The Border Theater
Mission, Hidalgo County, Texas
Marker Inscription
A fine example of a mid-20th century motion picture theater with regional stylistic influences, the Border Theater was completed in 1942. Dallas architect William J. Moore designed the structure, which was built by contactor George Holliday. The theater was large enough for 740 patrons and housed the office of owners Mr. and Mrs. R. N. Smith. Changes to the edifice's exterior include a raised marquee and the addition of a tile canopy. The Border Theater remains a monument to Mission's architectural and cinematic history. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1997
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Completed in 1942 and designed by Dallas architect William J. Moore, the Border Theater was a fine mid-century movie house with regional stylistic flourishes, seating 740 and housing the office of its owners, Mr. and Mrs. R. N. Smith. Later changes added a raised marquee and a tile canopy. It was named a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1997.
Why it matters
Neighborhood movie palaces like the Border were the social and cultural heart of small-town America in the mid-twentieth century, and its survival preserves that architectural and cinematic era.
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Related people
- · William J. Moore
- · George Holliday
Themes & tags
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