Rapp & Rapp designed the (1931) Nortown Theatre mezzanine floor with the same milti color “basket weave” marble design as they had put inside the (1922) Akdar Theatre lobby in Tulsa, OK.
Due to style similarities this theatre was probably designed by famed architect Joseph Foucart who migrated in 1889 to Indian Territory from Paris, France.
Foucart created Brooks Opera House, Guthrie, OK.
Brooks Opera House and Muskogee’s Ritz (nee-Hinton) Theatre were so similar in style and design, one can’t help but wonder if both buildings were from J. Foucart’s drawing board.
Curious, the auditorium archive photo posted on the OHS site must have been a pre opening shot. I’ve seen 1930s images of this same auditorium, and the sidewalls were painted with the “razzled-Dazzle” designs as described by OM. Backlighted grills on support columns do not show up in this image, but they were there.
Love the pictures posted on OHS site. So many black persons who were regular patrons of the Aldridge talk about this odeon with such loving memories. Seems the Aldridge and Jewel (both black owned and operated) were built not only as movie/vaude houses, but also pomp gathering places free from retraints found in churches, but not as worldly as night clubs.
Up to the end live acts were always included on the bill. One notable performer who was brought back most often was singer Little Richard.
On this site can be seen two views of the 2200 seat auditorium. These photos would have been taken in the late 1940s after all the lavish Byzantine gingerbread had been stripped away to give the space a more contemporary, streamline look. There was also a 300 seat auditorium on the fifth floor.
Enter word ‘auditorium’ in search field field, then enter, View link
Stag films shown in those days would be considered dull by todays standards. They were nothing more than T&A erotica, or burly-Q reels featuring strip queens who took off a little more than usual.
Old timers say there were several of this type of news stand along Reno Street, but those back rooms were'nt theatres. Instead Reno arcades had ancient peep show machines where customers could peer through a viewfinder to watch 3D adult films.
To see a 1960 pictures of the Palace Recreation Arcade, enter “palace”, then hit search –
This ancient vaudeville house is intrigueing. If located at 29 East Main Street as those 1906 news notices say, that would explain the ads supporting unionized labor. At that location the Bijou Theatre Building is still standing today, covered over by a vaneer of perforated sheet metal. See a satellite view from the map feature above.
If it actually sat on West Main, it has been torn down. This old postcard shows where it would have been located at 29 W. Main, in the building above the letter K in the word Kingkade, View link
Oklahoma City based Lowenstien Theatres owned the following cinemas,
Okla. City – Blue Moon, Colonial (AKA-Majestic), Gem, Olympic (AKA- Mondo, Academy), and Paris.
Tulsa – Downtown, Midtown, and Uptown.
Wichita, KS – Colonial and Yale.
While visiting a dear friend in Tulsa a few years back, his beloved great uncle told us all about the Cozy Theatre.
Decorated inside/out in Southwestern styling with earth tone colors, unglazed red tile, and rough stucco, the clean Cozy Theatre was popular amoung both white and black audiences. A T-shape lobby flaired out into a wide standee. Lighting fixtures were composed of hammered iron and amber tulip glass.
Auditorium sidelights gave off an amber glow that was warm and comforting. Because of its steep slope, main floor seating was stadium type, but there was also a good size balcony that was a “make out” spot for teenagers. An oversized movie screen had to be placed exactly at the right sight line in order to keep balcony rails from blocking rear seat views. Rough wood beams supported a stepped ceiling, silk and velvet tapestry dressed sidewalls, while amber valour drapes defined the stage.
Rows of tracks ran beneath the Cozy Building and during it last years the shuttered theatre became home to rail tramps. Many years passed before a wrecking crew finally came to tear down this dilapidated, but still lovely little movie house.
Cinema 69 and Cinema 69 Drive-In were one and the same. United Artist Theatres originally opened this complex as an indoor twin cinema with an adjoining drive-in. In the early 1990’s UA sold this complex, and it was eventually expanded to six indoor screens. As listed above, the drive-in is now only a memory.
United Artist Theatres opened their Cinema 69 around the early 1970’s as a twin indoor cinema, with an adjoining drive-in.
UA sold the complex in the early 1990’s, and that is when it was then expanded to six screens.
Actual name of this odeon was Greeley Theatre, Bowlegs, OK. This information was obtained by researching the back of the vintage photograph mentioned above, where the Greeley name is pencilled in.
Even toward the sad end, in a most run down condition, this crappy burlesque house supplied its burlesque queens with live music. The band was made up of an organ, drums, sax, and clarinet.
On the below sites one can listen to samples of classic burlesque music- View link
and another site- http://www.spaceagepop.com/lester.htm
Leon Senter performed the 1940’s Modernist face lift for Tulsa’s Rialto Theatre.
During the Grand Theatre’s burlesque phase it was reputed to have had a fine seven piece house orchestra that would have sounded a lot like those in the links below. View link
and this one too- http://www.spaceagepop.com/lester.htm
Rapp & Rapp designed the (1931) Nortown Theatre mezzanine floor with the same milti color “basket weave” marble design as they had put inside the (1922) Akdar Theatre lobby in Tulsa, OK.
;pert ;pnnu dysoter;;
http://www.tulsalibrary.org/JPG/B5547.jpg
Due to style similarities this theatre was probably designed by famed architect Joseph Foucart who migrated in 1889 to Indian Territory from Paris, France.
Foucart created Brooks Opera House, Guthrie, OK.
Brooks Opera House and Muskogee’s Ritz (nee-Hinton) Theatre were so similar in style and design, one can’t help but wonder if both buildings were from J. Foucart’s drawing board.
Curious, the auditorium archive photo posted on the OHS site must have been a pre opening shot. I’ve seen 1930s images of this same auditorium, and the sidewalls were painted with the “razzled-Dazzle” designs as described by OM. Backlighted grills on support columns do not show up in this image, but they were there.
Love the pictures posted on OHS site. So many black persons who were regular patrons of the Aldridge talk about this odeon with such loving memories. Seems the Aldridge and Jewel (both black owned and operated) were built not only as movie/vaude houses, but also pomp gathering places free from retraints found in churches, but not as worldly as night clubs.
Up to the end live acts were always included on the bill. One notable performer who was brought back most often was singer Little Richard.
On this site can be seen two views of the 2200 seat auditorium. These photos would have been taken in the late 1940s after all the lavish Byzantine gingerbread had been stripped away to give the space a more contemporary, streamline look. There was also a 300 seat auditorium on the fifth floor.
Enter word ‘auditorium’ in search field field, then enter,
View link
In the 6/5/40 Criterion Theatre photo can be seen the former Empire Theatre, photo right.
Enter word ‘theatre’, then enter to see image,
View link
Stag films shown in those days would be considered dull by todays standards. They were nothing more than T&A erotica, or burly-Q reels featuring strip queens who took off a little more than usual.
Old timers say there were several of this type of news stand along Reno Street, but those back rooms were'nt theatres. Instead Reno arcades had ancient peep show machines where customers could peer through a viewfinder to watch 3D adult films.
To see a 1960 pictures of the Palace Recreation Arcade, enter “palace”, then hit search –
View link
Check out this c1940s photo of the Midwest Theatre boxoffice –
View link
This ancient vaudeville house is intrigueing. If located at 29 East Main Street as those 1906 news notices say, that would explain the ads supporting unionized labor. At that location the Bijou Theatre Building is still standing today, covered over by a vaneer of perforated sheet metal. See a satellite view from the map feature above.
If it actually sat on West Main, it has been torn down. This old postcard shows where it would have been located at 29 W. Main, in the building above the letter K in the word Kingkade,
View link
Main entrance to the Lyric Theatre was located on First Street. Here is a c1920 image of the side entryway at 127 N. Robinson, photo left -
http://webinfo2.mls.lib.ok.us/okimages/WebImages/w_MLSOK472.jpg
Main entrance to the Lyric Theatre was on First Street. Here is a c1950 view of the side entryway at 127 N. Robinson, photo left -
View link
A c1945 photo of the Uptown Theatre can be seen here-
View link
Here are direct routes to images of the Dreamland (AKA- Capitol) Theatre. 1917 photos by W. Hine,
facade-
View link
stage door-
View link
LYRIC THEATRE > READ ALL ABOUT IT! ~ NEWS! ~ PHOTOS! ~ ADS!
(but use the free search option)
http://www.newsok.com/theoklahoman/archives/
During the early 1980s the Cinema Mayflower specialized in Viet Namese language films. It was an X-rated porn grind house from 1984 through 1991.
Oklahoma City based Lowenstien Theatres owned the following cinemas,
Okla. City – Blue Moon, Colonial (AKA-Majestic), Gem, Olympic (AKA- Mondo, Academy), and Paris.
Tulsa – Downtown, Midtown, and Uptown.
Wichita, KS – Colonial and Yale.
Cinema listed on this page is actually Norman’s second Boomer Theter.
While visiting a dear friend in Tulsa a few years back, his beloved great uncle told us all about the Cozy Theatre.
Decorated inside/out in Southwestern styling with earth tone colors, unglazed red tile, and rough stucco, the clean Cozy Theatre was popular amoung both white and black audiences. A T-shape lobby flaired out into a wide standee. Lighting fixtures were composed of hammered iron and amber tulip glass.
Auditorium sidelights gave off an amber glow that was warm and comforting. Because of its steep slope, main floor seating was stadium type, but there was also a good size balcony that was a “make out” spot for teenagers. An oversized movie screen had to be placed exactly at the right sight line in order to keep balcony rails from blocking rear seat views. Rough wood beams supported a stepped ceiling, silk and velvet tapestry dressed sidewalls, while amber valour drapes defined the stage.
Rows of tracks ran beneath the Cozy Building and during it last years the shuttered theatre became home to rail tramps. Many years passed before a wrecking crew finally came to tear down this dilapidated, but still lovely little movie house.
Cinema 69 and Cinema 69 Drive-In were one and the same. United Artist Theatres originally opened this complex as an indoor twin cinema with an adjoining drive-in. In the early 1990’s UA sold this complex, and it was eventually expanded to six indoor screens. As listed above, the drive-in is now only a memory.
United Artist Theatres opened their Cinema 69 around the early 1970’s as a twin indoor cinema, with an adjoining drive-in.
UA sold the complex in the early 1990’s, and that is when it was then expanded to six screens.
Actual name of this odeon was Greeley Theatre, Bowlegs, OK. This information was obtained by researching the back of the vintage photograph mentioned above, where the Greeley name is pencilled in.
Even toward the sad end, in a most run down condition, this crappy burlesque house supplied its burlesque queens with live music. The band was made up of an organ, drums, sax, and clarinet.
On the below sites one can listen to samples of classic burlesque music-
View link
and another site-
http://www.spaceagepop.com/lester.htm
Leon Senter performed the 1940’s Modernist face lift for Tulsa’s Rialto Theatre.
During the Grand Theatre’s burlesque phase it was reputed to have had a fine seven piece house orchestra that would have sounded a lot like those in the links below.
View link
and this one too-
http://www.spaceagepop.com/lester.htm