Rex Theatre

The town of Leedey, Oklahoma - with fewer than 500 residents - was delighted with the opening of its first “full-fledged picture show” in the Rex Theatre. Mr. and Mrs. George W. Smith opened the 240-seat movie house on a four-day a week policy beginning on 1917.

Smith would close the theatre temporarily in 1930 to extend the building by 18’ to add sound using Vitaphone. The first sound film advertised was “The Long Star Ranger", Zane Grey’s first talkie, on July 31, 1930. The Smiths sold the venue to their daughter, Mrs. Berlin Zimmerman, in 1948. They, in turn, sold it to Hugh Harrell.

On May 9, 1961, the theatre added widescreen projection to show CinemaScope titles beginning with Frank Sinatra in “Ocean’s 11". Seat count was reduced subtly to 216. In continuous operation (except for brief remodels) despite losing 20% of its already small population entering the 1960’s, the Harrells closed the Rex Theatre in April of 1966.

Dean Smith gave the theatre one final shot reopening it in October of 1966. He wrote an impassioned letter to the local newspaper asking for support. But by 1972, the theatre had closed. On May 27, 1972, the theatre and its 216 seats were auctioned off ending a 50+ year legacy.

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