Heisman Cinema Four
Alameda Street and 12th Avenue NE.,
Norman,
OK
73069
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Commonwealth Theaters Corp., United Artists Theater Circuit Inc.
Functions: Retail
Styles: Streamline Moderne
Nearby Theaters
In 1972 upstart Spectrum Theatre Circuit dared to open their Heisman Cinema Four catty-corner to powerful Video Independent (a division of RKO) Theatre’s Cinema East, and succeeded!
The Heisman Cinema Four was located as an anchor to Switzerland Fashion Mall, and was designed in ultra Art Moderne styling. A plush, long lobby greeted patrons. Each auditorium carried a different colour scheme, and chairs were placed with plenty of leg room.
First run movies were featured in the three largest auditoriums, while second-run double features were presented in a smaller screening room.
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Recent comments (view all 5 comments)
I remember that around 1975 the Heisman 4 tried a new scheme that was circulating aroung the nation. The idea was to offer “subscription ticket sales” on the strength of big name stars who had upcoming pictures that were still in production, or scheduled to go into production within a years time. This was nothing more than a form of block booking and it failed to catch on with the movie going public.
I haven’t visited Norman in quite a while, but have been told the cinema structure still stands. It sat catty-corner to the Cinema East, at the far corner (elbow) of Switzerland Fashion Mall.
Anyone know where I can get in touch with Bill L. Love? Mr. Love was city manager for all four Video Independent Theatres in Norman throughout the ‘60s and '70s, and he is an expert on Oklahoma theatre history.
The entire shopping center, including the theater, was torn down. The shopping center was rebuilt in 1999 or so. The theater building was in line with Hardee’s. The current building, which was a Albertsons when built, is further West. The only building remaining is the old Hardee’s, which is now a Chelinos Mexican Restaurant.
I lived in the area when I was a kid and in high school, I worked at Stop-n-Go video while it was still in the shopping center.
The Heisman Cinema 4 was later operated by Commonwealth Theatres and lastly by United Artists before closing its doors for the final time on October 24, 1991. It was left abandoned for six-and-a-half years before converting a video store in April 1998 although it was originally scheduled for a conversion into a laundromat place.