Criterion Theater

118 W. Main Street,
Oklahoma City, OK 73102

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Cooper Foundation, Paramount-Publix

Architects: Robert O. Boller

Firms: Boller Brothers

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News About This Theater

Criterion Theater, Oklahoma City, Auditorium

Opened April 27, 1921, the Criterion Theatre had a lovely 3 manual, 16 rank Wurlitzer theatre pipe organ. In 1972 the organ was sold to organ man Paul Haggard who kept it running until 1974, when he installed it in a nice French restaurant named ‘The Showplace’ on the sixth floor of the Meridian Tower on South Meridian Street, Oklahoma City. It was a nice idea, but the sound of the instrument at its softest was too loud for conversation and the restaurant closed, and the organ was sold and enlarged by a pizza parlor in Galveston, Texas. Sadly, it was ruined in the flood of 2009.

Contributed by Wallace Brown

Recent comments (view all 44 comments)

Cimarron
Cimarron on January 20, 2014 at 7:55 pm

1920’s Pic of Criterion added to Photo Section. Check out the Cars and Motorcycle parked in front of theater.

Cimarron
Cimarron on January 29, 2014 at 6:11 pm

Early Days Pic of Criterion, Oklahoma City, added to Photo Section.

Cimarron
Cimarron on February 2, 2014 at 1:34 pm

Criterion Theater, Oklahoma City, Pic of Auditorium from stage area, added to Photo Section.

Cimarron
Cimarron on June 11, 2014 at 8:29 pm

Uploaded Criterion Pic in photo section from 1921 era.

Eggman
Eggman on November 26, 2014 at 3:12 pm

I’m hoping someone can offer me some information about the Marilyn display in the photo above. My father was a commercial artist in OKC around this time and I am 99.9% sure he used to tell me stories about having had something to do with the production and/or installation of this artwork. He worked for a man named Basil Lowery (or Lowry) at the time, I believe. Any information would be greatly appreciated. My email is Thanks!

Cimarron
Cimarron on November 26, 2014 at 5:30 pm

Eggman, my note above of May 11, 2013 re: Basil Displays..They did a lot of displays for Movie Theater’s and probably other’s like Retail Store Displays. I’m pretty sure Basil’s team did the Marily Monroe for the Criterion…He also did false front displays for “Cimarron” & “Longest Day” that played at the Midwest Theater..I believe he may have been the only one in OKC that produced those types of theater displays..They also did work for many other theaters in the okc area showing major runs….Hope this helps!

OKCdoorman
OKCdoorman on October 27, 2015 at 12:59 pm

Closed for good on Tuesday, June 13, 1972 with the Warner Bros. documentary MALCOLM X. But even after the closing the owners kept a Criterion space-saver ad going in the Oklahoma Journal for another two days emphasizing the Willard sequel BEN would soon show at the Centre and Edmond Plaza Theaters.

Cimarron
Cimarron on December 27, 2015 at 8:13 pm

Pic of Criterion, 1960’s Christmas Time on Main Street added to Photo Section

Cimarron
Cimarron on December 3, 2016 at 6:34 pm

Criterion pic added to photo section from Christmas of 1937

rivest266
rivest266 on August 21, 2018 at 3:25 pm

This opened on April 27th, 1921. Grand opening ad in the photo section.

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