CityBeat
THEN AND NOW
A tale of two arenas
BY ANGELA STEINMITZ
AS TULSANS WAIT for the completion of the
new BOK Center, the memories of another
notable Tulsa arena come to mind: the Tulsa
Coliseum. Although the Coliseum burned to the
ground after a freak lightning storm Sept. 20,
1952 — a loss estimated at $1 million — its impact
lives on in the community.
The Coliseum was one of the largest arenas
of its kind when it opened in 1926. It contained
the largest ice rink in the U.S. Hockey League at
that time, according to Tulsan Jim Pumpelly,
who played a high school hockey
game on the rink in 1949.
The Coliseum was the creation
of architect Leon Bishop Senter,
who also designed The
University of Tulsa’s Skelly
Stadium, Booker T. Washington
High School and St. John
Hospital.
The Coliseum fell on hard
times during the Depression, but
when Sam Avey bought it in 1944, he made it a
thriving venue for sports and entertainment.
Avey was the first owner of the Tulsa Oilers,
who played at the arena, and he also launched
the radio station KAKC in the basement of the
building. Avey brought in some of the biggest
events and names in the entertainment and
sports industries as well, including ice skater
Photo courtesy of the Tulsa Historical Society.
The Tulsa Coliseum once housed the Tulsa Oilers, KAKC radio and many
community events. Inset, the construction site of the BOK Center.
Sonya Henie, boxer The Coliseum, though, pales in comparison to
Joe Louis, tennis the size of the $183 million BOK Center, which
player Bill Tilden will have a maximum seating capacity of 18,041.
and entertainers Although the Coliseum boasted a well-known
Nat King Cole and architect, the center’s design is that of world-
Rudy Vallee. renowned architect Cesar Pelli.
Avey’s granddaughters, well-known Tulsa Davis and King say the Coliseum’s greatest
developers Sharon King Davis and Terry King, legacy was the community events it hosted.
also have fond memories of their grandfather’s King says she hopes the new arena can do the
annual citywide Christmas party. Each year the same, and also bring in big names and host
Coliseum opened its doors to more than 9,000 major events like its predecessor.
Tulsa children for a visit with Santa. “Maybe they could bring in the Stones,” she
“He wanted all children to have a fun says.■
Christmas,” Davis says. “That is real community.”
TULSA ONLINE
BLOG SPOT Got blog? If you don’t, your neighbors might. And they might be writing about you. A recent survey of
local bloggers has turned up a treasure trove of blog-savvy Tulsans with a diversity of interests. BY ANDY WHEELER
ALTERNATIVE TULSA
alternativetulsa.blogspot.com/
index.html
Author: Unknown
Purpose: Advocate for alterna-
tive “reality-based community”
What’s on their mind? This blog
flips from national stories to local
ones, including a look at organic
gardeners, a female wrestler and
praise for TulsaPeople’s “impres-
sive” new design. Nationally, the
blog has a quote from President
Jimmy Carter cracking on Vice
President Dick Cheney.
If you like this blog, check out:
OK Blue Notes, www.ok-
bluenotes.blogspot.com.
VOICE OF TULSA
www.voicesoftulsa.com
Authors: Anyone with a com-
puter, but it is moderated by
someone who goes by the alias
“meeciteewurkor.”
Purpose: Open forum for all Tul-
sans — key word being “open”
What’s on Tulsa’s collective
mind: Crime, Arkansas River de-
velopment, the city’s legal sys-
tem, “Michael Bates and his
cronies” and a promise to devote
an entire forum to “Immigrant
crime in Tulsa.”
If you like this blog, check out:
a local barber shop or hair salon
because that’s kind of what it
feels like.
INDIE TULSA
indietulsa.wordpress.com
Author: Someone who calls her-
self “Red Fork Hippie Chick”
Purpose: To bring attention to lo-
cally owned businesses and com-
ment on what they are doing
What’s on her mind: Recent re-
views are focused on Cherry
Street, but the moderator is
building a blog describing her ex-
periences all over town, from
Ted’s Burgers on West Edison
Street to Las Americas Super
Mercado and Restaurant on East
Third Street.
If you like this blog, check out:
Sustainable Tulsa’s online Green
Directory, www.sustainable-
tulsa.org/index.php
BATES LINE
www.batesline.com
Author: Michael Bates
Purpose: Dialogue on Tulsa is-
sues and everyday life as well as
advocate for conservative, reli-
gious-based viewpoint
What’s on his mind? The Chris-
tian Broadcasting Network’s re-
cent interviews with local Muslim
Jamal Miftah and, coincidentally,
the blog’s author, Bates, stem-
ming from Miftah’s expulsion
from a local mosque.
Know of a fun or informative Tulsa
Web site you’d like to share? E-mail
joy@langdonpublishing.com.
