Washita Theatre
511 Chickahsa Avenue,
Chickasha,
OK
73018
511 Chickahsa Avenue,
Chickasha,
OK
73018
2 people
favorited this theater
The Washita Theatre opened in 1941 — replacing an original building which was destroyed by fire. Designed by architect Jack Corgan, it featured a round tower structure in the center of the facade which was decorated in bands of red porcelain. It had a seating capacity for 900, in orchestra and balcony levels. The Washita Theatre remained a movie house for the next sixty years, but finally closed in April 2001.
The Chickasha Community Theatre purchased the Washita Theatre in downtown Chickasha, Oklahoma and renovated and restored the theater into a venue for their theater productions. The group had operated since 1994 without a permanent home and the purchase of the once immensely popular movie house fulfilled their dream.
The original artwork remains although it has been covered by burlap to contain sound in the now-twinned theater.
The balcony had been previously enclosed to form a second screen.
The transformation into a legitimate theater was take to nearly two years (back in 2001), although this was a little optimistic, and completion came in late-2009.
Contributed by
Cinema Treasures
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Recent comments (view all 22 comments)
The Washita in 1995…
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Here is another 1985 photo.
The sign on the front of the building has been relit, so the completion of the renovation must not be too far off. Last I heard, they were projecting six months.
This is a recent photo.
Another 2009 photo is here.
Here is a photo circa 1950s:
http://tinyurl.com/ybvda4d
Another 2009 photo of the Washita Theatre courtesy Lynne.
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Both recent and vintage images of the Washita Theatre can be found on this site-
http://www.roadsideoklahoma.com/node/280
More photos of the Washita Theatre
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The transformation of an old “opera house” to ultra-modern cinema was described in this 1941 trade article: boxofficemagazine