"Circle Cinema" Sold & Preview Exhibition

"Circle Cinema", Acrylic, 8 x 10", Showing at Circle Cinema

It seemed to be a given that the next painting in the "Tulsa Brick x Brick" series should be of the historic theater: Circle Cinema since it's the location for the Preview Exhibition of the Studio Tour!  So, I dug through my photos and finally found the one I had taken one bright sunny afternoon parked across the street in the Whittier Square parking lot.

Doing a little research, I've found out that in 2003 the "Circle Theater" was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  Here are some of the interesting details about the building that I learned from the Tulsa Preservation Commission website.  It was built in 1928 and was built closer to the street than the other buildings in the area.  The reason?  Lure passersby into the theater to enjoy that "escape to the movies" experience.  Another distinguishing feature is its red and green/brown brick facade, unique among the buildings on the block.  The Circle was one of 9 movie theaters operating in Tulsa when built, it was the first suburban theater and it's the only remaining pre-1960's theater.  When it opened, ticket prices were 25 cents for adults and 10 cents for children!  My how things have changed.  And the first movie shown?  The Oklahoma premier of "Across the Atlantic" starring Monte Blue - who by the way I learned was part Cherokee and was even in the landmark film "Birth of a Nation"....but that's another story, back to the Circle.

The theater is located in the Chilton Building, named after its Architect/Builder William R. Chilton and originally housed the Chilton Apartments on the 2nd floor.  They were modern efficiency apartments, elaborately designed and even included electric refrigerators!

Can you imagine growing up in Tulsa and with just 15 cents you could enjoy a movie, cup of peanuts and orange juice?  Or maybe in the 1960s catch one of the latest films like "Goldfinger" - apparently the Bond films were among the most popular ever shown at the Circle.

So, why not set a date on your calendar for Thursday, March 10, 2011 from 7-9 pm and join us at Circle Cinema Gallery, 10 S. Lewis, Tulsa, Oklahoma, for the Opening Reception of the Preview Exhibition.  Enjoy food, drinks and art by the nine Tulsa Art Studio Tour Artists.  The event is free and open to the public. Parking is in the back.  More info: www.tulsaartstudiotour.org