It had been hinted for weeks. And now it’s confirmed — the Admiral Twin in Tulsa will be rebuilt by summer.
Admiral Twin Drive-In co-owner Blake Smith told the Tulsa World yesterday he’d secured a loan to rebuild the double screen that was destroyed during a huge fire last September.
The loan will allow him to not only reconstruct the two-sided tower – made of steel this time – but also to build a new concession stand and bathroom facilities, with heating and air conditioning in the latter for the first time since the drive-in opened in 1951.
The target date for reopening is July.
Tulsans and other drive-in fans contributed more than $30,000 in donations in an effort to rebuild the screens. Smith said the donated money was crucial in the bank agreeing to provide the loan. The total project will cost about $400,000.
An artist’s rendering of the new double-screen can be seen here.
The drive-in initially opened in 1951, and the second screen was built a year later. Even as the number of drive-ins in the United States dropped over the decades, the Admiral Twin continued to show first-run movies. The Admiral Twin sits very close to the Admiral Place alignment of Route 66 in Tulsa.
The Admiral Twin also served as an inspiration during a scene in Tulsa native S.E. Hinton’s famous novel, “The Outsiders,” which was made into a now-acclaimed movie. The film actually features the Admiral Twin in an early scene.
Any word yet when the ground breaking will be? If there is any kind of event for it, I’d like to attend if possible. Please keep us posted!