Aldridge Theatre
303 NE 2nd Street,
Oklahoma City,
OK
73104
303 NE 2nd Street,
Oklahoma City,
OK
73104
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The Aldridge Theater appears to have closed following the June 6, 1964 double feature of “Jason & the Argonauts” and Ray Milland in “River’s Edge.”
This one was built in 1919 but it opened on February 2, 1920. The feature film was “Blind Husbands” starring Sam De Grasse.
Exterior pic of the Aldridge is very handsome. Neon and marquee is great. Art deco.
I am looking for information or photographs of my great grandfather, Thomas Pierson, who was manager of the Aldridge Theater from 1918 to about 1922. If anyone can help, please contact me at Thanks.
The Aldridge Theatre was slightly west of where the Haywood Building (Deep Deuce Grill) is today. Owned by Zelia Breaux and F.E. Withrow, the Aldridge opened in 1919. Big bands, vaudeville acts and movies were featured regularly. Music legends such as Cab Calloway, Billie Holiday, Count Basie and Duke Ellington appeared at the Aldridge.
From CardCow Postcards I found this old picture of the KBYE sign
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For a rare auditorium look see go above to April 23, 2007 post and enter “ALDRIDGE THEATRE interior THE DUKE IS TOPS”
As early as 1957 Oklahoma City had a black radio station, KBYE (AM-890). To see a downtown
billboard advertisement for station KBYE go above to Jeff Chapman’s 04-23-07 link and type in
“katz 1957”
The site where the Aldridge Theatre stood is now an apartment complex,
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Historic photos of the old Aldridge Theater can be viewed on this informative web site,
http://www.roadsideoklahoma.com/node/575
Direct links to the Aldridge Theatre page can be found here;
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and
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Don’t bother to look for black (Aldridge, Blue Moon, Carter, Eastside, Jewel) theatre ads in the Daily Oklahoman, or any other white newspaper. Afro-American theatres advertised exclusively in the Black Dispatch.
Don’t understand why the map on these links don’t mark the Jewel Theatre location on NE Third, one block North from the Aldridge.
Included is a breif bio of Zelia N. Page Breaux, beloved theatre owner and music teacher.
During the late 1960s the downtown Cooper Theatre began to book black films, which siphoned Afro patrons away from Negro neighborhood cinemas, this eventually forced their closing.
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Above sites work best using dial-up connenction.
Love the pictures posted on OHS site. So many black persons who were regular patrons of the Aldridge talk about this odeon with such loving memories. Seems the Aldridge and Jewel (both black owned and operated) were built not only as movie/vaude houses, but also pomp gathering places free from retraints found in churches, but not as worldly as night clubs.
Up to the end live acts were always included on the bill. One notable performer who was brought back most often was singer Little Richard.
Take this shorter route, then type in the word “theatre”. Once picture downloads click on it again for a large shot -
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To see an excellent 1939 Aldridge vintage photograph click on below link, then enter Barney Hillerman Collection,
http://okhistory.cuadra.com/star/public.html
The Aldridge Theatre was razed in 1975.
The Aldridge Theatre was built in 1920 and opened as a Vaudville and picture house for African American audiences. In the late 1920’s Count Basie and Gonzelle White’s band performed here.
It is listed in Film Daily Yearbooks 1931-1933 and 1940-1955 as being a Negro theater.