Woodlawn Theater Opened in 1945

The Woodlawn Theater, 1920 Fredericksburg Road, is an iconic landmark in the heart of the Deco District, and through multiple incarnations, has served as a major entertainment venue for our neighborhood for over 75 years. 

This “De Luxe Suburban Theatre” was designed by John Eberson, one of the most celebrated theater designers of the 20th century. Mr. Eberson designed over 500 theaters around the world, many of them in the atmospheric style, artfully exemplified by another of his efforts, downtown’s Majestic Theater.  The Woodlawn’s auditorium seated 1400 people on the main floor and balcony and was designed to feature the latest Hollywood motion pictures.

Called the “newest and most modern of San Antonio’s suburban showhouses,” the Woodlawn theater opened on August 17, 1945, playing National Velvet, starring Mickey Rooney and a young 12-year-old Elizabeth Taylor.  As an added attraction, the theater also played Girls Preferred, a two-reel short film featuring the celebrated Lassos from Thomas Jefferson High School.

The theater was ready for the car culture of the 1940s, and opened with a large parking lot just across the street. This lot is the current site of the closed credit union and the housing units under construction on the block between Gramercy and Donaldson.  The lot was lighted, paved, and even had attendants to watch over the cars while patrons were at the Woodlawn.

Opening night ceremonies were attended by Mayor Raymond Mauermann and several representatives of the Interstate Theater Circuit, which operated the theaters. KABC televised the event from outside the theater starting at 7:45 pm, so it must have been quite an anticipated grand opening.

In 1960, the world premiere of The Alamo, starring John Wayne, was held at the Woodlawn and the theater continuing to feature first run movies for several years.  By the 1970s it began to suffer, and eventually fell into disrepair.  The movies ended, and tenants used it for live theater, music concerts, and a variety of events.

World premier of The Alamo, 1960

In 2013, the Woodlawn Theatre was designated a City of San Antonio Historic Landmark, and in July 2022, the live theater producers using the theater announced they were moving out of the building into another facility.

I can’t wait to see the next chapter for this amazing building, and see it continue to be a popular center for neighborhood entertainment.