The Pollard Theater: Bringing the arts to Historic Guthrie, Oklahoma

 

Ken Parker
http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/10038/photos/155272

 
By Alanna Radle Rodriguez and Judge Rodriguez



Hello Friends!


Thank you for joining us once again as we delve into the history of this great state we call home, Oklahoma. Last month, we covered an overview of the history of the Capital Publishing Museum and some of its historical facts. This month we are covering the Historic Pollard Theater.

After the land-run, the site housed a wooden dry-goods store. The current building, being a structure made of local stone and local-made bricks, was built in 1901. It held The Patterson Furniture and a funeral parlor. Many of the cabinet makers at the time doubled as funeral parlors, as they had the access to the needed amounts of wood for the caskets. In 1919 George Pollard purchased the building, turning it into a vaudeville and silent movie house.

With the invention of “Talkies” (movies with an audio track) in 1926, the building was leased to A.R. Powell, who then renovated the building and decreased the size of the stage to accommodate the need for more viewing room. During the renovations, the Powell family added seating for up to 800 as well as putting in hand-painted murals and art-work. With the change of role in being turned in to a full sized movie theater, the theater underwent a name change as well. The theater was then called “The Melba Theater”.

The Powell family operated the Melba until the theater closed its doors in 1984. The building was renovated by Guthrie Arts & Humanities Council and changed back into a live venue. At the end of the renovations, the Pollard family took control of the building, and completed the renovations, turning the name of the theater back into the “Pollard Theater.”

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the theater and we recommend if you are ever in Guthrie, the time be taken to take in this historic treasure. Today, the Pollard Theater produces a yearly production of the Territorial Christmas Carol, among other productions throughout the year. If you would like more information on upcoming productions or even auditions, you can visit their website.

Thank you for joining us this month as we have looked into the Historic Pollard Theater. Join us next month as we delve into the history of other historic buildings in the city of Guthrie Oklahoma.






Born and raised in Edmond, Oklahoma, Alanna Radle Rodriguez is the great-great granddaughter of one of the first pioneers to settle in Indian Territory. Judge was born and raised in Little Axe, Oklahoma, the son of A.F. Veterans. Judge and Alanna love the history of the state and relish in volunteering at the 1889 Territorial Schoolhouse in Edmond. Her second published story, part of a collaborative novella titled 18 Redbud Lane, is now available. Alanna and Judge live with her parents in the Edmond area. They are currently collaborating on a historical fiction series that takes place in pre-statehood Oklahoma.

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The Thin Blue line: Oklahoma City Police Department Pt 4

1889 Oklahoma City Police Dept. Flag
Wikimedia Commons, https://goo.gl/images/sf6CXK

By Alanna Radle Rodriguez and Judge Rodriguez



Thank you for joining us this month as we continue our series about first responders in our great state.


First allow us to say: we wish to pay our respects to the brave men and women of our military, and let them know our thoughts and prayers are with them, particularly those currently on deployment outside our country and away from their families.


However, we also wish to add our gratitude to those that serve outside of our military forces as well. Also called the thin blue line, this group of dedicated public servants serve to keep us, our families, and our property safe. Our hats are off to you, and our gratitude for all you do.
Over the last several months, we have been covering the history of the Oklahoma City Police Department, and its roots in not only the US Cavalry, but the US Marshall’s Service as well. Last Month we covered from World War II, up to the work stoppage during the 1970’s, over wages.

In the 1980’s, Oklahoma City had both a boom and a bust in finances, as well as population. The population of OKC went, in 1980 from forty-five thousand to over one hundred thirty thousand in 1990. In response to the rapidly increasing crime rate, OCPD instituted a mobile crime unit, forensic training for officers, and a Field Training Program.

  

OKC Murrah Building, May 1995
Taken by Alan Radle, used with permission

On April 19th 1995, when the Oklahoma City bombing happened, one of the first people to make it to the site, mere moments after the explosion, was Sgt. Detective Mike McPherson of the Auto Theft Unit and a Bomb Squad member. He assisted with locating the vin number on the destroyed vehicle, which helped lead the authorities to be able to find Timothy McVeigh.

 

Timothy McVeigh during part of the trail in Perry, Oklahoma
Wikimedia Commons, https://goo.gl/images/xk9YWf 

 
The OKC Bombing was, until September 11th 2001, considered the worst act of terrorism on U.S. soil. Although, by definition, it still is the worst act of domestic terrorism to this day. In response to that, the OCPD created an anti-terrorism task force, that is still in existence today. They have been instrumental in thwarting numerous terrorist threats since their inception. They have also been called to train other cities' departments in anti-terrorism.
With the inclusion of body cameras for each officer, OCPD has maintained their status of being one of the most advanced, well trained law enforcement organizations in the state of Oklahoma. They have faced, in their more than one hundred twenty years of existence, numerous challenges and trials. They have met and overcome them all, to become not only one of the oldest, but the largest police force in the state of Oklahoma.
 

Oklahoma City Police Honor Guard
Wikimedia Commons, https://goo.gl/images/5ZZUfA 

To the ladies and gentlemen of the OCPD, we tip our hats to you, and say a heartfelt thank you for all you have done and continue to do for the citizens of this great state.

Thank you for joining us this month as we delved into the history of the Oklahoma City Police Department. We hope you enjoyed reading about this great institution, and join us next month, as we start with the history of the Tulsa Police Department.

Born and raised in Edmond, Oklahoma, Alanna Radle Rodriguez is the great-great granddaughter of one of the first pioneers to settle in Indian Territory. Judge was born and raised in Little Axe, Oklahoma, the son of A.F. Veterans. Judge and Alanna love the history of the state and relish in volunteering at the 1889 Territorial Schoolhouse in Edmond. Her first published story, part of a collaborative novella titled Legacy Letters, came out September 2016. Alanna and Judge live with her parents in the Edmond area. They are currently collaborating on a historical fiction series that takes place in pre-statehood Oklahoma.

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The Thin Blue line: Oklahoma City Police Department Pt 3

1889 Oklahoma City Police Dept. Flag
Wikimedia Commons, https://goo.gl/images/sf6CXK

By Alanna Radle Rodriguez and Judge Rodriguez



Thank you for joining us this month as we continue our series about first responders in our great state.


First allow us to say: we wish to pay our respects to the brave men and women of our military, and let them know our thoughts and prayers are with them, particularly those currently on deployment outside our country and away from their families.


However, we also wish to add our gratitude to those that serve outside of our military forces as well. Also called the thin blue line, this group of dedicated public servants serve to keep us, our families, and our property safe. Our hats are off to you, and our gratitude for all you do.

Over the last couple of months, we have been covering the history of the Oklahoma City Police Department, and its roots in not only the US Cavalry, but the US Marshall’s Service as well. Last Month we covered up to the end of the Great Depression, talking about the service of Detective Jelly Bryce.

 

The OCPD Raiding Squad with shotguns and tommy guns. Front center: Detective "Jelly" Bryce
Wikimedia https://goo.gl/images/cqEPpi

At the end of his tenure with the OCPD, Jelly Bryce became a Special Agent in Charge for the FBI in Oklahoma City. After his tenure there, he ran for, and was not elected as governor of the state of Oklahoma.

It was during World War II that the department suffered a severe manpower shortage. Up until this time, all positions required being an officer. It was during this time, that the decision was made that many of the clerical positions be allowed to have civilians employed. This freed up the officers to allow them to manage their assigned tasks.

After the completion of WWII, OCPD instituted a new training unit to increase the specialization, and professionalism of the recruits. They were put through a one hundred forty-four hour course. It was also during this time that the department created new divisions for burglary, traffic, white collar, and fingerprinting.


During the 1960’s, the department established a formal police academy, a K-9 unit, and a formal Forensics Unit. In 1969, the force started issuing the officers their firearms, a Smith and Wesson .38 special revolver. Up until this time, it was incumbent on the officers to provide their own weapons.


In the 1970’s, the OCPD began the Alcohol Safety Action Project (ASAP), the Selected Enforcement Unit (SEU), Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT), and added a helicopter to its list of resources. In ‘75 the officers went on a work slowdown to protest their low wages, and during the dispute, almost all six hundred officers turned in their badges. During the strike, The Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Department, and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol provided safety and security for the residents of Oklahoma City. After several days, however, an agreement was reached and the officers went back to work.


Thank you for joining us this month as we delved into the history of the Oklahoma City Police Department. We hope you enjoyed reading about this great institution, and join us next month, for the conclusion of the OCPD part of the Thin Blue Line series.






Born and raised in Edmond, Oklahoma, Alanna Radle Rodriguez is the great-great granddaughter of one of the first pioneers to settle in Indian Territory. Judge was born and raised in Little Axe, Oklahoma, the son of A.F. Veterans. Judge and Alanna love the history of the state and relish in volunteering at the 1889 Territorial Schoolhouse in Edmond. Her first published story, part of a collaborative novella titled Legacy Letters, came out September 2016. Alanna and Judge live with her parents in the Edmond area. They are currently collaborating on a historical fiction series that takes place in pre-statehood Oklahoma.

Facebook.com/authorAlannaRadleRodriguez
Pinterest.com/alannaradlerodr/
Amazon

The Thin Blue line: Oklahoma City Police Department Pt 2

 

1889 Oklahoma City Police Dept. Flag
Wikimedia Commons, https://goo.gl/images/sf6CXK

 
By Alanna Radle Rodriguez and Judge Rodriguez


Hello Friends!
Thank you for joining us this month as we continue our series about first responders in our great state.

First allow us to say: we wish to pay our respects to the brave men and women of our military, and let them know our thoughts and prayers are with them, particularly those currently on deployment outside our country and away from their families.

However, we also wish to add our gratitude to those that serve outside of our military forces as well. Also called the thin blue line, this group of dedicated public servants serve to keep us, our families, and our property safe. Our hats are off to you, and our gratitude for all you do.
Last month, we recalled the story of the Oklahoma City Police department, up to when Bill Tilghman took over.
 

Bill Tilghman, 1912
Wikimedia Commons
https://goo.gl/images/rP8MJc

 Marshall Tilghman was the Chief of Police in Oklahoma City for two years (1911-1913), during which time he cleaned up not only the streets, but the police force as well. At the time crime was rampant, and Oklahoma City more closely resembled Dodge City in the mid-1870’s with brothels, saloons, and opium dens. At this time, there was also endemic corruption and brutality in the police force as well. In the two years Tilghman was chief, he was able to clean up not only the streets, but the police force as well. This had the effect of having OCPD be known as one of the most incorruptible forces in the US.
After Chief Tilghman left office, the officers of the OCPD continued his efforts, particularly with the prohibition of alcohol, prostitution, and drugs on the streets. During World War I, the police department established a motorcycle division, which survives to today. They also established a call-box system, in which officers on the beat were required to call in hourly status reports.

In the early 1920’s, OCPD added a mounted unit to patrol the residential districts. Around this time, the Sicilian, and Irish mafia had started gaining control of much of OKC. This prompted the police department to create a “raiding squad” which eventually became “Vice” and to increase the force from 90 officers, to 150. This also forced the department into becoming more of a force of professionally trained officers, rather than just a loose collection of “untrained badges”.

The OCPD Raiding Squad with shotguns and tommy guns. Front center: Detective "Jelly" Bryce
Wikimedia 

  
During the Great Depression, however, OCPD also started up their “radio units”, which was a collection of patrol cars that had radios in them. One of the most notable officers from this time period was D.A. “Jelly” Bryce, known for his dapper appearance and for being a quick draw. He was featured in Life Magazine and was timed electronically at two-fifths of a second. It was stated in the article “if a criminal blinked at him, he would die with his eyes closed”.

Thank you, for joining us this month as we discuss a part of the history of the Oklahoma City Police Department, and please join us next month as we cover the history of the Department from World War II further.

Born and raised in Edmond, Oklahoma, Alanna Radle Rodriguez is the great-great granddaughter of one of the first pioneers to settle in Indian Territory. Judge was born and raised in Little Axe, Oklahoma, the son of A.F. Veterans. Judge and Alanna love the history of the state and relishe in volunteering at the 1889 Territorial Schoolhouse in Edmond. Her first published story, part of a collaborative novella titled Legacy Letters, came out September 2016. Alanna and Judge live with her husband and parents in the Edmond area. They are currently collaborating on a historical fiction series that takes place in pre-statehood Waterloo, Oklahoma.
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