Guessy dates in description are off. The Rialto Theatre opened April 10, 1922. It installed sound to remain viable for Griffith Amusements before closing for a major refresh under new operator Charles J. Oliver after the July 4, 1950 showing of Gene Autry in “Mule Train” supported by the Popeye cartoon, “A Dream Walking” plus a newsreel.
The new Redland Theatre then launches after an open house with its formal opening on September 15, 1950 with Joan Caulfield as “The Petty Girl.” The Electra Neon Sign Company’s $800 signage was an unbilled star that night, as well. In 1954, the theatre transformed to widescreen projection to present CinemaScope titles.
he Rex Theatre launched on September 10, 1923 during the fair by J.A. Sullivan at 119 South Wewoka Avenue. Strengths included Simplex projectors, good ventilation and lots of available seating. Fox Theatre Circuit took on the venue getting into hot water when protestors successfully blocked a newsreel from playing about the murder of Marian Parker in February of 1928. In 1937, the Pix opened and appears to have been in the same location as the Rex. It appears to have ceased operations on May 21, 1963 with John Wayne in “The Commancheros.”
The Liberty Theatre opened at this address in 1919. It closed as a silent theater on January 14, 1930 with the Howard Hawks' film “Fazil.” It was used sporadically in 1930 and 1931 as a venue for live events. It had one more brief chance at movie exhibition when it was wired for sound.
The theatre’s final day of operation was July 14, 1955 when a windstorm knocked down the tower. Unfortunately, a car full of people sought shelter at the tower and the car was crushed by the tower causing three of the storm’s six injuries. The theatre was demolished for a potential hospital site.
The Key Theatre launched in downtown Wewoka by C.E. and A.B. Momand along with C.H. Hanson on August 24, 1925 with Clara Bow in “Man Trap.” The Key’s name was derived form the owner of the building, Colonel W.S. Key
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Freed launched the drive-in in Valliant after their hardtop downtown theatre burned down. It opened as the Valliant Drive-In Theatre on Feb. 12, 1954 with “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.” It closed for the season in 1958. New operators refreshed the venue reopening as the Little River Theatre on March 24, 1959 with a double feature of Randolph Scott in “Ride Lonesome” and Walt Disney’s “White Wilderness.”
The former Brent Theatre closed and moved its equipment here to the State Theatre launching April 1, 1933 with “Sign of the Cross.” It had Spanish-themed architectural style though had contemporary features including a neon-lit lobby. It was a retrofitting of the Frank Yawitz Building The original State would close November 29, 1941 with “The Lady from Louisiana.” It may have reopened without advertising but after the War, a new State Theatre was opened on August 19, 1947.
Dooley and Sutton opened the New Lyric Theatre on April 23, 1917, the fourth of five locations for the venue. Opening film was Mary Pickford in “Less Than the Dust”. Owner Sam Sawyer added sound in the Summer of 1930 to stay relevant. The Lyric became part of McLendon’s Tri-State Theatre Circuit. Under their watch, it received a new streamlined modern makeover unveiled at a relaunch in October of 1939.
The Lyric closed with “The Razor’s Edge” August 18, 1947. On the next night, a new State Theatre was opened . A new Lyric Theatre was then built opening almost a year later on July 30, 1948. It has its own Cinema Treasure page.
The New Lyric Theatre opened in its fifth downtown location on July 30, 1948 with Johnny Mack Brown in “Crossed Trails” accompanied by “Perilous Waters” and supported by “The Sea Hound” serial. The theatre went out of business early in 1956. Billed as fireproof, the new Lyric was completely destroyed by a fire on April 29, 1956.
Mr. and Mrs. Audra Black built a Drive-In Theatre in 1950 the same day that Tri-States Theaters and Barton McLendon announced it was also building one. Black’s Drive-In Theatre opened on August 23, 1950 with Randolph Scott in “The Fighting Man of the Plains” and supported by the Popeye cartoon, “Wolf in Sheik’s Clothing” and an animated short about Texas called “The Lone Star State.” The screen tower was 54' by 48' and was located at the “Y” on Broken Bow Highway.
As the Black family prepared for Season 2, McLendon stopped building his ozone and simply purchased theatre in late March of 1951. He changed its name to the Rancho Drive-In relaunching on April 5, 1951 with Lucille Ball as “The Fuller Brush Girl.”
Pearl Dooley launched the original Dooley (former Rex) Theatre a block away at 109 West Main Street on September 21, 1931. Feeling the competition from Levi Metcalf with two Purcell theaters, she decided to open the New Dooley Theatre here.
The New Dooley opened October 27, 1939 on a soft launch with Jean Rogers in “Stop, Look and Love.” The theater had a formal grand opening on November 1, 1939. The New Dooley was soon bought out by the Metcalfs changing its name to the McClain Theater and launching on December 13, 1940 with W.C. Fields in “The Bank Dick” and Tim Holt in “Laddie.” After the War, the theatre was demoted to weekend operation only.
On April 16, 1950, the theatre showed “Golden Boy” with Barbara Stanwyck and William Holden but on April 21, 1950, the theatre was gutted by fire. Metcalf rebuilt the theater while also building a new drive-in theatre in 1951. The theatre was supposed to have reopened in December of 1951 awaiting only its seating but the theatre was not advertised so it’s challenging to know if it reopened. Since the venue has no bookings except for a handful of sporadic live events, it is likely that the McClain simply exited film exhibition on April 16, 1950. In 1954, the venue was known as the “former McClain Theatre Building” which was retrofitted for other purposes. (The 1957 fire date above is in error.)
The Canadian Theatre opened with a soft launch on November 15, 1946 with “The Catmen of Paris” and the “Secret of the Whistler.” Levy and Sidney Metcalf then has a formal Grand Opening on November 22, 1946.
Celebrated a transformation by Griffith Amusements to widescreen and presentation of CinemaScope films November 1954
Celebrated a transformation by Griffith Amusements to widescreen and presentation of CinemaScope films on October 1954
Celebrated a transformation by Griffith Amusements to widescreen and presentation of CinemaScope films on October 1954
Celebrated a transformation by Griffith Amusements to widescreen and presentation of CinemaScope films on October 28, 1954
Celebrated a transformation by Griffith Amusements to widescreen and presentation of CinemaScope films on November 4, 1954
Celebrated a transformation by Griffith Amusements to widescreen and presentation of CinemaScope films on November 2, 1954
Celebrated a transformation by Griffith Amusements to widescreen and presentation of CinemaScope films on October 23, 1954
Celebrated a transformation to widescreen presenting CinemaScope titles on October 28, 1954
Guessy dates in description are off. The Rialto Theatre opened April 10, 1922. It installed sound to remain viable for Griffith Amusements before closing for a major refresh under new operator Charles J. Oliver after the July 4, 1950 showing of Gene Autry in “Mule Train” supported by the Popeye cartoon, “A Dream Walking” plus a newsreel.
The new Redland Theatre then launches after an open house with its formal opening on September 15, 1950 with Joan Caulfield as “The Petty Girl.” The Electra Neon Sign Company’s $800 signage was an unbilled star that night, as well. In 1954, the theatre transformed to widescreen projection to present CinemaScope titles.
The Clinton Drive-In launches for Griffith Amusements on August 17, 1949 with Oklahoma’s own Van Heflin in “Tap Roots.”
Architects Bryant and Balch
he Rex Theatre launched on September 10, 1923 during the fair by J.A. Sullivan at 119 South Wewoka Avenue. Strengths included Simplex projectors, good ventilation and lots of available seating. Fox Theatre Circuit took on the venue getting into hot water when protestors successfully blocked a newsreel from playing about the murder of Marian Parker in February of 1928. In 1937, the Pix opened and appears to have been in the same location as the Rex. It appears to have ceased operations on May 21, 1963 with John Wayne in “The Commancheros.”
The Liberty Theatre opened at this address in 1919. It closed as a silent theater on January 14, 1930 with the Howard Hawks' film “Fazil.” It was used sporadically in 1930 and 1931 as a venue for live events. It had one more brief chance at movie exhibition when it was wired for sound.
The theatre’s final day of operation was July 14, 1955 when a windstorm knocked down the tower. Unfortunately, a car full of people sought shelter at the tower and the car was crushed by the tower causing three of the storm’s six injuries. The theatre was demolished for a potential hospital site.
The Key Theatre launched in downtown Wewoka by C.E. and A.B. Momand along with C.H. Hanson on August 24, 1925 with Clara Bow in “Man Trap.” The Key’s name was derived form the owner of the building, Colonel W.S. Key
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Freed launched the drive-in in Valliant after their hardtop downtown theatre burned down. It opened as the Valliant Drive-In Theatre on Feb. 12, 1954 with “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.” It closed for the season in 1958. New operators refreshed the venue reopening as the Little River Theatre on March 24, 1959 with a double feature of Randolph Scott in “Ride Lonesome” and Walt Disney’s “White Wilderness.”
Correction: town’s (not towns')
The former Brent Theatre closed and moved its equipment here to the State Theatre launching April 1, 1933 with “Sign of the Cross.” It had Spanish-themed architectural style though had contemporary features including a neon-lit lobby. It was a retrofitting of the Frank Yawitz Building The original State would close November 29, 1941 with “The Lady from Louisiana.” It may have reopened without advertising but after the War, a new State Theatre was opened on August 19, 1947.
Dooley and Sutton opened the New Lyric Theatre on April 23, 1917, the fourth of five locations for the venue. Opening film was Mary Pickford in “Less Than the Dust”. Owner Sam Sawyer added sound in the Summer of 1930 to stay relevant. The Lyric became part of McLendon’s Tri-State Theatre Circuit. Under their watch, it received a new streamlined modern makeover unveiled at a relaunch in October of 1939.
The Lyric closed with “The Razor’s Edge” August 18, 1947. On the next night, a new State Theatre was opened . A new Lyric Theatre was then built opening almost a year later on July 30, 1948. It has its own Cinema Treasure page.
Closed for COVID-19 on March 16, 2020. Reopened August 14, 2020. Appears to have closed permanently on November 13, 2020.
The New State opened August 19, 1947 with “Carnival in Costa Rica.”
The New Lyric Theatre opened in its fifth downtown location on July 30, 1948 with Johnny Mack Brown in “Crossed Trails” accompanied by “Perilous Waters” and supported by “The Sea Hound” serial. The theatre went out of business early in 1956. Billed as fireproof, the new Lyric was completely destroyed by a fire on April 29, 1956.
Mr. and Mrs. Audra Black built a Drive-In Theatre in 1950 the same day that Tri-States Theaters and Barton McLendon announced it was also building one. Black’s Drive-In Theatre opened on August 23, 1950 with Randolph Scott in “The Fighting Man of the Plains” and supported by the Popeye cartoon, “Wolf in Sheik’s Clothing” and an animated short about Texas called “The Lone Star State.” The screen tower was 54' by 48' and was located at the “Y” on Broken Bow Highway.
As the Black family prepared for Season 2, McLendon stopped building his ozone and simply purchased theatre in late March of 1951. He changed its name to the Rancho Drive-In relaunching on April 5, 1951 with Lucille Ball as “The Fuller Brush Girl.”
Pearl Dooley launched the original Dooley (former Rex) Theatre a block away at 109 West Main Street on September 21, 1931. Feeling the competition from Levi Metcalf with two Purcell theaters, she decided to open the New Dooley Theatre here.
The New Dooley opened October 27, 1939 on a soft launch with Jean Rogers in “Stop, Look and Love.” The theater had a formal grand opening on November 1, 1939. The New Dooley was soon bought out by the Metcalfs changing its name to the McClain Theater and launching on December 13, 1940 with W.C. Fields in “The Bank Dick” and Tim Holt in “Laddie.” After the War, the theatre was demoted to weekend operation only.
On April 16, 1950, the theatre showed “Golden Boy” with Barbara Stanwyck and William Holden but on April 21, 1950, the theatre was gutted by fire. Metcalf rebuilt the theater while also building a new drive-in theatre in 1951. The theatre was supposed to have reopened in December of 1951 awaiting only its seating but the theatre was not advertised so it’s challenging to know if it reopened. Since the venue has no bookings except for a handful of sporadic live events, it is likely that the McClain simply exited film exhibition on April 16, 1950. In 1954, the venue was known as the “former McClain Theatre Building” which was retrofitted for other purposes. (The 1957 fire date above is in error.)
The Canadian Theatre opened with a soft launch on November 15, 1946 with “The Catmen of Paris” and the “Secret of the Whistler.” Levy and Sidney Metcalf then has a formal Grand Opening on November 22, 1946.