Checotah theater refurbished and open

December 29, 2008 11:54 pm

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CHECOTAH — Rick Smith is glad to see the only theater in McIntosh County open again.
Smith, 59, worked their when he was in high school. He and his wife Sue own the Western Auto next door to what is now named the Gentry Cinema.
Smith had praise for new theater owner Richard Coleman.
“It’s been great to see it come together; he’s done a wonderful job,” Smith said. “I think he’ll do well.”
Sue Smith also was pleased.
“It was derelict before he started,” she said. “He’s put a fortune into that building. It makes the whole town look better. Me and my two granddaughters are going there to see a movie tonight.”
Sue said having a theater helps the social life in the area.
“It gives people a place to go,” she said. “There’s not that much to do. And teenagers love movies. From the times I’ve been there, he’s got an excellent selection. You can’t beat first-run movies.”
Coleman, 41, said he moved back to Oklahoma specifically to refurbish the old building, formerly the Gentry Theater. He purchased it in August of 2007 and opened it Dec. 12.
“I’m from Amber up near Chickasha,” he said. “My wife Elena and my parents Gerald and Naomi helped me with the work we could do ourselves. Pretty much everything — the screen, projectors and seats were old. We couldn’t use any of it.”
The main auditorium is now divided into two theaters; one seats 132 and the second seats 32. Both have handicapped seating.
Coleman said the one feature he was able to save was the lighting sconces now in the larger theater. He estimates they are 75 years old and had to be rewired. Their classic design blends with the dark blue drapes that cover all the walls.
“I had to put in a sprinkler system, heating and air conditioning, rebuild a back wall, and re-do the front facade,” he said.
Coleman said he tried to give the Gentry Cinema a mostly old-fashioned feeling. Old movie posters adorn the hallway to the theaters. They also make up the table tops in a small cafe-like area in the front of the building. Coleman said he has a food license, but so far is only serving popular theater food like popcorn, snacks and beverages.
“I had looked at every theater in the state,” he said. “I knew where the nearest ones are. Some people said the market area in McIntosh County wasn’t the best. But after I got involved in this project I found out they were launching a Wal-Mart Supercenter here; that should bring a lot of people from the communities around here.”

If you go
WHAT: Gentry Cinema.
WHERE: 214 W. Gentry, Checotah.
WHEN: Show times are 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and also 9:20 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
ADMISSION: Call for information.
INFORMATION: 473-0611.

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