Kenneth H.
Yelp
Visited on: multiple dates from 2012 to present
Circle Cinema is one of my favorite movie theaters ever. I would actually list it among the top five best things about Tulsa. I love unique and interesting movie theaters (so like, not the typical suburban/mall multiplexes), and this is definitely such a theater. Opened in 1928, this theater definitely has history, and you can see an old film projector (or a replica thereof) displayed in the lobby, as well as an exterior facade and marquee faithful to their historical look. Then there's the theater's biggest claim to fame - the Robert Morton theatre pipe organ that was originally installed at Circle Cinema in the late 1920s, and was restored in time to be played at the Circle's 86th Birthday Celebration on July 15 2014. No, the organ isn't the biggest and baddest I've heard, and it can't be because this is a fairly small theater. But it's a great asset for an already awesome theater to have, and it's unique for a theater in Tulsa, making Tulsa that much better of a city for having a place like this.
There are three auditoriums: Theater #1, the largest and newest one (and the one housing the organ), Theater #2, the medium-sized one that I've been in more times than any other auditorium there, and Theater #3, the smallest one. The seating is quite comfortable, and while the screens aren't that big (it's a small theater, remember), the seating tends to be compressed forward enough so even sitting in the back rows allows the screen to fill or exceed one's entire field of vision. In fact, every time I'm in Theater #2 I have to sit in the very back row just to have the screen fit in my field of vision; if I sit in any other row I'll be too close to the screen. Theaters #1 and #3 don't have this same problem because they have longer seating areas (and Theater #1's screen is bigger); Theater #2 just has a really compressed seating area. All in all, I find the screen sizes for Theaters #1 and #2 to be quite good; the only screen that's too small for me is the one in Theater #3. None of the seating is stadium seating, but that's understandable given the sizes of the auditoriums. The picture and sound are usually good.
The theater has an understated beauty both inside and outside. As I mentioned earlier, the facade is relatively new but it closely mimics the look it had back in the 1940s and 1950s. The interior is a mix of modern styling and exposed brick that still manages to look fresh. The theater stands as a model for near-perfect balance between old and new decor and styling. The lobby also has local artwork and old theatrical posters on display.
Another major strength of this theater is the unique programming. They show movies few (or in many cases, no) other theaters in Oklahoma will. The regular programming is a mix of independent, art house, foreign and documentary films, but they also show older movies (as in, any movies that are done with their theatrical runs), sometimes for free. For example, they're currently doing an "Earth Matters Series" where they're showing a free nature/environment-related documentary every month; I went to the one for Gasland Part II in April 2014. In July 2014, they did a "Splatter U" double feature where they showed The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974), which I had been wanting to see for a long time, and Madman (1982), and then rewarded us devoted attendees with a nifty "Certificate of Completion" to keep as a souvenir. It's these kinds of quirky and thoughtful touches that make this theater stand out. The Circle isn't just some dead establishment that plays movies by rote; it's a community of people who want to interact with fellow movie lovers.
Another thing I love about this theater is how they give out all these leaflets and fliers for the movies they play and the events they put on. Few theaters do this, and as a memento hoarder I appreciate it a lot. They also have a weekly email newsletter that helpfully lists what's playing in the upcoming week.
One thing that's good to know is that Circle Cinema doesn't have a display of showtimes in its lobby; it only has paper leaflets with the showtimes on them. It's best to look up showtimes in advance on the website. Also, they're not entirely consistent in terms of when they start playing the actual movies; sometimes they start showing previews before the listed showtime and then start the feature presentation at or just a few minutes after the listed showtime. It's best to arrive at least ten minutes before the movie's showtime.
The staff are friendly and accessible, though there used to be problems. On a few of my early visits, the projectionist was incompetent, and one time a staff member gave me a hard time because I came into the theater with a messenger bag (as I always do). Fortunately, that has not been the case lately.