Walk outside our gorgeous ballroom lobby and you enter "Celebrity Park," a serene "pocket park" with a fountain and benches. It is a nice place to sit, read and enjoy a cup of coffee.
Coleman Celebrity Park received its name when six individuals were selected for the "Wall of Fame." All six had originally been Miami residents, had achieved national levels of professional accomplishment, and had contributed to the community of Miami. Since then, five more worthy individuals have been added to the "Wall of Fame."
We are now accepting nominations for the "Wall of Fame." If you know someone who was born in Miami, has been recognized for professional accomplishments on a national level, and you wish to sponsor a plaque on the wall to recognize his/her achievements, please e-mail us at colemantheatre@miamiokla.net. We will send you an official nomination form and guide you through the nomination process.
CELEBRITY PARK WALL OF FAME
Charles Banks Wilson: A renowned artist and teacher, he began his career as a teenager making posters for the Coleman Theatre shows where he sketched his now famous painting of Will Rogers live on the Coleman stage. He became head of the Art Department at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College. Today, many of his paintings, lithographs and drawings are displayed in the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C., the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, the Oklahoma State Capitol and the Tulsa Gilcrease Museum of Art.
David Froman: He discovered his love of theatre while simultaneously earning a master’s degree from Pittsburg State University. He later received his doctorate from Kansas University and moved to New York City to pursue a career in acting. He was soon cast as the evil character “Gunther” on the soap opera “The Edge of Night” and later landed a recurring role in the NBC series “Matlock” with Andy Griffith. He returned to teach part-time at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College and to act with Miami Little Theatre on the Coleman stage for many years.
Steve Owens: A top football star, Owens had a record of 4,000 yards rushing at Miami High School. He went on to star at the University of Oklahoma. At OU, he received numerous honors and awards, culminating in the prestigious Heisman Trophy in 1969. He was drafted in the first round of the 1970 NFL draft by the Detroit Lions and was named to the NFL’s All-Pro team in 1971. In 1991, Owens was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame and the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame.
Steve & Cassie Gaines: Miamians Steve and Cassie Gaines were musicians and singers for the legendary rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. Cassie was an original member of the “Honkettes,” the female back-up singers for the band. She helped get her brother, Steve, an audition. Steve wrote some of the famous songs for the band’s 1977 album “Street Survivors.” The siblings died in a plane crash on Oct. 20, 1977, while touring with the band.
Moscelyne Larkin: A Native American, she began her dancing career as a small child on the Coleman stage. At the age of 15, she joined the Original Ballet Russe as a soloist and then a ballerina, touring throughout the world. She and her husband, Roman, formed the Tulsa Civic Ballet and School, now called the Tulsa Ballet Theatre. She was one of the world-famous “Five Indian Ballerinas.” Larkin and four others helped the world recognize the professional talent in ballet dance in America and helped establish the New York Ballet Company. She was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 1978.
Dr. Nick Calcagno: A renowned painter, sculptor and author, he graduated from St. Bonaventure University, earned a M.A. from Seton Hall University and a Ph.D. from Western Colorado University. An educator for 39 years, he was a beloved professor at NEO A&M College, having retired as the chairman of the Fine Arts Department. His artistry is exemplified in his large sculptures such as those of the Golden Norseman on the NEO campus and of Steve Owens in the University of Oklahoma's Heisman Park. His piece depicting Mickey Mantle has been displayed in the Smithsonian Museum. His murals of historic people, places and events are enjoyed throughout Northeast Oklahoma.
David Osborne: A Miami native and MHS graduate of 1976, he received his B.A. from Oral Roberts University, studied graduate piano and organ at Indiana University and earned his M.A. from Pittsburg State University. A Steinway Artist, he gained the title "Pianist to the Presidents," having entertained U.S. Presidents Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush and Barack Obama. at events at the White House and elsewhere on numerous occasions. He has been a featured pianist in Las Vegas for more than 18 years, both at Ceasars Palace and at The Bellagio. The Los Angeles Music Awards organization has honored David with the Hollywood Fame Award, Concert Pianist of the Year and the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award.
Bill Hudson Hastings: Hastings has performed in over 50 theatrical productions, including four Broadway musicals, three National Tours and multiple shows at Radio City Music Hall. He choreographed and directed numerous musicals for U.S., European and Japanese theatre, TV and concert stage, including Carnegie Hall in New York City. As a teacher and lecturer, Hastings is a recipient of several grants -- an NEA/DANA grant to the University of Nebraska, the Willson Center Visiting Artist grant at the University of Georgia and a recurring Artist in Education grant to the State of Arkansas to name a few. He was a contributor to the Jacob's Pillow Jazz Happening, the European 11 Countries Project and the Tony Award winning musical “Fosse.” Hastings, a 1966 Miami High School graduate, is most proud to have played drums in the MHS Wardog Marching Band.
Carol Littleton: One of Hollywood’s most talented and award-winning film editors, Littleton is a 1960 graduate of Miami High School. After graduating with honors from the University of Oklahoma, she completed her master’s thesis at the University of Paris as a Fulbright Scholar in 1969. Her editing career spans 38 years with more than 38 feature films to her credit. Most of them are well known to audiences such as “Body Heat,” “The Big Chill,” “Silverado,” “Places In The Heart,” “The Manchurian Candidate,” “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” (Academy Award nomination), “Tuesdays With Morrie” (Emmy Award) and “China Moon” (directed by her husband and award-winning cinematographer John Bailey, A.S.C.) In 1987, Littleton, A.C.E., was elected President of the Editors Guild and, in the mid-1990s, she and her husband were elected to the Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences – the first time a married couple had served together since Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks. They are still active members of the Academy.
Charles Wayne "Tinker" Owens: Charles Wayne “Tinker” Owens was a multi-sport standout at Miami High School. He played and lettered in football, basketball and track while a Miami Wardog. On the track, he was a state champion in the low and high hurdles, as well as the long jump. He helped guide the MHS basketball team to an undefeated season and Class 3A state championship in 1972, earning All-Tournament Team honors during the state finals. Owens was an All-State and prep All-American football player for the Wardogs where he played wingback and free safety. After graduating from MHS in 1972, Owens went on to the University of Oklahoma where he was named an All-American at wide receiver in 1974 and 1975. He was a part of the OU national championship teams of 1974 and 1975. As a freshman at OU, he was named the Most Valuable Player of the 1972 Sugar Bowl, catching five passes in that game for 132 yards. He finished his OU career with 70 receptions for 1,619 yards and 11 touchdowns. He was drafted in the fourth round by the New Orleans Saints in 1976 and played six seasons in the NFL.
