TUESDAY | March 24
6 p.m.
1904 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard
Dallas, TX 75215
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Join us as we tour the long shuttered Forest Theater. This is a unique opportunity to see the building before work begins in earnest on its rehabilitation.
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The Forest Theater, with its distinctive neon emblazoned tower floating over the marquee, and the attached shopping center, opened in 1949. The 1,500 seat theater was part of the Interstate Theatre chain and was designed by H. F. Pettigrew of Pettigrew and Worley, who also designed the Lakewood and Circle Theaters. It closed just 16 short years after it opened. Subsequent uses for the building were likewise short-lived.
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On Preservation Dallas’ Most Endangered Historic Places list in 2015, the property was purchased by a local philanthropist and donated to CitySquare, a non-profit, based in South Dallas, that is committed to the revitalization of the building and area. Plans have been drawn to restore the exterior and rehabilitate the interior for educational and entertainment purposes. The historic retail component will become a community learning center functioning in collaboration with DISD.
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REGISTRATION
Reservations are required and open to the public. Admission is free for current members of Preservation Dallas and $20 for non-members.
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Please note: this a pre-construction site, so no high heels or open toe shoes. Tour attendees will be required to sign a liability waiver form before the tour.
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PARKING
Parking is available behind the theater accessed from the S.M. Wright Freeway service road or from South Harwood Street.