Crown Theater

dallasmovietheaters on August 30, 2021 at 12:13 pm

The Crown Theatre replaced the Mueller Hardware Store at 318-320 South Johnstone in 1937. E.J Nichols was the architect for operator P.C. Crown, a streamline moderne theater with Mirrorgraphic equipment. The Crown launched on a ten-year lease with the moniker, “Bartlesville’s classiest motion picture house” and an exclusive contract with Columbia Pictures on May 12, 1937. The opening had Mervyn Douglas and Mary Astor in “and So They Were Married” supported by short subjects including “The Old Glory,” Pathé News, a Columbia cartoon, a “New World of Sports” short, “Little Champs,” and Vaut-Mat.

The final film there was on January 13, 1940 with Lucille Ball in “Five Came Back.” On January 14, 1940, a fire destroyed the theater, the St. Regis Hotel and one more retailer. The remaining front wall was soon demolished.