Oct 23, 1982, A sad legacy for this drive in theatre, occured when the body of Theresa Metcalf was discovered on the remains of the old drive in theatre.
For the record, the information under the photo, that the Apollo was “operated by United Artists and Commonwealth Amusements” is misleading.
Spectro theatres (an independent Oklahoma city operation controlled primarily by Maurice Ferris) operated the Apollo Twin when it originally opened in October of 1969. It was later acquired and operated by Commonwealth Theatres until 1988, when the chain was purchased by UA (United Artists).
United Artists essentially operated it as a dollar house until they closed it. A sad end for a once grand theatre.
Except for the fact I found this picture doing research back in the 1990. It had not been seen since it was taken. .
The point is that everyone that is posting the photo as their own is problematic, as none of them know the source. This is the maddening thing about Cinema Treasures. They allow people to post photographs and verbatum text from other sites, and other persons posted elsewhere.
When someone does not quote a source of the photo, that should be a red flag for Cinema Treasures that the person is just posting a purloined picture, from someone else or another drive-in site.
This theatre was never known as the “Three ball Cinema” as another poster asserted, AS you can see from the posted images, especially the article from 1976, the theatre was originally known as the Cinema Vegas Theatre. Nor did it ever have three screens.
AS a poster asserts this drive in was closed by 1969, For the record it’s last showing was Sept 22, 1961 with a showing of “Jet Pilot” and “Conqueror” both with John Wayne.
AS the poster asserts this drive in was closed by 1969, For the record it’s last showing was Sept 22, 1961 with a showing of “Jet Pilot” and “Conqueror” both with John Wayne.
This was NOT the same theatre as the old South Shields Mall twin. Different location in mall, and different company.
And note to Stagehandguy, the link you reference is to WAS a fellow (Rivist) who is well known for copying the work of many other researchers.
The South shields twin opened in Nov of 1979. It was located at 7536 S. Shields, and was originally operated by Grube and company. It closed in Apr of 1986, and was a consistent low performer.
The South Shields 8, AKA Supersavers 8 opened in Feb of 1987 and was located at 7301 S. Shields.
Despite what is offered for the closing date in the initial information about this theatre, The last ad found was on 26 Aug 1977. showing, “Crater lake monster” and “Land of the Minotaur.” This comports with the information provided by 77DX, that the owners of the building sold it in 1977.
Cinema tour states: “Used same chairs, fixtures, and equipment as Academy X & AcademiX. Located in the 3900 block of SW 29th Street.”
Comment apparently added or edited 4/21/2006
The SW 3900 block is right across from the Immanuel Conception church
The Academy aka Academy X was located downtown at 7 North Harvey. .
The Chieftan, which DID show porn was at 3450 SW 29th St
Portland is the beginning of the 3700 block. Tulsa is the 4000 Block. . If it existed, it would have been between these streets.
I am looking at an aerial from 1975 that encompasses the area on SW 29th between Portland and Tulsa. . The entire south side of the street in the 3900 block is an open field. Infact, there is nothing from where Newcastle splits off to Tulsa, that looks like it could have been a motel or cinema…
Mike Rogers,
Just wanted to let you know, they were NOT the same theatre. The AlVA drive in was operated from 14 Jun 50 until Aug of 70, and the Stadium was built SW of the ALVA, due to the land lease expiring and the owner wanting to build a trailer park. The STADIUM was opened 30 July 71.
I can show you an aerial with both theatres present…
All right everyone, not to be rude on this but I am going to call bull on this. .
We have several differing locations listed. .Lauren Grubb posts 3900 block of SE 29, which would have been in Del City on the north side of the street (the south side was all Sunnylane cemetery.) She states it was open from 77 to 92. I graduated Del City High school in 77. The only theatre in town was the old Del City on Epperly drive. It showed R rated moves and was bought out by First southern Baptist to prevent the movies. I would have known if there was a porn theatre in Del city!
Seymorecox mentions the ROSEGLO Ballroom, “It was a part of a shabby motel unit” yet the ROSEGLOW ballroom was at 636 SE 29, Just East of Shields. (Between Lindsey and Durland) There was no motel there…
He then goes on to state, “I do know the next night we went Southwest way to the Chieftain Cinema, and am sure I didn’t see the Dive Inn in that area of town”
I could believe the Chieftan, as it did show porno in 75-79 era. There was the cheap low end Airline motel East of it, but I have a friend that ran the restaurant in the early 80’s. . They have no memory, nor do I. .
Missmelbatoast states, “The Dive Inn Theater was definetly located on SE 29th St, near Trosper Park” Well, closer to del city, But there was no motel between Eastern and Bryant where Trosper park is. Between Eastern and Shields was oilfield business, and I do not recall a theatre there or a motel. Checks of telephone directories at the historical society do not support the idea either…
She states, “The only way to get inside the theater was to go through the motel office…Facing the TV were three rows of theater seats, seven chairs to a row. Behind these rows was the elevated hot tub that sat eight people. Off to one corner was a cedar sauna that was also surrounded by thick foilage.”
Most of the motels that did exist, (there was one on SE 29th East of Sunnylane, but it was torn down in the very early 70’s) and utilized the old style strip architecture which was prevalent in the post war mom and pop motels.
Jessiearcher goes on: “This sleazy eastside joint was still in business at least till 1993 because that was my senior year at U.S. Grant High School…That was also the same year when my best friend and I took a couple of girls from Northwest High to this motel.
The run down motel had a Spanish flavor with a roof that from afar looked like green terra cotta tile…
For the moment the name of this old hacienda escapes me, but since the tall sign was shaped like a green neon suguarro, the name had to be something along the line of El Pinga Grande. Anyway, it had a Spanish moniker."
Ok, there were three spanish styled motels near 44th and Robinson, Alamo Plaza, Odom Annex courts, and on the south side of the street MELROSE courts. But none required entry through an office. .
UNLESS someone can provide something other than hearsay, I am calling BS on this.
Just wanted to let you know, your picture is actually of the “BOMBER” drive in. Same location, but the Barton Family rebuilt it with a different orientation and larger capacity in the early 60’s, renaming it the Soldier creek Drive-in.
Although there was a drive-in at this location, it was the CREST drive in out of HOBART. It was never called the “Rocky” it opened on 5 Jun 1950. If I had a way to add photos I could provide copies of listings in Theatre Catalog, IMPA and and the opening ad.
Oct 23, 1982, A sad legacy for this drive in theatre, occured when the body of Theresa Metcalf was discovered on the remains of the old drive in theatre.
For the record, the information under the photo, that the Apollo was “operated by United Artists and Commonwealth Amusements” is misleading.
Spectro theatres (an independent Oklahoma city operation controlled primarily by Maurice Ferris) operated the Apollo Twin when it originally opened in October of 1969. It was later acquired and operated by Commonwealth Theatres until 1988, when the chain was purchased by UA (United Artists).
United Artists essentially operated it as a dollar house until they closed it. A sad end for a once grand theatre.
There is nothing left of the old theatre to see any more. It was torn down and is now nothing but an empty lot.
MichaelKilgore,
Except for the fact I found this picture doing research back in the 1990. It had not been seen since it was taken. .
The point is that everyone that is posting the photo as their own is problematic, as none of them know the source. This is the maddening thing about Cinema Treasures. They allow people to post photographs and verbatum text from other sites, and other persons posted elsewhere.
When someone does not quote a source of the photo, that should be a red flag for Cinema Treasures that the person is just posting a purloined picture, from someone else or another drive-in site.
Photo © 1982 Daily Oklahoman
This theatre was never known as the “Three ball Cinema” as another poster asserted, AS you can see from the posted images, especially the article from 1976, the theatre was originally known as the Cinema Vegas Theatre. Nor did it ever have three screens.
AS a poster asserts this drive in was closed by 1969, For the record it’s last showing was Sept 22, 1961 with a showing of “Jet Pilot” and “Conqueror” both with John Wayne.
AS the poster asserts this drive in was closed by 1969, For the record it’s last showing was Sept 22, 1961 with a showing of “Jet Pilot” and “Conqueror” both with John Wayne.
Note to MichaelKilgore,
You need to recheck your data. March 6, 1948 was indeed a Friday. Note the advert from the Oklahoman archives on that date:
https://imgur.com/a/D6cxGrH
This was NOT the same theatre as the old South Shields Mall twin. Different location in mall, and different company.
And note to Stagehandguy, the link you reference is to WAS a fellow (Rivist) who is well known for copying the work of many other researchers.
The South shields twin opened in Nov of 1979. It was located at 7536 S. Shields, and was originally operated by Grube and company. It closed in Apr of 1986, and was a consistent low performer.
The South Shields 8, AKA Supersavers 8 opened in Feb of 1987 and was located at 7301 S. Shields.
Wesley Horton
Despite what is offered for the closing date in the initial information about this theatre, The last ad found was on 26 Aug 1977. showing, “Crater lake monster” and “Land of the Minotaur.” This comports with the information provided by 77DX, that the owners of the building sold it in 1977.
Could someone delete the 11 year old dead links to roadsideoklahoma.com and other sites…
How about removing the really helpful niggling comments about the empirical physical address. (Sorry, such conversations are just a waste of time.)
It would be so nice if someone could come along and delete the long dead links to roadsideoklahoma, and other nonsensical isolated comments.
The buildings between where Newcastle breaks off from 29th and portland is a Warehouse. . Notice the Immanual Conception church at 3901 SW 29th.
Cinema tour states: “Used same chairs, fixtures, and equipment as Academy X & AcademiX. Located in the 3900 block of SW 29th Street.”
Comment apparently added or edited 4/21/2006
The SW 3900 block is right across from the Immanuel Conception church
The Academy aka Academy X was located downtown at 7 North Harvey. .
The Chieftan, which DID show porn was at 3450 SW 29th St
Portland is the beginning of the 3700 block.
Tulsa is the 4000 Block. . If it existed, it would have been between these streets.
I am looking at an aerial from 1975 that encompasses the area on SW 29th between Portland and Tulsa. . The entire south side of the street in the 3900 block is an open field. Infact, there is nothing from where Newcastle splits off to Tulsa, that looks like it could have been a motel or cinema…
Two things:
The drive-in theatres in Altus were called the Altus, and Altus West DI… check the ads.
Would a moderator consider removing all the references and links to Roadsideoklahoma as they are all dead and have been for some time.
I agree with Kenmore, there is no evidence this was anything but a walk in theatre.
Mike Rogers, Just wanted to let you know, they were NOT the same theatre. The AlVA drive in was operated from 14 Jun 50 until Aug of 70, and the Stadium was built SW of the ALVA, due to the land lease expiring and the owner wanting to build a trailer park. The STADIUM was opened 30 July 71.
I can show you an aerial with both theatres present…
The 1964 IMPA lists the drive in, but not in Oklahoma. It lists it in Elkhart Kansas The drive in was located wholly within the State of Oklahoma. .
There is no Elkhart Oklahoma. . It has been listed as EVA, Ok in other publications.
All right everyone, not to be rude on this but I am going to call bull on this. .
We have several differing locations listed. .Lauren Grubb posts 3900 block of SE 29, which would have been in Del City on the north side of the street (the south side was all Sunnylane cemetery.) She states it was open from 77 to 92. I graduated Del City High school in 77. The only theatre in town was the old Del City on Epperly drive. It showed R rated moves and was bought out by First southern Baptist to prevent the movies. I would have known if there was a porn theatre in Del city!
Seymorecox mentions the ROSEGLO Ballroom, “It was a part of a shabby motel unit” yet the ROSEGLOW ballroom was at 636 SE 29, Just East of Shields. (Between Lindsey and Durland) There was no motel there…
He then goes on to state, “I do know the next night we went Southwest way to the Chieftain Cinema, and am sure I didn’t see the Dive Inn in that area of town”
I could believe the Chieftan, as it did show porno in 75-79 era. There was the cheap low end Airline motel East of it, but I have a friend that ran the restaurant in the early 80’s. . They have no memory, nor do I. .
Missmelbatoast states, “The Dive Inn Theater was definetly located on SE 29th St, near Trosper Park” Well, closer to del city, But there was no motel between Eastern and Bryant where Trosper park is. Between Eastern and Shields was oilfield business, and I do not recall a theatre there or a motel. Checks of telephone directories at the historical society do not support the idea either…
She states, “The only way to get inside the theater was to go through the motel office…Facing the TV were three rows of theater seats, seven chairs to a row. Behind these rows was the elevated hot tub that sat eight people. Off to one corner was a cedar sauna that was also surrounded by thick foilage.”
Most of the motels that did exist, (there was one on SE 29th East of Sunnylane, but it was torn down in the very early 70’s) and utilized the old style strip architecture which was prevalent in the post war mom and pop motels.
Jessiearcher goes on: “This sleazy eastside joint was still in business at least till 1993 because that was my senior year at U.S. Grant High School…That was also the same year when my best friend and I took a couple of girls from Northwest High to this motel. The run down motel had a Spanish flavor with a roof that from afar looked like green terra cotta tile…
For the moment the name of this old hacienda escapes me, but since the tall sign was shaped like a green neon suguarro, the name had to be something along the line of El Pinga Grande. Anyway, it had a Spanish moniker."
Ok, there were three spanish styled motels near 44th and Robinson, Alamo Plaza, Odom Annex courts, and on the south side of the street MELROSE courts. But none required entry through an office. .
UNLESS someone can provide something other than hearsay, I am calling BS on this.
Just out of curiousity Cimarron, can you tell me the source of this picture?
With Deference to seymourcox The picture you link is of the Airview Drive-in in Tulsa, not the 66/11th Street DI.
There are two links to Rick Cohens aerial identification picture.
Drive-in 54,
Just wanted to let you know, your picture is actually of the “BOMBER” drive in. Same location, but the Barton Family rebuilt it with a different orientation and larger capacity in the early 60’s, renaming it the Soldier creek Drive-in.
Although there was a drive-in at this location, it was the CREST drive in out of HOBART. It was never called the “Rocky” it opened on 5 Jun 1950. If I had a way to add photos I could provide copies of listings in Theatre Catalog, IMPA and and the opening ad.
Wesley Horton
Is this the drive-in where they found the dead girls during the killing spree back in the early 60’s?