I found two other theatres on fire insurance maps. One was on a 1911 map at the NW corner of N. Main & Frisco. The building is demolished now and replaced by a library. The other was present on 1925 and 1932 maps and was two lots north of the Redskin near Broadway & Main. The lot is empty now (demolished). Unfortunately, maps only go to 1932 for this town. The Redksin and Time lots are not occupied by theatres during that time period.
I found 3 not-yet-identified theatres on fire insurance maps: 127 W. Main (1st St), 115 W. Main (1st St) and one at the SW corner of Main & Wewoka inside the Okmulgee Hotel. All three are demolished. The theatre at 127 W. Main was quite a bit larger than the others and was present until at least 1925 (but listed vacant by 1930). The 115 W. Main theatre lasted until at least 1930.
According to fire insurance maps as early as 1929, a theater stood at the NE corner of 5th and Main. The lot is now empty except for covered storage area. On 1920 maps, it is labeled as “Tobacco & Billiards,” so it must have become a theater at some point after that. It also appears that the east-west streets were renamed at some point…Main was once Spencer.
Another theater was also on this block at 444 W. Main (Spencer at the time) St. according to 1913 and 1920 maps. This theater is gone by the 1929 map and the building was repurposed to be a bank. Perhaps someone has a name to attach to this theater.
719 is the left half of the Territory western wear store. It looks nothing like Oklahoma Historical Society photos and also looks newer (as do the two buildings to the right. The original Camera has probably been demolished.
Thank you for posting the name of the theater Chuck. I have had some pictures of that theater for a while, but had yet to find the name. I will add the listing to CT.
On 1918 Fire insurance maps, this building is shown as an Opera House. In 1928 its represented as a lodge hall and a small movie theater with stage is shown at the second storefront north of Creek on the E. side of Main. The small theater was not present in 1918 and is gone by the 1951 map.
Fire insurance maps show a theatre at modern day 923 W. Britton Road (203 E. Britton Ave. historically). This would match up perfectly with Roy’s excellent account of Britton theatres. It seems as though this entry needs to be changed to Ritz Theatre.
Fire insurance maps show theatres at 233 E. Main & 238 E. Main. The 238 location is labeled as a drug store circa 1928 but shows the stage and scenery at the rear of the structure. In 1918 it was labeled Opera House. The 233 location was labeled as a theatre in 1928. The entire south side of Main St. looks to have been leveled.
Fire insurance maps of Kaw circa 1924 show theatres at 114 W. 5th & 505 Main. Names aren’t listed, though the 114 W. 5th theatre shows the presence of a stage.
Fire insurance maps of Kaw circa 1924 show theatres at 114 W. 5th & 505 Main. Names aren’t listed, though the 114 W. 5th theatre shows the presence of a stage.
Fire insurance map of 1916 shows a small “moving pictures” house at the NW corner of Barnes & Washington. Approximate location of Arnett fire department.
This theater is shown on a 1933 fire insurance map at 248 N. Main. Another theater (name unknown) is shown at 212 N. Main as early as a 1924 map. An even earlier theater was shown at 229 N. Main.
The Sewing Machine Clinic is at 208 E. Oklahoma and the First Capital Bank is at 224 E. Oklahoma, which would mean that 214 would have to be one of those vacant lots. I will verify on my next visit to Guthrie.
The address of Mail Run, LLC (current tenant) is:
105 S. Grand. The appearance of the building at 105 S. Grand (uploaded to this site) match the historical photos from the Oklahoma Historical Society archives.
A period photo of this theater is available in the Oklahoma Historical Society archives. Honestly, the Safeco building, while very cute, does not resemble the building in the historical photo. The theater in the historical photo could possibly have a stucco facade, but the windows appear to be wider spaced and the buildings beside it do not match either. Perhaps the entire block was damaged. Hopefully more research will nail down the location of this theater with certainty. Go to this URL:
http://tinyurl.com/6c5a8gg
and typed in “El Reno Caro.”
I found two other theatres on fire insurance maps. One was on a 1911 map at the NW corner of N. Main & Frisco. The building is demolished now and replaced by a library. The other was present on 1925 and 1932 maps and was two lots north of the Redskin near Broadway & Main. The lot is empty now (demolished). Unfortunately, maps only go to 1932 for this town. The Redksin and Time lots are not occupied by theatres during that time period.
I found 3 not-yet-identified theatres on fire insurance maps: 127 W. Main (1st St), 115 W. Main (1st St) and one at the SW corner of Main & Wewoka inside the Okmulgee Hotel. All three are demolished. The theatre at 127 W. Main was quite a bit larger than the others and was present until at least 1925 (but listed vacant by 1930). The 115 W. Main theatre lasted until at least 1930.
According to fire insurance maps as early as 1929, a theater stood at the NE corner of 5th and Main. The lot is now empty except for covered storage area. On 1920 maps, it is labeled as “Tobacco & Billiards,” so it must have become a theater at some point after that. It also appears that the east-west streets were renamed at some point…Main was once Spencer. Another theater was also on this block at 444 W. Main (Spencer at the time) St. according to 1913 and 1920 maps. This theater is gone by the 1929 map and the building was repurposed to be a bank. Perhaps someone has a name to attach to this theater.
Roadside Oklahoma photos are now on the photos tab of this page.
Address looks to be 114 W. Main Street based on the address of the business next door.
The Eagle is open and showing movies. Currently playing is Cars 2.
719 is the left half of the Territory western wear store. It looks nothing like Oklahoma Historical Society photos and also looks newer (as do the two buildings to the right. The original Camera has probably been demolished.
Thank you for posting the name of the theater Chuck. I have had some pictures of that theater for a while, but had yet to find the name. I will add the listing to CT.
Great job. Thanks for all the hard work you put into this site!
On 1918 Fire insurance maps, this building is shown as an Opera House. In 1928 its represented as a lodge hall and a small movie theater with stage is shown at the second storefront north of Creek on the E. side of Main. The small theater was not present in 1918 and is gone by the 1951 map.
Fire insurance maps show a theatre at modern day 923 W. Britton Road (203 E. Britton Ave. historically). This would match up perfectly with Roy’s excellent account of Britton theatres. It seems as though this entry needs to be changed to Ritz Theatre.
Fire insurance maps show theatres at 233 E. Main & 238 E. Main. The 238 location is labeled as a drug store circa 1928 but shows the stage and scenery at the rear of the structure. In 1918 it was labeled Opera House. The 233 location was labeled as a theatre in 1928. The entire south side of Main St. looks to have been leveled.
Fire insurance maps of Kaw circa 1924 show theatres at 114 W. 5th & 505 Main. Names aren’t listed, though the 114 W. 5th theatre shows the presence of a stage.
Fire insurance maps of Kaw circa 1924 show theatres at 114 W. 5th & 505 Main. Names aren’t listed, though the 114 W. 5th theatre shows the presence of a stage.
Fire insurance maps of 1926 Kingfisher show the theatre at 204 N. Main.
Fire insurance map of 1916 shows a small “moving pictures” house at the NW corner of Barnes & Washington. Approximate location of Arnett fire department.
Fire insurance maps of 1916 & 1930 show a theater at 130 Evans (S side of Evans in between Coblake & Pine. No name listed. No other theaters shown.
This theater is shown on a 1933 fire insurance map at 248 N. Main. Another theater (name unknown) is shown at 212 N. Main as early as a 1924 map. An even earlier theater was shown at 229 N. Main.
The Sewing Machine Clinic is at 208 E. Oklahoma and the First Capital Bank is at 224 E. Oklahoma, which would mean that 214 would have to be one of those vacant lots. I will verify on my next visit to Guthrie.
I have some recent photos of a Garber theater, but have not yet been able to determine which of our two listed theaters it is.
The address for the current occupant is 119 S. Grand. One can just barely see the top of the original facade peeking out of the ugly metal sheeting.
The address of Mail Run, LLC (current tenant) is: 105 S. Grand. The appearance of the building at 105 S. Grand (uploaded to this site) match the historical photos from the Oklahoma Historical Society archives.
A period photo of this theater is available in the Oklahoma Historical Society archives. Honestly, the Safeco building, while very cute, does not resemble the building in the historical photo. The theater in the historical photo could possibly have a stucco facade, but the windows appear to be wider spaced and the buildings beside it do not match either. Perhaps the entire block was damaged. Hopefully more research will nail down the location of this theater with certainty. Go to this URL: http://tinyurl.com/6c5a8gg and typed in “El Reno Caro.”
Excellent history, northpenntwin. If the lot is now vacant, then 207 cannot be the address. Hopefully more research can uncover the address.
Thank you for posting your amazing collection, Norman!