Wallace Theater
823 Houston Street,
Levelland,
TX
79336
823 Houston Street,
Levelland,
TX
79336
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Wallace Theatre (Official)
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Wallace Theaters
Architects: Harvey C. Allen, Howard C. Allen
Firms: Allen & Allen
Functions: Live Performances, Movies
Nearby Theaters
No theaters found within 30 miles
The Wallace Theatre was opened in 1928. It replaced an earlier Wallace Theater which was located across the street, opening in 1925, which became the Rose Theater. It was remodeled and became the “new” Wallace Theater in 1949, operated by Wallace and Rose Blankenship. The remodel was designed by architectural firm Allen & Allen of Lamesa, TX.
It originally featured fully automatic air conditioning, refreshment bar, smoking room, deep carpets, cry room, smoking in the balcony, neon auditorium lighting, fully upholstered opera chairs and more.
It was twinned in the 1970’s and was closed in 1982 and remained closed into the early-2000’s. It was de-twinned in 2015 and has since presented movies and live performances.
Mr. Blankenship and his sons Royce and W.B. eventually owned and operated 27 movie theaters in the West Texas area.
Contributed by
Don Lewis
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A June 1966 coming attractions poster for the Wallace Theater in Leveland.
www.flickr.com/photos/lastpictureshow/2222093108
A mid 1930s photo of the original Wallace theater in Levelland. The man standing in the center is Wallace Blankenship founder of Wallace theaters.
The truck is present as part of a promotion of the movie “West Point of the Air” starring Wallace Beery and Robert Young around 1935.
(Notice that the theater preceded paved streets in Levelland.)
A 1957 photo of the Wallace in Levelland showing “The King and I” starring Deborah Kerr and Yul Brynner.
A photo of a Wallace Theaters managers meeting taken February 1951 in Levelland Texas.
Here is a 1984 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/dm664u
The original Wallace Theatre in Levelland opened across Avenue H from the current site, and the Wallace on Houston Street opened in 1928, at which time the former theater was renamed the Rose, which it remained until a new Rose Theatre was built next door to it, at which time it became the Old Rose Theatre. Meanwhile, the new Wallace Theatre thrived, undergoing a major remodeling in 1949 during which the entrance was moved from the center of the building to the corner, a corner vertical sigh was added, and late Art Deco detailing appeared in the house’s interior.
In the 1970s the Wallace was twinned, but business continued to decline and the last movie, “ET” was screened in 1982. The building languished until 2002 when it was bought by a local couple with the intent of restoring it. In 2015 a non=profit organization was formed to take over the project, which has proceeded. A false ceiling installed in the auditorium when it was twinned was removed, revealing the earlier decorations. Live events and movies have been presented intermittently as renovations and restoration have continued, and the organization sponsors many off-site events of the sort that will be presented at the theater itself once renovation is complete.
The official web site has more information, and a number of historic and recent photos on various pages. The theater’s Facebook page provides more frequent progress reports and event news.