THE WAY WE WERE
NUMBERS
A peek into Tulsa’s past
Changing tide by MORGAN PHILLIPS
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Photos courtesy Beryl Ford Collection/Rotary Club of Tulsa, Tulsa City-County Library and Tulsa Historical Society
n unprecedented number of baby boomers — 77 million — will turn 65 and older over the next two decades. This “Silver Tsunami” will require additional resources to serve seniors, who are living longer than ever before. Next month, LIFE Senior Services will celebrate its successes over the past two decades at its 20th annual gala. Since 1973, LIFE has provided programs and services for the Tulsa area’s aging population.
The 1,500-seat Orpheum theater opened in 1924 as a vaudeville venue. It later played movies. In 1970, the theater was razed, the fate of several other downtown theaters of the era, including the Majestic and the Rialto.
by LANDRY HARLAN
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TulsaPeople JANUARY 2016
Adults participated at LIFE’s Adult Day Health Centers, which provide a safe and supportive setting for seniors when they are not with their caregivers. Caregivers were helped through LIFE’s caregiver support program.
The Orpheum theater was a class act in downtown Tulsa.
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Of Tulsa’s population is over age 50.
1,342
Reel history hether it’s a reclining chair, 3-D glasses or even gourmet meals, modern movie theaters do not lack amenities. It’s easy to forget that not that long ago theaters were showpieces, and air conditioning was the hottest new thing (pun intended). In Tulsa, nothing could top the Orpheum for spectacle. The theater, located at 14 E. Fourth St., opened in 1924. Plasters of gods and goddesses always got the best view, gazing down from the ornate, golden balconies of the theater. Everyone else sat in one of the 1,500 rich, velvet seats that filled the auditorium. In the 1920s, vaudeville was at its peak. The shows featured a wide variety of acts, such as song, dance and burlesque comedy. The “Orpheum Circuit” was the country’s primary vaudeville circuit, and many theaters adopted the name Orpheum. Tulsa’s Orpheum was the area’s premier venue with stars such as Eddie Cantor, George Jessel and Jimmy Durante (along with his larger-than-life nose, the famed “Schnozzola”) gracing the stage. Vaudeville was the Orpheum’s specialty until “moving pictures” came along with first-run films taking over in 1931. The theater screened
31% 322
now-classic films such as “Gone With the Wind” to packed houses. Even Hollywood took notice. The opening night of “Tulsa,” a 1949 melodrama featuring Robert Preston and Susan Hayward, debuted at the Orpheum. Both stars and supporting actor Chill Wills attended the premiere. The film’s release also brought a Tulsa parade and a full-size drilling rig temporarily set up in front of the theater. Estimates put the parade crowd at 100,000 people. Unfortunately, the show could not go on forever. The Orpheum struggled to compete with the free parking of suburban theaters. On Jan. 3, 1960, the theater showed its last film. In March 1970, it closed its doors for good and was torn down later that year. The site is now First Place Plaza. The theater may be long gone, but it is far more difficult to erase its memory. Luckily for history buffs, the Tulsa Historical Society and Museum will open an off-site exhibit called “Show Time: Tulsa’s Theaters of Yesteryear” this month. Photos and information from the Orpheum and many other theaters, such as the Ritz, the Rialto, the Majestic and the Admiral Twin, will be on display at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center Gallery from Jan. 5-31. tþ
13,100 3,050
Hours were logged by LIFE volunteers.
Activities were hosted at LIFE’s two senior centers at East Side Christian and Southminster Presbyterian churches.
6,484
Contacts were made through LIFE’s SeniorLine hotline. The SeniorLine staff is trained in aging issues, caregiver concerns and resources and services for older adults in northeastern Oklahoma.
640 $4
Residents lived in 17 properties owned and operated by LIFE.
Million was raised at Puttin’ on the Dog over the past 19 years. The funds support LIFE’s mission to promote independence for seniors. Editor’s note: All statistics are from 2014. Feb. 11 — 20th annual Puttin’ on the Dog: “The Platinum Party” 6 p.m. Cox Business Center, 100 Civic Center. Features a plated, gourmet dinner by Executive Chef Devin Levine, musical entertainment and silent and live auctions. $75, age 40 and under; $150, over 40; $500$25,000, sponsorships. Benefits LIFE Senior Services. Visit www.lifeseniorservices.org.