Pollard Theatre
118 W. Harrison Avenue,
Guthrie,
OK
72044
118 W. Harrison Avenue,
Guthrie,
OK
72044
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The actual Melba Theatre opening date is May 7, 1929 with Willard Mack in “The Voice Of The City” along with several Vitaphone acts, featuring sound installations of Vitaphone and Movietone.
History of the Pollard from it’s official website includes 3 photos.
http://www.thepollard.org/secondary.php?section=2&catid=2
Modern images and a history on the Pollard Theatre can be found on this site;
http://www.roadsideoklahoma.com/node/385
Here is a 1985 photo. The marquee is gone.
http://tinyurl.com/lmrpa2
Oh yes, to view images on above post type in name “Melba”!
On this site are vintage exterior shots, and a rare view of the handsome auditorium …
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November, 1988, issue of Oklahoma Today Magazine has a contemporary write-up about the Pollard, but no architectural photos.
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Exterior of the Pollard Bldg was designed by Joseph Foucart, a renouned French architect from Paris. Foucart migrated to Indian Territory to get a fresh start, participated in the Great Land Run of 1889, and set up practice in Guthrie.
In below link can be seen good early day photographs of Guthrie’s Brooks Opera House, Highland Theatre, Opera House, and Pollard Theatre-
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and Hollywood stars at the Pollard-
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Dear LL:
This Guthrie movie premiere story is true. Warner Bros brought their big stars to Guthrie to promote this picture. A horse drawn stage-coach picked celebrities up at the depot. It may have been “OKLAHOMA KID”, but I’m not sure.
Contact Dr. Blackburn at the Oklahoma State Historical Society for further details, and photos of the event. Also, Guthrie Public Library Archives has material on this subject.
By the way, Republic Pictures built an entire western town set (portions still stand today) in Canadian, OK, in which scenes for “ROCK ISLAND TRAIL” were filmed. This John Wayne oater held a gala, star studded premiere at the Okla Theatre, McAlester, OK.
Tulsa’s Ritz Theatre celebrated a world premiere of “TULSA”, starring Susan Hayward, and Robert Preston.
OVER 10 YEARS AGO, I WAS A MANAGER OF A VIDEO STORE. THE FATHER OF THE OWNERS WIFE WAS A FRIEND OF MR. POWELL WHO OWNED THE POLLARD. THE STORY THAT CAME BACK TO ME: THERE WAS A HUMPHREY BOGARD MOVIE PREMEIER AT THE POLLARD. I’VE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO FIND OUT IF THIS IS TRUE, AND IS SO, WHICH MOVIE IT MAY HAVE BEEN. I’VE OFTEN THOUGHT THAT IT MIGHT BE “THE OKLAHOMA KID” WHICH WAS A JAMES CAGNEY MOVIE WITH BOGART IN THE CAST. DOES ANYONE KNOW? RICK
Check out these impressive pictures of other Guthrie auditoria-
http://guthriescottishrite.org/egypt.html
and
http://guthriescottishrite.org/auditorium.html
Some one in the Pollard research department needs to review historical material presented on their official Pollard Theatre web site. On this site the vintage photograph showing a band playing atop the theatre marquee is clearly labled 1912, yet written passage claims the structure wasn’t converted to theatre use until 1919. Which date is right?
Presented on Library of Congress Photo Archive site is a 1977 snapshot when this theatre was known as MELBA. Film title on marquee was “Adventures of the Wilderness Family”.
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Shown here is a vintage snapshot of this theatre when it was known as MELBA. Film listed on marquee is “Adventures of the Wilderness Family”.
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From Library of Congress Photo Archives.
In this image the Pollard Theatre can be seen behind Harrison House Hotel-
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My husband and I frequently attend the Pollard Theatre. It is the only full time professional theater company in Oklahoma. The beautiful mural work features landscape scenes of mountains and trees. The lobby is clad in a peacock blue paint highlighted by magnificently colored iron chandeliers. The Powell family, who operated the Pollard as a movie theater, built and still own the Beacon Drive-In in Guthrie.
The POLLARD Theatre has its own web site with color photos.