Ritz Theatre

Multiple images added.

The March 25, 1916, issue of The Moving Picture World reported that the Cozy Theatre in Shawnee was to be remodeled and enlarged:

“The work of remodeling and enlarging the Cozy theater, Shawnee, Okla., in which $7,000 is to be expended, is to begin at once. With the contemplated enlargement of the Cozy a new firm has been organized to conduct this theater. A. J. Cammack has gone in with Jake Jones and Nicholas Albert, the proprietors heretofore, and the firm will be known as Jones, Albert & Cammack.

“Increasing business merited the enlarging of the Cozy. The new dimensions of this photoplay house are 40 by 140 feet. It will have a seating capacity of 636. The proprietors expect to have the new place completed in time for Easter. The Cozy when completed will be a worthy addition to the, handsome structures in Shawnee.”

We’re sprucing up this lobby with a little paint and such. Should look real nice.

Take a look at what the Ritz Theatre neighborhood looks like today,
View link

From 2010 photo views of the Ritz Here and Here in Shawnee.

An article about Johnny and Ruby Jones in the June 29, 1957, issue of Boxoffice Magazine attributes the design of the marquee of the Ritz Theatre to Jake Jones, with architect A.C. Davis working from a pasteboard model made by Jones.

The firm of Davis & Sons was based in Shawnee, and Davis is known to have designed a theater as early as 1926 (the H&S Theatre in Chandler) so it would be surprising if the Ritz had not been designed by Davis, Shawnee’s leading architect for many years. The question is whether or not he did the original 1899 building. Davis was definitely practicing architecture in Shawnee at least as early as 1908, according to a book published that year.

Also, commentors above are correct that the style of this theater is Federal Revival, not Art Deco. Unfortunately, Cinema Treasures doesn’t provide Federal Revival as an option among its choice of styles. The closest would probably be Adam, as the original Federal style in the United States was a variant of the British Adam style, and is frequently referred to by architectural historians as Adamesque-Federal.

I lived in Shawnee from 1981-1984 and have fond memories of going to the Ritz to see movies. It was great going to a movie theater that reminded me of going to the movies in the days when I was growing up. The Ritz had an awesome screen and sound for the relatively small size of the theater. The inside decoration was excellent also. Loved the marquee and the outside ticket booth.

Here is a closeup of the marquee:
http://tinyurl.com/2rgzc8

Read a well written history of Shawnee’s little Ritz Theatre on this link,
http://downtownshawnee.org/ritz_hist.htm

This is a little theatre, but it’s in nice shape. I didn’t realize it was connected to Jones Theaters, too. I know the Hornbeck, right around the corner, is a Jones’s discounter. How does Carmike fit into the picture? Is Johnny Jones, owner of the Rialto in Alva, related to these Jones’s? Thanks for the info.
My wife and I have been all over the state researching and sometimes performing in old theatres. We just love them.
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The theatre looks so big is it really only 299 seats?

Please update your listing. The Ritz is OPEN and is being used for concerts and meetings. Renovation continues as funds permit, but the theatre is being used as a performing arts center and anchor in Downtown Shawnee’s revitalization