I was a “fill-in” projectionist for Barton Theaters 1958-1960. Worked at All the Midwest City house and drive-in theaters, and a few of Barton’s OKC locations(Redskin, 77 Drive-In, Airline Drive-In, etc.) All were equipped with either Simplex E7 or Simplex XL projector heads. Redskin had Ampex 4 channel stereo sound. At the Skytrain, I suffered through 3-D and “tingler” engagements (had to help install the seat vibrators throughout the house). The little hamburger grill a couple of doors down the sidewalk from the theater made the best burgers I’ve ever had.
The Ritz in its last days was Lawton’s X-Rated theater. It was demolished in the late 1960s (along with the Lawton, and Dome/Dianna for the “Urban Renewal” program. The Central Mall now occupies what used to be downtown Lawton. the Central Mall replaced 100 years of history with the ambience of a used cheeseburger wrapper.
The Criterion had just about the steepest throw of any theater I’ve seen ever. Two or three balconys…projector aperture plates shaped like cheese wedges. The building seemed to have been built with Vaudeville in mind: Full stage, full flying-set loft. Don’t remember the architectural theme. Saw (first run) “Spirit of St Louis” at the Criterion.
The Cooper Cinerama (street sign emphasized “Cooper”) around the corner was also right across the street from the State Theater. A block west on Reno avenue, in the same block as the Cooper, was the Warner, only theater in OK equipped for CineMiracle (Cooper was a Cinerama installation at one time.)
I was a “fill-in” projectionist for Barton Theaters 1958-1960. Worked at All the Midwest City house and drive-in theaters, and a few of Barton’s OKC locations(Redskin, 77 Drive-In, Airline Drive-In, etc.) All were equipped with either Simplex E7 or Simplex XL projector heads. Redskin had Ampex 4 channel stereo sound. At the Skytrain, I suffered through 3-D and “tingler” engagements (had to help install the seat vibrators throughout the house). The little hamburger grill a couple of doors down the sidewalk from the theater made the best burgers I’ve ever had.
The Ritz in its last days was Lawton’s X-Rated theater. It was demolished in the late 1960s (along with the Lawton, and Dome/Dianna for the “Urban Renewal” program. The Central Mall now occupies what used to be downtown Lawton. the Central Mall replaced 100 years of history with the ambience of a used cheeseburger wrapper.
The Criterion had just about the steepest throw of any theater I’ve seen ever. Two or three balconys…projector aperture plates shaped like cheese wedges. The building seemed to have been built with Vaudeville in mind: Full stage, full flying-set loft. Don’t remember the architectural theme. Saw (first run) “Spirit of St Louis” at the Criterion.
The Cooper Cinerama (street sign emphasized “Cooper”) around the corner was also right across the street from the State Theater. A block west on Reno avenue, in the same block as the Cooper, was the Warner, only theater in OK equipped for CineMiracle (Cooper was a Cinerama installation at one time.)