Ozark Theatre

dallasmovietheaters on August 27, 2022 at 10:11 pm

The town of Ozark, Missouri, also had several silent era venues including the Gem, the Club Theatre and the Radio Theatre. Also, the New Theatre opened namelessly on April 5, 1929 with the John Ford film, “Four Sons.” The theatre replaced the Cliffhaven Theatre, Cliff Woody’s venue that had suffered a fire ending its operation on January 7, 1929. A naming contest offering ten free tickets for the best name for the New. The winner was not “Ozark” but “Safety-Nook” then Safetynook. The name appears to have been conjured up because the projection booth at the new theatre was completely fireproof.

This entry, however, definitely opened as the Civic Theatre for Paul Bloomer and Lloyd Lee who transformed an existing retail building into a theatre for $4,500. It opened on October 9, 1936. The venue closed in 1937. But P.M. Soutee took on the venue relaunching on September 11, 1937 as the Ozark Theatre with Tyrone Power in “Love is News.” At that time, the venue was using portable projection equipment. But Harve Nokes showed more love to the venue, expanding it to 450 seats and going with a permanent and fireproof projection booth. The “new” Ozark Theatre relaunched on May 31, 1938.