Jewel Theater

[Pete]

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One step forward two steps back... This is from today's Journal Record:

Sign of the times
City officials are considering bulldozing a historic but long shuttered movie theater and beauty salon that are two of the last remaining relics of segregation here. A few small trees are growing out of the barrel-vaulted roof of the Jewel Theater at 904 NE Fourth St. and its brick façade is crumbling, but a red neon sign still hangs over the sidewalk. The Oklahoma City Council is expected to vote Tuesday on whether to declare the Jewel a dilapidated structure, as well as the old Ora’s Beauty Salon building next door at 830 NE Fourth St. Both buildings would be slated for eventual demolition should the City Council approve.

[Village]

I know this might be thread digging, but is there any hope for the Jewel Theatre? Or do you see it coming down soon?

[blangtang]

still standing

[UnFrSaKn]

Happy to resurrect this thread with this:

http://newsok.com/first-glimpse-of-p...rticle/5552629

[UnFrSaKn]

http://okgazette.com/2017/07/21/jewe...tion-campaign/

[Laramie]

The Jewel Theater, it was a jewel in its hey day.

Saw a number of movies ln the late 50s-60s (.25 - .50 cent admissions); Dracula (Bela Lugosi) , Curse of Frankenstein (Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing), The Wolf Man (Lon Cheney Jr.,), 50 Foot Woman, The Incredible Shrinking Man & Three Stooges Meet Hercules were among the most enjoyable.

The most memorable movie: The Tingler.

They warned us, no one knew what was in store...

Let's not forget the The Tinger (Vincent Price), for special effects, recall them dragging a fake creature that resembled The Tinger up the middle aisle (as the movie concluded). Panic ensued, it cleared the Jewel Theater causing considerable damage to the seats; many patrons incurred minor injuries as they exited the theater.

Recall times we (children) had to walk home west on 4th Street past two funeral homes (same block, several doors west)--McKay-Davis & Rolfe. For those who lived near 6th & Kelley, there stood Temple Funeral Home, a 3-story monster within itself; just image what it was like for us to leave the Jewel Theater following a movie like "The Bride of Dracula," while Temple Funeral Home employees were unloading a covered body on the lower level decomposing room entrance or casket deliveries.


The whole area was a jewel, The Aldridge Theater on deuce (2nd) and The Jewel on the quarter (4th) were truly jewels.

[Ross MacLochness]

The Jewel Theater, it was a jewel in its hey day.

Saw a number of movies ln the late 50s-60s (.25 - .50 cent admissions); Dracula (Bela Lugosi) , Curse of Frankenstein (Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing), The Wolf Man (Lon Cheney Jr.,), 50 Foot Woman, The Incredible Shrinking Man & Three Stooges Meet Hercules were among the most enjoyable.

The most memorable movie: The Tingler.

They warned us, no one knew what was in store...

Let's not forget the The Tinger (Vincent Price), for special effects, recall them dragging a fake creature that resembled The Tinger up the middle aisle (as the movie concluded). Panic ensued, it cleared the Jewel Theater causing considerable damage to the seats; many patrons incurred minor injuries as they exited the theater.

Recall times we (children) had to walk home west on 4th Street past two funeral homes (same block, several doors west)--McKay-Davis & Rolfe. For those who lived near 6th & Kelley, there stood Temple Funeral Home, a 3-story monster within itself; just image what it was like for us to leave the Jewel Theater following a movie like "The Bride of Dracula," while Temple Funeral Home employees were unloading a covered body on the lower level decomposing room entrance or casket deliveries.


The whole area was a jewel, The Aldridge Theater on deuce (2nd) and The Jewel on the quarter (4th) were truly jewels.

Great post. I'd love to hear more about the area and life in general in those days.

[Plutonic Panda]

Is the renovation of this theatre still on?

[shawnw]

https://oklahoman.com/article/565004...val-with-owner

[shawnw]

oops, dupe

[mattbrafford]

Is there any updates in this area of the city? Other than the Page Woodson Apartments are there any other plans to revitalize this area? I would think with Page Woodson being completed it would spark some type of development around here.

[Pete]

Is there any updates in this area of the city? Other than the Page Woodson Apartments are there any other plans to revitalize this area? I would think with Page Woodson being completed it would spark some type of development around here.

A group of developers is trying to pull together a massive project that would be directly south of Page Woodson:

https://www.okctalk.com/showthread.php?t=44613

[Plutonic Panda]

Did anything ever happen with this little theatre?

[Pete]

Did anything ever happen with this little theatre?

Not yet.

[Plutonic Panda]

Not yet.

Hopefully something does soon. There are some cool renderings I just hope it gets renovated.

[shawnw]

Ward 7 Town Hall on 10/26 includes this topic, among others, on the agenda.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/neokc-t...s-189976714467

[OKCisOK4me]

Idk how it got missed but just Googling this subject, back on May 23rd, The Mellon Foundation donated $1 million for this restoration project--per The Oklahoman, but no link due to restrictions by The Oklahoman.

[Pete]

A building permit was filed to renovate this building, so it looks like things are moving forward.

https://www.thejewelon4th.org/about