By Truitt                                             H.R. No. 1119
         77R16681 JKB-D                           
                                 R E S O L U T I O N
 1-1           WHEREAS, Established in 1940, the Palace Theatre in Grapevine
 1-2     has long been a treasured part of the Texas landscape, and it is a
 1-3     privilege to join in celebrating the grand re-opening of this
 1-4     beloved institution; and
 1-5           WHEREAS, On May 21, 2001, after a $5 million restoration and
 1-6     the incorporation of the neighboring 71-year-old grocery store, the
 1-7     newly christened Palace Arts Center will open its doors, revealing
 1-8     a stunning blend of historical preservation and modern innovations;
 1-9     the 14,000-square-foot facility features two theaters, a space for
1-10     art exhibitions, and a terrace, as well as special ceilings to
1-11     block exterior noise and numerous state-of-the-art amenities; and
1-12           WHEREAS, This inspired center is a far cry from the original
1-13     movie house of the 1940s, which after 20 years of regular use, was
1-14     abandoned and was reported to have been used for hay storage; the
1-15     1970s saw a revival of the theater when it was restored for the
1-16     Grapevine Opry and hosted such renowned country music singers as
1-17     Boxcar Willie, Porter Wagoner,  and Willie Nelson until its closing
1-18     in 1983; and
1-19           WHEREAS, Surviving a fire in 1986, the Palace Theatre was
1-20     renovated and again provided a stage for the Grapevine Opry
1-21     beginning in 1987, and after the purchase of the theater by the
1-22     Grapevine Heritage Foundation, it hosted monthly classical and pops
1-23     concerts as well; and
1-24           WHEREAS, On June 6, 1999, the Palace Theatre closed for what
 2-1     would be a two-year "intermission," during which the most intensive
 2-2     restoration in the theater's history commenced, and on May 5, 2001,
 2-3     the Grapevine Opry performed the first show in the new Palace Arts
 2-4     Center; the official grand opening of the Palace Arts Center will
 2-5     include a show by the city's opry, presentation of a 1940 newsreel,
 2-6     and the lighting and toasting of the marquee, followed by a
 2-7     week-long celebration; and
 2-8           WHEREAS, The citizens of this close-knit community can take
 2-9     great pride in the storied history of the Palace Theatre and in the
2-10     diligent efforts of members of the Grapevine Heritage Foundation
2-11     that have culminated in a truly unique facility; now, therefore, be
2-12     it
2-13           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas
2-14     Legislature hereby congratulate the residents of Grapevine on the
2-15     grand opening of the Palace Arts Center and extend to them sincere
2-16     best wishes for an enjoyable and memorable event; and, be it
2-17     further
2-18           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
2-19     prepared for the Grapevine Heritage Foundation as an expression of
2-20     high regard by the Texas House of Representatives.