Bison Theatre

The Cinema Section of Roadside Oklahome is closed, they no longer have theatre photos according to the site. Go to their home page for further details.

Photos of The Bison Theatre.
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Seems OHS corrected their error. Both the Shawnee Bison Theatre and Enid Aztec (minus balcony) were sister houses, designed by Carl Boller. To compare images, on above post type in name “Aztec”, “Bison”, or “Esquire”.

The Bison Theatre was located on the corner of Main Street and Philadelphia. It was built by Griffith Theatres, later called Video Independent Theatres of Oklahoma City. The theatre seated over 1000 people originally. It had a domed ceiling with twinkling lights to resemble stars. The theatre had a working stage and could accomodate traveling stage shows and entertainers as well as movies. In 1947, with the opening of the Hornbeck Theatre in Shawnee, the Bison was changed to a second run policy. In 1954 Jones Theatres, Inc. partnered with Video in the Bison’s ownership. The Bison was a victim of television in the mid-1950’s when it closed. The V-shaped marquee on the Bison was moved to the Ritz Theatre in Shawnee during a major renovation of the Ritz in 1966. The building was sold and first became a western wear clothing store, later a church and now an antique mall. The stage area is still intact in the antique mall.

This theater is not listed in the 1975 Shawnee phone book.