410 North Bishop

 In 1919, the Rialto Theater was located in Artisan's Collective Gallery (410 North Bishop). For ten years it showed silent movies, which were a huge draw before television. Then, beginning in 1929, when sound was added to movies, it showed “talkies.” 

.           Later it became the Astor Theater, which bragged about its “air seats” and “scientific acoustical arrangements.” If you go inside Artisan's Collective Gallery, you will see, just inside the door, a photo of the Astor Theater

                   Soon after the new theater opened, the Oak Cliff Little Theater started performing in the building. The Little Theater movement was started to provide young people with a chance to learn about acting. The one that met on Bishop was one of the best Little Theaters in the Southwest and people came from all over North Texas to see them.

Step into the alley beside the building. After passing more murals, also done by high school students, you will see a bricked-in door high above the ground. When the Astor Theater was in business, there were steps leading up to the door and a sign hung above it that read “colored entrance.” African-Americans were not allowed to enter through the same door as the whites, and they had to take the highest seats. Since this was before air conditioning, the highest seats would, no doubt, be the hottest.