Dallas, October 17, 2025
News Summary
The Texas Theater in Dallas is hosting an interactive art installation called The Video Crypt throughout October. This installation recreates a nostalgic video rental shop environment, featuring vintage decor and community events. With collaborations from the Dallas VHS Swap, visitors will enjoy special screenings, competitions, and volunteer guides acting as staff. Highlights include showings of cult classics and themed events that celebrate local film culture and community engagement.
Dallas — The Texas Theater in Dallas is presenting an interactive art installation called The Video Crypt for the Halloween season in October, combining a nostalgic video-rental-shop environment with a slate of community events and special screenings. The installation runs throughout October and aligns with multiple community Halloween events, including special film screenings and competitions at the theater.
Key details
The Video Crypt aims to recreate the nostalgic experience of mom-and-pop video rental shops, contrasting against the corporatized video experience of chain stores. The installation will feature old Family Video shelves, cardboard standees, posters, and VHS tapes sourced from a variety of old video shops and the Dallas VHS Swap. The Dallas VHS Swap, an organization for video collectors, collaborated on the project, emphasizing community experience over streaming services.
The Video Crypt will have volunteer docents, known as “store employees,” who will guide visitors and check out tapes. The installation will run throughout October and align with multiple community Halloween events, including special film screenings and competitions at the theater. There is potential for expanding The Video Crypt beyond October, with ideas for future themed pop-up experiences.
Events and schedule
Events associated with The Video Crypt include several headline community activities:
- A screening of Elvira: Mistress of the Dark with a drag show on October 18.
- The Texas Film Cult Short Horror Film competition on October 20.
- A VHS Swap event in the theater lobby on October 21.
- A Joe Bob Briggs marathon on Halloween night from 7 PM to 7 AM.
Supporting details
The Texas Theater offers a unique cinema experience distinct from corporate megaplexes. Originally opened in 1931, the Texas Theater features two auditoriums: the original auditorium (where Lee Harvey Oswald was detained) and a newer intimate balcony auditorium. The theater has undergone transformations, including periods of decline, and was revived by Aviation Cinemas in 2010, led by CEO Barak Epstein.
In 2025 the Texas Theater maintained a robust programming schedule of revival screenings and niche film events, serving as a community hub that showcases local film festivals like the Oak Cliff Film Festival and special screenings such as Cronenberg revivals. The theater has become a vital part of Dallas’ film culture, engaging with the community through curated series and programs.
Installation sources and collaborators
Items for The Video Crypt were sourced from a variety of old video shops and the Dallas VHS Swap. Old Family Video shelves, cardboard standees, posters, and VHS tapes are among the materials used to build the installation. The Dallas VHS Swap collaborated on the project to emphasize the community experience over streaming services.
Community role and future plans
The Texas Theater continues to function as a neighborhood screening space and programming hub, integrating pop-up experiences like The Video Crypt into its calendar. The installation is timed to intersect with Halloween programming and community events, and theater staff have discussed the potential for expanding The Video Crypt beyond October into other themed pop-up experiences.
Visitor information
The installation will include volunteer guides to help visitors navigate the experience. The Video Crypt will have volunteer docents, known as “store employees,” who will guide visitors and check out tapes. The installation runs throughout October and is paired with timed screenings and community events at the theater.
Background
The Texas Theater has a long history in Dallas cinema, opening in 1931 and later surviving periods of decline before a revival led by Aviation Cinemas in 2010 under CEO Barak Epstein. The theater now operates two spaces: the original auditorium—famous as the site where Lee Harvey Oswald was detained—and a smaller balcony auditorium used for intimate screenings and curated events. Its programming in 2025 included revival screenings, niche events, local festivals, and curated series.
FAQ
What is The Video Crypt?
The Video Crypt aims to recreate the nostalgic experience of mom-and-pop video rental shops, contrasting against the corporatized video experience of chain stores.
When does The Video Crypt run?
The installation will run throughout October and align with multiple community Halloween events, including special film screenings and competitions at the theater.
Who collaborated on the installation?
The Dallas VHS Swap, an organization for video collectors, collaborated on the project, emphasizing community experience over streaming services.
Will there be staff or guides at The Video Crypt?
The Video Crypt will have volunteer docents, known as “store employees,” who will guide visitors and check out tapes.
What events are associated with The Video Crypt?
Events associated with “The Video Crypt” include:
- A screening of “Elvira: Mistress of the Dark” with a drag show on October 18.
- The Texas Film Cult Short Horror Film competition on October 20.
- A VHS Swap event in the theater lobby on October 21.
- A Joe Bob Briggs marathon on Halloween night from 7 PM to 7 AM.
Is there potential for the installation to return after October?
There is potential for expanding “The Video Crypt” beyond October, with ideas for future themed pop-up experiences.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| The Video Crypt | A Halloween-season interactive art installation recreating mom-and-pop video rental shops |
| Location | The Texas Theater in Dallas |
| Run dates | Throughout October |
| Collaborators | Dallas VHS Swap and local video shop sources |
| On-site staff | Volunteer docents, known as “store employees” |
| Associated events | Elvira screening (Oct 18), Texas Film Cult competition (Oct 20), VHS Swap (Oct 21), Joe Bob Briggs marathon (Oct 31) |
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Additional Resources
- Star-Telegram
- Wikipedia: Texas Theater
- Dallas Observer
- Google Search: Texas Theater Dallas
- NBC DFW
- Google Scholar: Texas theater history
- D Magazine
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Texas Theater
- WFAA
- Google News: Texas Theater events
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