Majestic Theater
111 W. Sheridan Street,
Oklahoma City,
OK
73102
111 W. Sheridan Street,
Oklahoma City,
OK
73102
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This opened as the Colonial on September 30th, 1909. Tiny ad posted.
Architect J.Harry Randall practiced in St. Louis during the late 19th century. Around 1901-1904 he was working in Seattle, and by 1909 had established himself in Oklahoma City.
The news that J. Harry Randall had prepared plans for a $20,000 vaudeville theater at Oklahoma City for W. F. Burnell appeared in the August 7, 1909, issue of The Engineering Record. The house was in operation prior to October 17 that year, when the Oklahoma City Daily Pointer ran an article about various legal troubles Mr. Burnell had run into in connection with the Princess, Colonial, and Dixie Theatres, all three of which properties Burnell owned.
An article about a remodeling of the Majestic Theatre on this page of Boxoffice, June 7, 1952, has four small photos of the theater. The article mistakenly says that the house was built in 1889, which is actually the year Oklahoma City was founded.
Shown here are 1943 newspaper ads for the Majestic,
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We sure do enjoy everyone you get on.Thanks.I love old Movie ads from the good old days the 60’s-70’s.
You’re very welcome. I enjoy researching old movie houses and hotels, and like to share my findings.
Another great photo Cosmic,thanks for posting.
This is a shortcut to the above mentioned photo of the tiny Majestic.
Note the Folly Theatre’s massive stagehouse soaring to the right of Baum’s wall sign.
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Vintage views of the Majestic Theatre can be seen here;
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This 1909 picture postcard shows the Majestic when it was presenting Orpheum Circuit Vaude and still known as the Colonial Theatre, seen directly above the word “WEST”…
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And here are color postcards from the same era…
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Newspaper ads from this site reveal that there was also a Majestic Airdome atop the Majestic Theatre. This rooftop theatre would have operated during sizzling summer months when temperatures bacame much too hot for the main auditorium to remain open.
Check out the free search option,
http://www.newsok.com/theoklahoman/archives/
On 5/24/19, the Majestic was showing “The Gun Packer”, with Pete Morison, along with a Hearst newsreel and a short about a circus strongman. Other theaters showing films on that day were the New Folly (“A Picture Playhouse of Character”), the Lyric (“A Family Theater – Always a Good Show”), the Palace, the Liberty, Empress, Strand, Overholser and Dreamland.
Morris Lowenstein opened his independent Colonial Theatre in 1909 to present Orpheum Vaudeville. Architect Harry Randall did a good job of utilizing a long, narrow lot by installing a shooting gallery style auditorium. The Colonial balcony was quite steep and could only be reached by way of one narrow stairway.
In mid 1918 the name was changed to Majestic when it switched over to a movies only policy. During WWII years it featured burlesque acts, then became an adult film house until it closed in 1971, and was razed later that same year.
Mr. Lowenstein owned and operated this tiny theatre throughout its entire sixty year run. The Lowenstein family also operated the Blue Moon and Paris Art cinemas in the stockyards district of OKC.