Historical OKC pictures

[Praedura]

I came across some great images of old OKC, but I'm not sure what forum category would make sense to post them under. This one seems the most logical, although the photos are WAY too old be considered nostalgia or memories of anyone on this site (likely anyone alive).

A user named Kewpie has been posting old theater pics on the Cinema Treasures web site. Many, though not all, of the images are of Oklahoma City. Here's a few samples:

Palace Recreation Cinema, 311 N Broadway (early 1940's?)


Empress Theatre, 111 W Main (circa 1926)


Liberty Theater, 19 N Robinson (circa 1925)


Belle Isle Airdome, 1901 NW Expressway (about 1920?)


Many more images found here:
http://cinematreasures.org/members/cupie/photos

[JayhawkTransplant]

I love these! Thank you for posting them. Did you see any residential photos? I really want to see historic residential photos, specifically from the 30s.

[Jim Kyle]

That first one is NOT 311 N. Broadway. It's looking south down Broadway from just north of NW 4th. The "Drug" sign at the left edge of the photo is for Ralph's Drug, a local chain that was around in the late 40s and through the 50s. When I worked at the Oklahoman from 1955 to 1959 I often had my lunch at Ralph's soda fountain. The "OK" sign at the right of the photo is an Oklahoma Tire & Supply (Otasco) store.

I'd guess that this photo is from the early 1950s. The title is definitely wrong; there was no cinema of any sort in the 300 block of N Broadway when I worked at Oklahoma Photo Supply, 315 N Broadway, in 1947 and 1948!

[Praedura]

Sorry Jim if my heading for the photo is wrong. I just took this straight from Kewpie's description. I didn't research them in any way for accuracy. Thanks for the correction. It's a great photo.

[Jim Kyle]

I figured the problem was at the original site, or else you got the wrong title for the photo. My best guess is that the cinema was there in the 20s; by the 40s that entire block was businesses and if I remember correctly 311 was a small independent jeweler...

[Praedura]

Your guess sounds quite reasonable. And, I must say, your memory is really remarkable.

Looking at old photos like these gives me a very strange feeling. Like a time machine. I wish I had a portal where I could just step through and actually be in one of these scenes at the particular time period. Then walk around in amazement at the sights and sounds of a time gone by. (And then step back to my time, of course, at the end).

[Praedura]

Oh, and to answer Jayhawk, no I didn't really see any residential shots. But go to the link and look thru these yourself. There's a bunch of fascinating photos posted. Some are in bad shape and barely viewable, but others are in quite good shape.

For example, what about this great shot from circa 1917:


Is that the Colcord in the background?

[OKCisOK4me]

Your guess sounds quite reasonable. And, I must say, your memory is really remarkable.

Looking at old photos like these gives me a very strange feeling. Like a time machine. I wish I had a portal where I could just step through and actually be in one of these scenes at the particular time period. Then walk around in amazement at the sights and sounds of a time gone by. (And then step back to my time, of course, at the end).

Go here for a bunch of historical photos...seriously:

http://dougdawg.blogspot.com/?m=1

[ljbab728]

This is another great repository.

http://www.retrometrookc.org/

[Just the facts]

Your guess sounds quite reasonable. And, I must say, your memory is really remarkable.

Looking at old photos like these gives me a very strange feeling. Like a time machine. I wish I had a portal where I could just step through and actually be in one of these scenes at the particular time period. Then walk around in amazement at the sights and sounds of a time gone by. (And then step back to my time, of course, at the end).

You should watch Midnight in Paris. I love these old pictures, but they make me real sad. Sometime between then and now, OKC collectivley screwed up.