The Will Rogers Theatre in Oklahoma City on Tuesday marked its 75th anniversary by relighting its iconic, art deco marquee with new LED tubing.
The Billboard Museum posted a video of a countdown of the relighting ceremony:
The museum also recently posted several vintage images of the theater in a preview of the ceremony:
G&S Sign Services of Oklahoma City oversaw the refurbishment of the theater’s tower. Here are some images from last month when the company was making repairs on it:
The Will Rogers Theater opened on Sept. 18, 1946. More from the theater’s website:
Will Rogers Theater itself featured theater style seating on an incline, a concession area, original oak detailing, seating for 1000 patrons and incredibly detailed murals that spelled out the life and times of its namesake, the great Oklahoma cowboy, pilot and movie star Will Rogers. These murals were painted by legendary artist Craig Sheppard. The 18-foot mural featured in the lobby is filled with the history of Oklahoma along with the story of Will Rogers’s life and death.
Today, Will Rogers Theater is an event center that is owned by Western Concepts Restaurant Group, which owns and operates the Theater, The Lobby Cafe and Bar, Sushi Neko, Musashi’s Japanese Steakhouse, The Coach House Restaurant, and the Tasting Room.
According to Cinema Treasures, the theater was designed by Jack Corgan for Griffith Theatres.
The Will Rogers Theatre sits at 4322 N. Western Ave., which was part of Beltline Route 66 from the 1930s to the late 1940s.
(Image of the relighted Will Rogers Theatre tower via Billboard Museum on Facebook)