Entry No. 94 — the Dallas file — filed under: after-dark
Texas Theatre
This 1931 movie palace in Oak Cliff is where police arrested Lee Harvey Oswald in 1963, and it now runs cult and repertory programming including the monthly 'Tuesday Night Trash' series and 'Vault Access' 35mm screenings pulled from SMU's film archive. Run by Aviation Cinemas, it pairs upstairs and main-floor bars with oddball films you won't find at a multiplex. The marquee and original architecture make the whole block feel like a time capsule after dark.
The story
Built in 1931, this Oak Cliff movie palace earned its spot in national history on November 22, 1963, when Lee Harvey Oswald snuck inside without buying a ticket following the assassination of John F. Kennedy and the murder of Officer J.D. Tippit. Dallas police swarmed the auditorium and arrested him mid-screening. Most cities would have turned a site like that into a sanitized, velvet-roped historical display or demolished it entirely, but Jefferson Boulevard kept the projector running.
Today, the space is operated by Aviation Cinemas as a fully functioning two-screen repertory theater and community hub. The marquee still anchors the block after dark, but inside, the focus leans heavily toward weird film culture. The calendar mixes cult midnight programming, live comedy, music, and the monthly 'Tuesday Night Trash' series with 'Vault Access' screenings—rare 35mm prints pulled straight from Southern Methodist University's film archive. With full bars upstairs and on the main floor, you can sip a drink in the exact auditorium where 1960s history collided with B-movie cinema.
What it's like
Show up on Jefferson Boulevard after dark when the neon marquee lights up the block. Inside, the original 1930s architectural structure houses bars on both the main floor and upper level, making it easy to grab a cocktail before finding your seat. Because the theater now operates two separate screens, double-check whether your film is upstairs or in the main auditorium before settling in. Programming changes on a nightly basis, so consult the schedule ahead of time whether you're targeting a obscure 35mm print or a late-night cult showcase.
The move: Grab balcony seats and drinks for a Tuesday Night Trash cult screening, then linger to soak up the spot's strange JFK-era history.
📍 Before you go Programming varies nightly; check the calendar for cult/late shows. Two screens now, so confirm which auditorium your film is in.
- 📍 Oak Cliff, Dallas
- 💸 $
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: 231 W. Jefferson Blvd, Dallas, TX 75208
Hours: Added 2026-06-23 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Top Ten Records — Located a few doors down on Jefferson Boulevard, Dallas's oldest record store shares the same 1963 historic timeline—Officer Tippit placed a mysterious phone call from inside shortly before Oswald's arrest at the theater.
- Dolly on Bishop — Browse vintage oddities, old photographs, and postmortem items just down the street in Bishop Arts before heading over for a late-night cult screening.
- Chango Botanica — Combine a night of obscure cinema with a daytime trip to this long-running 1977 Santeria botanica run by curandero Pancho Diaz.
Good to know
Why is the Texas Theatre historically famous?
On November 22, 1963, Lee Harvey Oswald snuck in without paying for a ticket after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy and the shooting of Officer J.D. Tippit. Dallas police arrested him inside the auditorium.
What kind of movies do they screen?
The theater runs repertory films, cult and genre flicks like 'Tuesday Night Trash', 35mm archival prints pulled from SMU's collection via 'Vault Access', as well as live music and comedy events.
Are food and drinks available inside?
Yes, there are bars located on both the main floor and upstairs serving drinks you can take into the auditoriums.
How many auditoriums are inside the theater?
The venue currently operates two screens, so confirm which auditorium your screening is in when you buy tickets.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · Wikipedia · dallasobserver.com · cinematreasures.org
last checked: 2026-06-23