Reading the local newspaper and trade press, the Elk Theatre was opened by Griffith Amusement Circuit on January 30, 1936. Its architecture was credited in the trade press to Jack M. Corgan and Bill J. Moore, Jr. The Rex was operated in the 1950s under operator Volney Hamm as well as Video Independent Circuit.
John Monroe was the final operator of the Elk Theater relaunching it in November of 1957 with “The Ten Commandments” but closing in 1958. It became a short-lived record store keeping the theater auditorium and then it was totally refurbished in 1960 with its contents sold off when it was converted to another retail store opening in 1961.
There were two locations for the Max Theatre. The first one opened to the public on March 18, 1931 and was likely originally opened as the Liberty Theatre - a silent venue that had launched on February 20, 1920 with “Revelations.” The venue’s safety protocols were no match for a nitrate film explosion that destroyed the building, the neighboring Armour Produce, and damaged the Ben Franklin store, and Velvin Barber Shop on March 31, 1935. Buck Jones, projectionist, was injured but manager Laura Means got all patrons out safely.
A new building housing a new Max Theatre was built on what is now South Sheb Wooley street that opened in September of 1935 and has a Cinema Treasures page under its new name when a new operator renamed the venue.
The Guthrie Brothers Circuit - Lee and Lamar - bought the Erick Theatre from Oakley Leachman and the Gay Theatre from Roy McAmis. They owned Rogue Theatres in Wheeler and Matador, Texas, and Tipton and Wetamka, Oklahoma so renamed one of their new acquisitions as the Rogue Theatre. Its location was 118 OK-30 (formerly 118 North Main) which appears to be a vacant lot.
The Bungalow opened July 2, 1915 and the owners were said to have skipped town with the creditors in the lurch. New operators reopened the theatre even remembering where the serial, “Lucille Love, Girl of Mystery” had left off at the relaunch. Under L.A. White, the theatre converted to sound on October 9, 1929 with “The Lady Lies.”
On April 2, 1941, the theatre was completely overhauled relaunching as the new Tech Theatre with Fred MacMurray in “Dive Bomber.” It converted to widescreen on March 17, 1954 to present CinemaScope films beginning with “The Robe.” It was still in operation in the 1970s.
This theatre was built in 1915 and appears to have had a very short period as the White Theatre according to the trade press. It operated as the Strand under new operators in 1916. The Strand switched to sound to remain relevant. It may be best remembered in the Studio Era for prolific house artist Donald Andorfer’s hand-painted posters and imaginative fronts that were created to promote current and forthcoming features.
The Strand received a shocking $110,000 makeover by operator James O'Connor gutting the building and created a streamlined moderne Towne Theatre in 1969. The Towne’s final owner Joe Reynolds kept the Towne alive from 1977 through its 80th anniversary and past his 85th birthday before selling out in 1996. The theatre was repurposed for an indoor activity center featuring rock climbing.
The Quannah Theatre appears to have opened in downtown Comanche, Oklahoma in 1920. On May 15, 1927, the Quannah Theatre was damaged by fire. Repairs were made by operator George Williams at its relaunch In August. 15, 1927. Showing class, Williams recalled what serial chapter they were on when they reopened.
William Lancaster and Mr. R.P. Lancaster took on the venue and updated it in 1928. It received Motiograph DeLuxe projectors, new screen and new signage at its reopening on February 18, 1928, as the Ritz Theatre with Clara Bow in “Rough House Rosie.” Lancaster would purchase Vitaphone and Movietone sound was installed for its first sound show on February 14, 1930 for sound with “The Mighty” starring George Bancroft.
The Lancasters would upgrade the sound system in 1933 along with a new air conditioning system. The operator of the theatre in 1940s and 1950s was V.A. “Spec” Lancaster. The theatre burned in 1959.
After a period of inactivity, it was reopened for the final run beginning on October 24, 1958 and may have closed following “The Ten Commandements” on March 2, 1959. The former Washita Theatre building was transformed into a factory in 1961 for Micro Industries.
Frank Little did originally have this ozoner on the drawing boards in 1954 as the Circle 12 Drive-In for the former stretch of Highway 12 that became Highway 1 on the Eastside of Ada. Video Independent Circuit and Little did open this venue with 500 speakers on June 8, 1956 with Tom Ewell in “The Lieutenant Wore Skirts”. The ozoner was located about a mile away from the Oak Hills Golf & Country Club established 40 years prior to the drive-in. It launched as the Oak Hills Drive-In and Charley Fletcher managed the Oak Hills along with the hardtop Ritz from opening in 1956 to his retirement in 1963.
The venue had an annual fireworks show and operated seasonally - generally April until November. Its annual opening was a sign of Spring to local patrons. The film “No Greater Sin” - the exploitation film about syphilis - supported by “Not Wanted (aka Shame)” about the mother of an out-of-wedlock baby - was said to have been the biggest hit for the drive-in to that point.
Fred Brewer took over management of the Oak Hills from Fletcher. He also managed the McSwain and Mini. Brewer then became a member of the Board of Directors for the United Theatre Owners of Oklahoma and the Panhandle of Texas. He was still running the theatre in the 1970s.
The Dixie Theatre launched May 21, 1926 with Sally O'Neill in “Mike” at 109 North Oak Street. The building appears to have been demolished in the 1970s. J.W. Cotter - operator of the Grand and the Dixie - converted both to sound.
The Dixie to sound on September 14, 1930 with Lila Lee in “Murder Will Out.” Griffith Brothers Amusement Circuit updated the theatre with new projection in 1947 and added a balcony for African American patrons. Both the Grand and Dixie passed into Video Independent operation when it bought out Griffith.
The Universal Theatre opened on September 9, 1914. It changed names to the Liberty Theatre in 1917. Ads were discontinued following the November 5, 1938 showing of “Guilty Trails.”
A note says that Charles Knauf opened the State Theatre in 1938. Fire gutted the building on February 14, 1940 and it was relaunched in the same spot on May 1, 1940 as the “new” State Theatre with a live band performance, a newsreel and “Judge Hardy and Son.”
This venue was the Hill Top Drive-In Theatre. It launched June 8, 1949 for Griffith Amusement Circuit with “River Lady” starring Yvonne DeCarlo. In December of 1949, Video Independent took over the Griffith Circuit.
Barclay Morgan’s the Morgan Theatre launched October 25, 1915 with the live play, “Pair of Sixes" and movies by Paramount just days later. By late 1916, the venue was turning more to motion pictures for its programming. The Henryetta Candy Kitchen and Ice Cream Parlor served as a de facto concession stand for treats prior to and after the show. The Morgan switched to talkies on April 26, 1930 with “The Benson Case Murder.”
The theatre was operated by Griffith Amusement Circuit during its major overhaul in 1941 to a streamline moderne house. In 1954, it was downgraded to twice-a-week operation. The Morgan closed early in 1956 though had some sporadic screenings and events over the next year.
Charles Blaine decided to replace his aging Yale Theatre with a new and larger venue. He took an existing building and created the Blaine Theatre. At launch the Blaine had two Motiograph DeLuxe projectors and 20' tall sign with 400 bulbs. The grand opening featured Colleen Moore in “It Must be Love” supported by Our Gang in “Shivering Spooks,” a cartoon, and a newsreel called the Blaineogram on September 1, 1926. The theatre organ accompanied the films.
Under Griffith Amusement Circuit since 1928, the circuit installed Vitaphone on March 3, 1929 beginning with “Alias Jimmy Valentine.” Griffith gave the venue a major overhaul reopening as the New Blaine on March 6, 1941 with Jean Arthur in “Arizona.”
On August 1, 1954, the Blaine switched to widescreen projection to show CinemaScope titles starting with “The River of No Return.” The theatre was later renamed the Ciné in the 1970s and closed as a twin-screen facility. The Ciné was razed in 2008 following asbestos abatement and the Blaine’s organ was still in place at the time of the demolition.
The Empress Theatre was located at 106 South Main in downtown Shattuck. It began in October of 1913, was totally refreshed in 1928 as the New Empress. On October 27, 1929, the theatre relaunched with Vitaphone and sound films with Al Jolson in “The Singing Fool.”
When the Wilsons opened the new $60,000 Shattuck Theatre in 1946, the Empress' days were numbered. Lee and Garland Wilson’s Wilson Theatres Circuit discontinued regular movies screenings on January 2, 1949 at the Empress Theatre with the “Return of the Lash” with Las LaRue. Religious screenings were offered by a local church in 1950 with with the building offered for sale. Lee and Garland Wilson retrofitted the venue for other purposes in March of 1952.
Garland Wilson built the Drive-In in 1952 with a name-the-theater contest prior to launching. The winning name was the fusion of Ellis County Oklahoma or the El-Co. It opened with 182 spaces for cars on May 18, 1952 with Dinah Shore in “Aaron Slick from Punkin Crick.”
The Dixie Theatre opened in the building at 120-122 Duke Street. It operated under that name from 1909 to November of 1917. Under new sole operator, A.L. Blunt it became the Liberty Theatre on November 11, 1917 with a benefit screening for the local YMCA showing a patriotic film. (The Liberty was a commonly-used World War I moniker for theaters.) But the biggest splash came just weeks later when the Liberty showed “Birth of a Nation” on December 2-3, 1917 at road show prices.
Blunt then sold the Liberty / former Dixie to L.R. Stout in April of 1921 for $16,000. The Liberty fell under the umbrella of O. Gill and Griffith Amusement Circuit next also in the 1920s. Late in 1927, it was reported that new equipment was added to the Liberty. It was gutted by fire in January of 1928. Interestingly, Gill would be arrested for setting fire to the Erie Theatre five years later. The remaining Liberty Theatre structure would then be incorporated into a bus terminal for two different bus lines, the latter of which was the Northeast Texas Motor Lines Inc.
Opened March 30, 1932
Reading the local newspaper and trade press, the Elk Theatre was opened by Griffith Amusement Circuit on January 30, 1936. Its architecture was credited in the trade press to Jack M. Corgan and Bill J. Moore, Jr. The Rex was operated in the 1950s under operator Volney Hamm as well as Video Independent Circuit.
John Monroe was the final operator of the Elk Theater relaunching it in November of 1957 with “The Ten Commandments” but closing in 1958. It became a short-lived record store keeping the theater auditorium and then it was totally refurbished in 1960 with its contents sold off when it was converted to another retail store opening in 1961.
The above info is in error.
The above dates are in error.
There were two locations for the Max Theatre. The first one opened to the public on March 18, 1931 and was likely originally opened as the Liberty Theatre - a silent venue that had launched on February 20, 1920 with “Revelations.” The venue’s safety protocols were no match for a nitrate film explosion that destroyed the building, the neighboring Armour Produce, and damaged the Ben Franklin store, and Velvin Barber Shop on March 31, 1935. Buck Jones, projectionist, was injured but manager Laura Means got all patrons out safely.
A new building housing a new Max Theatre was built on what is now South Sheb Wooley street that opened in September of 1935 and has a Cinema Treasures page under its new name when a new operator renamed the venue.
The Guthrie Brothers Circuit - Lee and Lamar - bought the Erick Theatre from Oakley Leachman and the Gay Theatre from Roy McAmis. They owned Rogue Theatres in Wheeler and Matador, Texas, and Tipton and Wetamka, Oklahoma so renamed one of their new acquisitions as the Rogue Theatre. Its location was 118 OK-30 (formerly 118 North Main) which appears to be a vacant lot.
The State Theatre was taken over by C.G. Waters of Stroud and relaunched as the Bulldog Theatre on February 28, 1936 with “Stormy.”
The Bungalow opened July 2, 1915 and the owners were said to have skipped town with the creditors in the lurch. New operators reopened the theatre even remembering where the serial, “Lucille Love, Girl of Mystery” had left off at the relaunch. Under L.A. White, the theatre converted to sound on October 9, 1929 with “The Lady Lies.”
On April 2, 1941, the theatre was completely overhauled relaunching as the new Tech Theatre with Fred MacMurray in “Dive Bomber.” It converted to widescreen on March 17, 1954 to present CinemaScope films beginning with “The Robe.” It was still in operation in the 1970s.
This theatre was built in 1915 and appears to have had a very short period as the White Theatre according to the trade press. It operated as the Strand under new operators in 1916. The Strand switched to sound to remain relevant. It may be best remembered in the Studio Era for prolific house artist Donald Andorfer’s hand-painted posters and imaginative fronts that were created to promote current and forthcoming features.
The Strand received a shocking $110,000 makeover by operator James O'Connor gutting the building and created a streamlined moderne Towne Theatre in 1969. The Towne’s final owner Joe Reynolds kept the Towne alive from 1977 through its 80th anniversary and past his 85th birthday before selling out in 1996. The theatre was repurposed for an indoor activity center featuring rock climbing.
The Quannah Theatre appears to have opened in downtown Comanche, Oklahoma in 1920. On May 15, 1927, the Quannah Theatre was damaged by fire. Repairs were made by operator George Williams at its relaunch In August. 15, 1927. Showing class, Williams recalled what serial chapter they were on when they reopened.
William Lancaster and Mr. R.P. Lancaster took on the venue and updated it in 1928. It received Motiograph DeLuxe projectors, new screen and new signage at its reopening on February 18, 1928, as the Ritz Theatre with Clara Bow in “Rough House Rosie.” Lancaster would purchase Vitaphone and Movietone sound was installed for its first sound show on February 14, 1930 for sound with “The Mighty” starring George Bancroft.
The Lancasters would upgrade the sound system in 1933 along with a new air conditioning system. The operator of the theatre in 1940s and 1950s was V.A. “Spec” Lancaster. The theatre burned in 1959.
After a period of inactivity, it was reopened for the final run beginning on October 24, 1958 and may have closed following “The Ten Commandements” on March 2, 1959. The former Washita Theatre building was transformed into a factory in 1961 for Micro Industries.
Frank Little did originally have this ozoner on the drawing boards in 1954 as the Circle 12 Drive-In for the former stretch of Highway 12 that became Highway 1 on the Eastside of Ada. Video Independent Circuit and Little did open this venue with 500 speakers on June 8, 1956 with Tom Ewell in “The Lieutenant Wore Skirts”. The ozoner was located about a mile away from the Oak Hills Golf & Country Club established 40 years prior to the drive-in. It launched as the Oak Hills Drive-In and Charley Fletcher managed the Oak Hills along with the hardtop Ritz from opening in 1956 to his retirement in 1963.
The venue had an annual fireworks show and operated seasonally - generally April until November. Its annual opening was a sign of Spring to local patrons. The film “No Greater Sin” - the exploitation film about syphilis - supported by “Not Wanted (aka Shame)” about the mother of an out-of-wedlock baby - was said to have been the biggest hit for the drive-in to that point.
Fred Brewer took over management of the Oak Hills from Fletcher. He also managed the McSwain and Mini. Brewer then became a member of the Board of Directors for the United Theatre Owners of Oklahoma and the Panhandle of Texas. He was still running the theatre in the 1970s.
The Tower Drive-In Theatre was opened by Griffith Amusement Circuit
The Dixie Theatre launched May 21, 1926 with Sally O'Neill in “Mike” at 109 North Oak Street. The building appears to have been demolished in the 1970s. J.W. Cotter - operator of the Grand and the Dixie - converted both to sound.
The Dixie to sound on September 14, 1930 with Lila Lee in “Murder Will Out.” Griffith Brothers Amusement Circuit updated the theatre with new projection in 1947 and added a balcony for African American patrons. Both the Grand and Dixie passed into Video Independent operation when it bought out Griffith.
The Universal Theatre opened on September 9, 1914. It changed names to the Liberty Theatre in 1917. Ads were discontinued following the November 5, 1938 showing of “Guilty Trails.”
A note says that Charles Knauf opened the State Theatre in 1938. Fire gutted the building on February 14, 1940 and it was relaunched in the same spot on May 1, 1940 as the “new” State Theatre with a live band performance, a newsreel and “Judge Hardy and Son.”
Opened December 22, 1920 with “All of a Sudden Peggy."
The Jewel Drive-In Theatre launched July 25, 1957 with “Beau James.” It was still operating in 1975.
This venue was the Hill Top Drive-In Theatre. It launched June 8, 1949 for Griffith Amusement Circuit with “River Lady” starring Yvonne DeCarlo. In December of 1949, Video Independent took over the Griffith Circuit.
Barclay Morgan’s the Morgan Theatre launched October 25, 1915 with the live play, “Pair of Sixes" and movies by Paramount just days later. By late 1916, the venue was turning more to motion pictures for its programming. The Henryetta Candy Kitchen and Ice Cream Parlor served as a de facto concession stand for treats prior to and after the show. The Morgan switched to talkies on April 26, 1930 with “The Benson Case Murder.”
The theatre was operated by Griffith Amusement Circuit during its major overhaul in 1941 to a streamline moderne house. In 1954, it was downgraded to twice-a-week operation. The Morgan closed early in 1956 though had some sporadic screenings and events over the next year.
Charles Blaine decided to replace his aging Yale Theatre with a new and larger venue. He took an existing building and created the Blaine Theatre. At launch the Blaine had two Motiograph DeLuxe projectors and 20' tall sign with 400 bulbs. The grand opening featured Colleen Moore in “It Must be Love” supported by Our Gang in “Shivering Spooks,” a cartoon, and a newsreel called the Blaineogram on September 1, 1926. The theatre organ accompanied the films.
Under Griffith Amusement Circuit since 1928, the circuit installed Vitaphone on March 3, 1929 beginning with “Alias Jimmy Valentine.” Griffith gave the venue a major overhaul reopening as the New Blaine on March 6, 1941 with Jean Arthur in “Arizona.”
On August 1, 1954, the Blaine switched to widescreen projection to show CinemaScope titles starting with “The River of No Return.” The theatre was later renamed the Ciné in the 1970s and closed as a twin-screen facility. The Ciné was razed in 2008 following asbestos abatement and the Blaine’s organ was still in place at the time of the demolition.
The Empress Theatre was located at 106 South Main in downtown Shattuck. It began in October of 1913, was totally refreshed in 1928 as the New Empress. On October 27, 1929, the theatre relaunched with Vitaphone and sound films with Al Jolson in “The Singing Fool.”
When the Wilsons opened the new $60,000 Shattuck Theatre in 1946, the Empress' days were numbered. Lee and Garland Wilson’s Wilson Theatres Circuit discontinued regular movies screenings on January 2, 1949 at the Empress Theatre with the “Return of the Lash” with Las LaRue. Religious screenings were offered by a local church in 1950 with with the building offered for sale. Lee and Garland Wilson retrofitted the venue for other purposes in March of 1952.
Garland Wilson built the Drive-In in 1952 with a name-the-theater contest prior to launching. The winning name was the fusion of Ellis County Oklahoma or the El-Co. It opened with 182 spaces for cars on May 18, 1952 with Dinah Shore in “Aaron Slick from Punkin Crick.”
The Shattuck Theatre launched on September 15, 1946 with Linda Darnell in “Centennial Summer.”
The Dixie Theatre opened in the building at 120-122 Duke Street. It operated under that name from 1909 to November of 1917. Under new sole operator, A.L. Blunt it became the Liberty Theatre on November 11, 1917 with a benefit screening for the local YMCA showing a patriotic film. (The Liberty was a commonly-used World War I moniker for theaters.) But the biggest splash came just weeks later when the Liberty showed “Birth of a Nation” on December 2-3, 1917 at road show prices.
Blunt then sold the Liberty / former Dixie to L.R. Stout in April of 1921 for $16,000. The Liberty fell under the umbrella of O. Gill and Griffith Amusement Circuit next also in the 1920s. Late in 1927, it was reported that new equipment was added to the Liberty. It was gutted by fire in January of 1928. Interestingly, Gill would be arrested for setting fire to the Erie Theatre five years later. The remaining Liberty Theatre structure would then be incorporated into a bus terminal for two different bus lines, the latter of which was the Northeast Texas Motor Lines Inc.
Ad for the name change November 21, 1934 from the Hugo to the Ritz is posted with Barbara Stanwyck in “The Gambling Lady.”