The “Britton” Theatre was originally named the “Ritz” but following WWII a new theatre was built south of it and slightly to the east and was named the “Ritz”. For a while, the older theatre building became a roller skate rink and a friend of mine (Edwin Butler) became its manager. Then when the Thompson Theatre Corporation leased the buldings and equipment (and temporarily moved their offices into the newer Ritz Theatre building, they restored the older theatre building and renamed it as the “Britton Theatre” which (as the “B” house) was opened on Fridays and Saturdays only, and played double features (a western plus a comedy) and a ‘serial’. As a teenager, I worked at both theatres, first as a concessionist and then as a projectionist (and part-time assistant manager). I also trained both of my brothers as projectionists. My youngest brother was 12 years old at the time and we piled theatre seat cushions on the floor in front of the observation ‘port-holes’ so he could see the screen to make a ‘changeover’ from one projector to the other. He would then open the light ‘dowser’ on the arc lamp and switch the sound from one projector to the next while jumping off the cushions onto the foot operated ‘changeover switch’ to cause relays to open one ‘light gate’ and close the other in order to make an instaneous change from the one projector to the next. In the 1950s, the Britton Theatre was closed and the building converted to offices for a dentist and others. The Ritz (on the south side) was leased for awhile to Roy Avey of Theatre Calender Service and also for awhile to Bob Smith of Theatre Poster Service. Then it was closed for quite some time before it was converted and re-opened as an antique store. I remained in theatre business, owning and managing several small-town movie theatres for more than 30 years. Both of my brothers (and I) also worked as projectionists (for a few years) at the Lakeside Theatre (7518 N. May Avenue in Oklahoma City) and my mom became head cashier there later. Roy Kendrick
The “Britton” Theatre was originally named the “Ritz” but following WWII a new theatre was built south of it and slightly to the east and was named the “Ritz”. For a while, the older theatre building became a roller skate rink and a friend of mine (Edwin Butler) became its manager. Then when the Thompson Theatre Corporation leased the buldings and equipment (and temporarily moved their offices into the newer Ritz Theatre building, they restored the older theatre building and renamed it as the “Britton Theatre” which (as the “B” house) was opened on Fridays and Saturdays only, and played double features (a western plus a comedy) and a ‘serial’. As a teenager, I worked at both theatres, first as a concessionist and then as a projectionist (and part-time assistant manager). I also trained both of my brothers as projectionists. My youngest brother was 12 years old at the time and we piled theatre seat cushions on the floor in front of the observation ‘port-holes’ so he could see the screen to make a ‘changeover’ from one projector to the other. He would then open the light ‘dowser’ on the arc lamp and switch the sound from one projector to the next while jumping off the cushions onto the foot operated ‘changeover switch’ to cause relays to open one ‘light gate’ and close the other in order to make an instaneous change from the one projector to the next. In the 1950s, the Britton Theatre was closed and the building converted to offices for a dentist and others. The Ritz (on the south side) was leased for awhile to Roy Avey of Theatre Calender Service and also for awhile to Bob Smith of Theatre Poster Service. Then it was closed for quite some time before it was converted and re-opened as an antique store. I remained in theatre business, owning and managing several small-town movie theatres for more than 30 years. Both of my brothers (and I) also worked as projectionists (for a few years) at the Lakeside Theatre (7518 N. May Avenue in Oklahoma City) and my mom became head cashier there later. Roy Kendrick