he Rex Theatre launched on September 10, 1923 during the fair by J.A. Sullivan at 119 South Wewoka Avenue. Strengths included Simplex projectors, good ventilation and lots of available seating. Fox Theatre Circuit took on the venue getting into hot water when protestors successfully blocked a newsreel from playing about the murder of Marian Parker in February of 1928. In 1937, the Pix opened and appears to have been in the same location as the Rex. It appears to have ceased operations on May 21, 1963 with John Wayne in “The Commancheros.”
The Liberty Theatre opened at this address in 1919. It closed as a silent theater on January 14, 1930 with the Howard Hawks' film “Fazil.” It was used sporadically in 1930 and 1931 as a venue for live events. It had one more brief chance at movie exhibition when it was wired for sound.
The theatre’s final day of operation was July 14, 1955 when a windstorm knocked down the tower. Unfortunately, a car full of people sought shelter at the tower and the car was crushed by the tower causing three of the storm’s six injuries. The theatre was demolished for a potential hospital site.
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Freed launched the drive-in in Valliant after their hardtop downtown theatre burned down. It opened as the Valliant Drive-In Theatre on Feb. 12, 1954 with “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.” It closed for the season in 1958. New operators refreshed the venue reopening as the Little River Theatre on March 24, 1959 with a double feature of Randolph Scott in “Ride Lonesome” and Walt Disney’s “White Wilderness.”
The former Brent Theatre closed and moved its equipment here to the State Theatre launching April 1, 1933 with “Sign of the Cross.” It had Spanish-themed architectural style though had contemporary features including a neon-lit lobby. It was a retrofitting of the Frank Yawitz Building The original State would close November 29, 1941 with “The Lady from Louisiana.” It may have reopened without advertising but after the War, a new State Theatre was opened on August 19, 1947.
Dooley and Sutton opened the New Lyric Theatre on April 23, 1917, the fourth of five locations for the venue. Opening film was Mary Pickford in “Less Than the Dust”. Owner Sam Sawyer added sound in the Summer of 1930 to stay relevant. The Lyric became part of McLendon’s Tri-State Theatre Circuit. Under their watch, it received a new streamlined modern makeover unveiled at a relaunch in October of 1939.
The Lyric closed with “The Razor’s Edge” August 18, 1947. On the next night, a new State Theatre was opened . A new Lyric Theatre was then built opening almost a year later on July 30, 1948. It has its own Cinema Treasure page.
The New Lyric Theatre opened in its fifth downtown location on July 30, 1948 with Johnny Mack Brown in “Crossed Trails” accompanied by “Perilous Waters” and supported by “The Sea Hound” serial. The theatre went out of business early in 1956. Billed as fireproof, the new Lyric was completely destroyed by a fire on April 29, 1956.
Mr. and Mrs. Audra Black built a Drive-In Theatre in 1950 the same day that Tri-States Theaters and Barton McLendon announced it was also building one. Black’s Drive-In Theatre opened on August 23, 1950 with Randolph Scott in “The Fighting Man of the Plains” and supported by the Popeye cartoon, “Wolf in Sheik’s Clothing” and an animated short about Texas called “The Lone Star State.” The screen tower was 54' by 48' and was located at the “Y” on Broken Bow Highway.
As the Black family prepared for Season 2, McLendon stopped building his ozone and simply purchased theatre in late March of 1951. He changed its name to the Rancho Drive-In relaunching on April 5, 1951 with Lucille Ball as “The Fuller Brush Girl.”
Pearl Dooley launched the original Dooley (former Rex) Theatre a block away at 109 West Main Street on September 21, 1931. Feeling the competition from Levi Metcalf with two Purcell theaters, she decided to open the New Dooley Theatre here.
The New Dooley opened October 27, 1939 on a soft launch with Jean Rogers in “Stop, Look and Love.” The theater had a formal grand opening on November 1, 1939. The New Dooley was soon bought out by the Metcalfs changing its name to the McClain Theater and launching on December 13, 1940 with W.C. Fields in “The Bank Dick” and Tim Holt in “Laddie.” After the War, the theatre was demoted to weekend operation only.
On April 16, 1950, the theatre showed “Golden Boy” with Barbara Stanwyck and William Holden but on April 21, 1950, the theatre was gutted by fire. Metcalf rebuilt the theater while also building a new drive-in theatre in 1951. The theatre was supposed to have reopened in December of 1951 awaiting only its seating but the theatre was not advertised so it’s challenging to know if it reopened. Since the venue has no bookings except for a handful of sporadic live events, it is likely that the McClain simply exited film exhibition on April 16, 1950. In 1954, the venue was known as the “former McClain Theatre Building” which was retrofitted for other purposes. (The 1957 fire date above is in error.)
The Canadian Theatre opened with a soft launch on November 15, 1946 with “The Catmen of Paris” and the “Secret of the Whistler.” Levy and Sidney Metcalf then has a formal Grand Opening on November 22, 1946.
Levi and W.D. Metcalf converted the retail Ambrister Building (aka George Schwartz Building) at 115 West Main Street in downtown Purcell to the Metro Theatre in 1935. The 300-seat theater was a discount house run in conjunction with Metcalf’s Ritz to blunt the competition from Pearl Dooley’s Dooley Theatre. The Metro opened on August 23, 1935 with Buzz Barton in “Saddle Aces” supported by the Clyde Beatty serial, “The Lost Jungle” and a comedy short.
The Metcalfs would buy out the Dooley Theatre converting it to the McClain Theatre opening it on December 13, 1940. The Metro was closed the night before on December 12, 1940 with Sidney Toler in “Charlie Chan at the Wax Museum.” The building was converted to Cobb’s Grocery Store.
Anderson’s Riverside Drive-In Theatre in Normal launched on May 21, 1948 just north of the Norman Bridge on Highway 9 by twin brothers, Emery and Elvin B. Anderson. The opening film was Ronald Reagan in “Stallion Road” supported by a Bugs Bunny cartoon and a newsreel. Elvin Anderson operated to closure at the end of its 33d season in 1980.
J.W. Fox and O.H. Maricle launched in the Princess Theatre in downtown Grandfield on Second Street in the former City Garage on March 15, 1920 with Lon Cheney in “The Miracle Man” supported by live music by Mrs. Holt. The Princess converted to a new sound system as the Ritz Theatre operating from April 3, 1931 to April 30, 1932. In September of 1932, the Princess name was removed in favor of the Fox Theatre.
Fox sold out the business to Philips and Lawson who took on the Fox Theatre and remodeled it as a streamline moderne venue. They also renamed it as the Rio Theatre and it launched for them on April 18, 1939 with Cary Grant in “Gunga Din.”
The theatre was converted to widescreen to accommodate CinemaScope presentations in the 1950s. The final operator of the Rio, Smokey Adams, announced that due to decreased patronage, the theatre would be closed permanently October 29, 1965 with Jimmy Stewart in “Shenandoah.”
Jim Kelley and W. Frank Deaton launched the Pix Theatre in 1945. The pair would then add the Alva Drive-In on June 14, 1950. Homer Jones then purchased both theaters in April of 1957. The theatre closed permanently on April 28, 1957 with Don Coates and The Bon-Aires in “Rock Baby - Rock It!”
The Alva Motion Picture Company opened the Majestic Theater opened in downtown Alva on April 1, 1906. Momand Theatrical Circuit took on the Majestic and sold off its equipment rather than make the transition to sound. The space was used by a grocery store.
But Homer C. Jones of Jones Amusement took on the former Majestic turned retail grocer and converted it to the Ranger Theatre. It relaunched on December 6, 1936 with Joe E. Brown in “Polo Joe.” The North side of the Square. The theatre closed January 30, 1954 with “Rod Cameron” in “Cavalry Scout.”
The original Rialto Theatre opened on April 25, 1927 with William Boyd in “The Yankee Clipper” on a 20-year lease. Three months after its 20th anniversary, the building but not the theater was damaged by a fire at the Rialto Cafe. The theatre had more screenings but was razed in July of 1948. In 1948 and 1949, a new building was constructed on the site of the Rialto by Homer C. Jones of Jones Amusement to the plans of architect Jack Corgan. The Rialto Theatre Opened On August 21, 1949 with Gary Cooper in “It’s A Great Feeling.“ The theatre had the state’s first air conditioned projection booth and an Otis elevator.
The Grand Opera House opened on January 3, 1908 with a live play, “The Isle of Spice.” Like many opera houses, Alva’s Grand would gravitate to lower risk and lower cost motion pictures. In 1918, the opera house was damaged by strong winds and was refurbished as a full-time movie theater. When it ws completed, the Liberty Theatre opened with a soft launch on April 21, 1919 with Margarita Fischer in “Molly of the Follies” and William Duncan in “A Fight for Millions” supported by live music by the Blue Grass Belles. A formal grand opening was scheduled shortly thereafter.
Ten years later, the theatre received Vitaphone sound premiering with “Alias, Jimmy Valentine” on June 7, 1929. A major refresh took place in 1932 bringing sound on film and cushioned seats. On April 26, 1933, the theatre suffered a major fire ending its life after its remains were razed.
Pix Theatre operators Frank Deaton and James Kelley launched the Alva Drive-In on June 14, 1950 on a 20-year lease with Abbott and Costello in “It Ain’t Hay. The ozone sported a 30x40' screen tower and had a drive-in restaurant in front called The Grill.
Pix Theatre operators Frank Deaton and James Kelley launched the Alva Drive-In on June 14, 1950 on a 20-year lease with Abbott and Costello in “It Ain’t Hay. The ozone sported a 30x40' screen tower and had a drive-in restaurant in front called The Grill.
he Rex Theatre launched on September 10, 1923 during the fair by J.A. Sullivan at 119 South Wewoka Avenue. Strengths included Simplex projectors, good ventilation and lots of available seating. Fox Theatre Circuit took on the venue getting into hot water when protestors successfully blocked a newsreel from playing about the murder of Marian Parker in February of 1928. In 1937, the Pix opened and appears to have been in the same location as the Rex. It appears to have ceased operations on May 21, 1963 with John Wayne in “The Commancheros.”
The Liberty Theatre opened at this address in 1919. It closed as a silent theater on January 14, 1930 with the Howard Hawks' film “Fazil.” It was used sporadically in 1930 and 1931 as a venue for live events. It had one more brief chance at movie exhibition when it was wired for sound.
The theatre’s final day of operation was July 14, 1955 when a windstorm knocked down the tower. Unfortunately, a car full of people sought shelter at the tower and the car was crushed by the tower causing three of the storm’s six injuries. The theatre was demolished for a potential hospital site.
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Freed launched the drive-in in Valliant after their hardtop downtown theatre burned down. It opened as the Valliant Drive-In Theatre on Feb. 12, 1954 with “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.” It closed for the season in 1958. New operators refreshed the venue reopening as the Little River Theatre on March 24, 1959 with a double feature of Randolph Scott in “Ride Lonesome” and Walt Disney’s “White Wilderness.”
Correction: town’s (not towns')
The former Brent Theatre closed and moved its equipment here to the State Theatre launching April 1, 1933 with “Sign of the Cross.” It had Spanish-themed architectural style though had contemporary features including a neon-lit lobby. It was a retrofitting of the Frank Yawitz Building The original State would close November 29, 1941 with “The Lady from Louisiana.” It may have reopened without advertising but after the War, a new State Theatre was opened on August 19, 1947.
Dooley and Sutton opened the New Lyric Theatre on April 23, 1917, the fourth of five locations for the venue. Opening film was Mary Pickford in “Less Than the Dust”. Owner Sam Sawyer added sound in the Summer of 1930 to stay relevant. The Lyric became part of McLendon’s Tri-State Theatre Circuit. Under their watch, it received a new streamlined modern makeover unveiled at a relaunch in October of 1939.
The Lyric closed with “The Razor’s Edge” August 18, 1947. On the next night, a new State Theatre was opened . A new Lyric Theatre was then built opening almost a year later on July 30, 1948. It has its own Cinema Treasure page.
Closed for COVID-19 on March 16, 2020. Reopened August 14, 2020. Appears to have closed permanently on November 13, 2020.
The New State opened August 19, 1947 with “Carnival in Costa Rica.”
The New Lyric Theatre opened in its fifth downtown location on July 30, 1948 with Johnny Mack Brown in “Crossed Trails” accompanied by “Perilous Waters” and supported by “The Sea Hound” serial. The theatre went out of business early in 1956. Billed as fireproof, the new Lyric was completely destroyed by a fire on April 29, 1956.
Mr. and Mrs. Audra Black built a Drive-In Theatre in 1950 the same day that Tri-States Theaters and Barton McLendon announced it was also building one. Black’s Drive-In Theatre opened on August 23, 1950 with Randolph Scott in “The Fighting Man of the Plains” and supported by the Popeye cartoon, “Wolf in Sheik’s Clothing” and an animated short about Texas called “The Lone Star State.” The screen tower was 54' by 48' and was located at the “Y” on Broken Bow Highway.
As the Black family prepared for Season 2, McLendon stopped building his ozone and simply purchased theatre in late March of 1951. He changed its name to the Rancho Drive-In relaunching on April 5, 1951 with Lucille Ball as “The Fuller Brush Girl.”
Pearl Dooley launched the original Dooley (former Rex) Theatre a block away at 109 West Main Street on September 21, 1931. Feeling the competition from Levi Metcalf with two Purcell theaters, she decided to open the New Dooley Theatre here.
The New Dooley opened October 27, 1939 on a soft launch with Jean Rogers in “Stop, Look and Love.” The theater had a formal grand opening on November 1, 1939. The New Dooley was soon bought out by the Metcalfs changing its name to the McClain Theater and launching on December 13, 1940 with W.C. Fields in “The Bank Dick” and Tim Holt in “Laddie.” After the War, the theatre was demoted to weekend operation only.
On April 16, 1950, the theatre showed “Golden Boy” with Barbara Stanwyck and William Holden but on April 21, 1950, the theatre was gutted by fire. Metcalf rebuilt the theater while also building a new drive-in theatre in 1951. The theatre was supposed to have reopened in December of 1951 awaiting only its seating but the theatre was not advertised so it’s challenging to know if it reopened. Since the venue has no bookings except for a handful of sporadic live events, it is likely that the McClain simply exited film exhibition on April 16, 1950. In 1954, the venue was known as the “former McClain Theatre Building” which was retrofitted for other purposes. (The 1957 fire date above is in error.)
The Canadian Theatre opened with a soft launch on November 15, 1946 with “The Catmen of Paris” and the “Secret of the Whistler.” Levy and Sidney Metcalf then has a formal Grand Opening on November 22, 1946.
Levi and W.D. Metcalf converted the retail Ambrister Building (aka George Schwartz Building) at 115 West Main Street in downtown Purcell to the Metro Theatre in 1935. The 300-seat theater was a discount house run in conjunction with Metcalf’s Ritz to blunt the competition from Pearl Dooley’s Dooley Theatre. The Metro opened on August 23, 1935 with Buzz Barton in “Saddle Aces” supported by the Clyde Beatty serial, “The Lost Jungle” and a comedy short.
The Metcalfs would buy out the Dooley Theatre converting it to the McClain Theatre opening it on December 13, 1940. The Metro was closed the night before on December 12, 1940 with Sidney Toler in “Charlie Chan at the Wax Museum.” The building was converted to Cobb’s Grocery Store.
1935
Called the Leonard Theatre 1950s-1960s to closing
Anderson’s Riverside Drive-In Theatre in Normal launched on May 21, 1948 just north of the Norman Bridge on Highway 9 by twin brothers, Emery and Elvin B. Anderson. The opening film was Ronald Reagan in “Stallion Road” supported by a Bugs Bunny cartoon and a newsreel. Elvin Anderson operated to closure at the end of its 33d season in 1980.
J.W. Fox and O.H. Maricle launched in the Princess Theatre in downtown Grandfield on Second Street in the former City Garage on March 15, 1920 with Lon Cheney in “The Miracle Man” supported by live music by Mrs. Holt. The Princess converted to a new sound system as the Ritz Theatre operating from April 3, 1931 to April 30, 1932. In September of 1932, the Princess name was removed in favor of the Fox Theatre.
Fox sold out the business to Philips and Lawson who took on the Fox Theatre and remodeled it as a streamline moderne venue. They also renamed it as the Rio Theatre and it launched for them on April 18, 1939 with Cary Grant in “Gunga Din.”
The theatre was converted to widescreen to accommodate CinemaScope presentations in the 1950s. The final operator of the Rio, Smokey Adams, announced that due to decreased patronage, the theatre would be closed permanently October 29, 1965 with Jimmy Stewart in “Shenandoah.”
The Lawton Theatre launched August 29, 1929 with a Western Electric sound system, a $250,000 venue, with Betty Compson in “On With the Show.”
Jim Kelley and W. Frank Deaton launched the Pix Theatre in 1945. The pair would then add the Alva Drive-In on June 14, 1950. Homer Jones then purchased both theaters in April of 1957. The theatre closed permanently on April 28, 1957 with Don Coates and The Bon-Aires in “Rock Baby - Rock It!”
The Alva Motion Picture Company opened the Majestic Theater opened in downtown Alva on April 1, 1906. Momand Theatrical Circuit took on the Majestic and sold off its equipment rather than make the transition to sound. The space was used by a grocery store.
But Homer C. Jones of Jones Amusement took on the former Majestic turned retail grocer and converted it to the Ranger Theatre. It relaunched on December 6, 1936 with Joe E. Brown in “Polo Joe.” The North side of the Square. The theatre closed January 30, 1954 with “Rod Cameron” in “Cavalry Scout.”
The original Rialto Theatre opened on April 25, 1927 with William Boyd in “The Yankee Clipper” on a 20-year lease. Three months after its 20th anniversary, the building but not the theater was damaged by a fire at the Rialto Cafe. The theatre had more screenings but was razed in July of 1948. In 1948 and 1949, a new building was constructed on the site of the Rialto by Homer C. Jones of Jones Amusement to the plans of architect Jack Corgan. The Rialto Theatre Opened On August 21, 1949 with Gary Cooper in “It’s A Great Feeling.“ The theatre had the state’s first air conditioned projection booth and an Otis elevator.
The Grand Opera House opened on January 3, 1908 with a live play, “The Isle of Spice.” Like many opera houses, Alva’s Grand would gravitate to lower risk and lower cost motion pictures. In 1918, the opera house was damaged by strong winds and was refurbished as a full-time movie theater. When it ws completed, the Liberty Theatre opened with a soft launch on April 21, 1919 with Margarita Fischer in “Molly of the Follies” and William Duncan in “A Fight for Millions” supported by live music by the Blue Grass Belles. A formal grand opening was scheduled shortly thereafter.
Ten years later, the theatre received Vitaphone sound premiering with “Alias, Jimmy Valentine” on June 7, 1929. A major refresh took place in 1932 bringing sound on film and cushioned seats. On April 26, 1933, the theatre suffered a major fire ending its life after its remains were razed.
Pix Theatre operators Frank Deaton and James Kelley launched the Alva Drive-In on June 14, 1950 on a 20-year lease with Abbott and Costello in “It Ain’t Hay. The ozone sported a 30x40' screen tower and had a drive-in restaurant in front called The Grill.
Pix Theatre operators Frank Deaton and James Kelley launched the Alva Drive-In on June 14, 1950 on a 20-year lease with Abbott and Costello in “It Ain’t Hay. The ozone sported a 30x40' screen tower and had a drive-in restaurant in front called The Grill.