Cooper Cinerama Theatre

19 N. Robinson Avenue,
Oklahoma City, OK 73102

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Cooper Foundation, Paramount Pictures Inc., Paramount-Publix, Warner Bros. Circuit Management Corp.

Architects: Leonard Henry Bailey, Robert O. Boller, Dietz Lusk Jr.

Firms: Boller Brothers, Boller & Lusk

Styles: Mission Revival, Streamline Moderne

Previous Names: Liberty Theatre, Harber Theatre

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News About This Theater

Cooper Cinerama Theatre

On December 13, 1915, Paramount Pictures Inc. opened their modish Craftsman/Mission style Liberty Theatre, complete with a billiard parlour on the spacious mezzanine. A new innovation resulted in superb picture quality - the projection booth was located on the ground floor.

When Paramount almost went bankrupt in the mid-1930’s, Warner Bros. took this opportunity to seize control of the 1,700-seat Liberty Theatre, which was on the same block as their Warner Theatre & Midwest Theatres.

Ownership again changed to Cooper Foundation Theaters Inc. in the late-1940’s, and the original facade and lobby were razed to make way for a sleek new look. The auditorium was also modernised, all to the plans of architect’s Boller & Lusk, with decorations by interior decorator Hanns Teichert. On July 1, 1951 it was renamed Harber Theatre.

Cinerama equipment was installed around 1953, half of the balcony was blocked off to reduce seating capacity down to 1,100. On June 19, 1958 it re-opened as the Cooper Theatre with “Windjammer” presented in Cinemiracle.

Throughout its long life, this movie palace remained profitable, until know-it-all Urban Renewal said the old downtown movie theatre had to come down in the mid-1970’s…..and it closed September 2, 1975, and was razed in 1976.

Contributed by Lauren Grubb, J.D.C.

Recent comments (view all 46 comments)

Cimarron
Cimarron on February 23, 2014 at 6:51 pm

See 1925 Liberty Theatre Ad for “Phantom of the Opera” in Photo Section with some bargain prices.

Don Eldredge
Don Eldredge on February 28, 2014 at 11:16 am

One of the many restorations of Gone With The Wind played there, I believe in 1966.

Cimarron
Cimarron on March 6, 2014 at 5:19 pm

Mid 60’s day time view pic added to Photo Section showing Cooper Theater on left side of street.

Cimarron
Cimarron on April 7, 2014 at 6:49 pm

Mickey Rooney, 1963 “It’s A……” uploaded in Photo Section.

OKCdoorman
OKCdoorman on October 20, 2015 at 12:47 pm

Closed for good on Tuesday, September 2, 1975 (ad states “Ends Today!”) with a new film that hadn’t even entered general US release yet, Fred Williamson and Lee Van Cleef in TAKE A HARD RIDE (Opened in Oklahoma City on Wednesday, August 27 here and also the Tower and South Park Theaters. Official 20th Century Fox release according to IMDB was over two months later on October 29.) and the 2nd feature GORDON’S WAR (1973). [Source: Oklahoma Journal]

Cimarron
Cimarron on October 31, 2015 at 6:17 pm

Early card pic of Liberty Theatre added to Photo Section.

rivest266
rivest266 on October 29, 2022 at 12:18 pm

Reopened as the Harber theatre on July 1st, 1951. Grand opening ad posted.

Cinerama
Cinerama on September 9, 2023 at 2:03 pm

Just added ads, articles and pictures of the theatre to the Cinerama web site - https://incinerama.com/coopercinerama.htm . Please do not copy them to this site.

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