Tower Theatre owners end agreement with operators
A yearlong wait for shows to start at the Tower Theatre is on again with a parting of ways between the owners, the Pivot Project, and operator Levelland Productions.
Levelland, which also operates the Criterion and Wormy Dog Saloon in Bricktown, initially signed a 15-year lease with the Pivot Project in 2015 for the Tower Theatre. Redevelopment was a completed a year ago, but the first shows were not booked until last month.
To date, the theater at 425 NW 23 has hosted only two shows — Jabee and Horse Thief. The parting also includes the Savings and Loan Bar next to the theater. The bar closed earlier this week.
“After much consideration, we have arranged for Levelland to exit the Tower Theatre space,” said David Wanzer, who is partners in the Pivot Project with Ben Sellers and Jonathan Dodson. “In addition, the Savings and Loan will be closed for a week or so as new management takes over that space as well.”
Scott Marsh, chief operations manager with Levelland, said Friday the separation stemmed from operations of the theater and not the bar.
“There were differences in what it was originally thought to be, what it became, and what it turned into,” Marsh said. “The Savings & Loan was integral to the Tower Theatre and its operations, so it made sense for everyone to walk away.”
Marsh would not specify the nature of the differences between Levelland and Pivot Group.
“Both parties decided it would be best to amicably move forward,” Marsh said. “There were
shortcomings on all sides. It ended up being something that all parties couldn’t move past.”
Wanzer said the Tower Theatre won’t be dark for long.
“We are looking forward to taking the theater in a direction more in line with our original vision for a multi-use historic venue,” Wanzer said. “We have a new operator in place, and more details on that will be coming very soon.”
Changes at the theater coincide with the Pivot Project nearing full occupancy of the adjoining storefronts, with the Bunker Club (operated by owners of The Pump) set to open soon; Ur/Bun, a restaurant by Daniel Chae set to open in April; and Scottie’s Deli set to open by summer.
Wanzer said he has a letter of intent signed with a restaurant for the remaining 1,700 square feet of space along NW 23.
The Tower Theatre is one of Oklahoma City’s last grand movie houses with an intact auditorium and neon marquee. The theater was built in 1931 and remained a popular venue through the late 1960s, even boasting an Oklahoma City debut for “Cleopatra” with a successful 26-week run, and then an 82-week run for “The Sound of Music.”
The theater’s fortunes faded in the 1970s, with bookings reduced to adult movies before it closed in 1989. The theater reopened briefly in the 1990s as a live music event venue.