Ritz Theatre
10 W. Main Street,
Shawnee,
OK
74801
10 W. Main Street,
Shawnee,
OK
74801
2 people favorited this theater
Showing 1 - 25 of 27 comments
Official website and Facebook page for The Ritz of Shawnee.
https://ritzshawnee.com/?fbclid=IwAR3pNPfqzS91pavueihQocGRcfThEb-cVoafit-1zXiPS4VEe3xYuc1H35A
https://www.facebook.com/theritzofshawnee/?tn-str=k*F
Multiple images added.
A.C. Davis was my great grandfather, and he did not move to Shawnee until 1901, so he couldn’t have been the architect of the original building.
The March 25, 1916, issue of The Moving Picture World reported that the Cozy Theatre in Shawnee was to be remodeled and enlarged:
From 2010 a photo of the Ritz Theatre in Shawnee.
We’re sprucing up this lobby with a little paint and such. Should look real nice.
Looks like the signboards are missing from the marquee.Cosmic Ray.
Take a look at what the Ritz Theatre neighborhood looks like today,
View link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTFCjbBa_H0
Here is a link on YouTube. This is just short video from one of our monthly shows. We try to bring one event to the Ritz each month and are looking for more things to do. We have just about got the old popcorn machine fixed and we’re pretty darn excited about that!
From 2010 photo views of the Ritz Here and Here in Shawnee.
Roadside Oklahoma pages show off vintage and modern photos of the Ritz Theatre, Shawnee,
http://www.roadsideoklahoma.com/node/638
An article about Johnny and Ruby Jones in the June 29, 1957, issue of Boxoffice Magazine attributes the design of the marquee of the Ritz Theatre to Jake Jones, with architect A.C. Davis working from a pasteboard model made by Jones.
The firm of Davis & Sons was based in Shawnee, and Davis is known to have designed a theater as early as 1926 (the H&S Theatre in Chandler) so it would be surprising if the Ritz had not been designed by Davis, Shawnee’s leading architect for many years. The question is whether or not he did the original 1899 building. Davis was definitely practicing architecture in Shawnee at least as early as 1908, according to a book published that year.
Also, commentors above are correct that the style of this theater is Federal Revival, not Art Deco. Unfortunately, Cinema Treasures doesn’t provide Federal Revival as an option among its choice of styles. The closest would probably be Adam, as the original Federal style in the United States was a variant of the British Adam style, and is frequently referred to by architectural historians as Adamesque-Federal.
My father is from Shawnee, I spent alot of time there as a kid. For many years, my grandfather, J.W. “Bill” Poole, ran the theaters in Shawnee, including the Ritz, the Hornbeck, the Bison, and back in that day there was the Starlight drive in theater. I saw many movies at these theaters as a kid, and have many fond memories of them. The employees of the theaters always treated me like a VIP when I told them I was Bill Poole’s grandson
I lived in Shawnee from 1981-1984 and have fond memories of going to the Ritz to see movies. It was great going to a movie theater that reminded me of going to the movies in the days when I was growing up. The Ritz had an awesome screen and sound for the relatively small size of the theater. The inside decoration was excellent also. Loved the marquee and the outside ticket booth.
A 1983 view of the Ritz Theater with lights and neon on in Shawnee.
Here is a closeup of the marquee:
http://tinyurl.com/2rgzc8
This site shows antique photos of the Ritz Theatre Federal style exterior & interior. Type in word “ritz” to see pictures -
View link
Read a well written history of Shawnee’s little Ritz Theatre on this link,
http://downtownshawnee.org/ritz_hist.htm
RITZ Theater; What is it with Oklahomans that make them want to list every theatre as Art Deco? From this photo the architectural styling is definately FEDERAL REVIVAL!
This is a little theatre, but it’s in nice shape. I didn’t realize it was connected to Jones Theaters, too. I know the Hornbeck, right around the corner, is a Jones’s discounter. How does Carmike fit into the picture? Is Johnny Jones, owner of the Rialto in Alva, related to these Jones’s? Thanks for the info.
My wife and I have been all over the state researching and sometimes performing in old theatres. We just love them.
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In the Film Daily Yearbook 1941 the Ritz Theatre is listed with a seating capacity of 580.
The theatre looks so big is it really only 299 seats?
I noticed your marque at the theater on Harrison that you were remodeling. I am working on a ministry for pastors and Christians in the Shawnee area and would be interested in purchasing 10 theater seats. Please advise if you have any theater seats that you no longer need.
Thanks in advance, Keith
Please update your listing. The Ritz is OPEN and is being used for concerts and meetings. Renovation continues as funds permit, but the theatre is being used as a performing arts center and anchor in Downtown Shawnee’s revitalization
Jones Theatres, Inc. operated the Ritz until 1987. For further information go to www.jonestheatres.com and read the history page.
The Downtown Shawnee website has some recent photos of the restored sign and exterior.