Five Points Theater

dallasmovietheaters on February 10, 2023 at 1:14 pm

The Portage Theatre was a new-build movie house that launched December 12, 1915 with Theda Bara in “A Fool There Was.” In 1924, the theatre closed for over one month as it got a major refresh and, under new operator Frank S. Falkenberg, reopened with Norma Talmadge in “The Song of Love” on September 6, 1924.

Late in 1929, the theatre was equipped with sound by operator William I. Foutts to remain viable. After a new operator took on the venue, the Portage name was dropped in favor of the neighborhood’s Five Points moniker. The Five Points Theatre launched on November 19, 1937 with “Broadway Melody of 1938” and “One Mile From Heaven.” The new operator was Lorenzo Bozzelli who operated it with his sons, Arthur and Tony. The Bozellis closed the venue on June 7, 1951 with “Inside Straight” and “Great Manhunt.” The former Five Points / Portage was used soon thereafter as a house of worship.

OhioJeremy on January 27, 2014 at 4:07 am

As of right now, it’s listed as for-lease on NAI’s website; they’re asking $1500 a month for the theater and the space to the right of it (505 W Exchange). However, I’m a little worried that it’s been too heavily modified to ever be a theater again. The front doors are open in Google street-view, as well as a garage door in the back, and it appears the whole thing is a flat concrete floor. (Looking in the front, you can see the light coming in from the back door.) It makes me think concrete was poured on top of the old sloped floor.

triciaostertag on March 22, 2009 at 4:16 pm

Does anyone know the current state of this or who owns it?