Crystal Theater
401 W. Broadway Street,
Okemah,
OK
74859
401 W. Broadway Street,
Okemah,
OK
74859
1 person
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I am proud to announce that the Crystal Theatre is back open for business. We open tonight (4-20-12) at 7 p.m. with the movie starting at 7:30 p.m. Our feature is Mirror Mirror
Okemah is birthplace and childhood home to activist songwriter Woody Guthrie (1912 – 1967)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxiMrvDbq3s
and Arlo Guthrie’s version
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The Crystal is currently not showing movies, however, a civic organization, Okemah Community Improvement Association, just purchased the theater to help restore and save it. The borrowed $15,000 extra for repairs. Unfortunately they did not know the roof was is such bad condition. They are putting on a new rubber roof, which will never have to be fixed again, and it cost $23,000. They are trying to raise the remainder of the money. Currently donations are accepted through PayPal at www.okemahok.org, www.okemahnewsleader.com or on the Save the Crystal Facebook page. Also donations can be mailed to: Okemah CIA, P.O. Box 165, Okemah, Ok 74859. Okemah CIA is a 501©3 non-profit organzation.
Can anyone tell me the current the status of the Crystal? Is it still showing movies?
From the Okemah Public Library comes this detailed history of the Crystal Theatre -
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Thank you! That helps a whole lot. It was further up the hill than I thought. Now, if I can only figure out which building housed the former Jewel Theatre …
Seymour….The address given in the Film Daily for the Jewel Theater is 216 West Broadway. Hope that helps.
Just tracked the hilltop building in question on google maps. The entire northside of the street has been cleared, and the possible theatre was replaced by a 1960s style building. Okemah sure has an old west look.
That building called the Oasis across the street from the Crystal Theatre (in the 1930 snapshot) looks like a theatre also. Still, it may have been a saloon.
LM:
Thank you! Tthis information is most interesting because the Jewel Drive-In entranceway has a marquee with an upright sign that looks as if it might have come from another theatre.
Wish I could get a a better enlargement of that 1930 photo as I suspect the theatre visible on top of the hill may be the (first) Jewel.
There was also a Jewel Drive-In theater but it wouldn’t be listed in 1930. The Jewel Theater is listed in the 1930 Film Daily Yearbook with 300 seats. Listed in 1935 with 400 seats. The Jewel is still listed in 1955 only now the seating is given as 800 seats. It might have been remodeled or replaced at some point. The Jewel was located on West Broadway so it is most likely the other theater shown in the 1930 photo.
Wasn’t the Jewel a drive-in theatre?
I found two theaters listed for Okemah in 1930. The Crystal Theater and the Jewel Theater. Maybe the Jewel is the other theater in the photo.
In that 1930 shot (posted 4/28/07) there appears to be another theatre in the distant photo center.
Okemah was hometown to controversial songwriter/artist Woody Guthrie. Some reports claim Woody earned extra spending money by painting movie posters for local early day cinemas.
http://woodyguthrie.org/
This is a recent photo of the Crystal.
1985 extreme close-up photo
1985 interior photo of the Crystal Theatre.
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1985 night photo of the Crystal Theater.
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A 1984 photo of the Crystal Theater in Okemah.
On photo left of this c1930s snapshot can be seen the Crystal marquee and upright sign.
http://www.tulsalibrary.org/JPG/B9048.jpg
More photos:
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From Brent Clarks photo album:
http://snipurl.com/oyn2
This website has an old photo showing a Crystal Theater in Okemah, OK. Its the sixth photo down.
Would love to see photos of the Cyrstal lobby & auditorium!
The Crystal is a working movie theatre running on a regular schedule! In fact, for the weekend of August 12, 2005 the Crystal is showing “Stealth”. From time to time, the Crystal does host other events but is certainly also a movie theater. The Crystal features a wonderful red and white neon marquee as well as some interesting vintage advertising in the lobby area. In addition, the Crystal has has some beautiful hanging light fixtures. I have some great photos to post asap. The phone number for the Crystal is (918) 623-1253.
Exterior photo of the Crystal Theatre here:
http://www.exithere.net/theaters/c27_crystal.html