At that time, telegrams of congratulations were sent by Gloria Swanson, William S. Hart, and Dorothy Gish. Mae West per- formed there, as did the comedians Jack Benny, Burns & Allen, Milton Berle, and Bob Hope. The magicians Houdini, Blackwell, and Thurston astounded audiences with their sleight of hand and mystifying routines. Ginger Rogers started her career at the Majestic. Duke Ellington's and Cab Calloway's bands, as well as John Wayne, James Stewart and Joan Crawford made appearances at the theatre.

The history of the Majestic Theatre is colorful and the structure essentially represents the entertainment industry at its height of glamour and romance in the 1930s and 1940s. It stands as a memorial to Karl Hoblitizelle, a prominent figure who established a respectable social and cultural center for Dallas' citizens and to its architect, John Eberson, who was to become the principal architect for the Interstate chain.