Fans of The Outsiders can walk the halls of Will Rogers High School and watch the Tulsa-filmed classic on the big screen Nov. 7, when the Will Rogers High School Community Foundation hosts a day built around the movie's local roots. Doors open at 10 a.m. for a meet-and-greet with extras who appeared in the original film, with the screening itself starting at 1 p.m. in the school's auditorium.
The gathering, called Inside the Outsiders — 60th Anniversary Event, is organized through the Will Rogers High School Community Foundation, which says attendees can also tour places at the school connected to the story and the film. Beyond the screening, organizers describe a chance to hear behind-the-scenes stories and memories directly from people who appeared as extras when the movie was shot. Seating is limited, and concessions will be on hand for anyone settling in for the show, according to the foundation.
A Day Built Around Tulsa's Connection to the Film
The event's framing ties directly back to Will Rogers High School itself, since author S.E. Hinton graduated from the school in 1966, as reported by The Journal Record. Hinton's 1967 coming-of-age novel became the basis for the 1983 film, which The Oklahoman notes was directed by Francis Ford Coppola and filmed on location in Tulsa. That history is part of why the foundation is centering the day on more than just a movie screening.
The Journal Record reports that the event will focus on the movie, the history behind the story and the Tulsa locations featured in the film. Event coordinator Heather Buffington described the gathering, per a press release cited by TulsaPeople, as a day devoted to the movie, the history behind the story and the Tulsa locations that helped bring The Outsiders to life.
Fundraiser Supports School Programs
The screening doubles as a fundraiser, with the Journal Record noting it's one of several events the foundation organizes to support the school's arts, administration, academics, activities, athletics and scholarships. Tickets can be purchased through the foundation's Inside the Outsiders page, according to Peer Group Music.
For a city where The Outsiders remains a point of local pride, the Nov. 7 event offers a rare chance to pair the film with the actual hallways and faces tied to its origins. Between the morning meet-and-greet, the school tours and the afternoon screening, organizers are positioning the day as both a tribute to Hinton's Tulsa roots and a boost for the school community that inspired her story.
