Tower Theatre to Celebrate 80th Birthday with Screening of THE SOUND OF MUSIC

To celebrate Tower Theatre's 80th Birthday, a new generation of movie fans will get to experience a classic film during a free outdoor screening in the parking lot directly across from the marquee on Saturday, July 15.

An Academy Award-winning musical, THE SOUND OF MUSIC, starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer, will begin at dusk. Families are encouraged to arrive early and bring lawn chairs and blankets for seating.

The film that will be shown initially played at Tower Theatre in 1965. Originally slated for a 10-week run, it ran for 82 consecutive weeks due to popularity with Oklahoma audiences. It is officially the longest running movie in Oklahoma history, and was seen by over 200,000 Tower Theatre patrons.

"We get comments from people almost every day telling us which films they saw at Tower Theatre," said Stephen Tyler, Managing Partner. "That's why we decided to show a movie to celebrate Tower's 80th birthday. We wanted to pay homage to her history and let the community know that movies are going to be a part of her future."

Opening on July 15 of 1937, Tower Theatre became one of Oklahoma City's first and finest movie houses, showing first-run films and filling the sidewalk under the iconic marquee with long lines of movie-goers. After the final phase of construction in the auditorium is complete late this summer, cinema-grade projection systems will be installed in the 260-seat balcony to allow for indoor movie screenings.

The birthday film isn't the only thing from the '60s returning to Uptown 23rd. The Lovin' Spoonful just announced that they will play Tower Theatre on Friday, November 17, and Los Lobos, made famous for their cover of Richie Valens' hit "La Bamba," will perform on November 10. Tickets for both events will go on sale Friday, June 30, at 10 a.m.

Other recently announced fall shows include Grammy-award-winning The Mavericks on September 21, The Hard Working Americans on Sunday, September 24, an album release show for Oklahoma City's Matt Stansberry & The Romance on September 30, a night with comedian and activist Dick Gregory on October 27, and Oklahoma singer-songwriter John Moreland on December 2.

Tickets and event information can be found at www.towertheatreokc.com or www.ticketfly.com. Each ticket sold for a Tower Theatre event includes a $1 historic preservation fee, dedicated to a fund used to maintain the building and ensure its standing as a historic site.

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