Historical Significance
The Circle Theater is listed with the Oklahoma Historical Preservation office and has applied to be placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Although not the earliest or fanciest movie theater in Tulsa, the Circle Theater is the only pre-1960’s theater still in existence. Constructed in the Commercial Style, the Circle Theater is distinctive from the opulent and frequently exotic styles of big city movie palace architecture of the period. The restrained use of style is probably attributable to two factors: the lack of a professional architect in the design and the placement of the theater in an early suburban shopping center.
The Circle Theater was located in Whittier Square, Tulsa's first suburban shopping center. The majority of the shopping center consisted of one- and two- story brick Commercial style buildings constructed primarily between 1927 and 1929. Matching the other buildings in terms of style and construction material, the Circle Theater was in keeping with the rest of the Whittier Square Shopping Center. However, the theater did not meld in entirely with the rest of the late 1920 business district. The theater featured a distinctive, multicolor brick, and although only two-stories like many of the buildings in the center, was unrivaled in height.
The setting of the Circle Theater is the most noticeable characteristic that set the theater apart from other buildings in the shopping center. As originally designed, the theater was located conspicuously closer to the street than any other building on the block. This relates directly to the historic function of the building as a movie theater. Selling an intangible, movie theaters relied on an intimate setting between the movie theater and patron to reduce distractions from the broader shopping district.
History compiled by Leigh Ann Zeigler, Tulsa Foundation for Architecture; and Cynthia Savage.
DOCUMENTATION
“Circle Theater is Being Refurbished; ‘Quality,’ First-Run Policy Planned.” Tulsa Tribune 17 December 1963.
“Motion Picture Theaters.” R.L. Polk & Co. (1929).
“Movie-Going Boom Noted by City Theater Business.” Tulsa World 23 August 1965
“Old Circle Theater Closes Its Doors.” Tulsa World 24 March 1978: B2.
McConnel, John. “Cine Centro.” Vaison Entertainment Services, 1997-2001. Record #109.
R.L. Polk & Co. Directory. Tulsa, Oklahoma (1929).
R.L. Polk & Co. Directory. Tulsa, Oklahoma. (1928).
Taylor, Mark. “Delman fading to black.” Tulsa Tribune 22 December 1988: A1+.
Tulsa Classified Business Directory (1928).
Wilson, David. “Older Theaters Fade to Black.” Tulsa World 12 May 1985: H1+.
