Criterion Theater

The Criterion Theatre seated 1425 people.

You need to update the seating for the Criterion as listed by William

The Criterion Theatre (1921-1973)was designed by Boller Bros in "French DeLuxe" styling. I believe it originally seated around 1650, until orchestra floor capacity was reduced during later remodeling. Publix built their vast theatre chain mainly through acquisition of already established theatres, but the Criterion was one of only a handful of theatres actually built (not acquired) by Paramount Pictures.
Publix also controld the Capitol Theatre on the Southside of OKC.

The architect was Robert O. Boller.

The Criterion Theatre has proved quite interesting to me. I have a picture of Don Leon and his Petite Orchestra taken at the Criterion Theatre. The information on the back of the photo is in my fathers (Don Leon's) handwriting and reads: Criterion, Oklahoma City, 1923/24. You may see this photograph along with a news clipping of a review for the movie "Brass" with Irene Rich. This was a silent movie that came out in 1924. You may see these items at: http://lotsofsites.com/gen/dleonorchestra.shtml

Criterion Theater 1920-1973, 1900 seats, Publix Theaters, Carl Boller-arch, exterior-Second Empire, lobby & auditorium-French, mezzanine-Art Deco.
Why do people feel compelled to lable every theatre as Art Deco?

An Austin organ Opus 966 Size 3/22 was installed in the Criterion Theater in 1920 at a cost of $15,000. Note: The organ list shows an aka name of Cooper Theater.

Vintage Criterion Theater images can be located on these sites;
http://www.oklahomacounty.org/assessor/
and
http://www.metrolibrary.org

More direct route;
javascript:fp_Showlmg(document['fpphoto_669'],'360','313','109',4);

And. . .
http://webinfo2mls.lib.ok/okimages/okimages.asp?WCI=ViewImage&W

OKC's 1920 Criterion Theatre was never known as Cooper. The 1916 Liberty Theatre, located around the corner from the Criterion, ended its days with the name Cooper Cinerama, but was also known as Harbor after a 1948 (Boller Bros) renovation.

The Criterion had just about the steepest throw of any theater I've seen ever. Two or three balconys...projector aperture plates shaped like cheese wedges. The building seemed to have been built with Vaudeville in mind: Full stage, full flying-set loft. Don't remember the architectural theme. Saw (first run) "Spirit of St Louis" at the Criterion.

The Cooper Cinerama (street sign emphasized "Cooper") around the corner was also right across the street from the State Theater. A block west on Reno avenue, in the same block as the Cooper, was the Warner, only theater in OK equipped for CineMiracle (Cooper was a Cinerama installation at one time.)

Click here to view outstanding photo of OKC's Criterion Theater;
http://www.dougloudenback.com/downtown/vintage/1.movies2.htm#2

Here's a fun site centered around movie trivia related to Oklahoma;
http://okc.about.com/od/factsandinformation/tp/moviesfilmedok.htm

SEE Criterion vintage photographs!
SEE a rare auditorium view!
See former employees of this theatre!
Click below link, then enter Barney Hillerman Collection-

http://okhistory.cuadra.com/star/public.html

Found on the Oklahoma County Tax Assessor web pages are these antique postcard views of the Criterion Theatre,
c1929 -
http://www.oklahomacounty.org/assessor/Projects/Downtown/MainSt/Criterion_Theatre.jpg
and c1940s -
http://www.oklahomacounty.org/assessor/Projects/Downtown/MainSt/MainSt_Criterion.jpg

Fine exterior and interior images of the Criterion can be seen on the Oklahoma Historical Society link. To view antique photos - type in word "criterion", then search.
http://okhistory.cuadra.com/starweb3/b.archives/servlet.starweb3?path=b.archives/STARArchives.public.web

I've made a substantial revision of my downtown Okc movies blog post at http://dougdawg.blogspot.com/2006/07/lets-go-downtown-to-movies.html including several additional pics of the Criterion. My personal favorite is the 50' (or so) high Marilyn Monroe outside the Criterion in 1953! A nice auditorium pic is in the post, also.

The Austin organ was replaced with a Wurlitzer theater organ opus 919 style 235 on 10/6/1924.

I actually wrote a paper on the Criterion's history if anyone is interested. Let me know, and I will send it along to you.

Here is a entertaining demonstration of a Wurlitzer theater organ (along with photos) that is similar to one played inside the Criterion -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLb4w_JgHxM&feature=related