very cool! i remember they were still playing the “growing with pride” song on local media when i was a kid. it took a while for the top one to load, but it was worth the wait. it looks like they were made fairly close in time (maybe 15 years?), which is suprising given that the first makes no mention at all of the projects completed by the second. judging by the cars, i’m guessing the first was made around ’55 but not past ’57 (i wasn’t watching that close), while i’m guessing the second was made around ’70 or ’71. i can’t remember what year the myriad was completed, but i remember it had been around for some time when i went there in early ’76 to see a joni mitchell concert.

I thought you looked familiar.

The second one.

Oh. My. God.

Very cool! The title says circa 69-70 but this was definitely between 1972 and 1977 because you can clearly 1) Chase Tower (then Liberty Tower) was already complete and that happened in 1972 and 2) the Biltmore was still standing, and it was demolished in 1977.

This is truly awesome!

I could see Mayor Cornett making the exact same OKC pitch as found in video #2.

The amenities and promises related to urban renewal in the 1970s are the same as those made today: basketball team, convention centers, parks, downtown retail.

Should give anyone pause in assuming we have it all figured out this time.

In part of “Growing with Pride” they visit Stage Center and even land a helicopter in the empty field across from the building (now Myriad Gardens!) Around 5:10, I think. Then around 13:10, there’s pretty much just a video montage of all the buildings being demolished. Just…WOW…and not in a good way. Thank you so much for posting these!

Pete, I had the same observation. Based on one building still awaiting clearance on the Sheraton site, but the presence of Liberty Tower, Myriad, and the presentation of the Galleria renderings, I estimate this film was created in 1974-75.

Great piece of history. Where did you come across this? I personally think you have the potential to be considered a serious downtown beat observer when you grow up. Love you work, your bias Mom.

Friends at the Oklahoma History Center are making progress getting films loaded up on You Tube. Retro Metro OKC (the non-profit I volunteer with) is assisting in bringing attention to these films and the work of the OHC.
Not so sure I’m ready to grow up yet… Love you too Mom.

Obviously the Galleria fell through after all, what was the reasoning?

Steve, never grow up. You make such an excellent nosy brat we’d all be poorer in knowledge if you grow up.

In the second video, as they describe everything that will be built into the hillsides at the MBG I’m struck by the thought that this did not even happen with the complete redo. Such grand plans. Not the the redo is bead. Far from it. but tales of little shops built into the hillside and casual boat rides in the canyon lake, yeah, did not happen.

In the second film, the man playing the part of Jim from the Chamber of Commerce is a former newsman from one of the local channels. Gaylon Stacy – correct?

it definitely looks and sounds like gaylon, and the age is period correct. the galleria failed because financing fell though. seems like the developers’ name was vincent corrozza, or something like that. stanley draper also had a vision of building a giant mountain out of garbage, and then finishing and landscaping it out to be some sort of impressive “mount oklahoma” (i am not kidding). he was inspired by the tivoli gardens, which was the impetus for the myriad gardens. i think he wanted to put the mountain in the vicinty of where the indian cultural center is now.

Stanley sounds very Don Quixoteish.

What happened to the plane that was hanging in the airport ticket area?

John F. Kennedy project (3,000 renovated & several hundred new homes)?

Best low rent public housing?