As early as 1957 Oklahoma City had a black radio station, KBYE (AM-890). To look at a downtown rooftop billboard advertisement for station KBYE go to link below and type in “katz 1957” View link
As early as 1957 Oklahoma City had a black radio station, KBYE (AM-890). To see a downtown
billboard advertisement for station KBYE go above to Jeff Chapman’s 04-23-07 link and type in
“katz 1957”
‘SKATING VANITIES of 1947’ may have played the Warner Theatre since live stage productions were presented up till Cinerama euipment was installed in 1952. To have a look at a wall sign advertising this show go to oklahomo coboyz 08-07-07 post and type “421 w main, oklahoma city”
Gentlemen, I hate to tell you this, but on Cosmo’s 03-27-11 post I entered Capitol Theatre’s exact address of “310 w main, oklahoma city” and came up with historic photos of when this was the Dreamland Theatre, and after its convertion to a Virginia Dare Shop.
Go up to 03-26-11 post to see a vintage image of both the Aztec and State theatres, type in
“wilsond street”
Take a look at 166 S. Wilson to see what the Aztec Theatre is like today, now Coats Appliances. Can’t tell if across the street the State Theatre has a new facade, or if that is a new building. View link
When the half dozen downtown adult theatres were razed one by one due to Urban Renewal, the off the beaten track Showplace X Cinema was spared, and became headquarters to husky male prostitutes who worked back rows. Trix were not actually performed inside the dark auditorium, but a price would be agreed on for commercial sex before the hustler would leave with his John.
Hustlers were safer here than on street corners, plus cheap walk-up hotels, (the towns oldest gay club) The burgundy Bar, and the bus station were only one block down.
Oklahoma City used to have a large share of transient male hookers because two major interstate hiways cross each other right downtown; North/South I-35 from Minneapolis to Houston, and East/West I-40 from the East Coast to Los Angeles.
These working boys only hung for a few days before moving on, and until the early-90’s law enforcement generally overlooked male prostitutes. Eventually strict crackdowns began on all prostitution due to increased violence (even some murders) against the Johns. Around that same time The Burgundy lost its liquor license, sleazy downtown hotels were condemned, the Showplace was forced to close, and the bus station increased security patrol.
These days the boys no longer bother to stop in OKC.
In order to see a clear exterior picture go to link below and type “shawnee State homefolks theatre”, but be sure to click on match all words View link
This is the exact lot where the State Homefolks once stood, View link
In order to see really sharp interior and exterior pictures go to site below and type “vinita aztec theatre”, but be sure to click on match all words View link
Long ago, a reliable source told me that throughout the 70’s & 80’s actor James MacArthur (son of Helen Hayes) owned the Las Palmas Theatre property. Ahead of its time, there were once plans to rename this property the James MacArthur Theatre. Of course, that never came about.
Mr. Greenbird’s post didn’t list the related website as “official”.
Many of us enjoy learning about former cinemas, even those found in ghost towns.
Auditorium chairs can be seen in far left photos (ten and eleven down).
Screen three tended to push the limits by showing gay porn, along with 1950s gay beefcake films represented in this spicy montage.
Law enforcement didn’t bother to bust gay screenings, for to do so would be the same as admitting that queens actually dwelt within “butch” OKC.
As early as 1957 Oklahoma City had a black radio station, KBYE (AM-890). To look at a downtown rooftop billboard advertisement for station KBYE go to link below and type in “katz 1957”
View link
As early as 1957 Oklahoma City had a black radio station, KBYE (AM-890). To see a downtown
billboard advertisement for station KBYE go above to Jeff Chapman’s 04-23-07 link and type in
“katz 1957”
‘SKATING VANITIES of 1947’ may have played the Warner Theatre since live stage productions were presented up till Cinerama euipment was installed in 1952. To have a look at a wall sign advertising this show go to oklahomo coboyz 08-07-07 post and type “421 w main, oklahoma city”
Gentlemen, I hate to tell you this, but on Cosmo’s 03-27-11 post I entered Capitol Theatre’s exact address of “310 w main, oklahoma city” and came up with historic photos of when this was the Dreamland Theatre, and after its convertion to a Virginia Dare Shop.
Wonderful historic shots on that link, cosmo. The Rialto must have had the very first V shape marquee angled to catch the eye of motorist.
Look at vintage street views when this was still known as the Lyric. The State Theatre is also visible. Type in “wilson street looking south”
Go up to 03-26-11 post to see a vintage image of both the Aztec and State theatres, type in
“wilsond street”
Take a look at 166 S. Wilson to see what the Aztec Theatre is like today, now Coats Appliances. Can’t tell if across the street the State Theatre has a new facade, or if that is a new building.
View link
When the half dozen downtown adult theatres were razed one by one due to Urban Renewal, the off the beaten track Showplace X Cinema was spared, and became headquarters to husky male prostitutes who worked back rows. Trix were not actually performed inside the dark auditorium, but a price would be agreed on for commercial sex before the hustler would leave with his John.
Hustlers were safer here than on street corners, plus cheap walk-up hotels, (the towns oldest gay club) The burgundy Bar, and the bus station were only one block down.
Oklahoma City used to have a large share of transient male hookers because two major interstate hiways cross each other right downtown; North/South I-35 from Minneapolis to Houston, and East/West I-40 from the East Coast to Los Angeles.
These working boys only hung for a few days before moving on, and until the early-90’s law enforcement generally overlooked male prostitutes. Eventually strict crackdowns began on all prostitution due to increased violence (even some murders) against the Johns. Around that same time The Burgundy lost its liquor license, sleazy downtown hotels were condemned, the Showplace was forced to close, and the bus station increased security patrol.
These days the boys no longer bother to stop in OKC.
In order to see a clear exterior picture go to link below and type “shawnee State homefolks theatre”, but be sure to click on match all words
View link
This is the exact lot where the State Homefolks once stood,
View link
In order to see really sharp interior and exterior pictures go to site below and type “vinita aztec theatre”, but be sure to click on match all words
View link
… and, Champion’s hoof prints are enshrined in cement inside the forecourt of Hollywood’s Mann’s Chinese Theatre.
Long ago, a reliable source told me that throughout the 70’s & 80’s actor James MacArthur (son of Helen Hayes) owned the Las Palmas Theatre property. Ahead of its time, there were once plans to rename this property the James MacArthur Theatre. Of course, that never came about.
Mr. Greenbird’s post didn’t list the related website as “official”.
Many of us enjoy learning about former cinemas, even those found in ghost towns.
Auditorium chairs can be seen in far left photos (ten and eleven down).
On this link can be seen a mid 1960s image of the Tower Theater …
View link
Shown on this informative link are recent snapshots of the former LakeAire Drive-In Theatre …
http://www.abandonedok.com/lakeaire-drive-in/
This informative site has recent snapshots of the long closed Tee Pee Drive-In Theatre …
http://www.abandonedok.com/tee-pee-drive-in/
Recent photos of the closed down Airline Drive-In can be seen on this fun site …
http://www.abandonedok.com/airline-drive-in/
Screen three tended to push the limits by showing gay porn, along with 1950s gay beefcake films represented in this spicy montage.
Law enforcement didn’t bother to bust gay screenings, for to do so would be the same as admitting that queens actually dwelt within “butch” OKC.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNKGN5GMw4s
This bouncy montage shows the type of burlesque routines that were performed live upon the Grand lighted runway-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIdt0aLl3Bg
This montage of bouncy burlesque queens illustrates the type of struo routine performed live upon the Joy runway-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIdt0aLl3Bg
Presented here is an updated version of vintage burlesque strip routines …
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIdt0aLl3Bg
This montage is an updated version of burlesque vintage strip routines …
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIdt0aLl3Bg
You;ll get a big kick out of this montage of vintage clips showing strip queen routines …
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIdt0aLl3Bg
Hear this peppy example of a strip-tease tune …
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmTYdousWkg
and here are some fun examples of strip queen routines …
View link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5PEJmBdtAE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIdt0aLl3Bg
Tame by todays standards, but quite racy back in the day!
Hear this good example of a strip tease tune …
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmTYdousWkg