First opening its doors in 1928, Circle Cinema holds the title of the longest-standing nonprofit movie theater in Tulsa, Okla. With its accepting nature and inviting aura, the theater makes every guest feel welcome as they walk through the doors.
Circle Cinema first opened as a silent movie theater, then underwent many changes with many different owners, eventually transforming into what we walk into today: a beautiful, historic theater with four auditoriums, concessions, and pleasant team members to assist you. In the lobby of this fascinating theater, you will find posters advertising upcoming films and fliers for events happening throughout Tulsa.
Also, there are local artworks displayed on the walls and photographs displayed in frames. Circle Cinema certainly does not shy away from presenting local talent as well as history and films that may not be played in a typical movie theater.
Even though Circle Cinema currently stands near the intersection of Lewis Avenue and Admiral Boulevard, while Route 66 runs along 11th Street, the theater was first located along Route 66’s original historic alignment. Regardless of Circle Cinema not currently standing on Route 66, the theater still makes a point of celebrating the history of the highway and other Tulsa history.
In fact, each month of 2026, the theater will be hosting special screenings of Route 66-related films, celebrating the highway’s 100th birthday. These monthly screenings include films like “Almost Ghosts,” “Bagdad Café,” “Easy Riders,” and “The Outsiders: The Complete Novel Edition.”
Ryan Thomas, film programmer at Circle Cinema, believes the main audience for these Route 66-related screenings will be people who are especially appreciative of American history and Route 66. Thomas said the theatre hosted the film “Bagdad Café,” a comedy about a café along Route 66, in February for Black History Month.
As far as similarity to other movie theaters in the area goes, Circle Cinema is quite unique, showing films that most theaters would not play and inviting celebrity guests in to make an appearance. The theater is quite well-known in the Tulsa area, which makes it easy for celebrity guests to know what they are getting themselves into when invited to appear.
Celebrities who have been featured at Circle Cinema include Greg Sestero at “The Room” screening and Ethan Hawke, who just happened to stop by one day while acting in a series shot in Tulsa called “The Lowdown.” Indeed, the theater attracts quite a crowd of well-known actors, speakers, and other talented individuals.
Circle Cinema has always been a unique and special theater in the Tulsa area. People certainly recognize this and treat it as such. When the theater first opened as a silent movie theater, it had an organ inside its biggest auditorium.
The organ changed owners and moved to different locations over time, but Circle Cinema regained ownership and placed it in the theater for good. This is one example of how sentimental the theater is to the local citizens of Tulsa; so much that they would give up ownership of a prized possession in order to complete Circle Cinema.
Hopefully, Tulsa citizens will forever remember this unique and impactful movie theater.
