Broncho Theatre

The Film Daily Yearbook;1950 edition lists two seperate theatres in Edmond, OK. The Broncho Theatre, Main Street with 590 seats and the Gem Theatre, Main Street with 324 seats.

Any ideas as to why they would spell Bronco incorrectly? Maybe the hospital treated patients with bronchitis.

Oklahoma Central University, Chambers Library (image gallery, page 15) has several nostalgic photographs of Edmond's Broncho Theatre @

http://library.ucok.edu/archives/page-files/image-galley.asp

For a typical small cinema the Broncho's L shaped lobby was rather spacious, due to the fact that restrooms and offices were located in the basement area. Above mentioned UCOK image gallery has a picture of the concession stand on page 12, and an under the marquee shot on page 17;
http://library.ucok.edu/archives/page-files/image-gallery.asp

Thanks, Okie, for the correct web address. Be sure to check out page 12 for Broncho pix.

To clear up correct picture pages, here is a list;
Page 12-concession stand image,
page 15-exterior shots, and
page 17-boxoffice view

As for the Broncho mis-spelling, I was told that the wife of one of the early presidents the Territorial Normal School/Central State/UCO came up with the mascot and spelled the name of the animal incorrectly. Apparantly it stuck.

The Broncho Theatre and Gem Theatre were two separate theaters. The Gem was located at two different places on Broadway over its lifespan.

Some additional information:
The theater, opened on Jan 10, 1936, was located at 1 S. Broadway (Main & Broadway) on the former location of the Joyland Theatre Airdome. It advertised carpeted aisles, draperies, restrooms and two projection booths with synchronized sound.
The theater was built by W.Z. Willie Spearman who operated it until it was taken over by his son. The younger Spearman operated the theater until he sold it to R.R. McCoy. The theater operated on and off until the 1970s.
The hospital was opened on the second floor on February 2, 1947.