The Inwood Theatre
by Paula Bosse
Seven years after opening, in 1954… (click for larger image)
by Paula Bosse
The Inwood Theatre opened at Lovers Lane and Inwood Road on May 16, 1947. Even though the surrounding neighborhood has changed pretty dramatically over the years, the exterior of the H. F. Pettigrew-designed building looks pretty much the same today. Happily, the 69-year old movie theater is still in business.
The Grand Opening — May 16, 1947 (click to see larger image)
via Cinema Treasures
via D Magazine
via Architexas on Instagram
Ad detail, May, 1947
Ad detail, May, 1947
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Sources & Notes
Top photo from D Magazine, here; from the Texas/Dallas History and Archives Division, Dallas Public Library. If you zoom in, there seems to be some drama going on inside one of those parked cars:
Images are larger when clicked.
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Copyright © 2016 Paula Bosse. All Rights Reserved.
Flashback : Dallas 
You’re hitting home here, Paula! In the middle of that first picture is a car that could have belonged to my dad, although I know he and mom moved to So Cal in Aug 56, so it’s impossible. Fun to imagine though, and visuals help. Also, in the mid 80’s, I had a short temporary stint here in Dallas, and lived in the apartments right next door the the shopping center where the Inwood is located. You can see the white buildings in a couple of the pictures that look East. By then, they had just knocked down the buildings in the pictures, which fronted the complex along Lovers to build the shopping center that’s there now, but initially they kept some of the buildings at the back of the complex. Those apartments were fun and funky, and I had some really great neighbors who had lived there for many decades. They were always happy to sit with me on the back stoop at night and tell me stories about Dallas of old.
Fun times!
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heee….that comment above was posted by me, but I forgot to give my credentials. Sorry!
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Have a great 240th USA Birthday !
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so glad the Inwood is still here. didn’t grow in Dallas (GP/Arlington), but came back from school many times in the 90s for concerts and visits. will never forget going to the Inwood for a midnight showing of Rosemary’s Baby on a dark and storming night! and it’s so weird to see the pics of the Inwood with nothing but land around it!
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Yes, El Chico! Remember those big paintings on the far wall of the 1st floor? Those stayed on that wall through the Cantina Laredo era. Gone now (wonder where they went?). I am so glad that the Inwood is still there and intact and love the Inwood Lounge. Always a destination when I visit Big D.
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The El Chico restaurant in the picture opened in June, 1949. I was 4 years old & attended the opening.
The 2 murals mentioned in another comment were painted by Dallas artist, Frank Boerder. The are now in the decor of the El Chico restaurant in Rockwall, TX.
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what was the hardware store’s name at the western end of the center?
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Sharps Hardware
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Sharp’s Hardware
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The hardware store was sharps hardware. I worked there in the early 1980’s. I also worked at I can’t believe it’s yogurt. across the street We had left north Dallas to live in Greenway Parks.
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Neat pic’s !
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In 1980, I was an assistant manager at the Duke and Ayers store located right across the street from this theatre. Watched many movies in this theatre…
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What was the name of the pharmacy at the west end of the strip
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