I hope you have noticed the exciting things that have been happening down at the Texas Theater on Jefferson Blvd. since Barak Epstein and company’s Aviation Cinemas took over management of the historic theater back in August 2010. Perhaps you’ve caught an installment of the Kurosawa retrospective, or you are a Magnetic Fields fan celebrating the news that the doc about the band, Strange Powers, has now found a venue for a Dallas release.

I spent last Friday morning at the theater with Epstein who told me about what has to be the coolest JFK assassination anniversary programming to date: Epstein found a ten minute super 8mm print of War is Hell, the movie that was playing in the Texas Theater at the time Oswald was arrested there on that fateful day in 1963. That shortened version of the movie will screen on November 22 with Virtual JFK, the movie that wonders what the Vietnam War would have looked life if Kennedy had not been killed, a movie which you may remember from when it screened at the Dallas Video Festival.

Next on the agenda for the Texas Theater: the Grand Opening, which will take place on December 9. Mayor Tom will be on hand to cut the ribbon, and after the festivities, the theater will screen Planes, Trains, and Automobiles. A full release about the event is after the jump.

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony / Holiday House Warming Party at the historic Texas Theatre with Special Guest Mayor Tom Leppert on Dec. 9^th 2010

“I have screened my film all over the United States and throughout the world and the Texas Theatre ranks among the most impressive historic theaters I have played. It’s an honor to be one of the first films to show in the newly renovated space.” –  Award winning filmmaker Bradley Beesley (‘Okie Noodling’, ‘Christmas on Mars’, ‘Sweethearts of the Prison Rodeo’)

“Over the years various groups have rescued the Texas Theatre from the wrecking ball. Now (Aviation Cinemas) are creating a positive buzz because they have the expertise, the vision and the energy to transform the aging lady into a Dallas film buff paradise.” – The Dallas Morning News

Making (their) own films and owning the theater to show them in is a throwback to the man who built the Texas Theatre in 1931: Howard Hughes. – The Dallas Observer

Aviation Cinemas and Dallas City Council Woman Delia Jasso Announce a Holiday House warming party and ribbon cutting ceremony with special guest Mayor Tom Leppert at the historic Texas Theatre on Thursday, Dec. 9^th from 5pm – 8:00pm.

Special Guest Mayor Tom Leppert, City Council Woman Delia Jasso, Members of the local and national Media, Dallas City Officials, the Oak Cliff Board, friends of the Texas Theatre, Aviation Cinemas Partners and Staff will be on hand to usher in the Holidays in a good ‘ol fashioned Texas way: a ribbon cutting, a classic film and enough egg nog to last all winter long.

Doors open at 5pm with cocktails and appetizers for attendees. At 5:25 Special Guest Mayor Tom Leppert will speak and officially cut the ribbon on the newly renovated theatre. City Council Woman Delia Jasso, who was been integral in the revitalization efforts of the Theatre and throughout Oak Cliff, will speak next as the group enters the space for a tour. At 6:30pm there will be a special screening of the classic holiday comedy “Plains Trains and Automobiles” inside the theatre. Dress is business casual or your favorite Holiday sweater / turtleneck and jacket combo.

The Texas Theatre (located on 231 W. Jefferson Blvd in Oak Cliff) is a historic movie theatre that also hosts concerts, events, theatrical productions and “Rough Cut Lab” screenings for filmmakers. When first opened in 1931, the Texas Theatre was the largest suburban movie theater in Dallas and was part of a chain of theaters once owned by Howard Hughes. In August of 2010, Aviation Cinemas Inc, a company started by film producer and consultant Barak Epstein, signed a lease to operate the theater.  The Aviation Cinemas team consists of filmmakers Adam Donaghey, Eric Steele, and creative director Jason Reimer.   Aviation Cinemas has constructed a new full service bar and concession stand and are in the process of upgrading the projection and sound in the 650 seat house for both 35mm and digital cinema. The theatre is currently booking all sorts of independent films and events, including this years Dallas premiers of “Sweethearts of the Prison Rodeo” and “Strange Powers” and the Dallas theatrical premier of “Virtual JFK” presented in conjunction with the Dallas Video Fest. During the event on Dec. 9^th, the new bar, concession stand and other amenities will be on display. Come join us for cocktails, free popcorn, catering from local favorite restaurants and an official tour of the historic space (including Oswald’s infamous seat).

The Texas Theatre | www.thetexastheatre.com | 231 W. Jefferson Blvd Dallas, TX 75208

Twitter: @texastheatre | Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TexTheatre

“To Preserve and Improve…” – the goal of Aviation Cinemas, Inc