Will Rogers Theater - Oklahoma City, OK
N 35° 30.889 W 097° 31.751
14S E 633373 N 3931131
Built in the Art Modern Style
Waymark Code: WM1TE5
Location: Oklahoma, United States
Date Posted: 07/07/2007
Views: 43
The Will Rogers was a handsome theater designed by architect Jack Corgan for Griffith Theatres in 1946. It was a dog-leg plan with the smallish lobby opening into a standee area and the auditorium on the right. The lobby featured an oil-on-linen mural by J. Craig Sheppard depicting scenes from Will Roger's life. The auditorium had a fairly low ceiling of horizontally curved neon coves. There was a tiny stage.
Above the standee area were the projection booth, a cry room and two tiny offices. There was no balcony.
Architecturally, the theatre's most impressive feature was its concrete, metal and neon vertical sign and curved/triangle marquee.
The Will Rogers' lobby is now a coffee house called Will's, opened in 2002. The auditorium is still used for special events. The Will Rogers Theatre is currently owned by Carl and Anita Milam.
Mr. Milam is a great-great-grand nephew of Will Rogers.
Americana: Theater/Drive In
Significant Interest: Other Icon
Milestone or Marker: Other Icon
Address of Icon:
4322 N Western Ave
Oklahoma City, OK USA
73118
Web Site Address: Not listed
|
Visit Instructions:
To log a Visit, please make every effort to supply an image of yourself at the site. The standard GPS photo may be used as well, or even just an image that you took when you visited the location. If you do not have the option to provide an image, please provide a detailed description of your visit so we can form a 'mental image'.