Sophisticate's X Twin Cinemas
13 N. Lewis Avenue,
Tulsa,
OK
74104
13 N. Lewis Avenue,
Tulsa,
OK
74104
1 person
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Sophisticate’s X Twin Cinemas and Adult News, built inside a former appliance dealership, was open from aproximately 1972 till 1978. This was a twin cinema operation located in the rear section of an adult news stand.
Auditorium A showed straight triple feature porn.
Auditorium B was much more creative by booking features that were geared toward gay audiences. B-side usually presented posing strap beefcake films or nude wrestling loops, mixed in with non porn movies such as John Waters films or obscure camp movies like “What’s the Matter with Helen?”.
After the twin cinemas shut down around 1975 the space was converted into arcade video booths and the business was renamed Sophisticate’s X Arcade and Adult Book Shop, which continued in operation for another three years before it was shut down by law enforcement.
The auditorium spaces have been demolished, but the front of the building has been retained and is in retail use.
Contributed by
Myrna Louise Gaylady
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Recent comments (view all 12 comments)
Auditorium-B was decorated with a red/black checkerboard floor, wide striped red/yellow curtains tuffted into large fan shapes, a black ceiling, and seating for around 100.
As mentioned, this theatre showcased films from beefcake producers; AMG, Apollo, Bruce of L.A., and Spectrum. Occasionally an Andy Warhol flick, or product from some other bold independent, would be the second half of the bill.
At this theatre I saw a shock movie entitled “Johnny Got His Gun”, along with an hour long co-feature of gorgeous nude models striking classic poses. One of these muscle men was Billy Joe Carr who moved with the grace of a wild animal. This guy had to be the best looking male I had ever seen before, or since!
During intermissions, slide shows of 1940’s, 1950’s, & 1960’s body builders, with and without posing straps, were flashed across the screen.
The front book store sold copies of the slides and films shown inside their theatres.
Listed here are links to the kind of gay films shown at Sophiticate’s X-
View link
http://www.briansdriveintheater.com/beefcake.html
http://www.vintagegaymale.com/
http://www.bigkugels.com/content/BeefFrame.html
From Tulsa County Public Library comes this c1940 snapshot, after the bakery vacated, an appliance store moved in, then Sophisticate’s X utilized this space.
http://www.tulsalibrary.org/JPG/B9292.jpg
Several old queens have informed me that those arcade glory holes were keyhole shaped.
http://www.tulsalibrary.org/JPG/D8221.jpg
In auditorium-B, films starring Joe Dallesandro sold a lot of admission tickets, and usually played extended engagements. In particular, Andy Warhol/Paul Morrissey’s “LONESOME COWBOY”, “FLESH”, and “HEAT” were brought back again and again on a triple feature bill.
Following sites illustrate the popularity of Little Joe.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkdWn10GJ7Y
and
View link
These sites feature atypical beefcake film clips;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMhjsxEABJM
Here is another fine example of 1950s beefcake footage often shown at this adult cinema,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNKGN5GMw4s
Sure it was no great loss to see this one go.
Again Mike: One man’s trash is another man’s (Cinema) Treasure!
I don’t knock ANY of the theaters listed on this site. This theater is still movie theater history. Lumps and all.