After carefull study of this old olio curtain it is doughtful that it was inside OKC’s Folly Theater. Observe all those advertisements for businesses located in Bowlegs, Oklahoma, and that notice for State & Liberty theaters in Seminole, which is located not too far from Bowlegs.
Also, OKC’s Folly Theater was atmospheric, so it is more likely that their ad curtain would have contained a rural setting, not a city scene.
Surely this must have been an olio curtain for a long forgotten theater in Bowlegs.
After Griffith Theatres were bought out by General Tire & Rubber it was renamed Video Independent Theatres and was a (roundabout) division of RKO Theatres. This corporate structure was set up for tax breaks, and to avoid paying minimum wage. General Tire owned RKO Film Vaults, RKO Film controlled RKO Theatres, RKO Theatres owned Musac Corporation (the elevator music people), and Musac controlled Video Independent.
Architect Larry Blackledge was son of the CEO to Video Independent Theatres.
Mr Jones is correct, this was always a triple screen cinema.
The Star Theatre Building was a wonderful example of glass block streamline. The Sand Bar had cozy booths surrounding a star shaped bar situated in the center of an azure lighted room. All together it was a striking design to spend a night out on the night.
If one uses the map feature at the top of this page, be advised the satellite image pinpoints the Rodeo Theater three blocks West of its actual location. Also on the same block can be seen the former Blue Moon Theater, a few doors East of the Rodeo.
In 1970 while attending college in Warner, OK, the group I ran with regularly went to see movies at the Muskogee Ritz, a grand theater indeed. The lobby was four stories high, with three clover shaped mezzanine balconies overlooking the main floor, topped by a fancy clover shaped dome.
The auditorium was most ornate, and also had a massive round dome overhead. Stage drapery appeared to be original, heavy emerald green valour, with dozens of gigantic gold tassels running along the bottom portion of the curtains. Valances formed graceful scallops with heavy gold fringe. It was a sad day when I learned that this lovely theatre had been razed.
In 1971 Sol Flowers, a former stagehand, took me on tour of the long shuttered Ritz Theater. A dollhouse theater, the Ritz had two seperate balconies, not one over the other as is usual, but side by side with a projection booth deviding them. The tiny stage (where once upon a time Republic stars Gene Autry, Andy Devine, Fred Hamilton, Roy Rogers and Trigger made personal appearances) still had all rigging, scenery, and drapes. In the basement were found dusty dressing rooms, with round mirrors surrounded by light bulbs.
According to statistics listed on Frederick, Oklahoma web sites, Architect George KADANE designed the beautiful Ramona Theater. The plush auditorium was atmospheric with electronic twinkling stars and Brenograph rolling clouds illuminating a midnight blue plaster sky. Listed as operating continuousely from 1925-1949, the Ramona did operate after 1949, but not on a regular basis.
There is a complete history and good images of the Ramona which can be pulled up on Frederick, Oklahoma web pages- – - http://www.lasr.net/pages/city.php? CityID+OK0212012&VA+Y&AttractionID+OK0212012a002
Architect Larry Blackledge was son of the CEO for Video Independent Theatres.
Video Independent Theatres were actually a division of RKO Theatres in a round about way; General Tire ownded RKO Film Vault, RKO Film Vault controlled RKO Theatres, RKO Theatres owned Musac Corp (the elevator music people), and Musac controlled Video Independent Theatres. All these divisions were designed to obtain tax breaks and to avoid paying minimum wage.
The Cinema East and Rancho Drive-In were both razed in the early 1980s.
CORRECTION; The RODEO Theatre is shown three blocks too far West of actual location. Also on the same block can be seen the old BLUE MOON Theatre structure.
Patsy: You may want to consult the Oklahoman Archives (official site of Oklahoma Publishing/Daily Oklahoman Newspaper)web pages to research the Tower pipe organ origins, and what became of it.
Grand opening announcements described this instrument. Also, I recall that the Tower opened with an Ann Sothern feature. Miss Sothern was a popular actress in Oklahoma City and her films sold tickets, which gaurenteed packed houses.
Lauren: To locate surrounding street names go to the map feature located at the top of every theatre page.
But beware, some of the map indicators are a bit off the mark, usually pinpointing locations a little too far East. Example; Mayflower is shown too far East. Tower is off by half a block East. Plaza is off one block East. Rodeo is shown three blocks East of actual location. Redskin is one third block too far East, and so on and so forth.
FOLLY Theater was built by Keith/Albee Theaters and featured Orpheum Vaudeville. 1907 grand opening newspaper notices described a “garden setting” auditorium with “vine covered trellis latticework”, so it most certianly was an early example of atmospheric design. After the FOLLY burned in 1947 news accounts mentioned that the interior had been remodeled many times. Warner Brother’s built their SOONER Theater on site in 1948, last of the big downtown movie houses.
After carefull study of this old olio curtain it is doughtful that it was inside OKC’s Folly Theater. Observe all those advertisements for businesses located in Bowlegs, Oklahoma, and that notice for State & Liberty theaters in Seminole, which is located not too far from Bowlegs.
Also, OKC’s Folly Theater was atmospheric, so it is more likely that their ad curtain would have contained a rural setting, not a city scene.
Surely this must have been an olio curtain for a long forgotten theater in Bowlegs.
Here is a faster route to Tulsa’s William’s Center Cinema:
http://tulsatvmemories.com/tulsafilm.html
You’ll find a complete account of Tulsa’s Skyline Drive-In Theatre by clicking here;
http://tulsatvmemories.com/aida.html
Go here for complete history of Tulsa’s Riverside Drive-In Theatre;
http://tulsatvmemories.com/aida.html
Use this for a direct route to when Capri Drive-In was an x-rated theatre;
http://tulsatvmemories.com/capri.html
And, a better route- – -
http://tulsatvmemories.com/admiral.html
For complete history of Tulsa’s Highway 66 Drive-In, see;
http://tulsatvmemories.com/aida.html
Apache Drive-In was built for Tulsa’s African American community;
http://tulsatvmemories.com/aida.html
The Aldridge Theatre was razed in 1975.
1945 aerial view of Grand during its newsreel days, right near center;
View link
After photo is displayed, click on it again for super-sized image. Also in this shot can be seen Brady, Cozy, & Uptown Burlesque.
1945 aerial view of Cozy Theatre, photo right center;
View link
Also in this view are the Brady, Grand Newsreel, and Uptown Burlesque.
After Griffith Theatres were bought out by General Tire & Rubber it was renamed Video Independent Theatres and was a (roundabout) division of RKO Theatres. This corporate structure was set up for tax breaks, and to avoid paying minimum wage. General Tire owned RKO Film Vaults, RKO Film controlled RKO Theatres, RKO Theatres owned Musac Corporation (the elevator music people), and Musac controlled Video Independent.
Architect Larry Blackledge was son of the CEO to Video Independent Theatres.
Mr Jones is correct, this was always a triple screen cinema.
The Star Theatre Building was a wonderful example of glass block streamline. The Sand Bar had cozy booths surrounding a star shaped bar situated in the center of an azure lighted room. All together it was a striking design to spend a night out on the night.
If one uses the map feature at the top of this page, be advised the satellite image pinpoints the Rodeo Theater three blocks West of its actual location. Also on the same block can be seen the former Blue Moon Theater, a few doors East of the Rodeo.
In 1970 while attending college in Warner, OK, the group I ran with regularly went to see movies at the Muskogee Ritz, a grand theater indeed. The lobby was four stories high, with three clover shaped mezzanine balconies overlooking the main floor, topped by a fancy clover shaped dome.
The auditorium was most ornate, and also had a massive round dome overhead. Stage drapery appeared to be original, heavy emerald green valour, with dozens of gigantic gold tassels running along the bottom portion of the curtains. Valances formed graceful scallops with heavy gold fringe. It was a sad day when I learned that this lovely theatre had been razed.
In 1971 Sol Flowers, a former stagehand, took me on tour of the long shuttered Ritz Theater. A dollhouse theater, the Ritz had two seperate balconies, not one over the other as is usual, but side by side with a projection booth deviding them. The tiny stage (where once upon a time Republic stars Gene Autry, Andy Devine, Fred Hamilton, Roy Rogers and Trigger made personal appearances) still had all rigging, scenery, and drapes. In the basement were found dusty dressing rooms, with round mirrors surrounded by light bulbs.
According to statistics listed on Frederick, Oklahoma web sites, Architect George KADANE designed the beautiful Ramona Theater. The plush auditorium was atmospheric with electronic twinkling stars and Brenograph rolling clouds illuminating a midnight blue plaster sky. Listed as operating continuousely from 1925-1949, the Ramona did operate after 1949, but not on a regular basis.
There is a complete history and good images of the Ramona which can be pulled up on Frederick, Oklahoma web pages- – -
http://www.lasr.net/pages/city.php? CityID+OK0212012&VA+Y&AttractionID+OK0212012a002
Architect Larry Blackledge was son of the CEO for Video Independent Theatres.
Video Independent Theatres were actually a division of RKO Theatres in a round about way; General Tire ownded RKO Film Vault, RKO Film Vault controlled RKO Theatres, RKO Theatres owned Musac Corp (the elevator music people), and Musac controlled Video Independent Theatres. All these divisions were designed to obtain tax breaks and to avoid paying minimum wage.
The Cinema East and Rancho Drive-In were both razed in the early 1980s.
Correct address for the downtown Warner Theater should read;
213 W Sheridan Ave, Oklahoma City
Correct address for the downtown Sooner Theater should read;
125 W. Sheridan, Okla City
Correct address for the old Folly Theatre should read; 125 W. Sheridan, Okla City
CORRECTION; The RODEO Theatre is shown three blocks too far West of actual location. Also on the same block can be seen the old BLUE MOON Theatre structure.
Patsy: You may want to consult the Oklahoman Archives (official site of Oklahoma Publishing/Daily Oklahoman Newspaper)web pages to research the Tower pipe organ origins, and what became of it.
Grand opening announcements described this instrument. Also, I recall that the Tower opened with an Ann Sothern feature. Miss Sothern was a popular actress in Oklahoma City and her films sold tickets, which gaurenteed packed houses.
Lauren: To locate surrounding street names go to the map feature located at the top of every theatre page.
But beware, some of the map indicators are a bit off the mark, usually pinpointing locations a little too far East. Example; Mayflower is shown too far East. Tower is off by half a block East. Plaza is off one block East. Rodeo is shown three blocks East of actual location. Redskin is one third block too far East, and so on and so forth.
FOLLY Theater was built by Keith/Albee Theaters and featured Orpheum Vaudeville. 1907 grand opening newspaper notices described a “garden setting” auditorium with “vine covered trellis latticework”, so it most certianly was an early example of atmospheric design. After the FOLLY burned in 1947 news accounts mentioned that the interior had been remodeled many times. Warner Brother’s built their SOONER Theater on site in 1948, last of the big downtown movie houses.