Chuck:
Last I heard this theatre was vacant, never converted to any other use. There used to be posted on this page an excellent photograph snapped by Don Lewis. Wonder why it has been removed?
Yes roadsideok, your nice photo is that of the former Bison Theatre. Fake rock facade was added during the early 1970’s when this building was used as a nightclub/disco.
Chester Gould (creator of “Dick Tracy”) attended OSU, and I once heard that he picked up extra cash during his college years by painting movie posters for Stillwater theatres. If one of these posters could be located today just imagine what its worth would be.
All the way up to 1967 the Circle Theatre always included a newsreel on the program. Universal News were the last to be shown.
Note in the 1987 photo, when the Circle was a skin flick house, how carefully “parking in back” was worded. Perhaps some dumb patron would have mistaken “parkinng in rear” as a title for an X-rated film. On second thought, that probably was a real porno title.
Why does it keep getting repeated that the Delman Theatre had the largest seating capacity in Tulsa? I think this rumor started with Tulsa Historical Society. At 1186 seats it obviously wasn’t a large theatre at all, much less Tulsa’s largest.
“The Old Lady on Brady” has the largest seating capacity. Next was the Ritz Theatre with just under 2000 seats.
Apparently the Eastside Theatre was purpose built to be a cinema, and not part of the old fair grounds. To see exactly what the structure looked like type in “Eastside Theater”; View link word “Eastside”;
That arched marquee left no dought that this was a Paramount Publix house. Vintage photos of this theatre can be seen by typing in word “Paramount”; View link
It was at the Ada Ritz Theatre where Paramount Pictures held their gala world premier showing of “FANCY PANTS”, staring Bob Hope, Lucille Ball, and Bruce Cabot.
Take a short cut to desired photo by typing “midwest city buisness district”. As noted, model of Skytrain can be seen photo center, at top of u shaped parking area. View link
Skytrain Theatre can be seen center of this scale model of above mentioned shopping mall
(type in word “midwest city”, then scroll down to see model pix) View link
Harold:
Are you sure it was the Oklahoma City Midwest Theater your grandfather bought? Most all ornamentation inside the Midwest was still intact up to the theatre closing in the mid 70s, which resulted in a well publisized auction just before the building came down.
Perhaps it was the OKC Warner Theater effects you are thinking of. The Warner had an ornate Italian decor furnished by Marshall Field of Chicago, and was razed in 1963.
The Central Theatre can clearly be seen in the 1933 movie ‘FOOTLIGHT PARADE’, starring James Cagney, Ruby Keeler, & Joan Blondell.
In this film chorus girls change costumes in buses while traveling from theatre to theatre, and pass by the Central and Million Dollar.
Chuck:
Last I heard this theatre was vacant, never converted to any other use. There used to be posted on this page an excellent photograph snapped by Don Lewis. Wonder why it has been removed?
Photos of the former Buffalo Theatre can be veiwed here -
http://www.cityofpawnee.com/
Chester Gould bio -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chester_Gould
Yes roadsideok, your nice photo is that of the former Bison Theatre. Fake rock facade was added during the early 1970’s when this building was used as a nightclub/disco.
Chester Gould (creator of “Dick Tracy”) attended OSU, and I once heard that he picked up extra cash during his college years by painting movie posters for Stillwater theatres. If one of these posters could be located today just imagine what its worth would be.
All the way up to 1967 the Circle Theatre always included a newsreel on the program. Universal News were the last to be shown.
Note in the 1987 photo, when the Circle was a skin flick house, how carefully “parking in back” was worded. Perhaps some dumb patron would have mistaken “parkinng in rear” as a title for an X-rated film. On second thought, that probably was a real porno title.
All the way up to 1967 the 11th Street Drive-in always included a newsreel on the program. Universal News were the last to be shown.
Nice Centre Theatre exterior & auditorium views can be seen on the following site by typing in name “Centre” -
View link
Why does it keep getting repeated that the Delman Theatre had the largest seating capacity in Tulsa? I think this rumor started with Tulsa Historical Society. At 1186 seats it obviously wasn’t a large theatre at all, much less Tulsa’s largest.
“The Old Lady on Brady” has the largest seating capacity. Next was the Ritz Theatre with just under 2000 seats.
Apparently the Eastside Theatre was purpose built to be a cinema, and not part of the old fair grounds. To see exactly what the structure looked like type in “Eastside Theater”; View link word “Eastside”;
That arched marquee left no dought that this was a Paramount Publix house. Vintage photos of this theatre can be seen by typing in word “Paramount”;
View link
It was at the Ada Ritz Theatre where Paramount Pictures held their gala world premier showing of “FANCY PANTS”, staring Bob Hope, Lucille Ball, and Bruce Cabot.
Architect George F. Schrieber designed the Empress Theatre.
Postcard colour views of the Palace Theater can be seen on this fine site;
View link
Several vintage views of the Warner Theater can be viewed on this updated site;
View link
Vintage views of the Majestic Theatre can be seen here;
View link
Vintage images of the Folly Theatre can be viewed on this site;
View link
Good views of the State Theater can be seen on this updated site;
View link
Vintage images of the Capitol Theatre can be viewed on this site;
View link
This was an adult cinema, wasn’t it?
Take a short cut to desired photo by typing “midwest city buisness district”. As noted, model of Skytrain can be seen photo center, at top of u shaped parking area.
View link
Skytrain Theatre can be seen center of this scale model of above mentioned shopping mall
(type in word “midwest city”, then scroll down to see model pix)
View link
Harold:
Are you sure it was the Oklahoma City Midwest Theater your grandfather bought? Most all ornamentation inside the Midwest was still intact up to the theatre closing in the mid 70s, which resulted in a well publisized auction just before the building came down.
Perhaps it was the OKC Warner Theater effects you are thinking of. The Warner had an ornate Italian decor furnished by Marshall Field of Chicago, and was razed in 1963.
The Central Theatre can clearly be seen in the 1933 movie ‘FOOTLIGHT PARADE’, starring James Cagney, Ruby Keeler, & Joan Blondell.
In this film chorus girls change costumes in buses while traveling from theatre to theatre, and pass by the Central and Million Dollar.
In the 1958 photo (12/2/06 posting), is there another theatre across the street?
Sallisaw, OK, was hometown to the fictional Joad Family in John Steinbeck’s 1939 best seller, “Grapes of Wrath”.