Carver Theatre

dallasmovietheaters on November 19, 2024 at 8:24 am

The Broadway Theatre was reopened at 347 East Washington Street on a 15-year lease with Pola Negri in “Forbidden Planet” on January 29, 1925 by Suffolk Amusement Corp. with a policy for African American patrons. The neighboring Suffolk Ice Cream creamery served as its de facto concession stand. And its near neighbor, the Phoenix Bank, was operating as an African American owned financial institution as the community was beginning to gain financial power. The theatre was converted to sound in 1929 to remain viable. But the economy cratered soon thereafter. Suffolk Amusement went into bankruptcy on November 18, 1930. And, worse yet, the Phoenix Bank went into receivership just months later.

But the Broadway Theatre was resilient. Pitt-Roth Circuit operated the Broadway through its 15-year lease. In 1940, the circuit gave it a streamline moderne makeover and the venue was renamed in a contest in December of 1940 which changed its name to the Carver Theatre in honor of Dr. George Washington Carver. The refreshed Carver now with its own concession stand opened January 24, 1941 likely on a new 25-year lease with Jane Withers in “Youth Will be Served.” Langston Fortune took over the neighboring creamery turning into the long-running Silver Slipper Cafe and Night Club. The Carver Theatre operated continuously with films through December 16, 1962 closing with Richard Todd in “The Hellions.”

After being used for live events, it was refreshed and reopened on March 17 1963 as the Lee Theatre with “Affar in in Havana” and “Attack of the Crab Monsters.” On July 23, 1964, it was reopened as the East End Theatre with “Cattle King.” The East End closed with “The Sandpiper” on March 13, 1966 reaching the lease’s expiry. The venue reverted back to the Carver Theater moniker and was a private club that had one public-facing live stage event before closing permanently. The theatre and neighboring Silver Slipper was torn down and an unimproved parking lot was created in its former footprint. The Phoenix Bank building survived into the 2020s with its ghost signage still in place.