Known as Ada, Oklahoma’s crown jewel of entertainment, the McSwain Theatre has thrilled visitors with diverse entertainment opportunities for more than 90 years.

Prominent Ada businessman Foster McSwain built the theatre in 1920 as a home for silent films and Vaudeville acts. In 1929, the McSwain was the site for the showing of the first “talkie” picture in Ada.

During the 1940s, the McSwain hosted numerous movie premieres featuring several famous movie starts, including Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, Gabby Hayes and Susan Hayward. Throughout the following decades, the McSwain continued to attract lines nearly circling the block as patrons lined up to see cinema standouts such as Dr. No, Bullet, Psycho, Jaws, Star Wars and Cool Hand Luke. In the late 1980s, the multi-screen theatre business emerged nationwide, and the McSwain Theatre reinvented itself once again. In 1991, Ada businessman Paul Alford purchased the theatre with visions of bringing a Branson-style variety show to the Ada community.

Throughout the next decade, music fans enjoyed country stars, up-and-coming names and local talent on the McSwain stage.

In 2002, the Chickasaw Nation purchased the McSwain and began supervising its operations. Today, the historic theatre continues to host family-friendly movies and live entertainment, Nashville stars, Branson favorites and local talent from across the state.

Recent performers at the McSwain Theatre include Lee Brice, Dustin Lynch, Easton Corbin, Mark Lowry, Pam Tillis and Travis LeDoyt.