Editor’s Notice: In collaboration with the Bartlesville Region Historical past Museum, the Examiner-Organization has revived the late Edgar Weston’s ‘Revisiting the Past’ columns that ran in the newspaper from 1997-99. Weston’s columns recount the history of Bartlesville as nicely as Washington, Nowata and Osage counties.
Theaters feel to develop in the strategies and minds of men and women and some proceed to establish until finally they are a actuality, but some continue to be in the setting up stage.
The Crown Theatre, developed March 4, 1937, on the site of the old Mueller Components Retail outlet at 318 S. Johnstone Ave. had its grand opening on May possibly 13, 1937.
The premier, most elite theater in Bartlesville was planned by C.E. Burlingame and the Maire Brothers, homeowners of the Maire Lodge at 4th Street and Johnstone Avenue. They planned to have an elaborate entrance and marquee soaring up 70 toes that could be viewed at a fantastic length across Bartlesville. The architects drawings had been rather elaborate and terrific options had been designed in planning for the commencing of building.
The site was the Dependable Furniture Retail store web site at 312-314 S. Dewey Ave. The Barryman Brothers Movie Organization was to be a lover and share in the developing expense. The timing was around 1940 and this theatre was to swap two other theatres in Bartlesville, but what occurred to this elaborately prepared undertaking?
A very attention-grabbing character that invested most of his daily life in the opera, motion picture business was R.O. Taylor, who lived at 1937 S. Dewey Ave. in Bartlesville. He was related with the Oklah Opera House from the commencing to the end.
Taylor worked the initial present on Sept. 22, 1907 at the Opera Dwelling and the final film in the Arrow Theatre on July 22, 1966. Taylor had a huge knowledge of the Oklah Opera Property and a substantial collection of the photographs of the “Stars” that performed there.
Taylor delivered gasoline for Phillips Petroleum Corporation commencing with his retirement from the Arrow Theatre. When he sent gasoline, oil and grease to our farm, he would chat as extended as he experienced time about the opera and theatre.
Dewey was approached by the Wells Loved ones of Bartlesville to establish an air dome for Dewey. It was to have a phase where by dramatic productions would be offered in the course of the year and going picture exhibits. The Wells Family had been all musicians and Toddler Wells was to sing in the photograph demonstrates.
The place of the Dewey Air Dome was to be on North Delaware Avenue in the exact same block as the Dewey Resort, south of Thomas Brothers Keep pointed out in the Dewey information on June 3, 1909.
The Dewey Air Dome isn’t described more, but the Gem Theatre was constructed in Dewey on Eighth Road in between Delaware Avenue and Shawnee Avenue prior to 1912. Pictures remain that show the Gem Theatre at that place operating in 1912.
Earle Freiberger bought the Gem Theatre in Dewey, just after shifting photographs, in colour, changed the phase exhibits. He was a showman by and by way of. He selected films that would attract a complete house. He included Pathe News, sing-a-longs and other improvements that intrigued movie goers. He hired young ladies, significant-university aged teenagers as ticket takers and popcorn equipment operators.
Earle could make a spiel like a carnival salesman to get individuals involved in whatsoever he was striving to boost. He operated the Gem Theatre for quite a few many years and was very very well appreciated.
When Walter Bell took above the Gem Theatre, he changed the name to the Capri Theatre and commenced showing unscrupulous videos. Not only did he loose the regard of the neighborhood, church memberships filed a petition in an energy to shut the theater. After a transient lawful battle, the Capri Theater in truth shut.
Bartlesville has produced quite a few gifted stars likely back again to Beatrice Clevenger, a talented Bartlesville girl, who attained the New York stage after successful a first award in “Expression” in community competitiveness in 1909, and as a senior in Bartlesville Superior University in 1912, the to start with prize in a “declamatory contest” for a spectacular examining in a statewide opposition at Oklahoma A&M, now OSU at Stillwater. Miss out on Clevenger was highlighted in whole website page picture spreads in both equally “Vogue” and “Harper’s Bazaar” magazines throughout the height of her recognition on Broadway. She married Russell A. Gair of Virginia. In 1958, he preceded her in demise. She passed away in 1971 at Richmond, VA and the both relaxation in the White Rose Mausoleum at Bartlesville.
Yet another star on New York’s Broadway, and in several other metropolitan areas all over the country is Gretchen Wyler, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. L.G. Weinecke of Bartlesville. Gretchen has starred in well-known musicals in New York, with the St. Louis Municipal Opera and on normal television and radio demonstrates. She commenced her dancing vocation in Bartlesville as a college student of Mrs. L.V. Chancy and has preserved close connections with former teachers and good friends in this metropolis. She is nicely regarded for her tv roles in “Falcon Crest,” “Designing Gals,” “Friends,” “Dallas” and “Private Benjamin.” She produced an look in this article at the “All The united states City” banquet in 1963. Gretchen had designed a title for herself across America and has been a great agent of Bartlesville. She passed away in 2007.
A different homegrown actor, writer and director who produced it major on Broadway and television is Joe Sears. Joe was born in Bartlesville and graduated from Higher education Superior School in 1967. He is properly identified for his “Greater Tuna” sequence, like his extremely acclaimed participate in and tv broadcast “A Tuna Christmas,” which introduced him a 1995 Tony Award nomination as Broadway’s Ideal Enjoy Actor. Joe returned to his property town and now life easily in retirement.
