Delman Theater

Tulsa, OK

2335 East 15th Street

, Tulsa, OK 74104 United States

(map)

Status:	Closed/Demolished
Screens:	Single Screen
Style:	Art Moderne

Function:	Unknown
Seats:	1186
Chain:	Unknown

Architect:	W. Scott Dunne
Firm:	Unknown

This theater, designed by W. Scott Dunne, was built in 1938. When it opened, the Delman had the largest seating capacity in Tulsa. The theater's Streamline Moderne design consisted of a white stucco exterior. A large sign resting on top of the building spelled out "Delman" in bright neon letters. The building included the Delman Shop. The theater's Streamline interior included a curved metal railing and stepped bannister which led up to a large balcony. Its interior walls also consisted of white stucco.

Contributed by Howard Karsh

YOUR COMMENTS

This theatre went through many names AKA Apollo-Delman, it was also at one time operated by Loew's and called the Loew's Delman. It opened in 1938 and closed in 1980.

posted by Chuck1231 on Oct 31, 2004 at 9:18pm

Delman held 2200 seats with a Moderne atmospheric auditorium.
Tulsa became noted for Art Deco architecture and therefore everyone feels a need to attribute as many structures as possible to Art Deco. The Delman exterior was actually Streamline in design.
Tulsa Historical Society web site has outstanding Delman photo.

posted by ___ on Mar 25, 2005 at 5:54pm

There is also a fine photograph of the DELMAN inside the 2005 calendar 'TULSA, See-Ya at the Movies, Stories and Photos of Tulsa's Old Movie Theatres'. Plus, this calendar covers trivia, bios, and has vintage photos of another dozen Tulsa historic theatres, available through Yellow Pad Inc.

posted by ___ on Jun 17, 2005 at 3:06pm

And to think a cookie-cutter Walgreen's has taken its place . . . boo, hiss.

posted by m2violin on Jul 8, 2005 at 9:24am

Here is a photo from around 1949 of the Delman Theater in Tulsa.

posted by Lost Memory on Sep 9, 2005 at 2:45pm

Rotary Club and Tulsa Public Library present an online exhibit of Beryl Ford Photograph Collection which traces Tulsa from its humble beginning as a shabby western town to todays sophisticated city.
Because this site is still under construction these images constantly change page and image numbers, so you may have to browse around some. At this writing a perfectly in focus photo of the Delman Theatre can be found on page 22, image #254,
http://www.tulsalibrary.org/BFC/index.htm

posted by Okie Medley on Jul 30, 2006 at 7:57am

A sharp c1940 night shot -
http://www.tulsalibrary.org/JPG/D4605.jpg

posted by Jeff Chapman on Jul 3, 2007 at 7:37pm

A rare lobby shot can be seen by typing word "delman",
http://okhistory.cuadra.com/starweb3/b.archives/servlet.starweb3?path=b.archives/STARArchives.public.web

posted by Seymour Cox on Aug 29, 2007 at 5:58pm

In this 1979 color slide the Apollo Delman was looking a bit shopworn . . .
http://opac.tulsalibrary.org/search?/tberyl+ford+collection/tberyl+ford+collection/1%2C1%2C21458%2CZ/l856&FF=tberyl+ford+collection&4583%2C%2C21458%2C1%2C0

posted by Seymour Cox on Nov 21, 2007 at 9:57pm

A 1987 photo of the Delman Theater in Tulsa. It must have been a grand theater at one time.

posted by Don Lewis on Mar 15, 2008 at 8:19am

Why does it keep getting repeated that the Delman Theatre had the largest seating capacity in Tulsa? I think this rumor started with Tulsa Historical Society. At 1186 seats it obviously wasn't a large theatre at all, much less Tulsa's largest.
"The Old Lady on Brady" has the largest seating capacity. Next was the Ritz Theatre with just under 2000 seats.

posted by Miss Melba Toast on Nov 19, 2008 at 10:06am

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