Suanders styled Ritz lobbies, mezzanine, and 2000 seat auditorium as atmospheric Italian Renaissance opulent courtyards, where one area gracefully flowed into the next. Ornate sidewalls were adorned with an abundance of clorfully lighted niches and sumptuous statuary. Installed high above were Brenograph silver lined clouds, and electronic twinkling pink stars in a dramtic midnight blue plaster sky.
Here is a link listing E.W. Saunders other work- View link
Documented court records reveal that in 1929 Keith/Albee/Orpheum-RKO sold control of their downtown (1907) Rialto Theatre to Ralph Talbot Theatres. View link
Documented court records reveal that in 1929 Keith/Albee/Orpheum-RKO sold control of their downtown (1907) Rialto Theatre to Ralph Talbot Theatres. View link
According to court documents Keith/Albee/Orpheum-RKO sold control of their Tulsa (1917) Orpheum Theatre to Ralph Talbot Theatres in 1929. As mentioned above, this downtown house switched from vaudeville to first run movies in 1931. View link
These court documents indicate that Tulsa’s gorgeous Majestic Theatre was operating as a downtown first run movie house before 1918. Take time to read the first few pages as they are quite informative on Tulsa theatre history. View link
Also on the OKCPostcards site can be seen the HOME Theater. Opened in 1923 as Shriners Theater, it was acquired 1932 by Stanley/Warner Theaters and became Warner’s Auditorium. When Home State Insurance took control of the building in 1947 the name was changed to Home. I always thought the name Home sounded too small and cozy for a 2300 seat movie house.
Also in the above -OKCPostcards- site can be seen the HOME Theatre (1923-1951, nee-Shriners, AKA-Warner’s Auditorium). Today the Home’s marble lobby is still intact, but the auditorium area was converted into office space in 1952.
Sorry to disagree, but during the 1920s the Dixie could not have possibly been the second largest theatre in Tulsa.
During the 20s the (1906) Grand Opera House had a seating capacity of 1200, (1912) Brady Theatre had a capacity of 4200,(1917, 4th St) Orpheum Theatre could seat 1400, (1922) Akdar Theatre held 1800, and (1926) Ritz Theatre opened with 2000 seats. Didn’t the (1907) Rialto seat well over 1000?
Basically the Uptown Theatre was a burlesque house known under various names at various times. Apparently this theatre took on a new name whenever it strived to be a respectable movie house, but somehow always seemed to revert back to bump & grind burlesque stage shows. The Uptown ended its days as Paris Art, a run down strip joint which also exhibited adult films between risque acts.
Here are 1938 images of the Plaza Theatre’s original Spanish Art-Deco facade. Also note artist’s rendition for an ongoing restoration project. http://www.okc.gov/planning/16_plaza/index.html
Oops, one of several typos on my part; white stucco was added to cover the showy facade in 1976, not 1970. Also, at that same time the interior was gutted and redone in the same stark white treatment, with limited “blacklight” color touches. Gleaming dream clothe stage & exit drapery were replaced with red linen.
During renovation those stylized Art Deco light fixtures, brass standards, and red velvet rope were up for sale at an anitique shop across the street, and they sold quickly.
Listed here are Architect L.B. Senter’s other building designs …
View link
correction …
View link
Suanders styled Ritz lobbies, mezzanine, and 2000 seat auditorium as atmospheric Italian Renaissance opulent courtyards, where one area gracefully flowed into the next. Ornate sidewalls were adorned with an abundance of clorfully lighted niches and sumptuous statuary. Installed high above were Brenograph silver lined clouds, and electronic twinkling pink stars in a dramtic midnight blue plaster sky.
Here is a link listing E.W. Saunders other work-
View link
Documented court records reveal that in 1929 Keith/Albee/Orpheum-RKO sold control of their downtown (1907) Rialto Theatre to Ralph Talbot Theatres.
View link
Documented court records reveal that in 1929 Keith/Albee/Orpheum-RKO sold control of their downtown (1907) Rialto Theatre to Ralph Talbot Theatres.
View link
According to court documents, Tulsa’s downtown Palace Theater was already in operation prior to 1910.
View link
According to court documents Keith/Albee/Orpheum-RKO sold control of their Tulsa (1917) Orpheum Theatre to Ralph Talbot Theatres in 1929. As mentioned above, this downtown house switched from vaudeville to first run movies in 1931.
View link
These court documents indicate that Tulsa’s gorgeous Majestic Theatre was operating as a downtown first run movie house before 1918. Take time to read the first few pages as they are quite informative on Tulsa theatre history.
View link
Also on the OKCPostcards site can be seen the HOME Theater. Opened in 1923 as Shriners Theater, it was acquired 1932 by Stanley/Warner Theaters and became Warner’s Auditorium. When Home State Insurance took control of the building in 1947 the name was changed to Home. I always thought the name Home sounded too small and cozy for a 2300 seat movie house.
Also in the above -OKCPostcards- site can be seen the HOME Theatre (1923-1951, nee-Shriners, AKA-Warner’s Auditorium). Today the Home’s marble lobby is still intact, but the auditorium area was converted into office space in 1952.
Sorry to disagree, but during the 1920s the Dixie could not have possibly been the second largest theatre in Tulsa.
During the 20s the (1906) Grand Opera House had a seating capacity of 1200, (1912) Brady Theatre had a capacity of 4200,(1917, 4th St) Orpheum Theatre could seat 1400, (1922) Akdar Theatre held 1800, and (1926) Ritz Theatre opened with 2000 seats. Didn’t the (1907) Rialto seat well over 1000?
Photos & info can be found here on OKC’s Centre Theatre. A list of what was left intact after conversion to an art museum is included.
http://www.okcartmuseum.com/film_centretheatre.htm
Basically the Uptown Theatre was a burlesque house known under various names at various times. Apparently this theatre took on a new name whenever it strived to be a respectable movie house, but somehow always seemed to revert back to bump & grind burlesque stage shows. The Uptown ended its days as Paris Art, a run down strip joint which also exhibited adult films between risque acts.
Here are 1938 images of the Plaza Theatre’s original Spanish Art-Deco facade. Also note artist’s rendition for an ongoing restoration project.
http://www.okc.gov/planning/16_plaza/index.html
Try -
View link
Click here for 1955 photo of Victoria Theater after it had been converted into Television Station KTVO, channel 25-
View link
Oops, one of several typos on my part; white stucco was added to cover the showy facade in 1976, not 1970. Also, at that same time the interior was gutted and redone in the same stark white treatment, with limited “blacklight” color touches. Gleaming dream clothe stage & exit drapery were replaced with red linen.
During renovation those stylized Art Deco light fixtures, brass standards, and red velvet rope were up for sale at an anitique shop across the street, and they sold quickly.
Picher (Ottawa County), Oklahoma theater photos.
ELECTRIC THEATER;
http://www.homestead.com/schehrer2/Picher32.html
PLAZA and ROXY THEATERS;
http://www.homestead.com/schehrer2/theaters1.html
GRAND THEATER image-
http://www.homestead.com/schehrer2/Miami13.html
OTTOWA THEATER image-
http://www.homestead.com/schehrer2/Miami_9.html
GLORY B (AKA-Miami) THEATER images-
http://www.homestead.com/schehrer2/Miami_4.html
http://www.homestead.com/schehrer2/Miami_8.html
http://www.homestead.com/schehrer2/Miami_9.html
GLORY B (AKA-Miami) THEATER images-
http://www.homestead.com/scherhrer2/Miami_4.html
Recent research reveals that Oklahoma City’s Midwest Theatre may well have been Architect John Eberson’s last sky job.
Vintage postcard shot of State Theatre on N. Robinson St. Across from State can be seen Liberty Theatre;
http://www.tulsaarchitecture.com/OKCPostcards.htm
Vintage color picture postcard view of OKC Liberty Theatre. Directly across the street from the Liberty can be seen the State Theatre;
http://www.tulsaarchitecture.com/OKCPostcards.htm