LAWTON — Moviegoers didn’t have to wait long for the Vaska Theatre to reopen after the June 15 storm left numerous businesses and homes without power.
As the storms rolled into Lawton cutting off power and causing damage to the city, theater co-owner Autumn Hackney and her husband moved all of the patrons into the largest of the two theaters until the severe thunderstorm passed. About 20 people were at the theater when the storm hit.
“We ended up closing that night because we were without power, but we opened the next day,” she said.
The theater’s marquee, some windows, its tower and an air-conditioning unit were damaged, but repairs were quickly made since the show must go on. The theater also sustained some minor flooding, “but there was no damage like the marquee,” Hackney said.
Customers at Thursday’s movies were issued passes for a future visit to the theater since the storm interrupted the showings.
The June 15 storm, which included large hail, “was loud and pinging off everything. There was some tornado rotation right over our tower,” Hackney said.
Vaska Theatre was built in the 1940s and serves as the personal tornado shelter for Hackney and her family because of the way it was constructed.
“It’s very sturdy so we pack up and come here whenever there’s a tornado coming,” she said.
The theater is located at 1902 NW Ferris Avenue in Lawton.