Anyone remember J.J. Rodriguez's Teatro Panamericano at 3104 Maple? Became the Festival in 1965, with Rodriguez remaining as vice-president and treasurer of the newly formed Academy Theatres "chain," of which the Festival was the initial (and perhaps only) holding.

An article in the November 22, 1965 issue of Boxoffice magazine relates that Rodriguez, who "has been in the industry for 30 years concentrating on Latin American theatres...also owns the Auto-Vista Drive-In in Dallas."

Thought I knew all of Dallas' film theatres from this time period - never heard of the Auto-Vista, or saw any ads for it in the DMN or the DT-H. Anyone have a clue about this apparently Spanish language drive-in theatre?

Link takes you to the second page of a two-page article.

[www.boxoffice.com]

I never went into the theatre until after it ceased operations as a movie venue. I was part of a small theatre group that did a production of "Equus" at the theatre. We hoped to be able to find a buyer to preserve the structure as it had great historical significance and was beautifully built for live theatre. Sadly, it became just another casualty in Dallas' war on historical structures. They began demolition at night and on a weekend to make sure the destruction was completed before anyone could intervene. The lot then sat vacant for years because there were no actual plans for the property. It was an interesting building with an outdoor terrace restaurant, a full proscenium stage, rehearsal space downstairs below the stage, dressing rooms, shop/storage aeas, and even a puppet theatre built into a wall in the balcony lobby area.

matthew stephenson Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Anyone remember J.J. Rodriguez's Teatro
> Panamericano at 3104 Maple? Became the Festival in
> 1965, with Rodriguez remaining as vice-president
> and treasurer of the newly formed Academy Theatres
> "chain," of which the Festival was the initial
> (and perhaps only) holding.
>
> An article in the November 22, 1965 issue of
> Boxoffice magazine relates that Rodriguez, who
> "has been in the industry for 30 years
> concentrating on Latin American theatres...also
> owns the Auto-Vista Drive-In in Dallas."
>
> Thought I knew all of Dallas' film theatres from
> this time period - never heard of the Auto-Vista,
> or saw any ads for it in the DMN or the DT-H.
> Anyone have a clue about this apparently Spanish
> language drive-in theatre?
>
> Link takes you to the second page of a two-page
> article.
>
> [www.boxoffice.com]
> e_id=1965-11-22&page_no=69#page_start

The first page of the article you linked describes the Festival Theater as an "Art Theater," and the marquee pictured advertises an "adult" film. Art theater and art film usually mean venues and films that are more literary in nature than typical Hollywood fare, but have also been used as euphemisms for sexually explicit fare. I have no idea regarding this instance. I lived in Dallas during the time, but have no recollection of the theater.

Dave McNeely