Web site ‘Tulsa TV Memories’ has clear images of the CAPRI Drive-In.
Another web site, ‘Retro Tulsa Museum’ has postcard views of this and other Tulsa movie houses.
Last January I bought a 2005 calendar with a wonderful antique photograph of the AIRVIEW Drive-In, along with views of other early day Tulsa movie houses. It’s entitiled ‘Tulsa, See-Ya at the Movies’. Don’t know if its still available, but this calendar was published by a Tulsa company called Yellow Pad Inc.
There is also a fine photograph of the DELMAN inside the 2005 calendar ‘TULSA, See-Ya at the Movies, Stories and Photos of Tulsa’s Old Movie Theatres’. Plus, this calendar covers trivia, bios, and has vintage photos of another dozen Tulsa historic theatres, available through Yellow Pad Inc.
Lostmemory; very good, clear McSwain exterior image.
During the early 1970’s while working at the Sooner Theater in Norman, an old timer projectionist once worked as a McSwain stagehand. He had many facinating stories about great and (mostly) near great vuadvillians who appeared onstage at this historic house.
There are nice interior/exterior Continental pix on the Cinerama web pages. Tulsa had an exact duplicate of this cinema, now demolished. Please advise of when CT will again accept new photos as I have one of the Continental to submit.
From 1966 through 1969, while attending high school I worked as doorman at the ornate Orpheum Theatre. This was near the end of the period when showmanship still meant plenty of flashy ballyhoo, and going out to a movie was an exciting event. It was great fun belonging to the Orpheum crew, and we prided ourselves as professional theatre people. Once for journalism class I wrote an article about our unique clique, and (though there were no job openings)for the next three weeks Manager Ed Swallow was deluged with job applicants hoping to join our team. Years pass swiftly, and I now live in Illinois, but fond memories abound of those golden years spent inside that wonderful theatre.
Yale Cinema 1905-1983, Streamline styling, 500 seats, Barton Cinemas. Southside OKC’s first theatre. While the facade received several facelifts through many decades, the auditorium always retained its original, nickelodeon, Plain Jane appearance.
Mayflower Cinema 1937-1991, Streamline styling, now a Budhist Temple, 600 seats, Barton Cinemas, Hill, Sorey, & Hill, architects. This was originally sister to the Bison Theatre in OKC’s northeast section. Mayflower structure has now been completely restyled into brightly colored, lavish Oriental design.
WHEN does Cinema Treasures plan on posting new photos on its web site?
Wish Don Lewis would submit his Redskin Theatre photos to be posted here. It would be fun to see color pix of that massive marquee & upright sign.
Barton Cinemas built & operated this house.
RITZ Theatre 1926-1960, 2000 seats including balcony, Robert Morton pipe organ, Italian Revival atmospheric/arch-Edward Watkins Saunders.
For interesting theater info & photos see Tulsa TV Memories & Tulsa Retro Museum web pages.
RITZ Theater; What is it with Oklahomans that make them want to list every theatre as Art Deco? From this photo the architectural styling is definately FEDERAL REVIVAL!
REDSKIN was a sister house to the Knob Hill (also located in Southside OKC) but as noted, with a much more elaborate marquee, it held approx 1300 seats including balcony, 1940s Streamline styling.
Okla Opry, 1940-present, featured movies into the early 1980s with an original capacity of approx 1300 seats.
Again, some people want to label every theater as Art Deco. From the posted photo it can clearly be seen that this structure is 1940s STREAMLINE!
Delman held 2200 seats with a Moderne atmospheric auditorium.
Tulsa became noted for Art Deco architecture and therefore everyone feels a need to attribute as many structures as possible to Art Deco. The Delman exterior was actually Streamline in design.
Tulsa Historical Society web site has outstanding Delman photo.
Criterion Theater 1920-1973, 1900 seats, Publix Theaters, Carl Boller-arch, exterior-Second Empire, lobby & auditorium-French, mezzanine-Art Deco.
Why do people feel compelled to lable every theatre as Art Deco?
Thank you, lostmemory. A fun picture to see!
Library of Congress Photo Archives has a 1930’s WPA commissioned photo of the first ROXY Theatre, which was later replaced by the present one.
A 2005 movie house calendar,‘Tulsa, See-Ya at the Movies’, has rare RITZ Theatre interior/exterior pix and an image of the pipe organ.
The POLLARD Theatre has its own web site with color photos.
Web site ‘Tulsa TV Memories’ has clear images of the CAPRI Drive-In.
Another web site, ‘Retro Tulsa Museum’ has postcard views of this and other Tulsa movie houses.
Last January I bought a 2005 calendar with a wonderful antique photograph of the AIRVIEW Drive-In, along with views of other early day Tulsa movie houses. It’s entitiled ‘Tulsa, See-Ya at the Movies’. Don’t know if its still available, but this calendar was published by a Tulsa company called Yellow Pad Inc.
There is also a fine photograph of the DELMAN inside the 2005 calendar ‘TULSA, See-Ya at the Movies, Stories and Photos of Tulsa’s Old Movie Theatres’. Plus, this calendar covers trivia, bios, and has vintage photos of another dozen Tulsa historic theatres, available through Yellow Pad Inc.
Lostmemory; very good, clear McSwain exterior image.
During the early 1970’s while working at the Sooner Theater in Norman, an old timer projectionist once worked as a McSwain stagehand. He had many facinating stories about great and (mostly) near great vuadvillians who appeared onstage at this historic house.
Where’s the above mentioned photo?
There are nice interior/exterior Continental pix on the Cinerama web pages. Tulsa had an exact duplicate of this cinema, now demolished. Please advise of when CT will again accept new photos as I have one of the Continental to submit.
These colorful pix are truly a lot of fun to see. Thanks for sharing!
Venice’s CALIFORNIA Theatre can clearly be seen in the movie “Quicksand”. starring Micky Rooney and Peter Lorre.
Hollywood’s APOLLO Theatre auditorium is almost identical to that of Oklahoma City’s (900 seat) PLAZA Theatre.
The Okla Theatre was a member of the United Artist Chain. Though a little shop worn, that fantastic Art Deco, atmospheric auditorium is still classy!
From 1966 through 1969, while attending high school I worked as doorman at the ornate Orpheum Theatre. This was near the end of the period when showmanship still meant plenty of flashy ballyhoo, and going out to a movie was an exciting event. It was great fun belonging to the Orpheum crew, and we prided ourselves as professional theatre people. Once for journalism class I wrote an article about our unique clique, and (though there were no job openings)for the next three weeks Manager Ed Swallow was deluged with job applicants hoping to join our team. Years pass swiftly, and I now live in Illinois, but fond memories abound of those golden years spent inside that wonderful theatre.
Yale Cinema 1905-1983, Streamline styling, 500 seats, Barton Cinemas. Southside OKC’s first theatre. While the facade received several facelifts through many decades, the auditorium always retained its original, nickelodeon, Plain Jane appearance.
Mayflower Cinema 1937-1991, Streamline styling, now a Budhist Temple, 600 seats, Barton Cinemas, Hill, Sorey, & Hill, architects. This was originally sister to the Bison Theatre in OKC’s northeast section. Mayflower structure has now been completely restyled into brightly colored, lavish Oriental design.
WHEN does Cinema Treasures plan on posting new photos on its web site?
Wish Don Lewis would submit his Redskin Theatre photos to be posted here. It would be fun to see color pix of that massive marquee & upright sign.
Barton Cinemas built & operated this house.
RITZ Theatre 1926-1960, 2000 seats including balcony, Robert Morton pipe organ, Italian Revival atmospheric/arch-Edward Watkins Saunders.
For interesting theater info & photos see Tulsa TV Memories & Tulsa Retro Museum web pages.
RITZ Theater; What is it with Oklahomans that make them want to list every theatre as Art Deco? From this photo the architectural styling is definately FEDERAL REVIVAL!
REDSKIN was a sister house to the Knob Hill (also located in Southside OKC) but as noted, with a much more elaborate marquee, it held approx 1300 seats including balcony, 1940s Streamline styling.
Okla Opry, 1940-present, featured movies into the early 1980s with an original capacity of approx 1300 seats.
Again, some people want to label every theater as Art Deco. From the posted photo it can clearly be seen that this structure is 1940s STREAMLINE!
Delman held 2200 seats with a Moderne atmospheric auditorium.
Tulsa became noted for Art Deco architecture and therefore everyone feels a need to attribute as many structures as possible to Art Deco. The Delman exterior was actually Streamline in design.
Tulsa Historical Society web site has outstanding Delman photo.
Criterion Theater 1920-1973, 1900 seats, Publix Theaters, Carl Boller-arch, exterior-Second Empire, lobby & auditorium-French, mezzanine-Art Deco.
Why do people feel compelled to lable every theatre as Art Deco?
Circle Theatre architect; William R. Chilton