Poncan Theatre facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Poncan Theatre
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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The Poncan Theatre in 2012
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 Location in Oklahoma
Location in the United States
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| Location | 104 E. Grand Ave. Ponca City, Oklahoma |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1927 |
| Architect | Boller Brothers |
| Architectural style | Spanish Colonial Revival |
| Part of | Downtown Ponca City Historic District (ID10001010) |
| NRHP reference No. | 84000455 |
| Added to NRHP | November 13, 1984 |
The Poncan Theatre is a famous historic theater located in Ponca City, Oklahoma. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which is a special list of important buildings in the United States that are worth protecting. The theater is also a key building in the Downtown Ponca City Historic District.
Contents
History of the Poncan Theatre
Grand Opening and Early Years
The Poncan Theatre was designed by a company of architects called the Boller Brothers. It opened its doors to the public on September 20, 1927. Building and equipping the theater was a big project, costing $280,000 back then.
Inside, it had a magnificent Wurlitzer pipe organ that cost $22,500. When it first opened, the theater showed both movies and vaudeville shows. Vaudeville was a type of live entertainment with a mix of acts like singers, dancers, comedians, and magicians. By the late 1940s, the theater stopped hosting vaudeville and focused only on movies.
Changes and Restoration
Over the years, the sign above the entrance, called a marquee, was changed several times. In 1939, a new marquee with bright neon lights was added. It was made even larger in 1954 and again in 1962. These large signs covered up much of the building's beautiful second-floor design.
Sadly, the theater closed in 1985. But in 1990, a group of local people formed the Poncan Theatre Company to save it. They worked hard to renovate the building. In 1992, they removed the huge marquee and replaced it with one that looked just like the original from 1927. The theater celebrated its grand reopening on September 18, 1994.
National Recognition
The Poncan Theatre was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 13, 1984. It was recognized for its beautiful Spanish Colonial Revival style and its importance as a place of entertainment for the city.
At first, people thought a different architect designed it. But in 2001, new information proved it was the work of the Boller Brothers. In 2011, the theater became an important part of the new Downtown Ponca City Historic District.
A Look at the Theatre's Design
The Poncan Theatre is a three-story building with a stunning design inspired by old Spanish buildings. This style is known as Spanish Colonial Revival.
The front of the building is 75 feet wide. The ground floor is made of stone, while the upper floors are built with colorful bricks. The most eye-catching feature is a large, curved wall at the very top, decorated with terra cotta (a type of baked clay) and five decorative points called finials.
In the center of the front wall is a large, two-story window with stained glass on the sides. Above it sits a round, "bull's-eye" window, also made of stained glass. This round window is surrounded by a terra cotta design that looks like a sunburst. The main window is framed by spiral-shaped columns. The building is topped with a red-tiled hip roof, where all sides slope downwards.
See also
