Safe In Historic Dallas Theatre To Be Unsealed After Decades

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DALLAS (CBS11) - A historic theater in Dallas is about to crack a legendary mystery that has fascinated moviegoers for decades.

The Texas Theatre will celebrate its 85th anniversary on Thursday.

While it's playing the same program and movie it did on opening night back in 1931, it will also finally unseal two chambers of a safe that have sat closed for decades.

"Somebody used to have access and now we don't anymore. You want to go, what's in there?" said Mary Katherine McElroy, the manager of the Texas Theatre.

McElroy said the main door of the safe was busted open years ago but the combination for the two chambers inside has since been lost.

Since the theater has changed hands a few times, no one really knows the last time it was opened.

Some think it was in the 1940s shortly after the last break-in in 1947. Other estimate the 1970s after the theater moved the offices for managers.

"It's just sitting there, flaunting the fact that you can't get into it," said McElory.

On Thursday, a locksmith is set to unseal the mystery.

"I think even just knowing will be exciting. Definitively, there's nothing in there," said McElroy.

Some are hoping for lost riches to help renovate the historic movie house.

Others are bargaining for less lucrative items like documents or old ticket stubs.

Long-time theater attendees like David Dunnigan have no idea what could be inside.

"That was a secret I was not aware of then or now," said Dunnigan.

He is just hoping when the safe chambers are opened it is not empty.

"Drama. That's what theater is all about," said Dunnigan.

The Texas Theatre will be showing a Movietone newsreel, a 16mm Mickey Mouse cartoon and the film "Parlor, Bedroom & Bath."

The first 100 tickets sold will sell for the original admission price of 35 cents.

The event starts at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday.

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