No, this theatre was not used for the movie Twister. I spoke with the owners, the Powells, and they confirmed this. A Drive-in was built and destroyed especially for the movie. This Drive-in was in Guthrie, but it wasn’t a real one. The Beacon did send over all its trash for the movie to add realism. They also popped all the popcorn used, but the Beacon wasn’t used in the movie. I hope this clears up the “Twister” confusion.
I just visited the Barron last weekend. It has been twinned. In its heyday this was one big beautiful theatre; however, it is a bit awkward now because of its twinning. I’d loved to have seen it in its original state. That being said, it is still a very NICE theatre. Talking to the manager revealed that the Barron has a sister theatre in Anthony, Ks. I don’t know if it’s still there or not. Another really interesting feature is that it still has its orginal popcorn machine in the concession stand. Believe it or not, it’s wooden with a direct line pumping in the hot oil. And, it still makes wonderful popcorn. The Barron grabs your attention as you drive downtown Pratt. You can’t miss it. Nor should you! I’ve got new pix to post a.s.a.p.
I remember the Buena Vista Drive-in. I saw Star Wars there when I was a kid. My Dad worked for Phillips Petroleum, then GPM, and retired from Duke Energies. We used to go to the Morley every few weekends. An oil field kid moves all the time, so you have to find the theatre in every town. For those of you that have ever seen Skellytown, TX., you know why we spent time in Borger and Pampa.
Ken, do you know about the Morley’s ghost? Yeah, they have a resident ghost. They’re even listed on the haunted theatre website. The Morley’s number is (806) 273-9272, by the way.
We plan on revisiting this one this summer to see the restoration progress. I’ll make sure we take digital pix this time. The Lyric Theatre in Spearman, TX., is also close to this one. We’ll visit and photograph it, too. As always we’ll post asap.
My wife and I were given a tour of this theatre recently. It’s in excellent shape and just celebrated its 75th anniversay. It may be city-owned, but the manager and family really take care of it. We simply love this theatre. (620) 384-5459 is the Northrup’s number. All theatre lovers should visit this one in they’re ever in the area.
Oh no. They’ve toned down the exterior with a new paint job. I hope they didn’t change the interior. This is a fun theatre. It needs to stay “eccentric.”
This is one of my favorites. The mural work alone is excellent, not to mention the recessed neon lighting. The owner said he has multiple colors of neon for the different seasons and it’s all original. This is one of the coolest theatres you’ll find around eastern Colorado.
We’ve got current pix of the resurrected Capitol. We’ll post them asap. If you want to see it now, go to the Springfield, Colorado website. I’d say they’re pretty pleased with the re-opening. They should be. These building started off its life as a livery stable, but it’s been a theatre for many years. If any “Springfielders” are reading this, post some more info and maybe some interior pix. You’ve got a great theatre.
Growing up in Pauls Valley meant attending the Royal Twin practically every weekend. We also had Brewer’s Drive-in, but it’s now gone. I haven’t talked to the current owners of the Royal, but I wish them well. My wife and I have been back to PV a couple of times and the Royal is looking a little rough, especially its “twin” side. One thing about a wet climate. It’s tough on roofs. Since saving and promoting “classic” downtown movie theatres is becoming more than a hobby, it seems, I’d like to put these owners in contact with a company that produces fundraisers for such causes. I tell everybody about this Cinema Treasures site, interested parties should contact me either through these message boards or my web address. ()
Maybe I can help.
Here’s a “Grand” theatre that is worth the trip! It’s right in the heart of Alva, OK. For those of you who think it’s a long way to travel to go to a movie just go to Enid and you’re almost there. It’s worth it. Enid has lost all of its interesting theatres, so go to Alva.
We’re planning a return trip here this summer. And this time, we have our digital camera. You’ve got to see the inside of the Orpheum. It defines ornate! Truly a work of art. I hope the restoration is continuing.
The number’s (918) 371-2101. These downtown movie theatres have much better atmosphere than the modern “monster-plexes.” My wife and I have been all over Oklahoma, Eastern Colorado, Kansas, & Northern Texas looking at these “mom & pop-owned” theatres. Take the time to seek them out and talk to their owners. That’s right! You can actually talk to their owners, and they all have stories that they are more than willing to tell. We’ve been given tours, told ghost stories, and been made very welcome. You don’t get that in the stadium seated, individual closet-sized, dirty “monster-plexes.” Going to a movie is about the experience as much as the movie itself. These theatres are living histories of their towns. Some are grand, some are plain, but they all reside in the heart of their respective cities and towns. They are Americana. My wife and I got fed up with the cold, impersonal “monster-plexes”, so on days off, we drive to and investigate little, downtown theatres. It’s a rewarding hobby to say the least.
This one’s open again this summer. Great Drive-In Experience. The Chief’s number is (405) 224-1515. It’s located to the south of Chickasha. You can’t miss it.
I’ve got some new pix of the Hornbeck which I’ll post a.s.a.p. This is a great theatre. I think it’s only operating on the weekends now, however. I’m kind of concerned about this. I hope it’s not in trouble. Hey, the rest of you theatre lovers, check this one out. It’s in downtown Shawnee. I know there are other newer theatres in Shawnee, but none of them have this kind of atmosphere! Besides, newer is not always better, especially when it comes to theatres. It’s too late for us in Stillwater, OK. Our grand theatre, The Leachman, closed in 1985, and is now a furniture store. We lost our little discounter,the Satellite Twin, too! Don’t let this fate befall the Hornbeck!
This one’s still the best one in the state. With the I-35 road construction it’s a little hard to get to from OKC, but it is well worth it! Just go to the next exit and come back from the North. It sits up on the hill at the South end of Guthrie. For Drive-in fans, this one’s a “must see.” Odds are, your kids haven’t ever experienced the Drive-In atmosphere. Well, this one is safe, clean, and well maintained. We love it. Our 5-year-old nephew calls it the “Big TV.”
I visited the Fox several years ago and was lucky enough to be given the grand tour. The guys working showed us everything and were very excited to answer our questions and show off the theatre. I have visited many vintage theatres and enjoyed them all. However, the Fox is truly in a class by itself. I spent most of the movie looking at the theater instead of watching the film. The Fox is a theater everyone should see.
I spoke to the city manager yesterday. This theatre is now a dance studio. It closed sometime in the ‘70s. It was named after the Thompson family who, she explained, moved away during that time period. Atoka has no other theatres. She related some memories of the Thompson from her youth. Like too many other theatres, this one’s gone.
Charles, I have regular, paper photos of the Ellis but nothing digital. Guess I need to finally buy a new camera. Cindy and I love visiting these old theaters, meeting their owners, and hearing their stories. We’ve been to quite a few in Oklahoma, Kansas, eastern Colorado, and the Texas Panhandle. Do you have any favorites in these areas that we might enjoy visiting?
I just met the Ellis’s owner, and he has plans to restore it as we speak. In fact, he making really good progress. The main auditorium looks great! It has some really interesting mural work, and yes, the hanging lamps are still there. There are 4 of them in all. I mistakenly said the featured cherubs. In fact, they feature women figures dressed in flowing blue gowns. They’re quite impressive. The twin auditorium is the next door building, but it was “twinned” in such a way as to not harm the original theatre.
It’s a really nice theatre!
No, this theatre was not used for the movie Twister. I spoke with the owners, the Powells, and they confirmed this. A Drive-in was built and destroyed especially for the movie. This Drive-in was in Guthrie, but it wasn’t a real one. The Beacon did send over all its trash for the movie to add realism. They also popped all the popcorn used, but the Beacon wasn’t used in the movie. I hope this clears up the “Twister” confusion.
I just visited the Barron last weekend. It has been twinned. In its heyday this was one big beautiful theatre; however, it is a bit awkward now because of its twinning. I’d loved to have seen it in its original state. That being said, it is still a very NICE theatre. Talking to the manager revealed that the Barron has a sister theatre in Anthony, Ks. I don’t know if it’s still there or not. Another really interesting feature is that it still has its orginal popcorn machine in the concession stand. Believe it or not, it’s wooden with a direct line pumping in the hot oil. And, it still makes wonderful popcorn. The Barron grabs your attention as you drive downtown Pratt. You can’t miss it. Nor should you! I’ve got new pix to post a.s.a.p.
I remember the Buena Vista Drive-in. I saw Star Wars there when I was a kid. My Dad worked for Phillips Petroleum, then GPM, and retired from Duke Energies. We used to go to the Morley every few weekends. An oil field kid moves all the time, so you have to find the theatre in every town. For those of you that have ever seen Skellytown, TX., you know why we spent time in Borger and Pampa.
Ken, do you know about the Morley’s ghost? Yeah, they have a resident ghost. They’re even listed on the haunted theatre website. The Morley’s number is (806) 273-9272, by the way.
We plan on revisiting this one this summer to see the restoration progress. I’ll make sure we take digital pix this time. The Lyric Theatre in Spearman, TX., is also close to this one. We’ll visit and photograph it, too. As always we’ll post asap.
My wife and I were given a tour of this theatre recently. It’s in excellent shape and just celebrated its 75th anniversay. It may be city-owned, but the manager and family really take care of it. We simply love this theatre. (620) 384-5459 is the Northrup’s number. All theatre lovers should visit this one in they’re ever in the area.
Oh no. They’ve toned down the exterior with a new paint job. I hope they didn’t change the interior. This is a fun theatre. It needs to stay “eccentric.”
This is one of my favorites. The mural work alone is excellent, not to mention the recessed neon lighting. The owner said he has multiple colors of neon for the different seasons and it’s all original. This is one of the coolest theatres you’ll find around eastern Colorado.
We’ve got current pix of the resurrected Capitol. We’ll post them asap. If you want to see it now, go to the Springfield, Colorado website. I’d say they’re pretty pleased with the re-opening. They should be. These building started off its life as a livery stable, but it’s been a theatre for many years. If any “Springfielders” are reading this, post some more info and maybe some interior pix. You’ve got a great theatre.
Growing up in Pauls Valley meant attending the Royal Twin practically every weekend. We also had Brewer’s Drive-in, but it’s now gone. I haven’t talked to the current owners of the Royal, but I wish them well. My wife and I have been back to PV a couple of times and the Royal is looking a little rough, especially its “twin” side. One thing about a wet climate. It’s tough on roofs. Since saving and promoting “classic” downtown movie theatres is becoming more than a hobby, it seems, I’d like to put these owners in contact with a company that produces fundraisers for such causes. I tell everybody about this Cinema Treasures site, interested parties should contact me either through these message boards or my web address. ()
Maybe I can help.
Here’s a “Grand” theatre that is worth the trip! It’s right in the heart of Alva, OK. For those of you who think it’s a long way to travel to go to a movie just go to Enid and you’re almost there. It’s worth it. Enid has lost all of its interesting theatres, so go to Alva.
We’re planning a return trip here this summer. And this time, we have our digital camera. You’ve got to see the inside of the Orpheum. It defines ornate! Truly a work of art. I hope the restoration is continuing.
Now this one’s a success story!
The number’s (918) 371-2101. These downtown movie theatres have much better atmosphere than the modern “monster-plexes.” My wife and I have been all over Oklahoma, Eastern Colorado, Kansas, & Northern Texas looking at these “mom & pop-owned” theatres. Take the time to seek them out and talk to their owners. That’s right! You can actually talk to their owners, and they all have stories that they are more than willing to tell. We’ve been given tours, told ghost stories, and been made very welcome. You don’t get that in the stadium seated, individual closet-sized, dirty “monster-plexes.” Going to a movie is about the experience as much as the movie itself. These theatres are living histories of their towns. Some are grand, some are plain, but they all reside in the heart of their respective cities and towns. They are Americana. My wife and I got fed up with the cold, impersonal “monster-plexes”, so on days off, we drive to and investigate little, downtown theatres. It’s a rewarding hobby to say the least.
We’re to late for this one. It’s gone. It’s now a parking lot and a “Monster-plex” addition. What a shame!
This one’s open again this summer. Great Drive-In Experience. The Chief’s number is (405) 224-1515. It’s located to the south of Chickasha. You can’t miss it.
Current pix of the Dunkin are one the way.
I’ve got current pix of the Leachman, aka Furniture Showcase. I’ll post them asap.
I’ve got some new pix of the Hornbeck which I’ll post a.s.a.p. This is a great theatre. I think it’s only operating on the weekends now, however. I’m kind of concerned about this. I hope it’s not in trouble. Hey, the rest of you theatre lovers, check this one out. It’s in downtown Shawnee. I know there are other newer theatres in Shawnee, but none of them have this kind of atmosphere! Besides, newer is not always better, especially when it comes to theatres. It’s too late for us in Stillwater, OK. Our grand theatre, The Leachman, closed in 1985, and is now a furniture store. We lost our little discounter,the Satellite Twin, too! Don’t let this fate befall the Hornbeck!
This one’s still the best one in the state. With the I-35 road construction it’s a little hard to get to from OKC, but it is well worth it! Just go to the next exit and come back from the North. It sits up on the hill at the South end of Guthrie. For Drive-in fans, this one’s a “must see.” Odds are, your kids haven’t ever experienced the Drive-In atmosphere. Well, this one is safe, clean, and well maintained. We love it. Our 5-year-old nephew calls it the “Big TV.”
Good news! The Airline is open. The show starts at dusk. Call (580) 762-65645 for details.
I visited the Fox several years ago and was lucky enough to be given the grand tour. The guys working showed us everything and were very excited to answer our questions and show off the theatre. I have visited many vintage theatres and enjoyed them all. However, the Fox is truly in a class by itself. I spent most of the movie looking at the theater instead of watching the film. The Fox is a theater everyone should see.
I spoke to the city manager yesterday. This theatre is now a dance studio. It closed sometime in the ‘70s. It was named after the Thompson family who, she explained, moved away during that time period. Atoka has no other theatres. She related some memories of the Thompson from her youth. Like too many other theatres, this one’s gone.
Charles, I have regular, paper photos of the Ellis but nothing digital. Guess I need to finally buy a new camera. Cindy and I love visiting these old theaters, meeting their owners, and hearing their stories. We’ve been to quite a few in Oklahoma, Kansas, eastern Colorado, and the Texas Panhandle. Do you have any favorites in these areas that we might enjoy visiting?
I just met the Ellis’s owner, and he has plans to restore it as we speak. In fact, he making really good progress. The main auditorium looks great! It has some really interesting mural work, and yes, the hanging lamps are still there. There are 4 of them in all. I mistakenly said the featured cherubs. In fact, they feature women figures dressed in flowing blue gowns. They’re quite impressive. The twin auditorium is the next door building, but it was “twinned” in such a way as to not harm the original theatre.
It’s a really nice theatre!
What’s the status of this drivein? Is the owner still looking to reopen it?