Under the title “Main Street, Circa 1929” can be seen a fuzzy image of the Uptown when it was still known as Gayety. As can be seen, by ‘29 this area was alreayd tough and seedy, including the shown theatre. http://www.tulsalibrary.org/BFC/index.htm
On above mentioned Tulsa Library/BFC Collection, good images of the Majestic, New Orpheum, and RITZ can be seen under listings for “4th & Main”, and (of course) under “Ritz Theatre”.
To look at a 1940 picture of Tulsa’s Main Street Cinema look under the heading “2nd & Main” on the below web site, http://www.tulsalibrary.org/BFC/index.htm
Main Street Cinema is the white structure nestled between Crown Drug and JC Penney.
Also see El Caro Theatre in El Reno, OK, that was sister theatre to the Inca. Although exterior treatments were slightly different, the two interiors were identical. Myrna Louise wrote good descriptive passage that would apply to both movie houses.
This web page contains two photos of downtown El Reno, click on either one for a supersize view. Rightside of the first image has a good view of the Tiffany Cinema. The second image has an image of the Ashbrook Store, housed in the former El Caro Theatre, which was a sister house to Okmulgee’s Inca Theatre. View link
Offered here for your approval is a recent Jackie Yandle photograph of the Orpheum Theatre. In this shot one can get a glimse of the colorful terra-cotta lobby. http://www.city-data.com/picfilesc/picc8700.php
Shown on this web page is a 1904 architectural drawing for Muskogee Opera House (AKA-Broadway Theatre). During the construction faze the hotel portion had been redesigned into Hunt’s Department Store, View link
The school sketch opened as Washington Grammar School and burned to the ground in early 1950.
This 1910 photo shows, just beyond the Tulsa Arch (left), the old Lyric Theatre. The high flag-pole marks the domed gazebo atop the Lyric Bldg, this was the Roof Garden Theatre which operated during warm Spring/Summer months when it became too hot for the indoor auditorium to remain open, in those pre-HVAC days. View link
Under the heading “Apache & Peoria” the Peoria Cinema can be seen photo left. This snapshot is dated 1954, and it looks as if the Peoria had already shuttered, as the marquee letterboard is bare. Most Likely the Peoria died a slow death as did many theatres of that period; sporadically open off and on, then weekends only, till finally it shut down completely. http://www.tulsalibrary.org/BFC/index.htm
The Rex Theatre was not open during WWII years because it was an idenpendently owned theatre and the owner had enlisted.
When possible all black cast films were booked for the African American community in Okmulgee. Whenever black films were not available independent product was exhibited, such as Monogram, Tiffany, PRC, Qaulity, etc.
Rex seldom ran newspaper or radio ads, but instead relied heavily on word of mouth from a loyal fan base.
Ed Swallow, a great guy, once told me how Griffith Theatres tried every trick in the book to gain control over this independent theatre, but somehow the black gentleman who owned the Rex bravely held on to his one and only movie house.
Rex was a medium sized theatre that surely held seating capacity far greater than 300. At any rate, movies were shown there up to 1961.
McAlester Public Library has provided the correct address for the Forum Theatre, it was at 202 East Choctaw Avenue. A law firm now occupies this location.
While on Tulsa Public Library/BFC link be sure to check out the 1920 Central High School (not the 1905 Central High) images to see pictures of a mammoth 1927, Kilgen 4-manual, 45-rank pipe organ. When installed this was reputed to be one of the largest pipe organ ever built.
Below link also has recent images of this fine organ, along with the 1927, 3-manual Robert-Morton theatre pipe organ that originally was installed inside the Capitol Theatre, Steubenville, OH. http://members.aol.com/SoonerStateATOS/
This link contains a good photograph of the 1927, Robert-Morton 3- manual theatre pipe organ that was originally installed inside Steubenville’s Capitol Theatre. This fine instrument is now showcased in Tulsa, owned by Sooner State ATOS Chapter, http://members.aol.com/SoonerStateATOS/
Styling for the Boomer Theater was 1940’s modernist streamline. Exterior color schemes were cream and foam green, with gray star accents. Terrazzo sidewalks guided ticket buyers to a corner box-office, which led into a low ceiling, triangular shaped vestibule lined with coming attractions poster display cases.
A spacious oval shaped lobby was twenty-five feet high. Lobby walls were painted moss gold with foam green trim, and green cove lighting. Green velvet roping directed ticket holders to a brightly lighted concession stand. Lobby carpeting was in rich green with gray accents.
Seperating the lobby from the auditorium was a long standee area, also with green cove lighting. This space, as well as the back row, was known as a ‘cruise" area for gay men.
Moss gold auditorium walls were staggerd with indirect lighting inside indentations, and around ceiling coves. Oversized tufted plaster proscenium panels complemented heavy green stage curtains that were trimmed in zigzag gold fringe.
During the middle of a hot summer night in 1968 an unknown source caused stage drapes to catch fire. To hide resulting smoke damage the side walls were covered over by drab fiberglass curtains, which eliminated indirect lighting inlets, and new scarlet stage drapes replaced the fancier originals.
Installed throughout the theater was new carpeting with an abstract red/black/gold swirl pattern. RKO held a copyright on this carpet weave and used this same design in all its subsidiary Video Independent Theatres. RKO also had a copyrighted design on its drink cups and popcorn boxes, also used by (RKO) Video Theatres.
Both the Bison and Mayflower theatres were built using the same blueprint floor plan, but the Bison’s dominant decor was buffalo/Southwestern styling, while the Mayflower held a nautical/sailing ship theme.
Within the above mentioned BFC link also check out heading “Interior Orpheum Theatre”. This (c1970) photo of the New Orpheum balcony was shot after the old vaude/movie house had shuttered, shortly before demolition.
Even though this was one of Eberson’s earlier theatre creations one can clearly see the direction in which this fine architect was heading. Every dollar spent shows in this elegant, well balanced design.
This short cut takes you to a most interesting link containing historical facts and photos about every drive-in theatre that ever operated in Tulsa, http://tulsatvmemories.com/aida.html
Here is a short cut to a web site with complete historical data and photos of every drive-in theatre ever built in Tulsa, http://tulsatvmemories.com/aida.html
Under the title “Main Street, Circa 1929” can be seen a fuzzy image of the Uptown when it was still known as Gayety. As can be seen, by ‘29 this area was alreayd tough and seedy, including the shown theatre.
http://www.tulsalibrary.org/BFC/index.htm
On above mentioned Tulsa Library/BFC Collection, good images of the Majestic, New Orpheum, and RITZ can be seen under listings for “4th & Main”, and (of course) under “Ritz Theatre”.
To look at a 1940 picture of Tulsa’s Main Street Cinema look under the heading “2nd & Main” on the below web site,
http://www.tulsalibrary.org/BFC/index.htm
Main Street Cinema is the white structure nestled between Crown Drug and JC Penney.
Also see El Caro Theatre in El Reno, OK, that was sister theatre to the Inca. Although exterior treatments were slightly different, the two interiors were identical. Myrna Louise wrote good descriptive passage that would apply to both movie houses.
On the link below all three Yvon Maheiu photographs show recent images of the Stovall Theatre ruins. Click on each photo to supersize,
http://www.city-data.com/city/Sayre-Oklahoma.html
A recent snapshot of the Crown Theatre can be found on below link,
http://www.city-data.com/picfiles/pic1331.php
This web page contains two photos of downtown El Reno, click on either one for a supersize view. Rightside of the first image has a good view of the Tiffany Cinema. The second image has an image of the Ashbrook Store, housed in the former El Caro Theatre, which was a sister house to Okmulgee’s Inca Theatre.
View link
Offered here for your approval is a recent Jackie Yandle photograph of the Orpheum Theatre. In this shot one can get a glimse of the colorful terra-cotta lobby.
http://www.city-data.com/picfilesc/picc8700.php
Shown on this web page is a 1904 architectural drawing for Muskogee Opera House (AKA-Broadway Theatre). During the construction faze the hotel portion had been redesigned into Hunt’s Department Store,
View link
The school sketch opened as Washington Grammar School and burned to the ground in early 1950.
…And this 1907 image has an even closer view of the old Lyric Theatre and Roof Garden,
View link
This 1910 photo shows, just beyond the Tulsa Arch (left), the old Lyric Theatre. The high flag-pole marks the domed gazebo atop the Lyric Bldg, this was the Roof Garden Theatre which operated during warm Spring/Summer months when it became too hot for the indoor auditorium to remain open, in those pre-HVAC days.
View link
Under the heading “Apache & Peoria” the Peoria Cinema can be seen photo left. This snapshot is dated 1954, and it looks as if the Peoria had already shuttered, as the marquee letterboard is bare. Most Likely the Peoria died a slow death as did many theatres of that period; sporadically open off and on, then weekends only, till finally it shut down completely.
http://www.tulsalibrary.org/BFC/index.htm
MayMysteryTheatre photos in the link below are images of the former Lakeside Theater after conversion to Tower Records,
http://tinyurl.com/oge9r
The MayMysteryTheatre shown on ken mc entry, 05/14/06, is an image of the former Lakeside Theater.
The Rex Theatre was not open during WWII years because it was an idenpendently owned theatre and the owner had enlisted.
When possible all black cast films were booked for the African American community in Okmulgee. Whenever black films were not available independent product was exhibited, such as Monogram, Tiffany, PRC, Qaulity, etc.
Rex seldom ran newspaper or radio ads, but instead relied heavily on word of mouth from a loyal fan base.
Ed Swallow, a great guy, once told me how Griffith Theatres tried every trick in the book to gain control over this independent theatre, but somehow the black gentleman who owned the Rex bravely held on to his one and only movie house.
Rex was a medium sized theatre that surely held seating capacity far greater than 300. At any rate, movies were shown there up to 1961.
McAlester Public Library has provided the correct address for the Forum Theatre, it was at 202 East Choctaw Avenue. A law firm now occupies this location.
While on Tulsa Public Library/BFC link be sure to check out the 1920 Central High School (not the 1905 Central High) images to see pictures of a mammoth 1927, Kilgen 4-manual, 45-rank pipe organ. When installed this was reputed to be one of the largest pipe organ ever built.
Below link also has recent images of this fine organ, along with the 1927, 3-manual Robert-Morton theatre pipe organ that originally was installed inside the Capitol Theatre, Steubenville, OH.
http://members.aol.com/SoonerStateATOS/
This link contains a good photograph of the 1927, Robert-Morton 3- manual theatre pipe organ that was originally installed inside Steubenville’s Capitol Theatre. This fine instrument is now showcased in Tulsa, owned by Sooner State ATOS Chapter,
http://members.aol.com/SoonerStateATOS/
Styling for the Boomer Theater was 1940’s modernist streamline. Exterior color schemes were cream and foam green, with gray star accents. Terrazzo sidewalks guided ticket buyers to a corner box-office, which led into a low ceiling, triangular shaped vestibule lined with coming attractions poster display cases.
A spacious oval shaped lobby was twenty-five feet high. Lobby walls were painted moss gold with foam green trim, and green cove lighting. Green velvet roping directed ticket holders to a brightly lighted concession stand. Lobby carpeting was in rich green with gray accents.
Seperating the lobby from the auditorium was a long standee area, also with green cove lighting. This space, as well as the back row, was known as a ‘cruise" area for gay men.
Moss gold auditorium walls were staggerd with indirect lighting inside indentations, and around ceiling coves. Oversized tufted plaster proscenium panels complemented heavy green stage curtains that were trimmed in zigzag gold fringe.
During the middle of a hot summer night in 1968 an unknown source caused stage drapes to catch fire. To hide resulting smoke damage the side walls were covered over by drab fiberglass curtains, which eliminated indirect lighting inlets, and new scarlet stage drapes replaced the fancier originals.
Installed throughout the theater was new carpeting with an abstract red/black/gold swirl pattern. RKO held a copyright on this carpet weave and used this same design in all its subsidiary Video Independent Theatres. RKO also had a copyrighted design on its drink cups and popcorn boxes, also used by (RKO) Video Theatres.
Both the Bison and Mayflower theatres were built using the same blueprint floor plan, but the Bison’s dominant decor was buffalo/Southwestern styling, while the Mayflower held a nautical/sailing ship theme.
Within the above mentioned BFC link also check out heading “Interior Orpheum Theatre”. This (c1970) photo of the New Orpheum balcony was shot after the old vaude/movie house had shuttered, shortly before demolition.
Even though this was one of Eberson’s earlier theatre creations one can clearly see the direction in which this fine architect was heading. Every dollar spent shows in this elegant, well balanced design.
This short cut takes you to a most interesting link containing historical facts and photos about every drive-in theatre that ever operated in Tulsa,
http://tulsatvmemories.com/aida.html
Here is a short cut to a web site with complete historical data and photos of every drive-in theatre ever built in Tulsa,
http://tulsatvmemories.com/aida.html
This web site contains complete history and photos of every drive-in theatre that ever existed in Tulsa,
http://tulsatvmemories.com/aida.html
Here is a site with complete history and photos of every drive-in theatre that ever existed in Tulsa,
http://tulsatvmemories.com/aida.html