Cue ominous music...



Or party music... (j/k)

Gather around closely now...

http://i.imgur.com/McyTTBA.gif

Holy cow. Those are some lucky so and sos.

If you think it was close to those two people think how close it was to the person filming it, and anyone behind then.

We need a live cam, I so wanna see this thing come down...

Lego needs to create a "Gone But Not Forgotten" collection to their Architecture Series and include Stage Center in it.

On edit: I am attempting to recreate SC using Lego Digital Designer and so far it is coming along pretty well. If I am able to make a decent replica I will make it available to anyone who would like to buy one from Lego.

Lego needs to create a "Gone But Not Forgotten" collection to their Architecture Series and include Stage Center in it.

On edit: I am attempting to recreate SC using Lego Digital Designer and so far it is coming along pretty well. If I am able to make a decent replica I will make it available to anyone who would like to buy one from Lego.
Cool, you can do that?

Maybe I'll submit the Taco Tico that was torn down in Edmond, cause that had historical significance. ..

Allied Arts will work with the site’s owner to distribute hundreds of items from Stage Center to various artists. Approximately 250 theater seats, 150 stage lights and 20 exterior flood lights will be removed from the theater and donated through Allied Arts.

Oklahoma Gazette News: Stage Center material to be donated to artists (http://www.okgazette.com/oklahoma/article-21724-stage-center-material-to-be-donated-to-artists.html?utm_content=bufferac510&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer)

Nice that they are taking the time to do the donation route.

And on the side topic of local broadcast news ... I miss Jennifer Reynolds, Cherokee Ballard & Terri Watson.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/sc071914a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/sc071914b.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/sc071914c.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/sc071914d.jpg

Oklahoma Gazette News: Stage Center material to be donated to artists (http://www.okgazette.com/oklahoma/article-21724-stage-center-material-to-be-donated-to-artists.html?utm_content=bufferac510&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer)

It doesn't make what they are doing any more noble. Rainy Williams name may be remembered for this and nothing else.

It doesn't make what they are doing any more noble. ...

I respectfully disagree. They could have just done a gut and dump and saved both time and funding. This may be the single most right thing that has happened since the decision was made to close up and leave it closed.

Someone is probably going to have tell me when the demo actually starts because I can't tell the difference between now and 3 month ago except that the debris inside is now outside.

It doesn't make what they are doing any more noble. Rainy Williams name may be remembered for this and nothing else.

Major hyperbole in that post. We get it. You're pissed about the demo. So are a lot of other people. You keep making posts like this. Over exaggerating in everyone of them. I'm not happy about it, but I can tell you that most won't even remember what was there, previously, 5 years from now.

Shame on you Oklahoma City. I have been following this thread now for years and am incensed that our history, my history, is being so blatantly disregarded. For me, the demolition of Stage Center is the last straw. Civic leadership clearly has one thing in mind: $ $ and more $ ...... shame on you.

Shame on you Oklahoma City. I have been following this thread now for years and am incensed that our history, my history, is being so blatantly disregarded. For me, the demolition of Stage Center is the last straw. Civic leadership clearly has one thing in mind: $ $ and more $ ...... shame on you.

Speaking of hyperbole...

Shame on you Oklahoma City. I have been following this thread now for years and am incensed that our history, my history, is being so blatantly disregarded. For me, the demolition of Stage Center is the last straw. Civic leadership clearly has one thing in mind: $ $ and more $ ...... shame on you.

Anybody that wanted to save this could have raised the funds to buy it. It was tried a few years ago but no one wanted to pay for the site. So I guess you are right about it being about $$$

Shame on you Oklahoma City. I have been following this thread now for years and am incensed that our history, my history, is being so blatantly disregarded. For me, the demolition of Stage Center is the last straw. Civic leadership clearly has one thing in mind: $ $ and more $ ...... shame on you.

Shame on you for not doing enough to save it.

Shame on you Oklahoma City. I have been following this thread now for years and am incensed that our history, my history, is being so blatantly disregarded. For me, the demolition of Stage Center is the last straw. Civic leadership clearly has one thing in mind: $ $ and more $ ...... shame on you.

$30,000,000... That's how much it would have cost to make it usuable. Then it is just a small amount of space with a bunch of tunnel-looking things on a prime spot in the heart of the city. Why didn't you do anything about it when it mattered? Why didn't you find people to spend $10,000,000 to fix the electrical problems after the flooding several years ago and then $20,000,000 to turn it into a Children's Museum?

We live in a culture where everybody looks at the "return" on their investments. Some of the same people making these demands to "put up or shut up" are many of the same people who support every taxpayer-financed corporate giveaway, from the city, state, and feds that go into the pockets of very profitable corporations as "incentives." There's no end. But when it comes to this unique and iconic structure in our city, we're supposed to magically find a sugar daddy to improve it on our own. My point on investment is that sometimes the "return" cannot come in monetary terms (at least in the short term), but it comes in cultural value to be a part of the fabric of a vibrant city that has a diversity of downtown options. This argument chaps me because all it does is put a monetary value on everything. We all know the powers-that-be in this city wanted that lot - at any and all costs. And despite the review committee's historical evaluation advisers advising them to deny a demolition permit, they did it any way. Enough with the dog and pony show then - let's just cut to the chase - we know it's all about $$$$$. Why fool the people of the city paying for these historical reviews if they're going to be ignored? Same song, verse 50.

Shame on you Oklahoma City. I have been following this thread now for years and am incensed that our history, my history, is being so blatantly disregarded. For me, the demolition of Stage Center is the last straw. Civic leadership clearly has one thing in mind: $ $ and more $ ...... shame on you.
Oh, poor you... boo hoo.

We live in a culture where everybody looks at the "return" on their investments. Some of the same people making these demands to "put up or shut up" are many of the same people who support every taxpayer-financed corporate giveaway, from the city, state, and feds that go into the pockets of very profitable corporations as "incentives." There's no end. But when it comes to this unique and iconic structure in our city, we're supposed to magically find a sugar daddy to improve it on our own. My point on investment is that sometimes the "return" cannot come in monetary terms (at least in the short term), but it comes in cultural value to be a part of the fabric of a vibrant city that has a diversity of downtown options. This argument chaps me because all it does is put a monetary value on everything. We all know the powers-that-be in this city wanted that lot - at any and all costs. And despite the review committee's historical evaluation advisers advising them to deny a demolition permit, they did it any way. Enough with the dog and pony show then - let's just cut to the chase - we know it's all about $$$$$. Why fool the people of the city paying for these historical reviews if they're going to be ignored? Same song, verse 50.

Agree. I think "we" will eventually be sorry. I supported the effort to turn it into a Children's Museum, but I don't have deep enough pockets to have bought it. If I had the money, I absolutely would have. So all I can do is mourn.

And wonder why I ever read this thread. I wish you could put a whole thread on ignore.

Hearing the children's museum idea get thrown sure gets old. It never would have worked. The people behind gathering funds were also involved with Science museum oklahoma. So let's gather 30 million to bring a building up to par or gather 30 million to throw at an existing museum for children.

A downtown children's art museum between the new school and the Myriad Gardens sounded brilliant to me. We're spending $250 million on a convention center many of us will have no reason to visit. It's all in what you value.

+1

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/sc071914d.jpg


This is very sad. Future generations of OKCitians will look on this like people today look back at the Criterion theatre. OKC has a knack for destroying anything that is unique or has character.

http://okc-history.org/files/gallery/12142_th_Criterion%20Theatre%2002.jpg

Future generations of OKCitians will look on this like people today look back at the Criterion theatre.

No they won't.

Lego needs to create a "Gone But Not Forgotten" collection to their Architecture Series and include Stage Center in it.

On edit: I am attempting to recreate SC using Lego Digital Designer and so far it is coming along pretty well. If I am able to make a decent replica I will make it available to anyone who would like to buy one from Lego.Cool, you can do that?

Maybe I'll submit the Taco Tico that was torn down in Edmond, cause that had historical significance. ..

Yes you can do that. Download Lego Digital Designer from the Lego site and you can use every style brick and color in the Lego library. When you are done you can order your model and it will come complete and include assembly instructions. You can also make the models available to anyone and if it is good enough - Lego will buy it from you.

BTW - despite the basic shapes in the Stage Center it is turning out to be hard as heck to model it in Legos.

The Criterion could have been saved as a useful building. The stage center could not. The stage center was a mistake from day one. A poorly designed building that had a very limited use that was put in a prime area. The stage center is not in the Criterion's class IMO,not even close. Apples and oranges.

Again, if you wanted it saved, you could have raised the money to save it. Absent that, the city is acting in the best interests of the most people. Not everything can or will be saved.

Johansen seems to be as much at fault as anbody. He ignored basic fundamentals. Water runs down hill...

Johansen seems to be as much at fault as anbody. He ignored basic fundamentals. Water runs down hill...

That it does. I love the design, but it seems that from day one it was doomed. It happens, it's sad, but it really it time to move on.

Johansen seems to be as much at fault as anbody. He ignored basic fundamentals. Water runs down hill...

+1

No they won't.

How do you know?

How do you know?
How do you know any different?

How do you know?

Because people actually went to the Criterion. For many it was their primary source of news and entertainment. The Stage Center was neither of those. It was a playhouse and performance center that bankrupted every group that tried to occupy it. I imagine that if the resources that went into trying make Stage Center a viable venue had been spent in a better facility the live theater scene in OKC would be light years ahead of where it is today. Not only was it bad urbanism, it was bad for the live theater community who felt obligated to try and make it work. Talk about going down with the ship.

How do you know any different?i don't and where did I claim I did?

Because people actually went to the Criterion. For many it was their primary source of news and entertainment. The Stage Center was neither of those. It was a playhouse and performance center that bankrupted every group that tried to occupy it. I imagine that if the resources that went into trying make Stage Center a viable venue had been spent in a better facility the live theater scene in OKC would be light years ahead of where it is today. Not only was it bad urbanism, it was bad for the live theater community who felt obligated to try and make it work. Talk about going down with the ship.

You do make some good points. I also don't believe the Stage Center would have ever worked as a theater. It's still significant architecture though and it was unique. That alone should have made it worth saving and repurposing.

You do make some good points. I also don't believe the Stage Center would have ever worked as a theater. It's still significant architecture though and it was unique. That alone should have made it worth saving and repurposing.

It was unique, I'll give you that but there are bigger forces at play in OKC than a single building. To me it is the equivalent of someone saying don't kill a cancer cell because it is unique, when that cancer cell is killing the host. What is the bigger force in play you might ask? We are trying to build a new walkable city within a sprawling city - that means things that are a determent to walkability have to go. That is why I asked the supposed urbanist if they would support Stage Center being built today on that very plot of ground and NONE of them would support it. Could you imagine if Perry Patel proposed building something like that in Deep Deuce (home to some of Stage Centers most vocal proponents). They would have a ****-fit. Propose a Criterion style theater in Deep Deuce and they would be pitching in money to make it happen.

Ironic that some of you are so emotionally attached to a building when any given spring a tornado could wipe it off the face of the earth.

It's a building that never worked before and never would in future. I'm for preserving historical buildings as much as the next guy, but at some point it has to have some commercial viability. The skirvin functions as a great and profitable hotel post restoration, first national tower has the potential as well. Stage center simply doesn't. The city gave people plenty of time to raise money to save it. They failed. It's being bull dozed. He who has the gold makes the rules. Unfortunately the people who are angry about it being torn, down don't have the gold.

Ironic that some of you are so emotionally attached to a building when any given spring a tornado could wipe it off the face of the earth.


That is the elephant in the back of the room for all OKC development.

It was unique, but the way it was designed is also its downfall. It's some of the poorest use of space possible for a theater design. Operating three auditoriums totally independant of each other like it was, meant that there was a lot of unshared space that was wasted. Lobby/meeting/facilities/etc. The exposed "works" also made them inefficient. There are any number of ways that the facility could have been built to make better use of the space. Turning them all inward to consolidate lobby space, using a 1 large end - 2 small end rectangle in a similar fashion. Not to mention the fact it would have fit on half the land and COULD have included better loading zones and dock space.

It's a great example of how just because you CAN design some crazy thing, it doesn't mean you should. The acoustics suck a fat one in there too. At least with unusual structures like Disney Hall in LA, what appears to be crazy is actually genius from an acoustics perspective. Stage Center was just ultra-modernism gone rampant. It's been a financial failure ever since it opened and has always been on the verge of closing...its just had the benefit of being rescued by the arts council and a few others. The inefficiencies of the place are a major contributing factor in it being unreasonably expensive to operate given its size. And that sunken plot, well duh...who wouldn't have seen that it would collect water. It's just bad design from every angle.

For me, the bulldozers can't move fast enough to get rid of this POS. And in 50 years, i'm not going to feel any different about it being gone. Especially not something that's such a good example of concrete brutalism...OMG! I'd drive one of the dozers myself. Like has been said, the time to save it was 10 years ago...or even BEFORE the flood so there were funds to pay insurance to fix it. The Stage Center is NOT the Biltmore. It's NOT FNC, it's NOT the Skirvin.

The Stage Center is NOT the Biltmore. It's NOT FNC, it's NOT the Skirvin.

It's not even the Hale Photo Building because at least it defined public space.

Again, if you wanted it saved, you could have raised the money to save it. Absent that, the city is acting in the best interests of the most people. Not everything can or will be saved.

With that in mind - could you contact Cabella's and tell them if they need the millions for their new retail store that they should forget about taxpayer money and pay for it themselves?

Cabela's Inc.
1 Cabela Dr
Sidney, NE 69160

Phone Number: (308) 254-5505
Fax Number: (308) 254-4800

Executives
CEO: Thomas L. Millner
CFO: Ralph W. Castner
COO: Brian J. Linneman

Ironic that some of you are so emotionally attached to a building when any given spring a tornado could wipe it off the face of the earth.

With that logic, why care about yourself? You might die at the next intersection. Why be emotionally attached to your home, or your old family home, if it can be blown off the face of the earth? Why care about anything? Absolutely everything is vulnerable to something.

I'm tired of defending the Stage Center in this thread. I know betts and others are as well. We know its fate. However, the glee over it is nauseating.

Heard noise coming from the site and looked out my window just as a bulldozer started tearing apart the blue bridge/ramp on the north side. It will be gone by the end of the day.

Seems like there will never be consensus on this building, but I agree, those who are standing by in glee have little understanding about the intrinsic cultural importance of architectural structures that go beyond their measurement in dollars, so let's cheer on mediocrity. Sad times.

Thank God the Cuban-Americans were able to save the "Miami Marine Stadium."

http://www.okctalk.com/attachments/development-buildings/8723d1406060196-stage-center-miami-marine-stadium.jpg

With that logic, why care about yourself? You might die at the next intersection. Why be emotionally attached to your home, or your old family home, if it can be blown off the face of the earth? Why care about anything? Absolutely everything is vulnerable to something.


Good point. For what it's worth, I think it's highly unlikely that the steel reinforced concrete sections would have been vulnerable to anything but the very strongest tornados.

That said, I look forward to the revitilization of that block.

Can anyone show me where there are any published, concrete plans to revitalize this block? I mean, other than speculation? I can't seem to find anything....

With that in mind - could you contact Cabella's and tell them if they need the millions for their new retail store that they should forget about taxpayer money and pay for it themselves?

Cabela's Inc.
1 Cabela Dr
Sidney, NE 69160

Phone Number: (308) 254-5505
Fax Number: (308) 254-4800

Executives
CEO: Thomas L. Millner
CFO: Ralph W. Castner
COO: Brian J. Linneman

There is a difference. People actually want to go to Cabelas. I shop there online all the time. I might as well give the city & state their share of the taxes it generates.

With that logic, why care about yourself? You might die at the next intersection. Why be emotionally attached to your home, or your old family home, if it can be blown off the face of the earth? Why care about anything? Absolutely everything is vulnerable to something.

I'm tired of defending the Stage Center in this thread. I know betts and others are as well. We know its fate. However, the glee over it is nauseating.

Why care about the Marion, or the Plow? Did these same people celebrate Sandridge's demolition of historic structures? The Marion was an unimportant hotel, the Plow part of a warehouse district, Sandridge's buildings were just minor downtown buildings. None of them were historically or architecturally significant and yet people ooh and aah over the fact that some have been saved and lament the destruction of others. Me, I think they're all worth saving. Oklahoma City's long term disregard for buildings worth saving has claimed another victim and I too cannot believe that is an event worthy of celebration.

With that logic, why care about yourself? You might die at the next intersection. Why be emotionally attached to your home, or your old family home, if it can be blown off the face of the earth? Why care about anything? Absolutely everything is vulnerable to something.

I'm tired of defending the Stage Center in this thread. I know betts and others are as well. We know its fate. However, the glee over it is nauseating.

I'm not really attached to my stuff at all. It will all return to dust at some point anyway. I'm not really gleeful at all about it being gone. I'm a realist. The reality is that it didn't work and never could work. Form over function has a time and and place, unless of course it has no practical function whatsoever and it's all form.

And equating caring about life to inanimate objects is ludicrous.

Stage Center was a bad design. It's a style of architecture, brutalism, that I personally detest. The architect seemed more interested in building something that would stick out rather than stand out. There's speculation that he designed it that way just to irritate the locals. The building does not have good drainage and is prone to flooding. Brutalism used a lot of concrete to keep costs down (especially compared to the more ornate styles of gothic or art deco), but Stage Center turned out to require extensive and expensive maintenance. The odd shape and design of the building severely limit how it can be used.

With all that said, it is/was the single most unique and interesting piece of architecture in the state. I am sad because it is being replaced by a building that is 80% parking garage and 100% boring. There is absolutely nothing about the new OG&E tower, as far as anything we have been shown, that makes it unique or interesting in any way. Not everyone will miss Stage Center, but 30 years from now there won't be a single person on the planet who looks at the OG&E building as anything other than a boring mid-rise office building surrounded by a huge garage. Stage Center was something interesting to look at, and I'm sad that we either couldn't or wouldn't find a new use for it and a way to save it. If nothing else it was a massive piece of public art and was kinda cool.

Can anyone show me where there are any published, concrete plans to revitalize this block? I mean, other than speculation? I can't seem to find anything....

There are none which is why the City should do away with the demolition permit process and make the demo part of the building permit. That way nothing can be torn down unless they are actually building something to replace it AND we get to see exactly what that replacement is. That way we can tell if we are getting a fair trade or not.

I am sure the world would think I am nuts. but I think it would be cool if in the new central park there was a play ground that was basically a Jungle gym type smaller replica of the Stage center. just something that i have thought of many times.. I know it would make me smile to see its likeness integrated that way.

Nice idea, Bullbear.

+1

I am sure the world would think I am nuts. but I think it would be cool if in the new central park there was a play ground that was basically a Jungle gym type smaller replica of the Stage center. just something that i have thought of many times.. I know it would make me smile to see its likeness integrated that way.

We couldn't get the Film Exchange building saved, think we can get Hargreaves to do that?

Oh I don't expect it to happen. But if people can wish our streetcars would go 300mph then I can dream a little dream. :)


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Not everything can or will be saved.

And doing so would just make us so different. We can't have that.