El Caro Theatre
111 N. Bickford Avenue,
El Reno,
OK
73036
111 N. Bickford Avenue,
El Reno,
OK
73036
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In 1922, Paramount Pictures utilized the same blueprint for the El Caro Theatre in El Reno, OK, that they used to build their Inca Theatre in Okmulgee, OK.
Both floor plans had the same lay out, but architectural styling was slightly altered from Mission Revival (for the Inca Theatre) to Spanish Renaissance for El Caro Theatre.
Patterned white washed brick adorned the lovely Mediterranean facade, and was well balanced with cement trim, geometric windows, and heavy panel doors. Bright yellow tracer lights outlined a glazed tile box office and v-shaped marquee.
Interior colour schemes were carried out in earth tone hues. Blue ceramic tile covered floors throughout the theatre (carpet was ommited from this design). Rough plastered walls were painted a rich tangerine tint, with turquoise trim. Molding consisted of sculpted, unglazed terra-cotta. Ceiling grids were formed from ornate cast plaster beams, painted to resemble oak. Patina light fixtures were adorned with amber mylar shades. Giant Art Nouveau style clay pots enhanced carefully arranged niches and alcoves. Stage portiere were designed to resemble Spanish fringed shawles.
The El Caro Theatre was closed in 1953.
Should you know more detail about El Caro Theatre please submit it here.
Today an Ashbrook Safeco shop occupies this downtown real estate. A nice image from Photobones of the former El Caro Theatre can be seen on the link below.
Contributed by
Myrna Louise
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Recent comments (view all 9 comments)
I spent some time in El Reno last month. I didn’t know about this theater, which is too bad as I did quite a bit of walking in the downtown area.
Address:
111 N Bickford Ave
El Reno, OK 73036
According to this article, a Centre Theater at 111 South Bickford sustained some wind damage on April 29, 2010. Is this same theater as the El Caro which the above comment places at 111 North Bickford? View link
I think that’s this one:
/theaters/12752/
Address for the El Caro should be updated per the comment of 12/9/06. The map view corresponds with the photo in the description.
Thanks; I will put the article’s URL where it should be.
What a pretty little cinema the El Caro was. A romantic setting in which to watch a double feature and enjoy a box of popcorn.
http://www.roadsideoklahoma.com/node/346
According to an article I have just read this theatre opened in 1938.Some time later a fire damaged the building and it was demolished.The Centre Theatre was later built on the site opening on 1 Dec 1944.Can anyone confirm this.
A period photo of this theater is available in the Oklahoma Historical Society archives. Honestly, the Safeco building, while very cute, does not resemble the building in the historical photo. The theater in the historical photo could possibly have a stucco facade, but the windows appear to be wider spaced and the buildings beside it do not match either. Perhaps the entire block was damaged. Hopefully more research will nail down the location of this theater with certainty. Go to this URL: http://tinyurl.com/6c5a8gg and typed in “El Reno Caro.”
If the Centre Theatre is located at 110 N. Bickford and the address is correct in the header for this theatre then the photo of the Safeco office is a block away. The 111 N. Bickford would place this theatre almost directly across from the Centre Theatre.