Bison Theatre
225 E. Main Street,
Shawnee,
OK
74801
225 E. Main Street,
Shawnee,
OK
74801
1 person
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Griffith Amusement Company, Video Independent Theaters Inc.
Architects: Gates Corgan
Functions: Retail
Styles: Atmospheric
Nearby Theaters
The Bison Theatre opened in October 1927 with seating for 1,080. It was located on Main Street at Philadelphia Street. The Bison Theatre was still open in 1957. After it closed in the late-1950’s, the former Bison Theatre was converted to a clothing store, later became a church, and today houses an antique mall.
Contributed by
Bryan
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Recent comments (view all 10 comments)
This theater is not listed in the 1975 Shawnee phone book.
The Bison Theatre was located on the corner of Main Street and Philadelphia. It was built by Griffith Theatres, later called Video Independent Theatres of Oklahoma City. The theatre seated over 1000 people originally. It had a domed ceiling with twinkling lights to resemble stars. The theatre had a working stage and could accomodate traveling stage shows and entertainers as well as movies. In 1947, with the opening of the Hornbeck Theatre in Shawnee, the Bison was changed to a second run policy. In 1954 Jones Theatres, Inc. partnered with Video in the Bison’s ownership. The Bison was a victim of television in the mid-1950’s when it closed. The V-shaped marquee on the Bison was moved to the Ritz Theatre in Shawnee during a major renovation of the Ritz in 1966. The building was sold and first became a western wear clothing store, later a church and now an antique mall. The stage area is still intact in the antique mall.
On below site, historic photo of the Shawnee Bison Theatre is mistakenly listed as the one in Oklahoma City.
In search field type in word “theatre”, then press enter -
View link
Seems OHS corrected their error. Both the Shawnee Bison Theatre and Enid Aztec (minus balcony) were sister houses, designed by Carl Boller. To compare images, on above post type in name “Aztec”, “Bison”, or “Esquire”.
Roadside Oklahoma web showcases both vintage and modern potos of the former Bison Theatre,
http://www.roadsideoklahoma.com/node/642
This is what the neighborhood around the old Bison Theatre looks like these days,
View link
Ray, In your post on 10-8-07 you said the Bison in Shawnee and the Aztec in Enid “were sister houses, designed by Carl Boller.” In my research on the Aztec I haven’t been able to verify the identity of that theater’s architect. May I ask the source of your information? Thanks for your help!
The Film Daily of October 21, 1927, reported that the Griffith circuit’s new Bison Theatre in Shawnee had been set to open between October 16th and 18th.
The only theater in Shawnee that is attributed to Boller Brothers on David and Noelle Soren’s list of known Boller Theaters is the Misson Theatre of 1927.
The May 1, 1946, issue of The Film Daily has a death notice for Shawnee architect Gates Corgan and attributes the design of the Bison Theatre to him:
Another item in the same magazine said that Gates Corgan had designed more than 100 houses for the Griffith Amusement Company.Multiple images added.