Restored version of “The Outsiders” film to be screened at Circle Cinema in Tulsa on Sept. 26, 29

The Circle Cinema of Tulsa, in partnership with The Outsiders House Museum in town, will show a newly restored cut of “The Outsiders Complete Novel” — a final version of Francis Ford Coppola’s 1983 adaptation of S.E. Hinton’s classic book — on 2 p.m. Sept. 26 and 7 p.m. Sept. 29.

The Circle Cinema, along with other Tulsa landmarks, including a few on Route 66, appear in the film.

The Tulsa independent moviehouse will show the movie on its new 4K projector, according to the Tulsa World.

Each screening will include a special pre-film themed reception. A socs’ social will begin at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 26 and a greasers’ gathering will begin at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday Sept. 29. Tickets for either date are $30 for Circle Cinema members and $35 general admission.
Tickets will include an exclusive “Stay Gold”-branded journal, a dedication of a plaque recognizing Circle Cinema as a location in the movie, an introduction by Danny O’Connor of The Outsiders House Museum, a short film about the museum, a coupon for half-off museum admission and post-film Q&A with special guest librarian Jo Ellen Misakian (live on Sunday, Sept. 26; recorded playback Wednesday, Sept. 29).
Misakian and her students in Fresno, California, started a letter-writing campaign to Coppola in 1980. The letter-writing campaign proved instrumental in his decision to make The Outsiders.

Tickets for the Circle Cinema screenings can be purchased online here.

The Outsiders House Museum also is scheduled to host a screening at sunset on Sept. 25. However, tickets weren’t available on the museum’s website, which indicates they sold out quickly.

House of Pain member Danny Boy O’Connor, who was deeply influenced by “The Outsiders,” a few years ago bought the Tulsa north-side house used in the film, restored it and now uses it as a museum devoted to the film.

Almost all the “The Outsiders” was shot in Tulsa because Hinton’s inspirations for the book occurred there before she wrote it at age 17. Scenes include at least two Route 66 landmarks — the Circle Cinema and the Admiral Twin Drive-In theater.

“The Outsiders” film also proved notable for casting young actors who later became stars — Matt Dillon, Rob Lowe, Patrick Swayze, Tom Cruise, Emilio Estevez, Diane Lane and Ralph Macchio. Music legend Tom Waits also appeared in the film.

The Circle Cinema, built in 1928, sits on the 1926-1932 alignment of Route 66 in Tulsa at 10 S. Lewis Ave.

The theater closed in the mid-1990s. The Circle Cinema’s revitalization began in 2003, the same year it was designated to the National Register of Historic Places.

It remains Tulsa’s only nonprofit movie venue, specializing in independent films, local movies and other special programming.

(Image of the Circle Cinema in Tulsa by Tom Baddley via Flickr)