Photo right of this 1961 picture of Turley, OK, shows a hardware store that look like a former cinema. Do you suppose this could have been the Grotto Theatre? http://www.tulsalibrary.org/JPG/B0773.jpg
In the bottom right hand corner of this picture can be seen the Akdar Theatre. This 1930 shot illustrates just how large the stagehouse actually was. http://www.tulsalibrary.org/JPG/A0617.jpg
For one reason or another some photos {on sites listed in two postings directly above this one} will not come up on high speed internet but will work on dial up connection.
Some sort of multiple piano concert was being performed on the Brady stage when this vintage picture was shot. Must have been entertaining! http://www.tulsalibrary.org/JPG/B3307.jpg
Hydraulic shafts enabled this stage to be raised or lowered to suit the program.
By word of mouth the memory of the old Gaiety Burlesque Theatre still lives on. Many an old timer still talk about how the Gaiety always staged a rollicking good show.
Here is a most amusing site centered around burlesque history http://www.anatomyofburlesque.com/
Within the enormous Habana Inn Gay Resort complex a “family” adult news stand and gift shop called Jungle Reds has operated successfully since the mid 1980’s.
Rumors frequently surface about a proposal to install a gay theater next to Jungle Reds. Gossip reports this cinema will offer projection DVD and live male strippers, and at last fill the void left by the long ago closure of the Chieftain, Paris, and Three Ball.
Everyone in the gay community is hoping this hearsay will actually materialize in the not too distant future.
Oh daddy, beat me, demean me, make me feel cheap!
Just joking.
Acutally, if the backroom has only women, naked or dressed, then think I’ll just mosey along past this one.
Chech out the Enid Loewen Hotel & Theatre on that Oklahoma website mentioned above. Also are theatre books by the following authors;
K. Kay Brandes – Oklahoma theatre history 1889 through 1964
Roger E. Rice – history of Griffith Theatres
Sinopoulo, Wilson, & Peter – history of vuadevill in Oklahoma
Other than what I wrote, don’t have much background about Fred or his grandaddy, but will find out more next time I see him.
Miss Melba and I are in the same theatre troupe and he recently got me interested in this cinema history stuff. Melba is acquainted with Seymour, but I’ve never met him. Don’t have a clue about that Okie fella.
Thank you so much for this information. Very interesting and well written!
There is an older gentleman who is a regular at Gay Mile bars. He was the one who showed me a copy of the above news article, and says that his grandaddy was a former Griffith/Video projectionist. This fella tells that during The Great Depression years of the 1930’s Griffith Theatres payed their employees in script stock instead of cash money.
Symco:
When did General Tire buy out Griffith Bros. Theatres, how many theatres were involved, and what was the purchase price?
Not so long ago I ran across a 1971 Daily Oklahoman Newspaper article written about Video Theatres. It reported that there were one-hundred-fifty screens, and the yearly payroll total was one million dollars. Doesn’t that sound like a low dollar amount for so many theatres?
These recent comments have caused quite a twitter up and down Oklahoma City’s Gay Mile. Those faded glamour boys of yesteryear perch around gay bars chattering about how festive those Sunday Knight gay shows were. Of course every one of them claim to have been there.
Actually, with all this hoopla I was quite surprised to find out what a short time period these programs lasted. Still, judging from web postings provided by Lolly Pop, if those male strippers were more magnificent than those eye candy beefacke models then it surely must have been something amazing to behold!
Judging from exterior styling the Latonia Theatre must be from the Boller Bros. Architectural Firm. Notice the strong resemblance of the Latonia to other Boller designs, such as the Majestic Theatre located in East St. Louis, IL, and the Missouri Theatre in Saint Joseph, MO.
Theatre Historical Society of America is currently displaying a vintage photo of Oil City’s Latonia.
Photo right of this 1961 picture of Turley, OK, shows a hardware store that look like a former cinema. Do you suppose this could have been the Grotto Theatre?
http://www.tulsalibrary.org/JPG/B0773.jpg
Shown here is another 1961 snapshot of the Grand Theatre, showing a most pathetic condition during its last years -
http://www.tulsalibrary.org/JPG/E0064.jpg
In the bottom right hand corner of this picture can be seen the Akdar Theatre. This 1930 shot illustrates just how large the stagehouse actually was.
http://www.tulsalibrary.org/JPG/A0617.jpg
For one reason or another some photos {on sites listed in two postings directly above this one} will not come up on high speed internet but will work on dial up connection.
Some sort of multiple piano concert was being performed on the Brady stage when this vintage picture was shot. Must have been entertaining!
http://www.tulsalibrary.org/JPG/B3307.jpg
Hydraulic shafts enabled this stage to be raised or lowered to suit the program.
By word of mouth the memory of the old Gaiety Burlesque Theatre still lives on. Many an old timer still talk about how the Gaiety always staged a rollicking good show.
Here is a most amusing site centered around burlesque history
http://www.anatomyofburlesque.com/
A most romantic view,
View link
pmullins;
Thanks for the update & info.
Actually, my monider is OKLAHOMO COWBOY
Within the enormous Habana Inn Gay Resort complex a “family” adult news stand and gift shop called Jungle Reds has operated successfully since the mid 1980’s.
Rumors frequently surface about a proposal to install a gay theater next to Jungle Reds. Gossip reports this cinema will offer projection DVD and live male strippers, and at last fill the void left by the long ago closure of the Chieftain, Paris, and Three Ball.
Everyone in the gay community is hoping this hearsay will actually materialize in the not too distant future.
Was “The Back Row” also filmed there? That handsome lead actor is exactly my type of guy.
Typo, should read- Oklahomo Cowboy.
Playmate & Mujerado, hope to see you there!
Oh daddy, beat me, demean me, make me feel cheap!
Just joking.
Acutally, if the backroom has only women, naked or dressed, then think I’ll just mosey along past this one.
Thanks for the info, guys. Next time I’m in town the Tomkat will be included on my agenda.
By the way, my moniker is Oklahomo Cowyboy.
Photos of the Castro Theatre make it look so much larger than a 1500 seat house. It certainly is beautifully designed.
Is this theater still showing gay films, and is it a members only cinema?
From what I’ve heard about LA vice squad it’s hard to believe any sexual activity, except what is shown on the monitors, happens within these walls.
Interesting observations!
I’ll be visiting NYC for the first time next June and want to see this old theater.
This theatre was before my time, but I would like to have seen it. Sounds like it was a fun cruise spot.
Chech out the Enid Loewen Hotel & Theatre on that Oklahoma website mentioned above. Also are theatre books by the following authors;
K. Kay Brandes – Oklahoma theatre history 1889 through 1964
Roger E. Rice – history of Griffith Theatres
Sinopoulo, Wilson, & Peter – history of vuadevill in Oklahoma
Other than what I wrote, don’t have much background about Fred or his grandaddy, but will find out more next time I see him.
Miss Melba and I are in the same theatre troupe and he recently got me interested in this cinema history stuff. Melba is acquainted with Seymour, but I’ve never met him. Don’t have a clue about that Okie fella.
Thank you so much for this information. Very interesting and well written!
There is an older gentleman who is a regular at Gay Mile bars. He was the one who showed me a copy of the above news article, and says that his grandaddy was a former Griffith/Video projectionist. This fella tells that during The Great Depression years of the 1930’s Griffith Theatres payed their employees in script stock instead of cash money.
Symco:
When did General Tire buy out Griffith Bros. Theatres, how many theatres were involved, and what was the purchase price?
Not so long ago I ran across a 1971 Daily Oklahoman Newspaper article written about Video Theatres. It reported that there were one-hundred-fifty screens, and the yearly payroll total was one million dollars. Doesn’t that sound like a low dollar amount for so many theatres?
These recent comments have caused quite a twitter up and down Oklahoma City’s Gay Mile. Those faded glamour boys of yesteryear perch around gay bars chattering about how festive those Sunday Knight gay shows were. Of course every one of them claim to have been there.
Actually, with all this hoopla I was quite surprised to find out what a short time period these programs lasted. Still, judging from web postings provided by Lolly Pop, if those male strippers were more magnificent than those eye candy beefacke models then it surely must have been something amazing to behold!
Judging from exterior styling the Latonia Theatre must be from the Boller Bros. Architectural Firm. Notice the strong resemblance of the Latonia to other Boller designs, such as the Majestic Theatre located in East St. Louis, IL, and the Missouri Theatre in Saint Joseph, MO.
Theatre Historical Society of America is currently displaying a vintage photo of Oil City’s Latonia.