I've been researching old movie theaters in the OKC area and have found an old listing for a Britton Theater at 222 and 1001 Britton Rd, also an old photo made from a negative. I moved to the area in 1956 and the only theater was the Ritz which has some changing addresses, too, but is at 912 W Britton now. The question is, were there 2 theaters or did the Britton Theater just change its name to the Ritz. And there was a Ritz in OKC on NE 13 by the med school, which might add to the confusion, but don't let it. I'd just like to find someone who lived there in the 40's and clear up the issue. Here's the bad pic of the Britton Theater. http://www.snapdrive.net/files/531840/BrittonTheatre-negative%20to%20pos.jpg

Here's the Ritz in 1949http://www.snapdrive.net/files/531840/ritz%20britton%201949.jpg

Here's the Ritz in 1949http://www.snapdrive.net/files/531840/ritz%20britton%201949.jpg
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Notice the TG&Y store next to it. That was a "Good" Variety store in it's day. I helped remodel that store once. Helped tear it out as TG&Y and then remodel it as Kelly's Variety (Dan & Jim Kelly) and then helped tear it out as a Kelly's variety. Spent too much time there....

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Notice the TG&Y store next to it. That was a "Good" Variety store in it's day. I helped remodel that store once. Helped tear it out as TG&Y and then remodel it as Kelly's Variety (Dan & Jim Kelly) and then helped tear it out as a Kelly's variety. Spent too much time there....

:backtotop (LOL)

I thought at one time there was a theatre on the north side of the street kinda close to the Ritz.

In 1948, the Ritz Theatre was where it is now (next to TG&Y at one time) and the Britton Theatre was across the street (Britton Road) and about a half block West.

In 1948, the Ritz Theatre was where it is now (next to TG&Y at one time) and the Britton Theatre was across the street (Britton Road) and about a half block West. Thanks, that makes me feel better about my long term memory.

I fondly remember the Lakeside Theater at 74th and N May. Dr Newcomb owned it and he had his dental office behind the theater. It was within walking distance of my house and we went there every week to see whatever movie was there. I think I saw Spartacus 10 times or more, the Moonspinners was a fav. They had the best popcorn and those Slo Poke suckers were sooooo good.

I fondly remember the Lakeside Theater at 74th and N May. Dr Newcomb owned it and he had his dental office behind the theater. It was within walking distance of my house and we went there every week to see whatever movie was there. I think I saw Spartacus 10 times or more, the Moonspinners was a fav. They had the best popcorn and those Slo Poke suckers were sooooo good.

I saw many a Disney movie at the Lakeside. What year were you at NWC? I can't read the date on the avatar.

THANKS, they don't look quite the same, the Britton doesn't seem to have room for the little offices on either side of the entrance that the were part of the Ritz. The Ritz has 4 windows, the Britton only seems to have two. The 1001 Britton Rd address for the Britton Theater would have been on the north side of the street, but by 1952 that was the address for Long-Bell hardware. Leighton Animal Hospital has been there forever at 1015 W Britton, there's a parking lot now at 1001, the Ritz is on the south side at 912 W Britton. Looks like the Britton Theater was out of business by 1952.

I graduated in 1969.

I saw many a Disney movie at the Lakeside. What year were you at NWC? I can't read the date on the avatar.

The Saturday kiddie show at the Lakeside was a big part of my life, too. I remember waiting in a long line to see "The Third Man on the Mountain" there, but I also saw "Francis the Talking Mule" and the "Three Stooges" and lots of cartoons. They had drawings for prizes using the ticket stubs on those Saturdays. I also recall the ice cream bar "machine" across the lobby from the concessions stand. The Lakeside was beautiful. The Ritz was cheap but very dark and a bit scary.

I wish the Lakeside would have been restored.

Concerning changing addresses, remember that Britton was an incorporated town and had its own address scheme before it was taken into the Oklahoma City limits. That happened sometime around the end of the '40s or the start of the '50s. Probably easy for you to find.

The Saturday kiddie show at the Lakeside was a big part of my life, too. I remember waiting in a long line to see "The Third Man on the Mountain" there, but I also saw "Francis the Talking Mule" and the "Three Stooges" and lots of cartoons. They had drawings for prizes using the ticket stubs on those Saturdays. I also recall the ice cream bar "machine" across the lobby from the concessions stand. The Lakeside was beautiful. The Ritz was cheap but very dark and a bit scary.

I remember the folks taking me and my siblings to see the Disney movies at the Lakeside. Also remember seeing The Longest Day there. Have not been able to get that music out of my head...

I remember the folks taking me and my siblings to see the Disney movies at the Lakeside. Also remember seeing The Longest Day there. Have not been able to get that music out of my head...

Thinking about all this...this was back in the day when the studios had exclusive agreements for first-run movies with individual theaters. Oh, if Ferris Shambour were still alive. What stories he could tell us. Speaking of, is his brother still living? Anyone know? At one time, Ferris owned darned near every theater in the city. No kidding.

Concerning changing addresses, remember that Britton was an incorporated town and had its own address scheme before it was taken into the Oklahoma City limits. That happened sometime around the end of the '40s or the start of the '50s....

Both—1950, according to my research.

There's got to be some photos of the Lakeside somewhere.

There's got to be some photos of the Lakeside somewhere. Yeah, and I sure would like to see em.

Hey, there's a UFO on the street in those pictures of the Britton.

Here is Lakeside today, camera date wrong, it's 2010. Can't find any old pics but found there was a Lakeside Elementary in Jan 1953 at Lakeview Dr and Somerset Pl, 3 temp bldgs http://www.snapdrive.net/files/531840/Lakeside%20April2010.JPG

There also used to be a "Ritz" Theater in OKC. It was on NE 13th St, just west of Lottie.

Just passed by the Ritz Theatre Building on Britton east of Western during lunch and noticed scaffolding out front. Does anyone know what's going on with that building? I find that whole area really interesting. Does anyone have any historical photos of the Ritz Theater building or the old britton area?

The address is 912 W. Britton Road but I couldn't find any sort of building permit.

http://www.oklahomacounty.org/assessor/Searches/sketches/picfile/3732/R130044500001rA.jpg

http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/17694

http://www.okctalk.com/showthread.php?t=21670

Pete, it may be Village city limits, not sure if that makes a difference in your search.

That's an interesting thought Metro but I double-checked and it's definitely in the OKC city limits.

I drive Britton frequently and have seen scaffolding up a few times over the last couple of years. Never any work being done that I can see, though.

I really wish that little downtown stretch could be revitalized. It would be nice. As it stands, it's just an annoying minor snarl in the traffic.

I grew up at 88th and Classen for the first 9 years. I went to that theatre in the late '50's.....Five cents for the saturday afternoon show. It was Britton at the time, at least we thought it was.

I'm not for certain, but I think the scaffolding was recently added just to hold up the sign.......probably until someone can figure out how to keep it from falling without spending too much money.

I'm not for certain, but I think the scaffolding was recently added just to hold up the sign.......probably until someone can figure out how to keep it from falling without spending too much money.

I drove by it this morning and it looks like the sign was taken down, though they may have just taken the marquee off and left the base of the sign there. Couldn't tell with how traffic was moving. I'll try and get a picture or two when I go to lunch and the light is better.

An article from the Journal Record showing Jesse and his son, Andrew Hwang, purchased the property on Britton just east of Western. They purchased the building at 1 NW 10th Street late last year with plans for a brewery and are thinking the same thing for this one:

New owners take over Ritz Theater in old Britton

By: Molly M. Fleming The Journal Record March 24, 2016

OKLAHOMA CITY – A former attraction in a nearly forgotten town has a new owner.

Andrew Hwang and his father, Jesse Hwang, purchased the 9,526-square-foot former Ritz Theater for $110,000 Monday. Newmark Grubb Levy Strange Beffort retail broker Danny Ojeda handled the transaction. The previous owner, French “Doc” Hickman, purchased the building in 2008 for $130,000.

Ojeda said he originally listed the building at 912 W. Britton Rd. for $200,000 and lowered the price to $170,000. It’s been on the market for slightly longer than a year. He said he had two possible buyers under contract, but the other party left the deal before the closing.

“The building needs so much work that $110,000 made sense,” he said. “I had a lot of interest in the building. Most of the potential buyers that came there were intimidated by the amount of work that needed to be done.”

Andrew Hwang said he and his dad’s first priority is replacing the roof. He said the roof has four different layers of material, so all of it must be removed and a new one installed with insulation.

He said he doesn’t have any specific plans. Built in 1946, the building once had a large marquee that stretched from side door to side door. Photos show that a smaller marquee was in place until at least 2010.

“There’s no seating inside,” he said. “It’s just a concrete floor with a bunch of dead pigeons.”

The theater was an entertainment attraction in the old town of Britton. The town center was near Western Avenue and W. Britton Road. It was founded a few days after the 1889 Land Run. It was named for railroad attorney Alexander Britton, who helped bring the railroad to the town. In 1950, the town voted to be annexed into Oklahoma City.

But some of the town’s Main Street buildings remain, including The Ritz.

Oklahoma City developer Chip Fudge has previously said he thinks the area could be the next district in the city, as there are several buildings with similar architecture styles located along Britton Road.

Hwang said he is interested in buying more property near the theater.

“It seems like it could be a very thriving district if the right owners and developers were involved,” he said. “The location is stellar; it’s between downtown and The Village. It definitely has a lot of potential.”

He said the building could be a good location for a brewery. He owns the 1 NW 10th St. facility that is being renovated into the Twisted Spike Brewery. But the theater building faces one big challenge, Hwang said.

“There is no parking,” he said. “There’s a great alleyway on the south side. It looks like at some point someone put in a mezzanine. We honestly don’t have any plans for it at the moment.”

I used to drive by there every day, and always thought that little "downtown" stretch could be pretty cool.

OKC's 2nd Plaza District or Asian District/Chinatown #2?

Love the ORGANIC, renaissance of Oklahoma City - so many good bones to work with just need visionaries like Hwang hopefully will become, to take a chance.

I used to drive by there every day, and always thought that little "downtown" stretch could be pretty cool.

I used to go to the Ritz as a little kid in the 50's.

I've driven by this area a lot over the last decade and have always thought it would make a great district. I think it probably has more challenges than the plaza and most of our other districts, but being situated between the classen curve/NH Plaza/North Western Ave and Chisolm creek makes the location better than it appears.

great points,

Yes it does have potential to tie into the existing/developing urban nodes nicely; creating more or less continual urban fabric from downtown to plaza to uptown/asian district to NHP/Classen Curve to N Western to HERE to Chisolm Creek.

LOVE IT and wish them success as they create the new BRITTON district.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/ritz093018.jpg

Oh how I hope this area gets going... As I work just to the east along Britton, it would be nice to have a little "town center" close by. However, the surrounding housing area doesn't give me the confidence that anything will happen fast.

We drive by there almost every day and I've begun to notice improvements to several of the storefronts over the past few months.

There's the brand new Variety Care near here too... only a matter of time before this area sees a turn around.

Is the stucco original or added later? If later I hope they remove it during refurb.

I haven’t got the the old VTX out in a while as I’ve had a lot of projects going, so last night was perfect to go for a little night time ride. My daughter wanted to hop on with me, so as I have many times before, we took a cruise from our Edmond suburban confines, south on Western, skirting the eastern edge of Chislom Creek, to Britton, then Nichols Hills & Classen Curve. Then on through Crown Heights, down to 30th, then east through Paseo, south on Walker through Uptown, to the Plaza district and 10th St. Then over to Broadway & on to Bricktown, and from there made some loops and then we had to make our way back.

My daughter commented multiple times how cool it was to see so many people out and about walking and how vibrant these areas were.

I told her about the many times in the years past that when I made that ride, especially in the downtown area, it was like a ghost town.

So in that vein, yes it would be cool to see Britton come alive as another link in a line of unique cool spots around town.
Almost in linear fashion. Litterally a line of destinations from the far northside to Capitol Hill. Something for everyone.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/ritz021019.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/ritzbefore1.jpg

i hope the top is the after and not the before....

Honestly not the biggest fan of it and I wish they would have kept the marquee.

Honestly not the biggest fan of it and I wish they would have kept the marquee.

this

Honestly not the biggest fan of it and I wish they would have kept the marquee.
Same.