Rio Theatre
2nd Street,
Grandfield,
OK
73553
2nd Street,
Grandfield,
OK
73553
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Additional Info
Previous Names: Princess Theatre, Ritz Theatre, Fox Theatre
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The Princess Theatre was a conversion of the City Garage. It opened on March 15, 1920 with Lon Chaney in “The Miracle Man”. From April 3, 1931 it was renamed Ritz Theatre and had a new sound system installed. On April 30, 1932 it was closed to be remodeled, reopening in September 1932 renamed Fox Theatre after its owner J.W. Fox. In 1938 it was sold to new operators and was closed to be remodeled in a Streamline Moderne style, reopening as the Rio Theatre on April 18, 1939 with Cary Grant in “Gunga Din”. The Rio Theatre was closed on October 29, 1965 with James Stewart in “Shenandoah”.
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Royce
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J.W. Fox and O.H. Maricle launched in the Princess Theatre in downtown Grandfield on Second Street in the former City Garage on March 15, 1920 with Lon Cheney in “The Miracle Man” supported by live music by Mrs. Holt. The Princess converted to a new sound system as the Ritz Theatre operating from April 3, 1931 to April 30, 1932. In September of 1932, the Princess name was removed in favor of the Fox Theatre.
Fox sold out the business to Philips and Lawson who took on the Fox Theatre and remodeled it as a streamline moderne venue. They also renamed it as the Rio Theatre and it launched for them on April 18, 1939 with Cary Grant in “Gunga Din.”
The theatre was converted to widescreen to accommodate CinemaScope presentations in the 1950s. The final operator of the Rio, Smokey Adams, announced that due to decreased patronage, the theatre would be closed permanently October 29, 1965 with Jimmy Stewart in “Shenandoah.”