Bands, businesses step up to rebuild Admiral Twin

TULSA - Support for the Admiral Twin Drive-in Theater pours in just days after the historic icon burnt down.
There are already plenty of concerts and benefits in the works.

Friday afternoon, flames shot up the tower of the Admiral Twin Drive-in, destroying the screens where movies once played for generations of Tulsans. Days later, musicians and local businesses are pitching in to bring the historic drive-in back from the rubble.

"I knew that people liked us being here, but I didn't know exactly how much until now," said the drive-in's co-owner, Blake Smith.

With the community's help, Smith hopes to have the drive-in up and running by the spring.
"The sooner the better. Obviously the longer it takes to start rebuilding, then the 2011 season could be in jeopardy at that point," he said.

Businesses like The Grille in Jenks are hosting fundraisers.
"To watch them all come together and help an institution, an icon like that, I think just shows you where we are as a country today," said Craig Boilla, with The Grille.

After a concert fundraiser Monday night, The Grille will donate all of its cover charge proceeds to the Admiral Twin.
 

Meanwhile, local musicians like Chuk Cooley & the Demon Hammers are pitching in.
"It was like watching part of my childhood past burn up, and it was a part of your past you don't want to leave. So immediately, I had to do something about it," said Chuk Cooley.

Cooley's band is spearheading a concert benefit for the drive-in with other musicians in October.
"Tulsa is coming together, not just around baseball or football, but for this drive-in movie theater, that means so much to so many people and families," Cooley said.

Named after the drive-in, Admiral Twin band members are supporting their fallen namesake.
"It's been one of our landmarks for years and years now, it's been one of the main things you could say Tulsa had, a great, old, still operating drive-in," said Jarrod Gollihare, the drummer. "A lot of people had so many good, strong memories of that place, and I think it's important to not lose that."

Benefit information:
Concert fundraiser at The Grille in Jenks
Monday, September 6th
3:30-9:30 p.m.
Cover charge $5 starting at 5:30. All proceeds go to the Admiral Twin Drive-in.

Benefit Concert at the Rose Bowl Events Center
Sunday, October 10th
7419 E. 11th Street
1 p.m. to midnight

Benefit concert/event at the Admiral Twin Drive-in Theater TBA