RGN5SPA, if you see this note, clik on the photos tab at top of page to see Yale Projector Rm photo I added. The machines would have been in use at the time your dad was Yale Projectionist.
Tinseltoes, thanks for the Boxoffice link to the Midwest’s 1960 World Premier of “CIMARRON”. The article and photo’s of the Premier reveals how big of a deal this was for Oklahoma City and Stanley Warner Mgmt. as well as MGM…A really terrific movie 2boot!
Fandangled, I recall the Midwest ran movies from other companies i.e. MGM, Fox as well as Warner Bros. and seem
to recall that their Warner Theater in Okla. City did play mostly Warner films. Interesting history.
Go to the following blog link for additional Midwest photo’s and interesting tid bits http://dougdawg.blogspot.com/2006/07/lets-go-downtown-to-movies.html#Midwest
The Midwest was as you said, magnificient! You probably noticed that those heavenly stars in the ceiling revealed the Little and Big Dipper. Interesting story and experience. Thanks
Glad to see that the building is in use. Party House, it was kind of
a party house working with my other teen friends as we had a lot of fun at that theatre and even got paid.
Thanks Chuck!
Not sure of current status of Yale, I no longer reside in OKC but,
I went by there a couple years back and it looked to be closed as well as several of the near by buildings and stores. Unfortunately,
the entire area was in a state of decline. I did go into google earth and took a look see and there are some indication of it being used for something but, could not read the letters on the marque.
In my note above on Mar 3, I believe I found the architectural drawing of the out door theatre the Sam Caporal described to me back in the 50’s while working as an usher at the Yale.
Unfortunately, the sketch is not on a web site that I could find but, here is the pub info..
On page 37 of “OKLAHOMA CITY REDISCOVERED” by William D Welge, Arcadia Publishing, arcadiapublishing.com, Library of Congress Catalog Number 2007921381.
The sketch of the Yale has what looks like an outdoor theatre next to it called “AIRDOME” with what appears to be a ticket window on the front wall with a wide open entrance. The drawing has the name of
C. J. HANCOX, Architect. The information in the article indicates that the name was changed in 1921 from the Capitol Hill Theatre to the Yale Theatre… Interesting!
During the 50’s and early 60’s, several buildings having large basements in the downtown OKC area were used as Civil Defense Shelters. The Midwest Theatre was one of the buildings and was
identified as so with a bright yellow Civil Defense sign on the outside of the theatre. In the basement were several large drum barrels filled with survival necessities e.g. food, water and medical
supplies. Each of the barrels were also identified with the same bright yellow Civil Defense logo as on the outside sign…Civil Defense shelters were common during the cold war nucular threat era and several movie theatres through out the U.S. were natural shelter
sites for the Civil Defense Department.
We didn’t realize at the time that all of those horse back tricks performed by Roy, Gene, Hoppy were done by professional stunt riders
and it make it look easy for us to imitate..Lucky we not not killed.
The above comment about the Redskin being closed in the early 50’s must be a typo..As noted by RPT above, it closed as a movie theater in the 70’s and that is what I recall as well….I attended many Saturday movies as a kid in the early to mid 50’s and saw a variety of Western’s featuring Red Ryder, Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, Hoppy, etc., etc., along with lots of cliff hanger serials during that time frame…Lot’s of good Saturday entertainment…
The Roadside photos bring back lot’s o memories of Saturday Matinees at the Redskin. The 3rd photo some how was mixed in as it was not the Oklahoma City Redskin Concession as the correct Concession photo is the 5th photo. Great pics! Thanks!
The original owner of the Yale Theater was Sam Caporal, Sr. and while I only met him a few times while working at the Yale in the 50’s. He was a nice and friendly elderly gentlement and enjoyed talking to people about the history of his theater’s. One day while working behind the concession stand, he came in and engaged me in conversation about some of the history. I recall he told me that the original theater was out door. They had a large screen, organ and a few wooden bench seats and after a period of time, the in door Yale
Theater was constructed. As a young teen, I enjoyed working my first job at that theater while it was only for a few months, I learned a great deal and always have great memories of the Yale.
The Warner was a historical monument in the main vein of downtown OKC and was the only movie theater in OKC with an unbelivable history that grew with not only the City but, the state of OK. Also, it was the only theater that had not only a full stage behind the screen but, below the stage, multiple dressing rooms that were about
10x10 and each had hot and cold running water / sinks. There also was a trap door in the floor of the stage that opened to the basement. Too bad the City allowed it to be bull dozed!
Wonder if the old grand style of the Theatres will ever return. The
modern multi screen theatres are nice with all the latest technolgy but, they really do lack in the charm and grace of the Theatres as the Midwest, Warner, Centre were during there day…Progress! Oh Well!
Miss Melba Toast..Your right on! The Plaza was a class act. I didnot work at that Theatre but, knew the owner who operated it during it’s hay days in the early 60’s. I worked at Midwest / Warner during that fun time of my teens and enjoyed the many many films that played during those days!
In the early 50’s, popcorn and pop all over me and my brother at the May Theatre….
We were kids watching a western with a box of pop corn and pop when a loud “BANG” with a flash of light coming only 3 rows of seats in front of us startled us so much that we jumped straight up, pop corn and pop flying all over us….One of two individuals who were planning on a hold up accidently shot himself in the leg while showing the other his revolver…
The wounded fellow was carried to the lobby and laid out on a couch while his buddy ran off down May Av.
The movie was resumed shortly there after and we went back to our seats some what wet!
It was a great Saturday kids movie theatre in the 50’s and later as an adult, I saw the movie “The Graduate” in the same theatre which was upgraded from grade B movies to first run hits.
Above photo of Midwest Theater, 16 N Harvey, Oklahoma City, OK. was shot during the 1946 showing of “The Well-Groomed Bride” Staring Ray Milland.
Just posted photo section print ad of Midwest Theater Grand Opening.
Midwest Theater, Oklahoma City, Grand Opening print pic ad 1931.
Oklahoma City’s Midwest Theater was the host of two World Premier’s; 1947 Black Gold & 1960 Cimarron. See Photos section above.
RGN5SPA, if you see this note, clik on the photos tab at top of page to see Yale Projector Rm photo I added. The machines would have been in use at the time your dad was Yale Projectionist.
Midwest Theater, Oklahoma City, OK. 1944 showing of Wilson.
Tinseltoes, thanks for the Boxoffice link to the Midwest’s 1960 World Premier of “CIMARRON”. The article and photo’s of the Premier reveals how big of a deal this was for Oklahoma City and Stanley Warner Mgmt. as well as MGM…A really terrific movie 2boot!
Fandangled, I recall the Midwest ran movies from other companies i.e. MGM, Fox as well as Warner Bros. and seem to recall that their Warner Theater in Okla. City did play mostly Warner films. Interesting history.
Go to the following blog link for additional Midwest photo’s and interesting tid bits http://dougdawg.blogspot.com/2006/07/lets-go-downtown-to-movies.html#Midwest
The Midwest was as you said, magnificient! You probably noticed that those heavenly stars in the ceiling revealed the Little and Big Dipper. Interesting story and experience. Thanks
Thanks All for the above Midwest photo sites. Really great!
Glad to see that the building is in use. Party House, it was kind of
a party house working with my other teen friends as we had a lot of fun at that theatre and even got paid.
Thanks Chuck!
Don
Not sure of current status of Yale, I no longer reside in OKC but,
I went by there a couple years back and it looked to be closed as well as several of the near by buildings and stores. Unfortunately,
the entire area was in a state of decline. I did go into google earth and took a look see and there are some indication of it being used for something but, could not read the letters on the marque.
Yes, it was really cool in the 50’s!
In my note above on Mar 3, I believe I found the architectural drawing of the out door theatre the Sam Caporal described to me back in the 50’s while working as an usher at the Yale.
Unfortunately, the sketch is not on a web site that I could find but, here is the pub info..
On page 37 of “OKLAHOMA CITY REDISCOVERED” by William D Welge, Arcadia Publishing, arcadiapublishing.com, Library of Congress Catalog Number 2007921381.
The sketch of the Yale has what looks like an outdoor theatre next to it called “AIRDOME” with what appears to be a ticket window on the front wall with a wide open entrance. The drawing has the name of
C. J. HANCOX, Architect. The information in the article indicates that the name was changed in 1921 from the Capitol Hill Theatre to the Yale Theatre… Interesting!
During the 50’s and early 60’s, several buildings having large basements in the downtown OKC area were used as Civil Defense Shelters. The Midwest Theatre was one of the buildings and was
identified as so with a bright yellow Civil Defense sign on the outside of the theatre. In the basement were several large drum barrels filled with survival necessities e.g. food, water and medical
supplies. Each of the barrels were also identified with the same bright yellow Civil Defense logo as on the outside sign…Civil Defense shelters were common during the cold war nucular threat era and several movie theatres through out the U.S. were natural shelter
sites for the Civil Defense Department.
RPT, funny now but, sure it wasn’t at the time..
We didn’t realize at the time that all of those horse back tricks performed by Roy, Gene, Hoppy were done by professional stunt riders
and it make it look easy for us to imitate..Lucky we not not killed.
The above comment about the Redskin being closed in the early 50’s must be a typo..As noted by RPT above, it closed as a movie theater in the 70’s and that is what I recall as well….I attended many Saturday movies as a kid in the early to mid 50’s and saw a variety of Western’s featuring Red Ryder, Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, Hoppy, etc., etc., along with lots of cliff hanger serials during that time frame…Lot’s of good Saturday entertainment…
Thanks for the insight RPT! Interesting insight about some of the
good o days!
The Roadside photos bring back lot’s o memories of Saturday Matinees at the Redskin. The 3rd photo some how was mixed in as it was not the Oklahoma City Redskin Concession as the correct Concession photo is the 5th photo. Great pics! Thanks!
The original owner of the Yale Theater was Sam Caporal, Sr. and while I only met him a few times while working at the Yale in the 50’s. He was a nice and friendly elderly gentlement and enjoyed talking to people about the history of his theater’s. One day while working behind the concession stand, he came in and engaged me in conversation about some of the history. I recall he told me that the original theater was out door. They had a large screen, organ and a few wooden bench seats and after a period of time, the in door Yale
Theater was constructed. As a young teen, I enjoyed working my first job at that theater while it was only for a few months, I learned a great deal and always have great memories of the Yale.
The Warner was a historical monument in the main vein of downtown OKC and was the only movie theater in OKC with an unbelivable history that grew with not only the City but, the state of OK. Also, it was the only theater that had not only a full stage behind the screen but, below the stage, multiple dressing rooms that were about
10x10 and each had hot and cold running water / sinks. There also was a trap door in the floor of the stage that opened to the basement. Too bad the City allowed it to be bull dozed!
Wonder if the old grand style of the Theatres will ever return. The
modern multi screen theatres are nice with all the latest technolgy but, they really do lack in the charm and grace of the Theatres as the Midwest, Warner, Centre were during there day…Progress! Oh Well!
Miss Melba Toast..Your right on! The Plaza was a class act. I didnot work at that Theatre but, knew the owner who operated it during it’s hay days in the early 60’s. I worked at Midwest / Warner during that fun time of my teens and enjoyed the many many films that played during those days!
The above pic looks to be in the right locale for the old Mayflower. I do believe you may have found it.
In the early 50’s, popcorn and pop all over me and my brother at the May Theatre….
We were kids watching a western with a box of pop corn and pop when a loud “BANG” with a flash of light coming only 3 rows of seats in front of us startled us so much that we jumped straight up, pop corn and pop flying all over us….One of two individuals who were planning on a hold up accidently shot himself in the leg while showing the other his revolver…
The wounded fellow was carried to the lobby and laid out on a couch while his buddy ran off down May Av.
The movie was resumed shortly there after and we went back to our seats some what wet!
It was a great Saturday kids movie theatre in the 50’s and later as an adult, I saw the movie “The Graduate” in the same theatre which was upgraded from grade B movies to first run hits.