Tulsa Studios

Tulsa Studios was designed and built to offer the ultimate in flexibility and quality control.

TULSA STUDIOS HISTORY

Bill Dawson, co-owner of Tyler Dawson Pipe and Supply Company, had a hobby of photography and traveled all over the world taking pictures and framing most of them. Around 1975, he began to make short motion pictures and set up a room in his home to edit them and distribute them with Mary Claiborne as his director and editor. Soon his home was becoming a production house with the hiring of other photographers and being asked to produce films for various companies.

In 1976, Bill decided to build a professional recording and film studio next door to his business on 13th street in Tulsa. He enlisted a dentist by the name of Vic Groves to oversee the design of the building and hired the brother of Mary Claiborne, Tom Claiborne. Tom had a recording studio in Los Angeles at that time, which he eventually sold, and moved to Tulsa to assist Vic and become the manager of the studio and productions.

Following the completion of the building and all the equipment in place, Bill hired Jerry Olson away from Universal Studios in Los Angeles to be a photographer and director for Industrial Films that were being done for clients at the time. Tom Claiborne hired Jim Rhodes away from his studio in Missouri to be a recording engineer. Walt Banfield became the chief electrician to hold it all together.

Tulsa Studios became well known throughout the world. It was recognized in Billboard Magazine and numerous Film and Music magazines as well as local publications. Many well known artists recorded works there and many well known personalities used the facility until it was closed in 1990.

The film division of the studio won over 100 international awards for their productions and the recording division was recognized for the first published album of synthesized music in the United States, garnishing a Grammy nomination. The music selected for this album was done by the famous composer, Aaron Copland and debuted at Tulsa University.

Site is coming soon!