Comments from raybradley

Showing 551 - 575 of 701 comments

raybradley
raybradley commented about Hornbeck Theatre on Aug 27, 2007 at 12:16 pm

Nice grand opening shots of the Hornbeck Theater can be seen by typing in word “hornbeck” -
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raybradley
raybradley commented about Diana Theatre on Aug 27, 2007 at 12:02 pm

SEE a 1962 image of the Diana Theatre dressed in circus attire by typing in word “diana”, then search -
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raybradley
raybradley commented about Criterion Theatre on Aug 27, 2007 at 11:48 am

Vintage interior & exterior images can be viewed on this site. Type in word “criterion”, then enter -
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raybradley
raybradley commented about Walmur Theatre on Aug 12, 2007 at 10:30 pm

Southwestern styling of the Bristow Walmar and Okmulgee Inca auditoriums were very similar in design. Photographs of the Walmar Theatre can be seen by typing word “theatre” in search area …
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raybradley
raybradley commented about Princess Theater on Aug 12, 2007 at 10:18 pm

A wonderful example of a prosperous small town cinema was the Princess Theatre. I believe this was a Paramount house. On below site type in word “princess” to see good vinatage photos …
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raybradley
raybradley commented about Rivoli Theater on Aug 12, 2007 at 10:03 pm

A lost and forgotten jewel, the Rivoli Theatre was elegant, sophisticated, and had comfortable stadium style seating. Clear exterior/interior photos can be seen by typing in word “rivoli” …
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raybradley
raybradley commented about Midwest Theatre on Aug 12, 2007 at 9:33 pm

Only a ten or fifteen cent admission charge? See exterior and interior photos of the pretty Midwest Theatre. Go below and type word “midwest theatre” …
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raybradley
raybradley commented about Osage Theatre on Aug 12, 2007 at 9:07 pm

Obviously Osage Theatre seating capacity far exceeded 475. Proof of this can be seen in fine images of the ultra streamline Osage. Go below and type in words “osage theatre”, then go search …
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raybradley
raybradley commented about Theater Bartlesville on Aug 12, 2007 at 8:49 pm

View vintage images of the Rex Picture House by going below and type in word “rex”, then search …
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raybradley
raybradley commented about Lyric Theatre on Aug 12, 2007 at 8:36 pm

Styled in fun Art Deco fantasy, the Lyric surely was most colourful inside and out. To view vintage images type in word “lyric”, then search …
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raybradley
raybradley on Aug 12, 2007 at 8:29 pm

This theatre opened 1902 as the Oklah Theatre, then became known as Odoen, and finally the Liberty. To see vintage Odeon view type in word “odeon”. For Liberty shot type word “liberty”, then go search …
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raybradley
raybradley commented about Tivoli Theatre on Aug 12, 2007 at 8:13 pm

The lavish Tivoli Theatre was a perfect setting in which to watch a Jeanette MacDonald/Nelson Eddy operetta. To see what I mean go to site below, type in word “tivoli”, then search…
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raybradley
raybradley commented about Temple Theatre on Aug 12, 2007 at 8:08 pm

To see exterior/interior photos of the Temple Theatre type in word “theatre”, then search…
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raybradley
raybradley commented about Star Theater on Aug 12, 2007 at 8:04 pm

An obvious carry over from nickelodeon days, when one bought a ticket to the Star Theatre it was purely to see a movie. There was no pretense of glamour.
Type word “theatre” in search field to see exterior/interior photos of this simple little cinema…
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raybradley
raybradley commented about X-Cite Cinema on Aug 10, 2007 at 10:22 am

Advertisements in old issues of City Key Magazine show this cinema went under the name X-cite during its last couple of years in business.

raybradley
raybradley commented about Isis Theater on Aug 7, 2007 at 5:58 pm

To see exactly what the Isis Theatre looked like go the the below web site and type in word “isis”. This photo is representative of what most Griffith Bros. theatres.
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raybradley
raybradley commented about Reno Theatre on Jul 29, 2007 at 6:48 pm

Old time showman have oft repeated a persistent rumor; Griffith Bros. Theatres were big frogs in little ponds, powerful in small towns of the hinterlands, known for bullying managers and devising ways to avoid minimum wage laws.
Griffith Theatres held little or no clout (or respect) in large towns like Muskogee, Oklahoma City, or Tulsa. In each of these cities Griffith controlled only two or three skid row theatres.
By the late 1940s Griffith finally broke into the big time when they bought the Barton Theatre Chain of OKC. About the same time Talbot sold a few of his mid size Tulsa houses to Griffith.
When Griffith sold out to RKO General and the name was changed to Video Independent Theatres. RKO invested money to upgrade the run down circuit which brought about new found prestige, and Video looked indestructable.
By the time Video noticed a young breed of creative showman who had come on scene it was too late. Video’s massive size and outdated practices caused a quick decline.

Below links show vintage views of the home of R. E. Griffith, youngest of the Griffith bros.
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raybradley
raybradley commented about Lyric Theatre on Jul 26, 2007 at 7:42 pm

Courtesy of Tulsa Library come these 1899 images of the Lyric…
http://www.tulsalibrary.org/JPG/D8103.jpg ~ http://www.tulsalibrary.org/JPG/E0606.jpg

raybradley
raybradley commented about Strand Theatre on Jul 25, 2007 at 10:26 pm

Above photo clearly illustrates that the Strand Cinema started life as the Wonder Land Theatre, probably Tulsa’s first movie house.
This 1885 photo depicts what may have been Tulsa’s very first stage theatre, the Famouse Variety Show, operated by Jack Marris. As native Tulsan Paul Harvey might say, photo caption tells “the rest of the story”.
http://www.tulsalibrary.org/JPG/A0404.jpg

raybradley
raybradley commented about Lyric Theatre on Jul 25, 2007 at 10:12 pm

While the Lyric was Tulsa’s first purpose built theatre, it was certianly not the very first theatre. As this 1885 photo depicts, on the corner of Commerce and Soledad sat Jack Marris' Famous Variety Show that presented live acts in a chamber behind Sim Hart’s Cigar Store. If the stage entertainment turned out not to be too hot, one could retreat upstairs to the 101 Gambling Rooms.
http://www.tulsalibrary.org/JPG/A0404.jpg

raybradley
raybradley commented about Warner Theatre on Jul 21, 2007 at 3:31 pm

1918 Overholser Opera House program ad inside 1925 scrapbook
http://www.tulsalibrary.org/JPG/B1651.jpg

raybradley
raybradley commented about Lyric Theatre on Jul 21, 2007 at 2:42 pm

As Tulsa’s first “grand” building the Lyric’s rough exterior basically staying the same, but seemed to constantly evolve in subtle ways. Here is an 1896 image (photo right) that illustrats an early look.
http://www.tulsalibrary.org/JPG/D8203.jpg
I do suspect that the Lyric was like most other Eighteenth Century opera houses, occupying only upper floors. In later years a new stagehouse was built when the theatre expanded to utilize the entire interior.

raybradley
raybradley commented about Strand Theatre on Jul 21, 2007 at 1:24 pm

Photo right of this c1907 image can be seen the arched entrance of the Strand Nickelodeon, just beyond Palace Clothiers. Lyric Theatre is seen photo left.
http://www.tulsalibrary.org/JPG/D8162.jpg

raybradley
raybradley commented about Lyric Theatre on Jul 21, 2007 at 1:20 pm

Photo left of this c1907 Main Street shot can be seen the Lyric and Roof Garden Theatre. Photo right is seen the arched entry way of the Strand Nickelodeon, just beyond Palace Clothiers.
http://www.tulsalibrary.org/JPG/D8162.jpg

raybradley
raybradley commented about Broadway Theatre on Jul 21, 2007 at 12:47 pm

Another shot of the former Broadway Theatre snapped in 1953. Rialto can be further up the street.
http://www.tulsalibrary.org/JPG/B1196.jpg