1994: Pollard Theatre

Guthrie, Oklahoma

The site of the Pollard Theatre was originally occupied by a large wooden dry goods store, built after the Land Run of 1889. The current building, of brick and native stone, was constructed in 1901 as the Patterson Furniture Store. It also served as the local funeral parlor. In 1919, George A. Pollard purchased the building and converted it into a vaudeville house. Pollard was elected mayor of Guthrie in 1920 and leased the theatre to Ned Pedigo and A.B. Florence for 5 years. In 1926, A.R. Powell leased the theatre, where silent films and vaudeville programs continued until 1929. The theatre was hailed as Oklahoma’s first all-sound motion picture theatre.