Temple Theatre

dallasmovietheaters on May 28, 2026 at 6:38 am

Acme Amusement and Development Company opened the Temple Theatre in the Odd Fellows Building on October 17, 1925. It featured a $3,000 Reproduco Pipe Organ Piano combo unit and opened with Florence Video in “Welcome Stranger” as its opening film supported by four short subjects. The venue added sound in 1929 to remain viable. The venue was open to African American patrons only barring a major crossover artist.

The programming was a combination of films and live performers. Some notable live moments: “The Queen of Moaners” Clara Smith gave two shows for her live appearance - one for African Americans and one for White patrons on January 17, 1928. “The Uncrowned Queen of the Blues” Ida Cox appeared numerous times including February 28 and March 1, 1928, March 9, 1929, February 28, 1932 and March 5, 1932. Ma Rainey appeared there on February 2, 1929. On the Temple Rooftop Garden were Duke Ellington November 29, 1937 and Louis Armstrong on September 30, 1938.

The Temple received a streamline moderne makeover in the 1930s and was remodeled again in 1956 bringing both air conditioning and widescreen projection to the Temple. But during the 1956 process, the Temple Rooftop Garden hosted some of its most luminary performers . They included B.B. King on August 6 and August 31, Little Richard on August 20, Fats Domino on October 3, and Muddy Waters on October 24, 1956.

In the 1970s, it became legendary for blaxploitation film exhibition. But by the 1980s, it was over as suburban theaters were integrated and provided multiple screens with comfortable seating and free parking.