Ritz Theatre
216 SW C Avenue,
Lawton,
OK
73501
216 SW C Avenue,
Lawton,
OK
73501
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Video Independent Theaters Inc.
Previous Names: Orpheum Theatre
Nearby Theaters
The Orpheum Theatre was opened on August 16, 1918. In 1927 it was listed with 750 seats. It was closed during the early-1930’s and in 1933 it had 800 seats. On 26th November 1933 it had been renamed Ritz Theatre, reopening with Paul Lucas in “Sing Sinner Sing”. By 1943 it was listed with 1,000 seats. It was still open in 1957 and later operated as an adult theatre, which closed on April 28, 1974.
It was demolished in June 1974.
Contributed by
Lauren Grubb
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Recent comments (view all 19 comments)
What difference does it make if Video Independent Theatres operated one or a dozan porn theatres? Everyone knows they regularly booked X-rated product into several of their theatres.
Anyway, both the Pix and Reno were closed long before 1968, and before hard-core films came out of the closet,
Nuf sed!
The 1981 IMPA shows these Video Independent theaters in Lawton:
Vaska, 82nd Street Twin Drive-In, Video Twin Theater, Showcase Twin.
In 1970 the lineup was a bit different: Lawton, Diana, Vaska, Ritz, Auston Drive-In, Capitol Drive-In.
I’ve been told that throughout the 30’s & 40’s when not showing second run movies the Ritz was an on and off burlesque house. Listen to the type music the small house band would have played for strip-tease performers -
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Don:
Sorry it took two years to respond, but my interest in cinema history comes and goes.
I gathered a lot of info about Video theatres from morgue newspaper articles, ads, and also by word of mouth.
It would have been prior to 1968 when Video operated the Pix, Reno, and Midwest. These theatres were listed together within Video theatre block ads.
I believe Video operated the Circle Cinema in Tulsa because I have heard that it was managed by Ed Swallow who later transferred to Okmulgee (his home town) to manage the Orpheum.
Here is a November 1972 ad from the Lawton Constitution. I guess Lusticolor never really caught on.
http://tinyurl.com/qc23m7
Here is what the neighborhood looks like these days, the Ritz is long gone!
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Listings stopped in 1974. Adult movies in its last few years.
built in 1917, didn’t have a roof in the beginning, open air theater.had island box office, had 2 balconies. the back balcony was for African americans.dressing rooms in basement. lights suspended by ropes. approx. 1700 seats.closed during depression and bought by leonard jones. leased by video theaters around 1950. Ronald Duncan 580-379-0362.
Grand opening ads and a AI enhanced image posted.
Orpheum theatre opening 16 Aug 1918, Fri The Lawton News (Lawton, Oklahoma) Newspapers.com
Reopened as Ritz on November 26th, 1933.
Ritz theatre opening 26 Nov 1933, Sun The Lawton Constitution (Lawton, Oklahoma) Newspapers.com