The Crossroads
of Creativity.
The Crossroads
of Creativity.
The Future of Our Past
The OKPOP Foundation has officially completed the $18 million Heart & Soul Campaign, and the State Treasurer has now approved and certified the pledges, releasing the state’s matching funds. This milestone marks the beginning of OKPOP’s next chapter: exhibit design, fabrication, and the build-out of Oklahoma’s first museum dedicated to the global creative impact of its people.
Hello Friends and Potential Donors,
“You know, this whole campaign wasn’t just about raising $18 million – it was about backing a mission that means something. OKPOP is here to celebrate the crazy amount of creativity that comes out of Oklahoma, to tell the stories of the folks who shaped music, film, and art, and to fire up the next generation to chase their own big dreams. The way people showed up to support this blows me away. Oklahoma should be proud of what’s coming.”
Honorary Campaign Chair
The road to Oz has an Oklahoma connection. 🌈🎬
Born on this day in 1898 in Oklahoma Territory, pioneering film editor Blanche Sewell helped bring one of cinema’s most beloved worlds to life through her work on The Wizard of Oz (1939).
You know Dorothy, the ruby slippers, and the Yellow Brick Road. But you might not know the Oklahoma-born woman who helped weave those performances and images into the adventure we still love today. As the film’s editor, Sewell helped shape its pacing, emotion, and storytelling—the often-invisible artistry that makes movie magic feel effortless.
Her career at MGM also included Grand Hotel (1932), Ziegfeld Girl (1941), and The Pirate (1948). Across dramas, comedies, and musicals, she left a lasting creative imprint on Hollywood’s golden age.
Today, we celebrate Sewell’s birthday and the storytellers whose work lives beyond the spotlight. Her legacy reminds us that there are many ways to create an unforgettable world—and Oklahoma talent has helped take audiences somewhere over the rainbow. 💛
#OKPOP #BlancheSewell #TheWizardOfOz #WomenInFilm #OklahomaCreativity
From an Oklahoma kid fascinated by movie monsters to an Oscar-winning master of makeup! 🎬🧛
Happy birthday to Matthew Mungle, born in Durant and raised in Atoka, whose imagination has helped bring unforgettable characters to life.
Growing up watching Frankenstein, Dracula, and The Mummy, Mungle experimented with his mother’s cosmetics before trying theatrical makeup and prosthetics on family and friends. That childhood curiosity became a career in the art of transformation, earning him an Academy Award alongside Greg Cannom and Michèle Burke for Bram Stoker’s Dracula.
His work spans far beyond monsters, with credits including Edward Scissorhands, Schindler’s List, Ghosts of Mississippi, and Albert Nobbs. Through makeup and prosthetics, Mungle helps actors inhabit their characters and audiences believe in the worlds unfolding onscreen.
Just days before Halloween, we’re celebrating an Oklahoma creative who turned a love of movie magic into a life spent making it. Happy birthday, Matthew! 🎂
#OKPOP #MatthewMungle #OklahomaCreativity #MovieMagic #SpecialEffectsMakeup @matthew.mungle
We recently connected with children’s author and Cherokee Nation citizen Ginger Reno for a Video Interview at OKPOP!
Ginger’s creative journey began with a simple moment of inspiration: watching a young boy become so absorbed in a book that he walked straight into a clothing rack. That moment sparked a dream of writing stories that could capture a reader’s imagination in the same way.
Today, Ginger is the author of Spirit Shadow, Find Her, and The Longest Walk, works that explore identity, cultural heritage, belonging, and the power of storytelling. Her acclaimed middle-grade novel Finder, which addresses the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, earned an Edgar Award nomination and won an Oklahoma Book Award.
During our conversation, Ginger reflected on discovering her creative voice, reconnecting with her Cherokee heritage, the mentors who helped shape her journey, and the importance of treating young readers with empathy, honesty, and respect.
Her advice to aspiring storytellers is a reminder of something we believe deeply at OKPOP:
“There are stories that only you can tell.”
Thank you, Ginger, for sharing your journey with us and helping inspire the next generation of Oklahoma storytellers!
#OKPOP #OklahomaCreativity #GingerReno #OklahomaAuthors @gingerreno_author
Before E.T. could phone home, an Oklahoma storyteller helped bring his story to life. 🎬✨
Happy birthday to Carol Littleton, the acclaimed film editor behind E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial! Her Oscar-nominated work helped shape the rhythm, wonder, and emotional power of one of cinema’s most beloved films.
Born in Oklahoma City and raised in Miami, Oklahoma, Littleton is a University of Oklahoma graduate whose extraordinary career includes The Big Chill, Body Heat, Silverado, Places in the Heart, and The Accidental Tourist. She also earned an Emmy for Tuesdays with Morrie.
In 2024, she received an honorary Oscar recognizing her lasting contributions to the art of film editing. Her legacy extends beyond the screen through her mentorship and advocacy for fellow editors, including her leadership as president of the Motion Picture Editors Guild.
Her work reminds us that storytelling lives in every choice: when to linger, when to cut, and when to let a moment speak for itself.
#OKPOP #CarolLittleton #ET #OklahomaCreativity #FilmEditing OklahomaFilm
🎃 ’Tis the season for a little Oklahoma-connected fright! 👻🍿
Did you know Oklahoma has some seriously spooky connections to horror film history?
From silent-film legend Lon Chaney Sr., whose son was born in Oklahoma City, to that son, Lon Chaney Jr., becoming the iconic Wolf Man, Oklahoma has some fascinating ties to Hollywood’s horror legacy. Tulsa native Heather Langenkamp faced Freddy Krueger, Shawnee-born Brad Pitt became a vampire, and Tulsa’s Bill Hader battled Pennywise the Clown!
And plenty of terrifying tales have been set or filmed right here in the Sooner State.
Looking for something spooky this Halloween season? Here are 16 films with Oklahoma connections:
🎬 London After Midnight (1927)
🎬 The Wolf Man (1941)
🎬 A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
🎬 Interview with the Vampire (1994)
🎬 Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021)
🎬 The Return of the Living Dead (1985)
🎬 Near Dark (1987)
🎬 It Chapter Two (2019)
🎬 Splinter (2008)
🎬 Hold Your Breath (2024)
🎬 Blood Cult (1985)
🎬 Terror at Tenkiller (1986)
🎬 The Pale Door (2020)
🎬 Camp Cold Brook (2018)
🎬 Hellraiser: Judgment (2018)
🎬 What Josiah Saw (2021)
Fun fact: Lon Chaney Sr.‘s London After Midnight is one of cinema’s most legendary lost films. Although no complete print is known to survive, its haunting imagery remains an enduring part of horror history.
From classic monsters and cult slashers to supernatural thrillers and ghostly adventures, Oklahoma has left its mark on the horror genre!
🦇 Now we want to hear from you! What Oklahoma-connected horror or Halloween movie are you watching this month? Did we miss any favorites?
#OKPOP #OklahomaCreativity #OklahomaFilm #Halloween
🎨🌈 Happy Birthday to Oklahoma’s own Mary Blair!
Born on October 21, 1911, in McAlester, Oklahoma, Mary Blair became one of the most influential artists in Disney history, bringing a world of vibrant colors, playful shapes, and extraordinary imagination to life.
Her groundbreaking artwork helped shape beloved Disney classics like Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, and Peter Pan. She also designed the iconic visual world of Disney’s It’s a Small World attraction and illustrated beloved children’s books.
With her bold use of color and unmistakable artistic style, Blair helped redefine the look of animation and inspired generations of artists and storytellers. In 1991, she was posthumously honored as a Disney Legend.
From Oklahoma to the worlds of Disney, Mary Blair reminds us how one person’s imagination can bring wonder to millions.
Today, we celebrate her extraordinary creativity and lasting legacy! ✨
#MaryBlair #OKPOP #OklahomaCreativity #Disney #Animation DisneyHistory OklahomaHistory
🎸 Happy Birthday to the Queen of Rockabilly, Wanda Jackson! 👑
Before rock & roll had found its footing, a young woman from Maud, Oklahoma, was helping change the sound of American music forever.
With her unmistakable growl, fearless stage presence, and a whole lot of Oklahoma grit, Wanda Jackson broke barriers in an industry dominated by men and helped define a new era of rock & roll.
Her journey began on Oklahoma City radio while she was still a teenager. Soon, she was performing alongside country great Hank Thompson, touring with Elvis Presley, and electrifying audiences around the world with unforgettable recordings like “Let’s Have a Party,” “Fujiyama Mama,” and “Funnel of Love.”
From her signature fringe dresses to her fiery vocals, Wanda wasn’t interested in following the rules. She was busy rewriting them.
Inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2009, Wanda’s influence continues to echo through generations of musicians who followed in her footsteps.
Today, we celebrate more than a legendary voice. We celebrate an Oklahoma original who proved that creativity, courage, and a little rebellion can change the world.
Happy 89th birthday, Wanda! ❤️
#WandaJackson #QueenOfRockabilly #Rockabilly #RockAndRoll #OKPOP @wandajofficial
It was a pleasure to connect with Tulsa native and Broadway performer Ben Thompson for a recent OKPOP video interview about his life, career, and creative journey!
From his first stage role as a Boy Munchkin in Theatre Tulsa’s The Wizard of Oz to the bright lights of Broadway, Ben’s remarkable career has included productions of American Idiot, Matilda, Waitress, and more.
During our conversation, Ben reflected on the family, teachers, and Oklahoma arts community who helped shape his journey, along with the persistence, hard work, collaboration, and courage it takes to build a life in the performing arts.
One of our favorite takeaways from Ben was his reminder to aspiring creatives:
“Other people’s successes are not your failures. There’s enough success out there for everyone.”
We’re grateful to Ben for sharing his story, his wisdom, and his encouragement for the next generation of performers and storytellers. His journey is another wonderful reminder of the creative talent that comes from Oklahoma and the many people who help make those journeys possible.
Thank you, Ben, for being part of the OKPOP story!
#OKPOP #OklahomaCreativity #BenThompson #Broadway #Tulsa @itsbenthompson
Donate
Your charitable donation directly contributes to OKPOP’s future, we are grateful for your support! Donations to support the OKPOP Museum may be made to the OKPOP Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Donations are tax deductible as allowed by law.
Donations may be made through the secure online donation form or mailed to:
OKPOP Foundation
422 North Main Street
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74103
If you have questions about additional gifting options, please contact Abby Kurin at akurin@okpopfoundation.org
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