The Pryor Jeffersonian, Pryor, OK 23 May 1963, Page 1
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The Pryor Jeffersonian, Pryor, OK 23 May 1963, Page 1
Today, when you approach the theater, the first thing you notice is how nice it looks from the outside as you’re passing by. From its big triangle-shaped marquee reading “Allred” on both sides to its tiled ticket booth to its blinking light bulbs, you can’t miss it. It dominates the street. However, as you enter you’ll soon notice how altered the theatre is. Built in 1916 with 235 seats, it was given an Art Deco style makeover in 1934 with an increased seating capacity. On April 27, 1942 the theatre was virtually destroyed by a tornado. It reopened in 1942 as a 400-seat theatre.
The Allred was the first small-town independent theater owned in Green County to commit to DIGITAL/3D film projection. In 2009, Mayor Jimmy Tramel applauded Mr. Oliver’s investment in the community as he watches sales tax increases reflected by the Allred’s historic grosses. “Mr. Oliver’s commitment to modern movies has enhanced the downtown business area for Pryor. He helps all our community by enabling our citizens to shop in Pryor. Other businesses also benefit from the Allred’s presence,” said the Mayor. “Towns this size are very fortunate to have such an investment in the community. Every dollar spent at the Allred and other Pryor businesses helps the city and the county in these difficult times”. Sadly the atmosphere of the old place was altered somewhat when the theater eventually expanded to include 4th and 5th screens and auditoriums. Mr. Oliver sold it and it was closed in mid-August 2012, but reopened as a 3-screen cinema in 2013.