Chili show dogs, prices reasons to visit Carnegie’s movie house
CARNEGIE — When Jerry Applewhite reopened the Liberty Theatre in Carnegie on Nov. 24, 2021 – 20 months after closing due to the COVID-19 pandemic – the response was overwhelming.
Moviegoers lined Main Street early in the morning to ensure they were able to buy tickets to the one and only movie the theatre was showing that day. Patrons also wanted to get one or more of the 4,819 chili show dogs that were sold. When the final tally was taken, 875 movie tickets were sold for Disney’s “Encanto.”
“It boomed that day,” Applewhite recalled.
But for more than a year and a half, business didn’t boom any day of the week because of the pandemic. During that time, Applewhite cleaned and sanitized the three theatres and prepared for the day when he and his employees could reopen the longtime entertainment venue.
“It was terrible as far as the theatre goes. We always were planning to reopen,” he said. “I spent a lot of time cleaning this place up. We were busy for those 20 months, but we weren’t showing movies.”
Finally, Applewhite reopened the 106-year-old theatre to many of its fans.
“It was busy all day,” said theatre chief executive officer Rae Smith. “It didn’t slow down. We were making the show dogs in the kitchen, ran them through one of the empty theatres and to the concession stand.”
Smith, a former waitress and bartender, loves the Liberty’s atmosphere.
“It’s about the employees, the community, and you’re meeting new people all year,” she said. “We have great customers, even on slow days and we’re not that slow.”
Some customers don’t even watch a movie. Instead, they come for the famous chili show dogs that have a secret chili recipe. In some instances, patrons order the chili dogs, sit on a bench and enjoy their dining experience. Applewhite revealed some customers have requested he send the chili dogs to their families in other states or overseas. That, Applewhite said, isn’t possible. Still, he considers their request a compliment.
He made it clear he wouldn’t share the chili recipe or the one ingredient that makes his show dogs better than any other.
“I’m not telling you,” he said to a reporter. “It’s a secret.”
The chili dogs are $3 each, a large popcorn is $4, and a small popcorn is $2.75. By the way, regular ticket prices are $5 and 3D tickets are $7 as with the new Avatar film.
Loving Jerry
As far as CEO Smith is concerned, she’s staying put as Applewhite’s right-hand woman.
“I’m staying in this industry,” she said. “I can’t imagine being anywhere else. I love it.”
In addition to the entertainment business, Smith is a Jerry Applewhite fan.
“He’s very fun. He’s got a big heart and he takes care of his people – the staff, family and community. Everybody knows Jerry Applewhite. He’s famous.”
Maybe that’s why the Liberty Theatre draws people from as far as Lawton, Chickasha, Anadarko and other places across southwest Oklahoma.
Although operating a movie theatre can be a “tough business,” Applewhite doesn’t see himself venturing into anything new.
“We’re selling a different product almost every week,” he said. “One week we’re selling an R-rated movie and the next week it’s a PG movie. When everyone else is playing, we’re working.”
Applewhite knows he must pull customers from other places than Carnegie, which boasts a population of about 1,600 people.
“That’s why the prices are so low. It’s attractive to people in other towns. A small popcorn is $2.75 but a big theatre in Oklahoma City you’ll pay $15. And then they look at the theatre and it’s a nice place. It’s a nicer theatre than any other small town. People who come here say it’s better than anything in a big city.”
At 77, Applewhite knows he could already be retired but that’s not in the cards – at least for now.
“I still enjoy it,” he said. “It’s the people that I’ve seen all my life and the new people you meet every day.”
Picking the right movies can be a challenge. The older crowds may want to see “Ticket to Paradise” which features older actors while the younger fans are asking for “Puss ‘n Boots.”
These days, Applewhite doesn’t have the luxury of previewing movies before they hit the Liberty screens.
“We buy them sight unseen,” he said. “I used to be able to preview them in Oklahoma City or Dallas. That’s not the case anymore. I have to talk to people at Disney or Warner Brothers and they’ll tell me the truth.”
Theatre expansion
The original theatre was built in 1915 and was operated by Applewhite’s parents from 1952 to 1974. Applewhite bought the building from the original owner a year later while starting his own venture into the film and entertainment industry.
In 1995, he took the single theatre venue and turned it into three theatres that now allow patrons to pick one of the new releases. The building that now houses the extra two theatres was a former OTASCO store and the gold ceiling has been restored to its former glory – much like the Liberty when it reopened on Nov. 24, 2021.