Warner Theatre

Opened in 1903 as OVERHOLSER OPERA HOUSE, this was a big time stage show playhouse.
Keith-Albee took over in 1921, comissioned John Eberson to produce a complete Adamesque renovation. Renamed ORPHEUM, it began presenting Interstate Vaudeville acts.
When Warner Bros. gained control in 1928 they gave the interior and marquee a spruce up, changed the name to WARNER and tranformed it into a combo film/stage show venue. 1952 saw another modernization when it began new life as WARNER'S CINERAMA.
Razed 1964.

The Warner played three strip Cinerama from 10/21/56 thru 9/3/57. In 1950 Cinerama moved to the Cooper Cinerama Theatre. The Warner had a balcony with side boxes that were lost (side boxes) in the conversion to Cinerama.
A photo fo the screen construction for Cinerama can be located here.
http://cinerama.topcities.com/warnerok.htm

When the Overholser opened in 1903 it had three shallow balconies, and four tiers of box seats, with a total seating capacity of 2400. John Eberson's 1920 Adamesque remodel for Kieth Albee replaced the three balconies with one long, steeply sloped, cantilever balcony which reduced seating to 2200. Warner Brothers gained control in 1928 and installed new, wider chairs, and expanded leg room between seats, which caused a reduction of 200 chairs. Cinerama installation resulted in an even further reduced capacity.

Vintage post card views of the Overholser Opera House can be seen here on the downtown album. This is the original facade, before John Eberson's beautiful Adamesque remodel job;
http://www.oklahomacounty.org/assessor/

Correct address for the downtown Warner Theater should read;
213 W Sheridan Ave, Oklahoma City

An architectural sketch of the Orpheum renovation, along with good shots of the newly remodelled interior, can be located on oklahoman archive web site, January 23, 1921. pages.

Click here to see result of John Eberson's 1920 renovation;
http://www.dougloudenback.com/downtown/vintage/1.movies2.htm#top

In 1917 photo journalist Lewis W. Hine exposed child labor through pictures. Some of his prints also captured OKC theatre history. Here one of Hine's pictures illustrates a coming attractions poster for Overholser Opera House (AKA-Orpheum, Warner);
http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/nclc/04000/04028v.jpv

Please excuse above typo. Click this address for image-
http://memory.loc.gov/service/pnp/nclc/04000/04028v.jpg

Amoungst these antique postcards can be found images of OKC's Liberty (AKA-Harbor, Cooper), Market Theatre, and original 1903 facade of the Overholser Opera House (AKA-Orpheum, Warner) before John Eberson's 1919 renovation.
Of interest to theatre buffs; note the Ramsey Building postcard. This skyscraper was designed by architect W.W. Ahlschlager who also created NYC's famed Roxy Theatre.
http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/ok/oklahoma/postcards/ppcs-okco.html

While early 1903 advertisements appeared for films shown inside a tent at the Barnum Circus, and later at the 1903 Oklahoma State Fair, the earliest newspaper ad I've been able to locate that promote a moving picture shown inside an established Oklahoma City theatre is dated March 12, 1904. On that date Overholser Opera House (AKA- Orpheum, Warner) presented a Kinodrome movie entitled "Cinderella".
From September 4th thru the 11th, 1908, the Overholser advertised "Moving Talking Pictures".

Historic photographs can be seen of this theatre as the Overholser, Orpheum, and Warner. Click on individual images for larger views -
http://dougdawg.blogspot.com/2006/07/lets-go-downtown-to-movies.html

a direct photo route -
Orpheum Theatre c1921
http://www.dougloudenback.com/downtown/vintage/1921.orpheum.jpg
Warner Cinerama 1956
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/movies/warner1956_7.jpg

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

Shown here is a 1970 shot of the 1903 Overholser Mansion. Henry Overholser built the 1889 Opera House, 1903 Overholser Opera House, 1913 Colcord Airdome, and was held an interest in Stanley-Warner stock.
http://www.oklahomacounty.org/assessor/projects/Residences/405NW15_1970.jpg
and an essay on Overholser.
http://webinfo2.mls.lib.ok.us/okimages/okimages.asp?WCI=ViewEssay&WCU=000000105

Better photos of the Warner Theater can be seen on the Oklahoma Historical Society pages. Type in word "warner", then hit search.
http://okhistory.cuadra.com/starweb3/b.archives/servlet.starweb3?path=b.archives/STARArchives.public.web

Also on the site posted just above this comment check out other interesting photographs.
Type in word 'architecture' or 'drawing' to see non theatre designs by noted theatre architects such as Layton, Smith, & Forsyth, Parr & Hawks, Leon Senter, and William Wells.
One of the images you'll see is Springlake Ballroom which also contained a silent picture theatre.
Type in word 'overholser' to look at interior views of that fabulouse mansion.

Several vintage views of the Warner Theater can be viewed on this updated site;
http://dougdawg.blogspot.com/2006/07/lets-go-downtown-to-movies.html

http://schehrer2.homestead.com/Population.html
In 1922 Oklahoma City had a population of only 92,000. The Warner Theater was really the only "big time" theatre OKC had. Perhaps the Criterion and Liberty came close to first class, but neither had that extra pizzazz needed to rate top notch.