Ritz Theatre

S. 9th Street,
Frederick, OK 73542

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Additional Info

Functions: Restaurant

Previous Names: Gem Theatre

Nearby Theaters

Opened as the Gem Theatre in mid-December 1910. It was renamed Ritz Theatre on June 6, 1934 when it screened Janet Gaynor in “Change of Heart”. A small town cinema built as a comfortable place to watch a movie at a low admission charge, the Ritz Theatre fulfilled its purpose beautifully until it closed in the 1950’s.

Contributed by Budgie Greenbird

Recent comments (view all 3 comments)

raybradley
raybradley on October 8, 2007 at 6:03 pm

Vintage interior and exterior images of this cinema can be seen by typing in name “Ritz”,
View link

seymourcox
seymourcox on February 15, 2011 at 2:17 pm

Following information comes courtesy of roadsideoklahoma link;
“Ritz Theater began life as the Gem Theater and was operated by Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Greever. The Gem featured a stage in front of the screen and featured interesting acts such as man vs. kangaroo boxing matches, a veteran of the Great War that had been gassed by the Germans, and entertainment legends such as Gene Autry and Smily Burnett. The theater featured both piano and organ music and delighted children with Lassie, Hopalong Cassidy, and Roy Rogers. On a more comical note, the Ritz was known for its very poor bathroom facility. Between serials, patrons would dash out of the theater to the nearby Sinclair gas station for relief. The Ritz was also kept exceptionally dark to help the brightness of the picture on the screen. The Ritz closed in the 1950s.”

http://www.roadsideoklahoma.com/node/381

50sSNIPES
50sSNIPES on January 26, 2025 at 6:41 am

The Gem Theatre located on South 9th Street opened its doors in mid-December 1910. It was renamed the Ritz Theatre on June 6, 1934, reopening with Janet Gaynor in “Change Of Heart” along with an unnamed Little Rascals short, a Vitaphone musical specialty, and an unnamed cartoon.

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