A Sign of the Times: Famous Casa Linda Landmark's Gone, Perhaps For Good

• I grew up in a house just north of Casa Linda at the corner of Garland Rd. and Peavy. The house faced on Selva Drive and was right across Garland Rd. from the old Minyard's Food Market (I mean the OLD Minyard's that fronted on Garland, before they demolished it and built the new one that fronted on Peavy). Regarding the taking down of the "McLendon 3" sign at the Casa Linda, let me say that I never DID like that sign, or the splitting up into 3 auditoriums of my favorite neighborhood movie theater. I hope they don't put it back on but just keep the understated "Casa Linda" script over the marquee. I haven't lived in Dallas since 1979 but I'd sure like to see the shopping center that I grew up with come back (or what's left of it - the old Mobil station is long gone now, and IIRC, Collins-Dennison Ford - also long gone - bought the corner across from the Mobil, where the old House of Steaks was, with its grill out in the middle of the dining room). I remember seeing "Jason and the Argonauts" at the Casa Linda in 1963, and meeting John Wayne at the world premiere of "True Grit" there in 1969. What a thrill! What a theater! What a shopping center! What a great neighborhood!

• Hey if anyone wants to provide me some financial backing, I would try to open the theater back up as an Alamo Drafthouse knockoff. If I had enough money, I would have done it already. I know the neighborhood would support a movie theater/grill in the old Casa Linda Theater spot. Casa Linda was a profitable theater that the children of McClendon just got tired of operating. You can find more information on what caused the theater to close here: http://cinematreasures.org/theater/1056/

• Put another feather in the cap for the "Why isn't this an Alamo Drafthouse or some ripoff version of one?" Perfect location, perfect business plan.

• Its a darn shame what they've done to the casa linda. Alamo Drafthouse would've been a great tenant for that building, but the owners sat on their butts and didnt make the improvements needed to have a decent establishment such as theirs in this location

• Has SC Companies approached anyone about using the space as an actual theater now that it has been renovated? Alamo Drafthouse felt it was a viable theater yet didn't come in because the previous owners wouldn't agree to fix up the thing before they moved in. Since it has been fixed up some, why wouldn't they approach someone to come in and use it as an actual theater? The neighborhood is certainly clamoring for the theater to be alive again. Why not hit up a group like Studio Movie Grill or Movie Tavern? Neither have a real presence in the city of Dallas but have tons of theaters littered around the suburbs of Dallas and Ft. Worth. Anything would be better than more retail that may or may not last in the space. I am getting so tired of hearing the empty promises from these developers and property owners. At least AMREIT seems to have a plan but you haven't heard a peep out of SC Companies since they started renovating. Who exactly are the people lining up to put their retail in an old theater? Is the theater going to be split into two different spaces? Three, four? People need to realize that Casa Linda Plaza won't be great again until a quality tenant is in at the theater.

• I'm still bummed this is not gonna be an Alamo Drafthouse... Speaking of signs: The Pegasus from across the street at the demolished Mobil is now at: the Old Red Museum. I see the grand opening is tomorrow: http://www.oldred.org/news.html I was surprised to see it now has an 8 buck entrance fee. signs signs everywhere a sign blocking out the scenary breaking my mind... Five Man Electrical Band

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