Liberty Theatre

612 Flynn Street,
Alva, OK 73717

Unfavorite 1 person favorited this theater

Additional Info

Architects: Carl Boller, Robert O. Boller

Firms: Boller Brothers

Previous Names: New Opera House, Alva Opera House

Nearby Theaters

Movietone Theater, Alva, OK

The New Opera House opened as a live theatre on January 3, 1908 with the play “The Isle of Spice”. Following damage from a storm, it was repaied and reopened as the Liberty Theatre, screening movies on April 21, 1919. It was equipped with Vitaphone sound-on-disc on June 7, 1929 screening “Alias, Jimmy Valentine” starring William Haines. The theatre burned on April 26, 1933.

Contributed by Lauren Grubb, Ken McIntyre

Recent comments (view all 6 comments)

jchapman1
jchapman1 on June 8, 2007 at 6:40 pm

The Movietone was another incarnation of the old 1907 Alva Opera House, which underwent several name changes during its long run.
To see a vintage image of the Movietone click below, type in word “theatre”, then hit enter -
View link

seymourcox
seymourcox on July 22, 2007 at 12:30 pm

Local theatre 101 historians claim this was a Warner Bros/Vitaphone disk sound house. Since the name was Movietone (NOT Viataphone) it obviousely would have had the Fox sound on film system.
1907 color picture postcard view…
http://okielegacy.org/images/newoperahouse.jpg
Contemporary shot…
View link
Alva theatre history…
http://tinyurl.com/qodym

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on May 28, 2009 at 7:25 pm

The marquee in the historic photo says “Vitaphone” on left end and “Movietone” on the front. The house was obviously equipped for both of these competing systems, as was not unusual at the time. It’s probable that neither Vitaphone nor Movietone was actually the name of the theater. The name Liberty might have been on the rooftop, out of the camera’s range in this photo.

In any case, this theater already has a Cinema Treasures page under the name Liberty Theatre. The same photo of it here is identified as the Liberty Theatre.

raybradley
raybradley on March 31, 2011 at 1:54 pm

1910 Alva Opera House murder details;
View link

Cimarron
Cimarron on May 27, 2014 at 7:51 pm

Photo of theater uploaded, showing Wagon Master.

dallasmovietheaters
dallasmovietheaters on August 5, 2021 at 3:50 am

The Grand Opera House opened on January 3, 1908 with a live play, “The Isle of Spice.” Like many opera houses, Alva’s Grand would gravitate to lower risk and lower cost motion pictures. In 1918, the opera house was damaged by strong winds and was refurbished as a full-time movie theater. When it ws completed, the Liberty Theatre opened with a soft launch on April 21, 1919 with Margarita Fischer in “Molly of the Follies” and William Duncan in “A Fight for Millions” supported by live music by the Blue Grass Belles. A formal grand opening was scheduled shortly thereafter.

Ten years later, the theatre received Vitaphone sound premiering with “Alias, Jimmy Valentine” on June 7, 1929. A major refresh took place in 1932 bringing sound on film and cushioned seats. On April 26, 1933, the theatre suffered a major fire ending its life after its remains were razed.

You must login before making a comment.

New Comment

Subscribe Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater.