The Kessler Theater is a historic entertainment venue, originally constructed in 1941, and located in the Winnetka Heights neighborhood of

Oak Cliff Oak Cliff is an area of Dallas, Texas, United States that was formerly a separate town in Dallas County; established in 1887 and annexed by Dallas in 1903, Oak Cliff has retained a distinct neighborhood identity as one of Dallas' older establ ...

Dallas, Texas Dallas () is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the most populous city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the List of Texas metropolitan areas, most populous metropolitan area in Texas and the Metropolitan statistical area, fourth-most ...

History

The Kessler initially served as a neighborhood movie house, providing entertainment to residents of Oak Cliff and surrounding areas.

Gene Autry Orvon Grover "Gene" Autry (September 29, 1907 – October 2, 1998), nicknamed the Singing Cowboy, was an American actor, musician, singer, composer, rodeo performer, and baseball team owner, who largely gained fame by singing in a Crooner ...

, who owned several theaters in Oak Cliff, bought it in 1945. A tornado hit the building in 1957, and a fire around 1960 put the theater out of commission. In 2010, the theatre underwent a major renovation led by preservationist Edwin Cabaniss and musician Jeff Liles, with the goal of restoring its original condition and transforming it into a live music venue. The renovation project received widespread community support and funding from various sources, including private donors and government grants.

Architecture

The Kessler Theater was designed by renowned Dallas architect George Dahl and built in the

Art Deco Art Deco, short for the French (), is a style of visual arts, architecture, and product design that first Art Deco in Paris, appeared in Paris in the 1910s just before World War I and flourished in the United States and Europe during the 1920 ...

style; it features a distinctive marquee, intricate detailing, and an auditorium with a capacity of approximately 400 guests. The interior displays original elements such as ornate moldings, vibrant murals, and a grand stage adorned with velvet curtains.

References

{{coord, 32.7493, -96.8425, type:landmark_region:US-TX, display=title Theatre in Dallas Buildings and structures in Dallas Music venues completed in 1940 Concert halls in Dallas Music venues in Dallas