Sundance Square in Fort Worth in Tarrant County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Site of Majestic Theatre

Photographed by Jeff Leichsenring, March 6, 2023

1. Site of Majestic Theatre Marker

Inscription. At the turn of the century Ft. Worth's live entertainment consisted chiefly of saloon, dance hall, church, and school presentations. Matters changed in 1905 when Karl Hoblitzelle founded the Interstate Amusement Company and chose Ft. Worth for its Southwest Vaudeville Theater Circuit. One of Interstate's famous "Atmospheric" Majestic Theaters was built at Tenth and Commerce streets (one block south) in 1910-11.

The Majestic's lavish interior included Turkish rugs, French doors and mirrors, plush Spanish leather upholstery and a lobby with marble floors, hand-painted walls, and 18 karat gold leaf ceilings. The 1,356-seat theater reportedly contained the country's first indirect stage lighting system and the country's largest concrete arch, an 80-foot balcony support beam.

Performers on Ft. Worth's Majestic stage included Will Rogers, Walter Huston, Tallulah Bankhead, and Fred Allen. The Theater added feature movies to its vaudeville program in 1922 and in 1932 discontinued its vaudeville presentations. Thereafter strictly a motion picture theater the Majestic fell on hard times and closed in 1953. Despite efforts to restore it, the Majestic was razed in 1970 to make room for the new Tarrant County Convention Center.

Erected 1993 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker

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Number 4828.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Entertainment. A significant historical year for this entry is 1905.

Location. 32° 45.091′ N, 97° 19.714′ W. Marker is in Fort Worth, Texas, in Tarrant County. It is in Sundance Square. It is at the intersection of East 9th Street and Commerce Street, on the right when traveling east on East 9th Street. In front of the Fort Worth Convention Center, to the left of the entrance. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Fort Worth TX 76102, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Prairies & Lakes Region.

It is also in the American South.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Republic of Texas,

and one of the Confederate States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: JFK (within shouting distance of this marker); Black Business District (within shouting distance of this marker); "A Great Time to be Alive" (within shouting distance of this marker); General William Jenkins Worth (within shouting distance of this marker); Black Medical District (within shouting distance of this marker); John F. Kennedy Memorial (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Ephraim Merrill Daggett (about 300 feet away); a different marker also named General William Jenkins Worth (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fort Worth.

Photographed by Jeff Leichsenring, March 6, 2023

2. Site of Majestic Theatre Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on March 9, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 7, 2023, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas. This page has been viewed 451 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 7, 2023, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.