THE CHRONICLES OF OKLAHOMA

later the same venue presented Edison "talking movies" that were a
"perfectly harmonious combination" of moving pictures and a pho-
nograph record that reproduced the actors' dialogue.18 Then, in 1912
Kinemacolor films which featured "natural colors" were projected
in Oklahoma City.19
The cinema became ubiquitous in Oklahoma to the extent that mov-
ing pictures were screened at all manner of venues. In 1908 a political
candidate leased a projector for use in his campaign, screening films
to draw crowds to his speeches.20 By 1912 officials in Tulsa considered
purchasing film projectors for city schools.21 In 1914 the superintendent
of public schools in Ardmore advocated the installation of projectors in
the classroom.22 Oklahoma universities screened films for educational
purposes that same year.23
During the nickelodeon era a number of film exchanges opened in
Oklahoma. In 1908 the Monarch Film Exchange of Oklahoma City rep-
resented a business that was "practically new" in the state; it offered
film rentals, projection machine parts, and repair services to Okla-
homa exhibitors and projectionists (or "operators," as they were more
commonly called at the time) who previously had to rely on exchang-
es in Dallas, Kansas City, Saint Louis, and Chicago.24 Some of those
Oklahomans also increasingly took part in industry conversations and
debates published in the pages of national film trade publications.25
The Orpheum Theatre of Oklahoma City in 1912 (image courtesy of the author).
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