State Theatre
1961 Church Avenue,
Harrah,
OK
73045
1961 Church Avenue,
Harrah,
OK
73045
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The State Theatre opened its doors on April 14, 1939 with George Brent in “Wings Of The Navy” along with an unnamed cartoon.
The fire on September 9, 1950 not just destroyed the State Theatre but it also destroyed the neighboring Whittaker Grocery Store causing an estimate $50,000 in damages (with $15,000 each for the theater and the store). The fire was caused by the ignition of a barrel filled with roofing tar, in which John Rychlee and his son were painting the roof on the building being occupied by the grocery store. According to John, he replied that a scrap of blazing paper from a trash fire in the rear of the store was to blame for the fire. Fire departments from as far as Shawnee and Oklahoma City were able to fight the blaze.
The State Theatre reopened on January 16, 1951 with James Stewart in “The Jackpot” (unknown if extras added). It was still operating as a movie theater as late as late-1962 but I cannot find any advertisements from 1963 and beyond, meaning that it either closed as a movie house in late-1962 or may’ve continued without advertising.
Motion Picture Herald, Sept. 23, 1950: “The State theatre at Harrah, Okla., was destroyed by fire September 9.”
WEBSITE : www.thestateok.com
It is renovated on the inside, the outside work is scheduled to start in a few weeks.
New sound system, new projector, old old old old silver screen is up and works beautifully.
Rocky Horror Picture Show OCT 23rd and 30th Army of Frankensteins with Director session Oct 24th Dressed to Kill with guest Uncle Zep Oct 31st WEBSITE thestateok.com Thanks, The New Owner Kat
roadsideoklahoma has recent pictures of the old State
http://www.roadsideoklahoma.com/node/1193
From google maps comes this street veiw. Guess this style could best be described as Prairie Streamline?
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