GRAPEVINE, TEXAS (November 19, 2025) – The Historic Palace Theatre in Grapevine is celebrating its 85th anniversary on Friday, November 21, 2025. The “Jewel of Main Street” is filled with rich history and has served as the cornerstone of entertainment in Grapevine for decades. The Palace will be showing a Christmas movie at 7 p.m. on Friday, November 21, for $10 a ticket, and will be celebrating its history beforehand starting at 6:30 p.m.

Key Historic Facts: Palace Theatre 85th Anniversary

Opened November 21, 1940, built by Jerome Kirby Buckner for $25,000
Designed by noted theatre architect Raymond F Smith, known for his white stucco exteriors and art-deco flair
First film shown: My Love Came Back starring Olivia de Havilland and Jeffrey Lynn
More than 500 guests attended opening night in 1940
Original ticket prices: 10 cents for adults, 5 cents for children
Original layout included 22 loveseats, 130 balcony seats and 283 main floor seats
Served as Grapevine's movie theatre for more than 25 years
Final film before closure in late 1960s: Serpico
Briefly operated as “The Flicks” by high school students in 1971 - 72
Reopened as The Grapevine Opry in 1975, featuring artists including Willie Nelson, The Judds, Porter Wagoner, Brenda Lee and Shoji Tabuchi
Used as a filming location for Tender Mercies (1983) starring Robert Duvall
Suffered a major fire during remodeling in 1986, causing $100,000 in damage
Threatened with demolition in 1991, the Theatre was purchased by Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau on behalf of the Grapevine Heritage Foundation
Underwent major restoration and reopened as the Palace Arts Center on May 21, 2001 and reopened as The Grapevine Opry
The Palace Arts Center now includes two venues under one roof: the 435 seat Palace Theatre and the Lancaster Theatre
Hosted The Grapevine Opry for more than 10 years
Since 2016, Palace Theatre staff have booked an impressive lineup including tribute artists, concerts, touring acts and year-round movie series
The Historic Palace Theatre and Lancaster Theatre continue to serve as a cornerstone for entertainment, meetings, weddings and special events on Historic Main Street. You can get concessions for just one to three dollars. If you bring in a same-day restaurant receipt from Main Street you get free popcorn.

For more information on the Historic Palace Theatre and to buy tickets visit GrapevinePalaceTheatre.com.

ABOUT GRAPEVINE, TEXAS:

Grapevine, Texas, is a charming destination located on the shores of Lake Grapevine, and home to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport. It offers a blend of history and modern amenities. Known for its vibrant hospitality, Grapevine is home to a range of world-class hotels, from luxe resorts, including Gaylord Texan, to the boutique Hotel Vin and family-friendly Great Wolf Lodge, visitors will find accommodations that suit their needs and preferences. Grapevine is home to the Urban Wine Trail, Historic Main Street, Historic Nash Farm, Grapevine Vintage Railroad and hosts many annual festivals and events including GrapeFest® - A Texas Wine Experience, Main Street Fest – A Timeless Texas Tradition and the Christmas Capital of Texas®, featuring more than 1,400 Christmas events over 40 days.

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