About 80 people watched the installation of a plaque Friday at the Admiral Twin Drive-In theatre in Tulsa to commemorate its use as a location in “The Outsiders” movie. The film also is marking the 40th anniversary of its release this year.
That weekend, the Admiral Twin also screened “The Outsiders” and “Rumble Fish” — both based on novels by S.E. Hinton.
Danny O’Connor, a founder of the House of Pain hip-hop group, was among those behind the plaque dedication. O’Connor renovated a decrepit house used in “The Outsiders” film and turned it into The Outsiders House Museum.
Rhys Martin, president of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association, was among those who attended the event:
More from the dedication ceremony, via the Tulsa World:
The plaque was affixed to a former concession stand on the property. The ceremony, held prior to a double feature showing of “The Outsiders” and “Rumble Fish,” attracted a large crowd, including people who had been extras in the movie and Outsiders House Museum staffers, some of whom were extras.
O’Connor, joined by Admiral Twin owner Blake Smith, gave a shout-out to Hinton (“Hats off to her. We love her.”) and thanked all the people who had a hand in making the plaque dedication possible.
“It takes a village,” he said. “It takes a team. And Tulsa is that town. You guys are those people. And I want to thank you because, without you guys, I’m not here.”
Here’s the scene at the Admiral Twin Drive-In from the film:
“The Outsiders” film, directed by Francis Ford Coppola, became notable for casting young actors who later became stars — Matt Dillon, Rob Lowe, Patrick Swayze, Tom Cruise, Emilio Estevez, Diane Lane and Ralph Macchio. Music legend Tom Waits also appeared in the film.
The Admiral Twin Drive-In opened along Route 66 in 1951, and its second screen was built a year later. It sits off the older Admiral Place alignment of Route 66.
A fire destroyed the drive-in’s twin screens in 2010, but donations and public sentiment prompted its owner to rebuild and reopen in 2012.
(Image of the Admiral Twin Drive-In in Tulsa during its reopening in 2012)