Tower Theater

The Tower Theatre was one of the first suburban theatres in Oklahoma City. My father managed the theatre for Cooper/Paramount for a brief time in the early forties. In the early sixties Ferris Shambour bought the theatre and gave it a deluxe renovation---70mm, rocking chair seats, very plush and very comfortable. Roadshow attractions were the staple with "Sound of Music" running at the Tower on a reserved seat basis for almost two years. I also remember seeing "The Sand Pebbles" and "Cleopatra" at the Tower during those roadshow/reserved seat days.

i think this theater is for sale listed on loopnet

no that is another TOWER in TEXAS

no this theater is for sale for $595.000.00 includes the Tower theater and building next door .. loopnet id # 14011850

This theater opened in 1937 and closed in 1987. The architect was J. McKay. I drove by this theater recently and it looks like a truck hit the bottom of the marquee and gave it a good dent.

Jay McKay was interior decorator for the TOWER Theater, he also decorated the PLAZA interior. Pat McGee was architect of the TOWER.

Here I have to eat words I previously wrote; As it turns out, research from the 'Oklahoman Archives' web site proves that famed Architect W. SCOTT DUNNE drew the blueprints for the unique TOWER Theater. News articles of that period make no mention of Jay McKay being connected in any way with this theater design. Pat McGee was a Paramount Supervising Director for the Tower Theater, he was not an architect.

Again, I apologize for any erroneous information submitted by myself!

who should i contact if interested in purchasing the Tower Theater?

Photo of the Tower Theatre.
http://www.exithere.net/theaters/c100_towerokc.html

Check out the neat b/w 50's photo when clicking on Historic Tower Theater under Related Websites. I see a pipe organ and billowing are mentioned in the theatre description, but wonder if the organ is still intact at the Tower today?

Jeff: Thanks for clearing up the architect dilemma as I was wondering about the J. McKay name mentioned by CT member, Lauren. Can you provide any information about the Tower organ?

There is no Organ currently at the Tower Theater. It probably was taken out during a renovation in the 1960's.

Patsy: You may want to consult the Oklahoman Archives (official site of Oklahoma Publishing/Daily Oklahoman Newspaper)web pages to research the Tower pipe organ origins, and what became of it.
Grand opening announcements described this instrument. Also, I recall that the Tower opened with an Ann Sothern feature. Miss Sothern was a popular actress in Oklahoma City and her films sold tickets, which gaurenteed packed houses.

Scroll through these fun web pages for recent TOWER images -
http://www.agilitynut.com/theatres/ok.html

When Jay Leno first took over NBC's "The Tonight Show", behind Jay's desk could be seen an exact replica of the OKC Tower neon upright sign. Remember?

This is a recent photo of the Tower Theater.

During the early 1990's the Tower Theater opened only on Saturday nights for midnight showings that attracted junior high kids for such films as "Crazy Momma", "What's the Matter with Helen", "Who Slew Auntie Roo", Ed Wood, Jr. crap, and other obscure movies.
At that time auditorium walls had been completely draped over with gold fabric, from one of many interior remodelings.

This is a 6/2/2006 article about the Tower Theater.

"The Tower Theater in uptown OKC - a miracle on 23rd Street?

Source: Journal Record (Oklahoma City, OK)
Byline: Kevan Goff-Parker

You'll have to forgive Scott Fife and Marty Dillon if they seem like excited kids in a candy store as they show off the badly dilapidated Tower Theater and adjoining storefronts in uptown Oklahoma City. Although it looks more like a bedraggled damsel in distress rather than the grand dame that once sparkled when it opened during the late 1930s, the Tower Theater at 425 NW 23rd St. has simply stolen the 40-somethings' hearts. Fife, Dillon and their partners, Terri Sadler-Goad and Matt Goad, see the theater with rose-colored glasses and envision a day soon when it will be restored and renewed into a thing of true beauty once again."I've always liked this place," Dillon recently said as he and Fife used a flashlight to light up the darkened theater. "I played music here in the early 1980s when I was with Wild Youth. I played here at Halloween and they were playing the movie Dawn of the Dead."While Fife and Dillon have a long history in the music business, Dillon also owns Party Galaxy and Sadler-Goad works at The Oklahoma Gazette. Matt Goad owns his own graphic design company. Together, the foursome formed Uptown Development Group and they promote the theater and its 19 suites of offices and an array of storefronts."The time was right for this area," Fife said. "Tower Theater is poised for a comeback and is the anchor of the uptown district."He said Uptown Development Group paid $512,000 in November 2005 for the complex, which has more than 29,000 square feet of space and more than one acre for parking across the street.The Tower Theater has been empty for more than five years."We want to renovate it, but right now we're getting our funding in order," Fife said. "We have been approved for state and national historic preservation tax credits. We want to bring the complex back to its original art-deco look through the guidance of the Oklahoma Historical Society."Dillon described a wide array of changes Uptown Development Group and a local architect, Brian Fitzsimmons, hope to make to the facility in order to change into a thriving arts and entertainment destination."It's going to be a lot of work, but I was really excited to buy it," he said. "There isn't anything like this in Oklahoma City and it will be great to make it happen."The property was built in 1926 and the 10,000-square-foot theater was constructed in 1937. The group plans to turn the complex into a multiuse facility that will include catered live events, live concerts and the showing of independent films in the 285-seat balcony theater."We plan to make it more diverse and more intimate," Dillon said. "The Will Rogers Centre is booked pretty solid, but they don't do live music and they go for a corporate type of crowd."Fife agreed."We need a signature concert venue in Oklahoma City," he said. Dillon said the Tower Theater, when restored, will be the right capacity for promoters wanting quality sound because of the great acoustics in the venue.Plans include transforming some of the space into a two-level Irish pub, installing possible skyboxes in the theater and converting the complex into a mix of retail and entertainment spots.Fife said the group plans to fix the decaying marquee and believes it will become the calling card for uptown.But there's plenty to do before leasing offices or installing restaurants and bars. Fife said the group plans to bring the complex up to fire code, work needs to be done on the roof, air conditioning, the plumbing and electrical system.Meanwhile, the group has the plenty of Spanish-speaking films and horror movie posters from days gone by, as well as the movie projector from the Tower Theater. "We're pretty close on funding," Fife said. "We believe it will take eight months to renovate the theater. We're also working in an economic empowerment zone and with the area's community action agency. There's a lot of interest from city leaders in what we're doing."The group has received positive reactions to their plans to restore the beleaguered complex."With gas prices what they are and with all the empty-nesters, many people are moving back into the inner city," Fife said. "The downtown housing boom is a big plus for what we're trying to do."Fife said the property next to the complex is now on the market for $580,000. He finds this offering encouraging."We are already seeing positive changes in the neighborhood," he said".

Here is a view of the Tower from August 2004:
http://tinyurl.com/2tancf

A 1984 view of the Tower Theater in Oklahoma City.

This is a 2008 photo.

Opened on July 15, 1937 by Standard Theaters, with 926 seats. Here is the current real estate listing:
http://tinyurl.com/4p87xj

Here is a 2009 photo.

1985 photo of the Tower Theatre.
http://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=CATAdvancedSearch1%2c36%2c3%2c-1&ProductID=32566

The Tower in 1996:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/34152329@N06/3472105753/in/set-72157617054310351/

Think you have the wrong link there Kevin....

Many apologies - Here is the correct link for the Tower in OKC:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/34152329@N06/3472057697/in/set-72157617054310351/

Another 1985 photo is here.

Sign man needs a spell checker on that last photo.....

Sad to see now part of marque<sp> is gone as of 1 week? ago. I was there for a Slipknot Kittie concert/riot. few years ago. Promoter over sold the show and headliner Slipknot wouldn't go on after Fire marshal removed all people not seated in chairs. The youth did not like this and did some damage while leaving...

Is there anything new on the renovation of the Tower, I checked the website but it hasn't been updated since 2006.