Oklahomarama

Semi-Centennial
1957
The theme "Teepees to Towers" referred to American Indian cultures and to television "towers". The Exposition at the State Fair Grounds advertised that the world's tallest tower was on the fairgrounds. It was true that the tallest man-made structure in the world in 1957 was the broadcasting tower of KWTV in Oklahoma City. However, the tower was more than six miles from the fairgrounds. The City Council of Oklahoma City annexed KWTV, the city streets between KWTV and the fairgrounds, and made them a part of the fairgrounds. The promotion advertised "the world's tallest tower on the grounds of the Semi-Centennial".


Teddy Dukeminier and Lt. Governor Cowboy Pink Williams

Teddy Dukeminier was one of the official representatives of the Semi-Centennial. Her gold lame' cowgirl outfit, hat, and boots are now a part of the collections of the Oklahoma History Center. Teddy promoted the Semi-Centennial at the Inauguration of President Eisenhower by riding a horse in the inaugural parade. She had intended to make an unscheduled presentation to President Eisenhower of a Teepees to Towers trophy but the Secret Service considered that action a security risk.


The Soutwest American Exposition was held in 1956 at the State Fairgrounds as a "warm-up" event for the Semi-Centennial. Deloris Faulkner, Maid of Cotton is shown above.

One of the themes was "Arrows to Atoms" and this was well illustrated in the exhibit "The World of Tomorrow". This exhibit featured atomic power. Nearby American Indians danced daily and were favorites of visitors to the fairgrounds.


An invitation to the President of the United States from the Governor of Oklahoma

Governor Raymond Gary
President Eisenhower's Response

 Oklahoma's Semi-Centennial Celebration promoted the Sooner State during many events celebrating the 50th year of statehood. The biggest event was the Exposition at the State Fairgrounds. It included a motorama, a foodarama, an international photorama, and Soonerama Land exhibits. The use of the splinter "rama" means an exposition of the best. Many Hollywood and recording stars participated in the exposition including Mickey Rooney, Dorthy Lamour, Johnny Ray and Oklahoma's own Patti Page.


Pearl Mesta, Oklahoma's "Hostest with the Mostest," greeted visitors in the International House. The Soviet Union and Israel were two of many countries represented.


Joan Bigsoldier, Teddy Dukeminier, and Himmy Rowe

Governor Raymond Gary, Stan Pate, and Oklahoma City Mayor Allen Street prepare to seal a time capsule. The capsule was opened in October, 2006. The contents of the capsule are now a part of the collections of the Oklahoma History Center.


Click on image above for more on the Oklahoma Semi-Centennial Celebration and special audio files.

Boomtown, USA was a combination of a frontier town
and an oil boom town with working oil wells!
















birdseye view of Boomtown, Oklahoma





Watch the Boomtown Video

Birdseye view of Boomtown, Oklahoma, from south to north.
Governor Raymond Gary appointed Lou Allard of Drumright as chairman of the Semi-Centennial. Governor Gary was very active in promoting tourism in Oklahoma and the Semi-Centennial Exposition offered a perfect platform for those efforts. The exposition was broadcast live from the State Fairgrounds on the Today Show and on other network programming. Tourism in the Sooner State improved but Oklahoma's image was the biggest beneficiary.

This page only reflects some of the events held in Oklahoma City although many other cities also hosted events. 

Tulsarama

"Tulsarama," was Tulsa's contribution to the Semi-Centennial. Local men, called "the Brothers of the Brush," were encouraged to grow beards. Beards were rare in the 1950s and always gathered attention. The beards would then be shaved off during the festivities. Tulsa women formed the "Jubilee Bells" and wore designer fashions based on a pioneer theme and hosted fashion shows and promoted the events in Tulsa. There was a "Miss Tulsarama" beauty pageant, plays about the founding of Tulsa and Tulsa industries, Native American dancing, and special exhibitions at the Philbrook and Gilcrease Museums. Clearly the most inventive promotion during the centennial was the burying of a new Plymouth Belvedere on June 15, 1957,  at the Tulsa County courthouse. The car would be an automotive version of a time capsule with an assortment of items in the trunk, including: a can of gasoline, a case of Schlitz beer, photographs, and the contents of a woman's purse. The Plymouth Belvedere was unearthed on Friday, June 15, 2007 as a part of Tulsa's celebration of the Oklahoma Centennial. The buried car has gained international attention and even has a website, www.buriedcar.com.

 The Ballad of Oklahoma LP also included the Oklahoma City University's Surrey Singers singing the state song: "Oklahoma!" The Surry Singers toured America promoting Oklahoma as they performed Oklahoma! during 1957. Thanks to the Oklahoma City University's Wanda L. Bass School of Music for permission to use the recording on this web page.
For more information visit the
Oklahoma Centennial Commision
web site: oklahomacentennial.com

Do you remember the
Semi-Centennial?
The information presented on this page comes from sources found at the Research Center at the Oklahoma History Center. The collections used include: The Dicky Bird Was Singing by Bob Duncan, Rinehart, 1952, the Ballad of Oklahoma LP recording, the Semi-Centennial time capsule from the State Fairgrounds, Oklahoma broadcasting collections, the Teddy Dukeminer Collection, WKY-TV Collection, The Niehart-Reeder Collection, photographs, oral histories, and other collections. The largest collection relating to the Exposition is the Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce Collection. Please search the online database at the Research Center for more information on the Semi-Centennial.  www.okhistory.org/research/
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