Westwood Theatre
5956 NW 23rd Street,
Oklahoma City,
OK
73127
5956 NW 23rd Street,
Oklahoma City,
OK
73127
2 people
favorited this theater
Showing 14 comments
Sadly only 3 were ever run over the 20 year operation of the theater. They were “Alien”, “E.T.”, and “The Muppet Movie”. “Alien” was a moveover from the first run at the North Park and the whole print was scratched, “E.T” was second run in a February slot (We ran “E.T.” first run in 35mm for 6 months then brought it back later in 70mm for a short run), and “The Muppet Movie” was a matinee only over Christmas and New Years since we were running an R rated film first run…“Apocalypse Now”. Only 3 70mm prints of “The Muppet Movie” were made so that was special. Hard to get 70mm prints in OKC though we tried. Also ran “Patton” and “Back to the Future” for 6 months but in 35mm.
cinema14ken: What films do you remember playing in 70mm at Westwood?
We did have the Sensurround system installed for those two films but it was not a permanent installation. We were equipped with 35mm and 70mm projection with optical and 4 track magnetic sound for 35 and 6 track magnetic sound for 70mm. Later a separate Dolby 4 track optical system was installed along with one of the first subwoofer installs for Dolby. It was some of the most impressive bass I’ve heard even to this day.
Hi John, I remember running Raiders for the guys. We actually had it during one of it’s re-releases at the time. Also remember screening Blue Thunder late one night. When the helicopter flew in the first time all the rocking chair seats in the auditorium were rocking from the subs! Sadly, all the equipment is long gone. Last thing I did for the owners was dismantle the projectors so they could be removed. As I remember they were sold to someone in Colorado.
Hey cinema14ken, I remember you from my days working at Johnson TV & Sound with Rick Gardner. I think it was you who invited us to a showing of Raiders of the Lost Ark late one night. (Not a currently showing film at the time.) Of all theatres in the area, that would by my first choice for one to restore and reopen showing repertoire and classic films with the awesome Norelco DP-70s.
This opened on July 17th, 1969. Grand opening ad posted.
The Westwood was in my neighborhood, but our family mainly went to drive-ins. Two films I recall seeing there – Out Of Africa and Dragnet (1987). This theatre was so much better than the neighboring MacArthur Park 4.
I was the Manager/Projectionist at this theater the last 8 years it was open. It opened in 1969 and closed in May 1988. Widely considered the best theater in Oklahoma City in it’s day and many big films played here. Excellent technically, equipped for 70mm and all available stereo sound formats. Good times.
Attended showing of “Tell them Willie Boy was Here” shortly after opening of theatre…think it was late in 1969..It was an impressive movie house.
during the 80’s I was in the electronics business, and happened to befriend Ken Williams, who was the Manager/Projectionist of this wonderful theater. I was able to visit the projection room and viewed a number of films there. The Right Stuff, Streets of Fire and Legend(Tom Cruise) come to mind.
This theater did not close in 1979 because I saw Out of Africa there and that was in 1985.
View of the former Westwood Cinema as a church
View link
Recent photos of the sleek Westwood Cinema can be found on Roadside Oklahoma web.
http://www.roadsideoklahoma.com/node/485
The first newspaper ad I’ve found for the Westwood Theatre was dated May 22, 1969, and this an announcement that read “The Westwood Theatre is Coming Soon!”