No argument can be made that Paramount operated some of the most opulent movie palaces. It can also be said that they profited from some really crappy small theatres too, like this relic from the nickelodeon era that somehow lasted until TV put it out of business.
On this site type in word “paramount” to see vintage pix. View link
It is believed, by this author, that the Paramount Theatre listed as bing in Altus was actualy the one located in Bristow.
This c1960 side view provides an idea of the Lyric layout. Note the newer stage house, added sometime after 1900, that doesn’t match the original design. http://www.tulsalibrary.org/JPG/E1382.jpg
Presented here is a late 1800s drawing of a business that sat a few doors South of the Lyric. Several early 1900s photos show a theatre sign atop this structure, but I have not yet been able to trace what theatre this building was converted to. http://www.tulsalibrary.org/JPG/C0206.jpg
Mr. Albright:
I beg your pardon, but reaserch of old newspaper ads reveal that Griffith Bros (AKA-Video) Theatres operated more than just two porn houses.
In OKC they owned skid row theatres that regularly exhibited X-rated films; Pix, Reno, & Rialto. Also, it was Video who switched the opulent Midwest Theatre over to adult loops, when they leased this giant atmospheric during the late 1960s.
Throughout the 1970s Video exhibited X-product in their Circle Cinema, Tulsa.
The Boomer Theatre in Norman sporadically screened skin flicks, though actually not often enough to classify this as an adult house.
Is this a picture of the Ritz Theatre in Lawton (long before it became a porn house) ? ? ? http://www.tulsalibrary.org/JPG/E1663.jpg
Official name of the former fifth floor newsreel cinema was Harding Hall. For a good auditorium image go to above okhistory web site and enter name “harding”.
Look into this informative site to see an image of a stage production that played the Hippodrome Theatre. Enter word “hippodrome”, then press search… View link
Go to Oklahoma Histerical Society below site to view images of the Yale auditoriun, (one story) Sixth Street, and (three story) Seventh Street entrance. Type in word “yale”, then search… View link
Oklahoma Historical Society shares these exterior/interior shots of the Rex Theatre. Actually these are not images of the Rex listed on this page. REX (AKA-Cozy) depicted in these b&w pictures are of a theatre on Sixth (Main) Street, Okmulgee, OK.
To view images type in “okmulgee rex”, then go search… View link
Oklahoma Hyterical Society archives contain top quality photos of the Orpheum Theatre exterior/interior. Unfortunately, these B&W pictures just can’t convey brilliant color used to dress up fancy plasterwork, that consisted of bright red, deep blue, and vibrant green.
To view these fine prints type in “okmulgee orpheum”, then search… View link
Nice vintage images of the Rodeo Theatre facade, marquee, lobby, and auditorium can be viewed on below link. In search field type in word “rodeo”, then press enter… View link
In below 1950s photos of the Reno Theatre notice that main stream double features were presented between burlesque shows. Judging from these interior shots strip tease queens pranced onstage inside a Gothic style auditorium that looked more like a church than a burly-Q. In search field type in word “theatre”, then press enter… View link
Below link has period views of the Gaiety Theatre exterior, lobby, and auditorium. In search field type in words “gaiety agnew”, then hit enter. View link
NOTE-a couple of those 1950 interior shots are mistakenly labelled Agnew Theatre. It’s not hard to figure out what shots go with the shabby Gaiety.
Agnew Theatre 1946 exterior, lobby, and auditorium views can be seen on below site. Type in word “agnew”, then search… View link
A couple of those 1950 interior shots labelled Agnew are actually those of the Gaiety Theatre, but it isn’t hard to figure out which picture goes with what theatre.
The University Theatre was designed in pure Art Deco styling, as seen in these 1936 exterior and auditorium views. On below site type in word “theatre”, then hit search… View link
The Cinema East was designed to be a twin cinema, but the second auditorium was never built.
To see 1968 grand opening views & 1984 demolition photos of the Cinema East, go to below site, enter words “cinea east”, then hit search… View link
Below will bring up period images of the Campus (AKA-first Boomer) Theatre, and the second Boomer. Photo captions claim the first and second Boomer were one and the same. Obviously they were two different cinemas. In search field enter word “theatre”, then hit enter… View link
There is a good possibility the second Boomer was built on the site as the University Theatre.
To view 1936 exterior photo of the Esquire Theatre, when it was still known as Kiowa, enter site below, type in word “theatre”, then enter. Images of the Oklahoman Theatre will also pop up. View link
A 1912 photo of the Capitol Theatre, when it was still known as Dreamland, can be seen on site below. Enter word ‘dreamland’, then hit search… View link
No argument can be made that Paramount operated some of the most opulent movie palaces. It can also be said that they profited from some really crappy small theatres too, like this relic from the nickelodeon era that somehow lasted until TV put it out of business.
On this site type in word “paramount” to see vintage pix.
View link
It is believed, by this author, that the Paramount Theatre listed as bing in Altus was actualy the one located in Bristow.
In this c1955 shot Babyland occupies the site where Studio One Adult Cinema would later be installed.
http://www.tulsalibrary.org/JPG/A1480.jpg
This c1960 side view provides an idea of the Lyric layout. Note the newer stage house, added sometime after 1900, that doesn’t match the original design.
http://www.tulsalibrary.org/JPG/E1382.jpg
Presented here is a late 1800s drawing of a business that sat a few doors South of the Lyric. Several early 1900s photos show a theatre sign atop this structure, but I have not yet been able to trace what theatre this building was converted to.
http://www.tulsalibrary.org/JPG/C0206.jpg
Mr. Albright:
I beg your pardon, but reaserch of old newspaper ads reveal that Griffith Bros (AKA-Video) Theatres operated more than just two porn houses.
In OKC they owned skid row theatres that regularly exhibited X-rated films; Pix, Reno, & Rialto. Also, it was Video who switched the opulent Midwest Theatre over to adult loops, when they leased this giant atmospheric during the late 1960s.
Throughout the 1970s Video exhibited X-product in their Circle Cinema, Tulsa.
The Boomer Theatre in Norman sporadically screened skin flicks, though actually not often enough to classify this as an adult house.
Is this a picture of the Ritz Theatre in Lawton (long before it became a porn house) ? ? ?
http://www.tulsalibrary.org/JPG/E1663.jpg
1921 look at the old Lyric.
http://www.tulsalibrary.org/JPG/A2447.jpg
Period views of the Brady stage and organ console.
http://www.tulsalibrary.org/JPG/C0129.jpg
http://www.tulsalibrary.org/JPG/C0131.jpg – http://www.tulsalibrary.org/JPG/C0133.jpg
http://www.tulsalibrary.org/JPG/C0136.jpg & http://www.tulsalibrary.org/JPG/F0044.jpg
Official name of the former fifth floor newsreel cinema was Harding Hall. For a good auditorium image go to above okhistory web site and enter name “harding”.
Look into this informative site to see an image of a stage production that played the Hippodrome Theatre. Enter word “hippodrome”, then press search…
View link
Go to Oklahoma Histerical Society below site to view images of the Yale auditoriun, (one story) Sixth Street, and (three story) Seventh Street entrance. Type in word “yale”, then search…
View link
Oklahoma Historical Society shares these exterior/interior shots of the Rex Theatre. Actually these are not images of the Rex listed on this page. REX (AKA-Cozy) depicted in these b&w pictures are of a theatre on Sixth (Main) Street, Okmulgee, OK.
To view images type in “okmulgee rex”, then go search…
View link
Oklahoma Hyterical Society archives contain top quality photos of the Orpheum Theatre exterior/interior. Unfortunately, these B&W pictures just can’t convey brilliant color used to dress up fancy plasterwork, that consisted of bright red, deep blue, and vibrant green.
To view these fine prints type in “okmulgee orpheum”, then search…
View link
Nice vintage images of the Rodeo Theatre facade, marquee, lobby, and auditorium can be viewed on below link. In search field type in word “rodeo”, then press enter…
View link
In below 1950s photos of the Reno Theatre notice that main stream double features were presented between burlesque shows. Judging from these interior shots strip tease queens pranced onstage inside a Gothic style auditorium that looked more like a church than a burly-Q. In search field type in word “theatre”, then press enter…
View link
To see more period shots of the May Theatre, go to below site and type in word “theatre”, then search…
View link
Below link has period views of the Gaiety Theatre exterior, lobby, and auditorium. In search field type in words “gaiety agnew”, then hit enter.
View link
NOTE-a couple of those 1950 interior shots are mistakenly labelled Agnew Theatre. It’s not hard to figure out what shots go with the shabby Gaiety.
Agnew Theatre 1946 exterior, lobby, and auditorium views can be seen on below site. Type in word “agnew”, then search…
View link
A couple of those 1950 interior shots labelled Agnew are actually those of the Gaiety Theatre, but it isn’t hard to figure out which picture goes with what theatre.
The University Theatre was designed in pure Art Deco styling, as seen in these 1936 exterior and auditorium views. On below site type in word “theatre”, then hit search…
View link
1940 exterior images of the Oklahoman Theatre can be viewed on below site. Type in word “theatre”, then hit search…
View link
The Cinema East was designed to be a twin cinema, but the second auditorium was never built.
To see 1968 grand opening views & 1984 demolition photos of the Cinema East, go to below site, enter words “cinea east”, then hit search…
View link
Below will bring up period images of the Campus (AKA-first Boomer) Theatre, and the second Boomer. Photo captions claim the first and second Boomer were one and the same. Obviously they were two different cinemas. In search field enter word “theatre”, then hit enter…
View link
There is a good possibility the second Boomer was built on the site as the University Theatre.
To view 1936 exterior photo of the Esquire Theatre, when it was still known as Kiowa, enter site below, type in word “theatre”, then enter. Images of the Oklahoman Theatre will also pop up.
View link
To see 1941 exterior, lobby, and auditorium views of the Oklahoma City Redskin Theatre go to site below, then enter “redskin” and search-
View link
A 1912 photo of the Capitol Theatre, when it was still known as Dreamland, can be seen on site below. Enter word ‘dreamland’, then hit search…
View link
This was an Afro-American movie house located on East Reno.
Shown here is a 1936 shot of the PLAZA (nee-Alhambra). During the late 1930s this theatre received a smart streamline facelift.
http://www.tulsahistory.org/learn/PlazaTheater.gif