Tower Theatre
425 NW 23rd Street,
Oklahoma City,
OK
73103
425 NW 23rd Street,
Oklahoma City,
OK
73103
6 people
favorited this theater
Showing 26 - 49 of 49 comments
The sign was recently restored and looks great — was lit for the first time in decades not too long ago. Here’s a photo of the sign during the day as it looks now:
View link
I will go back and take some photos at night very soon.
The theater itself has been gutted, along with several other buildings on the block, and they are for lease. The area is undergoing a nice revitalization, so I imagine that all of the buildings will be occupied soon and people will once again be shopping along NW 23rd.
Sad to see now part of marque<sp> is gone as of 1 week? ago. I was there for a Slipknot Kittie concert/riot. few years ago. Promoter over sold the show and headliner Slipknot wouldn’t go on after Fire marshal removed all people not seated in chairs. The youth did not like this and did some damage while leaving…
Many apologies – Here is the correct link for the Tower in OKC:
View link
Think you have the wrong link there Kevin….
The Tower in 1996:
View link
Opened on July 15, 1937 by Standard Theaters, with 926 seats. Here is the current real estate listing:
http://tinyurl.com/4p87xj
A 1984 view of the Tower Theater in Oklahoma City.
Here is a view of the Tower from August 2004:
http://tinyurl.com/2tancf
During the early 1990’s the Tower Theater opened only on Saturday nights for midnight showings that attracted junior high kids for such films as “Crazy Momma”, “What’s the Matter with Helen”, “Who Slew Auntie Roo”, Ed Wood, Jr. crap, and other obscure movies.
At that time auditorium walls had been completely draped over with gold fabric, from one of many interior remodelings.
When Jay Leno first took over NBC’s “The Tonight Show”, behind Jay’s desk could be seen an exact replica of the OKC Tower neon upright sign. Remember?
Scroll through these fun web pages for recent TOWER images -
http://www.agilitynut.com/theatres/ok.html
Patsy: You may want to consult the Oklahoman Archives (official site of Oklahoma Publishing/Daily Oklahoman Newspaper)web pages to research the Tower pipe organ origins, and what became of it.
Grand opening announcements described this instrument. Also, I recall that the Tower opened with an Ann Sothern feature. Miss Sothern was a popular actress in Oklahoma City and her films sold tickets, which gaurenteed packed houses.
There is no Organ currently at the Tower Theater. It probably was taken out during a renovation in the 1960’s.
Jeff: Thanks for clearing up the architect dilemma as I was wondering about the J. McKay name mentioned by CT member, Lauren. Can you provide any information about the Tower organ?
Check out the neat b/w 50’s photo when clicking on Historic Tower Theater under Related Websites. I see a pipe organ and billowing are mentioned in the theatre description, but wonder if the organ is still intact at the Tower today?
who should i contact if interested in purchasing the Tower Theater?
Again, I apologize for any erroneous information submitted by myself!
Here I have to eat words I previously wrote; As it turns out, research from the ‘Oklahoman Archives’ web site proves that famed Architect W. SCOTT DUNNE drew the blueprints for the unique TOWER Theater. News articles of that period make no mention of Jay McKay being connected in any way with this theater design. Pat McGee was a Paramount Supervising Director for the Tower Theater, he was not an architect.
Jay McKay was interior decorator for the TOWER Theater, he also decorated the PLAZA interior. Pat McGee was architect of the TOWER.
This theater opened in 1937 and closed in 1987. The architect was J. McKay. I drove by this theater recently and it looks like a truck hit the bottom of the marquee and gave it a good dent.
no this theater is for sale for $595.000.00 includes the Tower theater and building next door .. loopnet id # 14011850
no that is another TOWER in TEXAS
i think this theater is for sale listed on loopnet
The Tower Theatre was one of the first suburban theatres in Oklahoma City. My father managed the theatre for Cooper/Paramount for a brief time in the early forties. In the early sixties Ferris Shambour bought the theatre and gave it a deluxe renovation—-70mm, rocking chair seats, very plush and very comfortable. Roadshow attractions were the staple with “Sound of Music” running at the Tower on a reserved seat basis for almost two years. I also remember seeing “The Sand Pebbles” and “Cleopatra” at the Tower during those roadshow/reserved seat days.