The Palace Theater in Grapevine Celebrates Its 85th Anniversary: 1940 Was a Very Good Year
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In 1940, Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas” ranked as the best-selling record ever, Winston Churchill became England’s prime minister, President Franklin Roosevelt was elected to his third term, and Grapevine’s Historic Palace Theatre opened.
That opening 85 years ago on Nov. 21, 1940, as a state-of-the-art movie house will be celebrated today at the theater, located at 300 S. Main St. The occasion will be marked with dignitaries’ speeches beginning at 6:45 p.m., then at 7 p.m. “Miracle on 34th Street” will be screened. It’s a fitting celebration since a movie showing is how the theater began 85 years ago.
The theater, once rescued from a planned demise, stands strong today as a favorite venue in the North Texas city. If the walls could speak, an interesting story they would tell. Designed by Raymond F. Smith with a white stucco exterior and Art Deco flourishes, the theater was built by Jerome Kirby Buckner. The price? The theater cost $25,000 to build at a time when a first-class stamp was three cents.
The business opened with a screening of “My Love Came Back,” starring Olivia de Havilland and Jeffrey Lynn. At the time, the theater featured 22 loveseats, 130 balcony seats, and 283 seats on the main floor. Admission was 10 cents for adults and five cents for children. Nestled along Grapevine’s Main Street, the site quickly became a fixture in the community.
Fixture in Grapevine
For more than 25 years, the venue served as Grapevine’s primary movie house, but closed in the late 1960s. In 1971, a group of high school students briefly revived it as “The Flicks.”
The next chapter began in 1975, when the venue transformed into The Grapevine Opry. The venue drew major musical entertainers during the time, treating the local audience to the talents of country stars. Over the years, its stage welcomed singing legends including Willie Nelson, The Judds, Porter Wagoner, and Brenda Lee.
Preserved for History
A fire in 1986 caused $100,000 in damage. Then the building faced demolition in 1991, before the Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Grapevine Heritage Foundation rescued it from the wrecking ball. After a broad restoration, the Palace Arts Center reopened on May 21, 2001, encompassing both the Palace Theatre and the Lancaster Theatre.
The Grapevine stage has even been the site of at least one proposal. Colleyville resident Anne Fulghum was told her father, Ben Fulghum, was receiving a workplace award one evening in May of 2017. So, the family dressed up and arrived at the theater only to find Anne’s then-boyfriend, Andrew Dorf, on stage playing guitar, surrounded by his musical siblings. He got on one knee, she said yes, and they live happily ever after in Fort Worth.
Today’s Theater
Now the Grapevine Historic Palace Theatre seats 435 patrons and frequently presents concerts, tribute artists, touring acts, and movie series. The theater’s location in Grapevine’s downtown historic district puts it at the center of the city’s many festivals and parades. It’s surrounded by a walkable mix of popular boutiques, restaurants, and wine tasting rooms, drawing tourists year-round to its small-town setting.
Special events are planned throughout the holiday season at this theater as part of Grapevine’s Christmas Capital of Texas campaign. Both seasonal concerts and holiday movies are planned through the next month. More information is available at GrapevineTexasUSA.com.
