Magnolia Lounge
Originally the hospitality lounge for the Magnolia Petroleum Company (Mobil), the Magnolia Lounge is the only building on campus with a modern design and is considered the first International-style building built in Texas. It was built by renowned Swiss architect William Lescaze, a pioneer of modernism in American architecture, in 1936 for the Texas Centennial Exposition.
In 1947, the building was converted into a theater where American theater icon, Margo Jones, launched the American Regional Theater movement and the first professional arena theater (theater-in-the-round) in the country. Between 1947 and 1955 Margo Jones produced 85 plays - some were classics, others original works by such playwrights as the then-unknown Tennessee Williams. After her sudden death in 1955, the theater closed shortly after. It reopened in the 1980s and 1990s as a visitors center for Fair Park and later offices for the Friends of Fair Park and a theater space available to rent for outside theatre groups and productions.
In 2023, Fair Park First, in collaboration with the City of Dallas and McCoy Collaborative, initiated planned improvements to the Magnolia Lounge and Margo Jones Theatre. This project aims to restore the 6,100-square-foot building, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, to its former glory.
The revitalization includes essential exterior repairs and minor interior enhancements, ensuring the building’s historical integrity while updating its facilities for modern use. Upgrades to technical equipment, electrical and mechanical systems, plumbing, box office, and back-of-house support will create a more positive and inviting visitor experience. A future collaboration with a new local theatre tenant aims to reestablish the theatre as a premier professional theater-in-the-round, dedicated to providing cultural opportunities to surrounding communities.
Lead Architect: Treanor (formerly McCoy Collaborative)
Support this Effort
Fair Park First is passionately committed to transforming the Magnolia Lounge and Margo Jones Theatre into a thriving cultural hub. This strategic investment seeks to preserve a historic landmark, enrich Dallas’s cultural landscape, and inspire future generations of artists and theater-goers. Through diverse theatrical performances, educational programs, and community partnerships, this revitalization effort aims to ignite a passion for the arts, fostering lasting appreciation and engagement with the performing arts within our community. If you are interested in supporting this effort, please contact us below.
