Behind the Curtain: The Coleman Theatre
MIAMI, OKLA. – Once forgotten but now thriving, the Coleman Theatre in Miami, Oklahoma has captured the hearts of generation after generation.
The theater was originally opened on April 18, 1929 by George Coleman, who moved to Oklahoma before it was even delegated as a state and built his fortune by discovering lead and zinc in the area. This major discovery led him to develop the town of Miami.
During a time when Vaudeville entertainment was popular, Coleman and his wife sought to bring the same luxury to their small town. Lucky for him, Coleman had connections in Hollywood – Bing Crosby being one of them – and although the theatre wasn’t built yet, Coleman told wary performers, “Come and I’ll have a place for you to perform.”
With that, the Coleman Theatre was built in just 330 days. The price of a ticket was just one dollar.
The theater continued to thrive through the Depression era, while so many of its kind shut down. By keeping ticket prices extremely low, George Coleman ensured community members could still enjoy the theater and support it during a time of economic instability.
“He knew it wasn’t about the money. He just wanted to bring entertainment and build community,” said Danny Dillion, Managing Director of the Coleman Theatre.
Many famous artists have graced the Coleman stage including Will Rogers, Sally Rand, and Bing Crosby.
Interestingly, it was the design of the theater that initially led to its seeming demise.
Walk up to the theater, and you will see the Spanish Colonial Mission-style exterior. The Louis XV-style interior features a huge balcony – its beams and posts unexposed.
Dillion said sometime in the 1950s or 1960s, the balcony was shut down because it was deemed “unsafe” since the beams weren’t visible. Folks began to think the theater was unstable.
However, the theater never went completely “dark,” even after the last of the Coleman family left Miami. George Coleman’s son had three daughters, none of whom lived in town for long. In the end, the daughter that had controlling say of the theater’s fate donated it to the City of Miami in 1989.
Renovations to the theater are continuous to keep it standing for decades to come, but the first major phase of upgrades began after the city gained possession of the theatre and it was suggested that the city tear it down. A parking lot, which was needed for downtown visitors, was going to go in its place.
By this point, the theatre was in a rough state and the same balcony that was once deemed unsafe was still considered so.
Fortunately, through the work of dedicated community volunteers and donations, the Coleman Theatre was saved. Engineers said the balcony was, in fact, very solid.
Renovations included repairing the original seats and acquiring the “Mighty Wurlitzer” pipe organ.
A story in itself, the pipe organ’s home is the Coleman.
According to the theater’s website, “the organ was built in 1928 and delivered for installation on Feb. 21, 1929. It sold for $35,000 in 1929.”
When renovations began, the community searched for the organ for ten years, hoping to fill that space with the instrument it was intended for.
It was originally found in Texas and was sold back to the city for $100,000. Now, a house organist comes a few times a year and performs a silent movie with the Mighty Wurlitzer.
The Friends of the Coleman volunteer group is responsible for a large portion of the theatre’s upkeep and support. With roughly 300 members – about 50 core members – the group participates in events, raises funds, helps with renovations, acts as door greeters, and coordinates merchandise sales.
“The people work so hard to make this happen, and we get to see it play out,” Dillon said.
The theatre provides live music, concerts, comedians, and showings of classic films. The Coleman Ballroom is the perfect location for weddings, receptions, reunions, conferences, and celebrations.
This season, the 50th anniversary showing of White Christmas will be playing.
Almost 100 years since its opening, the Coleman Theatre continues to act as a beacon of local history and prosperity, bringing in tour groups from all over the country.
The economic boom the theatre provides for the community reinforces the fact that people love the theater and what it stands for.
And, of course, the Miami locals feel it’s part of who they are.
“For me… we went to the movies there growing up, we also had school concerts and other events in the theater so many of mine and others’ core memories were shaped by the Coleman Theatre,” said Debra East, Miami Native & Friends of the Coleman board member.
Upcoming shows include multiple Christmas events, Father of the Bride in February, and Kiss Me, Kate in April.
For those interested in making a trip to the theater, Dillon said there’s plenty to do in the surrounding area as well if people want to make it a weekend getaway – Historic Route 66, the Pioneer Woman’s homestead, and local rodeos and festivals to name a few.
Visitors are welcome for tours and are encouraged to check out the theater’s website for more information.
“The Coleman Theatre is dedicated to providing quality arts and educational programming that fosters appreciation and community pride, while maintaining and promoting the historic significance of the theatre.”
