Ringling was winter residence for one of the Ringling Bros Circus units, so most likely the theater was connected with curcus folk. You should see those great circus themed tomb stones in the local cemetery.
MAIN STREET CINEMA was a stylistic nickelodeon that dated back to the early Twentieth-Century. With a huge, decorative arched entry way, it was quite impressive!
Some source list this same address for the TULSA Theater, but the Main Stree and Tulsa were two different movie houses.
The Busby Theater did feature sound movies in the late 1920’s and early 1930’s, then switched over to live burlesque stage shows. It didn’t take too long for hootchy novelty acts to wear off, and burlesque was quickly dropped. Poor attenance may have partly been due to the fact that the Busby was situated atop a steep hill.
Opened in 1903 as OVERHOLSER OPERA HOUSE, this was a big time stage show playhouse.
Keith-Albee took over in 1921, comissioned John Eberson to produce a complete Adamesque renovation. Renamed ORPHEUM, it began presenting Interstate Vaudeville acts.
When Warner Bros. gained control in 1928 they gave the interior and marquee a spruce up, changed the name to WARNER and tranformed it into a combo film/stage show venue. 1952 saw another modernization when it began new life as WARNER’S CINERAMA.
Razed 1964.
Built on the cheap (reports range from $20,000 to $75,000), designers John McKay and Pat McGee were clever in using bright color and created dramatic lighting effects on yards and yards of flowing stage draperies.
This was one of the coolest theater designs I ever saw. The UPTOWN Theater was constructed near the top of a railroad viaduct, and had a long auditorium with an extremely steep rake in order for rear exit doors to meet an alley far below the front facade.
On the other end of the same viaduct was the COZY Theater, with pretty much the same floor plan, but nearly as high off the ground as the UPTOWN.
Both theaters were located near Union Train Depot, and benefitted by attracting travelers killing time on layover.
This was one of the coolest theater designs I ever saw. The UPTOWN Theater was constructed near the top of a railroad viaduct, and had a long auditorium with an extremely steep rake in order for rear exit doors to meet an alley far below the front facade. Located near the Union Train Depot, this house attracted travelers killing time on layover.
On the other end of the same viaduct was the COZY Theater, with pretty much the same floor plan, but nearly as high off the ground as the UPTOWN.
According to research completed on ‘Oklahoman Archives’ web pages, the RITZ Theater opened in 1929. Daily Oklahoman 1928 ads show a nice archetectural drawing of this house, as well as construction photos. It had an atmospheric auditorium with a Spainish interior and exterior. It closed in the mid 1950s, and was razed sometime there after.
This ORPHEUM Theater (1917-1973) was Tulsa’s second Orpheum. The first Orpheum (aprox 1905-1973) was located on Third Street and was remodeled and renamed RIALTO shortly before the new Orpheum opened on Fourth Street.
Not only was this Tulsa’s first stone structure, it was also the town’s first permanent theater, dating back to late nineteenth-century. Aproximate dates were 1893-1972.
Oklahoma City theater history can easily be varified on ‘Oklahoman Archive’ web-site. Here research can be conducted on Daily Oklahoman Newspaper issues dating back to 1901.
Daily Oklahoman Newspaper ads list this theater as opening in 1916 as the LIBERTY, operated by Paramount Theaters. It was later remodeled during 1948 by Boller Bros and renamed HARBER. From 1953 it operated as COOPER CINERAMA.
Enter the word “cement” on the Oklahoman Archives 1911-1920 and a wonderful architectural drawing will appear for Dec. 13, 1915.
Ringling was winter residence for one of the Ringling Bros Circus units, so most likely the theater was connected with curcus folk. You should see those great circus themed tomb stones in the local cemetery.
Dallas Architect Jack Corgan designed the Streamline REDSKIN Theater (1941-1994, razed 2004).
Jay McKay was interior designer of the PLAZA.
Architect Jack Corgan designed the KNOB HILL Theater.
MAIN STREET CINEMA was a stylistic nickelodeon that dated back to the early Twentieth-Century. With a huge, decorative arched entry way, it was quite impressive!
Some source list this same address for the TULSA Theater, but the Main Stree and Tulsa were two different movie houses.
This is strictly a guess, but the EASTSIDE Theater may have been a leftover theater structure from the original location of OKC Fair Grounds.
The Busby Theater did feature sound movies in the late 1920’s and early 1930’s, then switched over to live burlesque stage shows. It didn’t take too long for hootchy novelty acts to wear off, and burlesque was quickly dropped. Poor attenance may have partly been due to the fact that the Busby was situated atop a steep hill.
Opened in 1903 as OVERHOLSER OPERA HOUSE, this was a big time stage show playhouse.
Keith-Albee took over in 1921, comissioned John Eberson to produce a complete Adamesque renovation. Renamed ORPHEUM, it began presenting Interstate Vaudeville acts.
When Warner Bros. gained control in 1928 they gave the interior and marquee a spruce up, changed the name to WARNER and tranformed it into a combo film/stage show venue. 1952 saw another modernization when it began new life as WARNER’S CINERAMA.
Razed 1964.
Village Architect was Alex Blue.
Built on the cheap (reports range from $20,000 to $75,000), designers John McKay and Pat McGee were clever in using bright color and created dramatic lighting effects on yards and yards of flowing stage draperies.
The San Antonio ALAMEDA Theater auditorium, murals, and lobby are extremely similar to that of Oklahoma City’s CENTRE Theatre.
The San Antonio ALAMEDA Theater auditorium, murals, and lobby are extremely similar to that of Oklahoma City’s CENTRE Theatre.
This was one of the coolest theater designs I ever saw. The UPTOWN Theater was constructed near the top of a railroad viaduct, and had a long auditorium with an extremely steep rake in order for rear exit doors to meet an alley far below the front facade.
On the other end of the same viaduct was the COZY Theater, with pretty much the same floor plan, but nearly as high off the ground as the UPTOWN.
Both theaters were located near Union Train Depot, and benefitted by attracting travelers killing time on layover.
This was one of the coolest theater designs I ever saw. The UPTOWN Theater was constructed near the top of a railroad viaduct, and had a long auditorium with an extremely steep rake in order for rear exit doors to meet an alley far below the front facade. Located near the Union Train Depot, this house attracted travelers killing time on layover.
On the other end of the same viaduct was the COZY Theater, with pretty much the same floor plan, but nearly as high off the ground as the UPTOWN.
Architectural firm of HILL, SOREY, and HILL designed the UPTOWN. This same team collaborated on the BISON and MAYFLOWER.
Jay McKay was interior decorator for the TOWER Theater, he also decorated the PLAZA interior. Pat McGee was architect of the TOWER.
Did the new owners retain those wonderful abstract rodeo cowboy auditorium wall murals?
According to research completed on ‘Oklahoman Archives’ web pages, the RITZ Theater opened in 1929. Daily Oklahoman 1928 ads show a nice archetectural drawing of this house, as well as construction photos. It had an atmospheric auditorium with a Spainish interior and exterior. It closed in the mid 1950s, and was razed sometime there after.
This was Tulsa’s first ORPHEUM Theater, and was renamed RIALTO shortly before the new Orphuem opened in 1917 on Fourth Street.
PLAZA, NEE-ALHAMBRA
Actually it was not Pine, but PINES Theater.
This ORPHEUM Theater (1917-1973) was Tulsa’s second Orpheum. The first Orpheum (aprox 1905-1973) was located on Third Street and was remodeled and renamed RIALTO shortly before the new Orpheum opened on Fourth Street.
Not only was this Tulsa’s first stone structure, it was also the town’s first permanent theater, dating back to late nineteenth-century. Aproximate dates were 1893-1972.
Oklahoma City theater history can easily be varified on ‘Oklahoman Archive’ web-site. Here research can be conducted on Daily Oklahoman Newspaper issues dating back to 1901.
Daily Oklahoman Newspaper ads list this theater as opening in 1916 as the LIBERTY, operated by Paramount Theaters. It was later remodeled during 1948 by Boller Bros and renamed HARBER. From 1953 it operated as COOPER CINERAMA.
Enter the word “cement” on the Oklahoman Archives 1911-1920 and a wonderful architectural drawing will appear for Dec. 13, 1915.
Architect for the Circle was W.J. Laws. Interior decorator was J.R. Carney. Paramount/Publix operated this house until the late 1940s.