The Campus Theatre
"The Finest Theatre in North Texas"
The Campus Theatre opened its doors on October 5, 1949. The premiere attraction: "I Was a Male War Bride", starring Ann Sheridan (of Denton) and Cary Grant.
Over one year under construction, 1948 – 1949, the Campus was built at a cost of over half million dollars. An estimated 30 tons of steel went into building the Campus.
Very little needed repair or replacement in the first twenty five years due to the excellent care ABC Interstate Theatres gave to the Campus.
Major changes through the years included: A new wider, curved screen for cinemascope in 1954, Waterfall curtains and a 4-track stereophonic sound system.
Several movie stars and personalities have visited the Campus through the years. Among them: Warren Beatty, John Wayne, Fabian, William Freidkin, Sandra Dee, Michael Pollard, Estelle Parsons, Jay Silverheels, Chill Wills, Arthur Penn, Deborah Walley and B. W. Stephensons.
On October of 1967 the world premiere of "Bonnie and Clyde" was held in the Campus. Much of the film was shot in the North Texas area and the Campus was used as Warner Brothers’ headquarters during that time.
At the premiere, the packed house included not only the stars of the film, but movie critics from all over the U.S. The reviews were outstanding!
Here is a list of some of the big movies that have been shown at the Campus through the years:
Gone With The Wind, Ben Hur, The 10 Commandments, The Sound of Music, Bonnie and Clyde, Dr. Zhivago, The Greatest Show on Earth, The King and I, Funny Girl, Giant,
Cinderella, Auntie Mame, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Camelot, Cleopatra, Love is a Many Splendored Thing, The Rabe, The Bible, Peter Pan, Mash, I’ll Cry Tomorrow, West Side Story, Tammy, The Great Gatsby, The Exorcist, Peyton Place, True Grit, Blue Hawaii, Shenandoah, Oklahoma, Old Yellar, Davy Crockett, My Fair Lady, Lover Come Back, Wizard of Oz, The Love Bug, Adam’s Rib, Around the World in 80 Days, Friendly Persuasion, Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison, Island in the Sun, Love Me Tender, Pal Joey, Teahouse of the August Moon, Bus Stop, Carousel, Guys and Dolls, To Catch a Thief, War and Peace, Battle Cry, The Left Hand of God, A Man Called Peter, Mister Roberts, A Star is Born, No Business Like Show Business, Seven Year Itch, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Caine Mutiny, High and the Mighty, Hondo, Magnificent Obsession, Rear Window, On the Waterfront, White Christmas, From Here to Eternity, High Noon, Ivanhoe, The Quiet Man, Singing in the Rain, Streetcar Named Desire, An American in Paris, Show Boat, Annie Get Your Gun, Cheaper By the Dozen, The Paleface
ABC Interstate Theatres, which pioneered the motion pictures theatre in Texas, operated over 100 theatres throughout Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas and Tennessee.
Founded in 1905 by the late Karl Hobitzelle, ABC Interstate strove through the years to present their patrons with the best theatres that could be built. Mr. Hoblitzelle said, "The theatres belong to the customer first, and to those who operate them second." His words were adopted as the mission statement of Interstate officials whenever a new theatre was built.
