Wallace Theater

Joe Vogel on August 5, 2023 at 1:32 am

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.

Don Lewis on March 5, 2008 at 6:27 am

A photo of a Wallace Theaters managers meeting taken February 1951 in Levelland Texas.

Don Lewis on February 16, 2008 at 10:02 pm

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.)