SK, saw your question above of 2/14/2012,,,A local Company named Basil Displays, was located in the basement of the Civic Center Auditorium that made displays for theaters..i.e. false fronts for Cinerama at Warner and Cooper also Cimarron for Midwest..My guess is that probably was the case for the giant Marilyn Monroe promoting Niagra…Basis was in operation in 50’s & 60’s, I may not have correct spelling of Basil but, it is close to being right..Anyway, that’s who I think produced the display…Motion picture’s would send out the prints and a local would build out the displays or false fronts for the outside of theaters..An era gone by.
Grand Theater photo added to this site. While boating on the Canton Lake in 60’s, went into this town and saw a movie playing at this theater. It was the only theater in Canton and it was somewhat small but, played current first run movies at the time..Canton area is interesting!
1947 photo of Home State Theater added to this site showing “The Vigilantes Return”. Theater was removed from the Home State building sometime in 50’s. Part of the building was used as a Military processing / induction center during the Viet Nam era 60’s – 70’s while also housing other commercial offices as well as a coffee shop. I never experienced the Theater but, did experience the good ole Army processing, induction in the early 60’s at this location along with several hundred other guys.
Theater ran all night movies on Saturday in early 60’s. Spent most of a night there while on week end pass from Fort Leonard Wood along with buddies…It was a cheap way for GI’s to bar hop and crash over night, hop on a bus Sunday and return to post. I recall it as being a really neat and somewhat ornate theater..Good times in Springfield!
Midwest Theater & Midwest Building 16 N Harvey, Oklahoma City, OK. Photo taken from nearby building roof top on West Side of Harvey. Most likely taken in the 1930’s from an unknown source…Great Full View.
Well put Cliff! Both theaters were first rate, first class, first run houses until new owner’s resorted to conversion to Adult, X rated houses toward later 60’s.
It is felt that the City made them part of the Urban Renewal for that reason…They could have been saved in my openion and turned into Art theaters but, City wanted to demolish as nothing replaced there location for the most part it is simply parking area…Poor planning by very narrow minded officials.
Midwest Theater, Oklahoma City, OK. 1930 Grand Opening Film was “The Dawn Patrol” with Richard Barthelmess and Douglas Fairbanks Jr. distributed by Warner’s First National Pictures. Clik photo tab above for Grand Opening ad.
Cooper Theater was built back to back with the Midwest and can be partially seen in this photo…back stage to back stage. Both theater’s were closed and demolished in the 1975 – 1976 time frame..
Warner Theater Oklahoma City, Photo’s of original Overholser Opera House as well as the later conversion to Orhpeum Theater prior to becoming the Warner have been added to the photo section.
As a kid, I saw many Saturday Westerns at the Agnew. There was a really great feature, they had a private room located at the back of the auditorium with a glass viewing wall, 10 to 15 seats for parents with crying infants. Todays modern new theaters should consider the same type of room except, for those fools that have to text during a film. That would allow the texters to text up a storm without disturbing those of us that turn our phones off to enjoy the movie. Wishful thinking but, would be nice.
Two additional Photo’s included in Photo Section of demolition.
1930 photo of Midwest Theater / Building added to photo section.
SK, saw your question above of 2/14/2012,,,A local Company named Basil Displays, was located in the basement of the Civic Center Auditorium that made displays for theaters..i.e. false fronts for Cinerama at Warner and Cooper also Cimarron for Midwest..My guess is that probably was the case for the giant Marilyn Monroe promoting Niagra…Basis was in operation in 50’s & 60’s, I may not have correct spelling of Basil but, it is close to being right..Anyway, that’s who I think produced the display…Motion picture’s would send out the prints and a local would build out the displays or false fronts for the outside of theaters..An era gone by.
Grand Theater photo added to this site. While boating on the Canton Lake in 60’s, went into this town and saw a movie playing at this theater. It was the only theater in Canton and it was somewhat small but, played current first run movies at the time..Canton area is interesting!
1947 photo of Home State Theater added to this site showing “The Vigilantes Return”. Theater was removed from the Home State building sometime in 50’s. Part of the building was used as a Military processing / induction center during the Viet Nam era 60’s – 70’s while also housing other commercial offices as well as a coffee shop. I never experienced the Theater but, did experience the good ole Army processing, induction in the early 60’s at this location along with several hundred other guys.
Home State Theater, 1947 Oklahoma City, OK.
Photo of original Overholser Opera House under construction added to photo section.
1975 photo of Midwest added to photo tab. Taken shortly before being demolished.
Theater ran all night movies on Saturday in early 60’s. Spent most of a night there while on week end pass from Fort Leonard Wood along with buddies…It was a cheap way for GI’s to bar hop and crash over night, hop on a bus Sunday and return to post. I recall it as being a really neat and somewhat ornate theater..Good times in Springfield!
Midwest Theater & Midwest Building 16 N Harvey, Oklahoma City, OK. Photo taken from nearby building roof top on West Side of Harvey. Most likely taken in the 1930’s from an unknown source…Great Full View.
1935 Night time photo of Criterion Theater just added to photo section.
1920’s photo scene with the original Overholser Opera House looking east on Grand just included in photo section.
Boxoffice feature of Cimarron Premiere @ Midwest added to photo section.
Well put Cliff! Both theaters were first rate, first class, first run houses until new owner’s resorted to conversion to Adult, X rated houses toward later 60’s. It is felt that the City made them part of the Urban Renewal for that reason…They could have been saved in my openion and turned into Art theaters but, City wanted to demolish as nothing replaced there location for the most part it is simply parking area…Poor planning by very narrow minded officials.
Early photo of Oklahoma City’s Midwest Theater Auditorium.
Photo of Midwest’s Auditorium added to photo tab. Agreed, does not look like a traditional Organ but, cannot identify what it could have been.
Chuck R U referring to one of the photo’s of the Oklahoma City, Midwest Theater?
Midwest Theater, Oklahoma City, OK. 1930 Grand Opening Film was “The Dawn Patrol” with Richard Barthelmess and Douglas Fairbanks Jr. distributed by Warner’s First National Pictures. Clik photo tab above for Grand Opening ad.
Cooper Theater was built back to back with the Midwest and can be partially seen in this photo…back stage to back stage. Both theater’s were closed and demolished in the 1975 – 1976 time frame..
Post of Tower Theater, Oklahoma City, 1950’s pic. Clik on Photo Tab above to view pics.
Post of two additional pics. Midwest in process of demolition and view of theater from west side alley. Clik above photo tab for pics.
Warner Theater Oklahoma City, Photo’s of original Overholser Opera House as well as the later conversion to Orhpeum Theater prior to becoming the Warner have been added to the photo section.
Orpheum Theater, Oklahoma City, 1920’s transitioned from original Overholser Opera House. Later to become Warner.
Warner Theater, Oklahoma City, began life early 1900’s as Overholser Opera House.
As a kid, I saw many Saturday Westerns at the Agnew. There was a really great feature, they had a private room located at the back of the auditorium with a glass viewing wall, 10 to 15 seats for parents with crying infants. Todays modern new theaters should consider the same type of room except, for those fools that have to text during a film. That would allow the texters to text up a storm without disturbing those of us that turn our phones off to enjoy the movie. Wishful thinking but, would be nice.