Billboard, Aug. 14, 1954: “Vandals shattered the electric sign at the entrance of the Jet Drive-In Theater, Big Springs (sic), Tex. Rocks were thrown against the sign causing extensive damage.”
Hi Ken. Thanks for mentioning your sources to spare me from checking. I didn’t see any Meriden drive-ins in any of the Motion Picture Almanacs that I checked. Although other Billboard notes I’ve read have checked out okay, I don’t especially endorse this one. Although I found a follow-up note in the July 24 Billboard: “An August 1 opening is planned for the drive-in being built at Meriden, Conn., by Nick
Kounaris and Paul Tolis. Car capacity has been increased from original figure of 815 to 900, with screen to measure over 100 feet wide. Construction cost is estimated at $150,000.”
IF you believe these notes, this drive-in wasn’t just planned, it was actively under construction and within weeks of opening. A 1966 aerial photo shows that a former orchard (as of a 1950 aerial) behind the theater had become cleared land, but that weak hint is the only other indication I’ve seen that there was ever a drive-in being built on that site.
It’s likely that Something Happened, and the full account of that Something could make a fun anecdote in the story of the Showplace of Central Connecticut. I hope that Billboard’s short note is a springboard for historical research some day.
Billboard, July 24, 1954: “One of the first drive-in theaters in the country, E. M. Loew’s 850-car capacity Milford (Conn.) Drive-In, is to undergo extensive remodeling, including installation of a 76-foot-wide screen, according to George E. Landers, the circuit’s Hartford, Conn., division manager. The theater will have a new concession building, lounges and relandscaping.”
Billboard, July 17, 1954: “A. M. Gaines. owner of Bronco Drive-In, Beeville, Tex., has announced he will build a second drive-in on the Refugio Highway near that city. Gaines will install wide screens in both theaters.”
The highway to Refugio is Texas 202, but even in a 1974 USGS aerial, I can’t find a trace of a drive-in. My guesses would be either the housing development that starts at 2101 Lexington Rd, or where the new US 181 now crosses 202. Neither was there in a 1956 topo map but both were there in the 1974 aerial.
Kenmore, nice digging. I just posted a piece of a USGS photo from January 1955. In that larger photo of the whole town, the 816 S Cedar Ave location is the only drive-in; the Vaello Ave site was still unimproved. Also, the Cedar drive-in was smaller than the Vaello drive-in, and the guides all say the Pioneer was larger. I feel pretty confident that Tito’s was south, not east, of Hebbronville.
Billboard, July 17, 1954: “About 1100 feet of pipe was laid by the Twin Peak Drive-In, Alpine, Tex., to pipe water from nearby well. Previously the water was hauled in.”
Haar’s leases its land, and that landowner has put up a For Sale sign. Nobody has been able to get the landowner on record, but Haar’s’s (how do you type that?) owner Vickie Hardy said she was “completely caught off-guard” by the development. WHTM ran a news story with plenty of great views of the drive-in.
Billboard, June 26, 1954: “Bobbie Harris, manager of the Fiesta Drive-In, El Paso, was knocked down in a clash with a picket. The drive-in was being picketed following dispute over the discharge of a projectionist.”
This didn’t go as quickly as planned, but here’s the first announcement in Billboard on July 10, 1954: “Arthur Meiling, city manager of Long Theaters, Port Lavaca, Tex., has announced that the Port Drive-In there will be converted into a 1,600-car twin-screen drive-in. The project is expected to be completed by September 1 and will cost around $70,000.”
Almost a year later, the June 25, 1955 issue of Billboard noted: “The Port Lavaca Drive-In Theater at Port Lavaca, Tex., is being converted into a twin screen operation by the owner and operator, J. G. Long.”
The aerial photo here at CT is clearly a twin, so it deserves credit for two screens.
Centennial Drive-In, a new Denver open-airer said to be the largest west of the Mississippi, held a gala opening April 17. The project boasts a $500,000 installation of twin screens and sterophonic sound and has a capacity of 1,300 cars plus seating facilities for 500 additional customers. In addition, there is a complete kiddieland having a $500,000 miniature train installation. Site is the 60 acres of landscaped land comprising the area’s biggest race track. Owned by Television Theaters, Inc., headed by Tom Bailey, Ralph Batschelet and Gerald Schlessman, the theater received heavy publicity via radio, TV, newspapers and screen plugs in other company-owned theaters in advance of the opening. Initial attraction was “The Robe.” More than 4,000 prizes, including a Chevrolet, were given in a contest to name the theater’s concession stand. A remote TV show was also presented in connection with the opening.
And more details in the June 5, 1954 issue:
At Easter, Television Theaters, Inc., opened with a new twin screen, stereophonic sound drive-in, located on part of Denver’s swank Centennial Park race track. Recently Ralph Batschelet, general manager, announced the addition of Zero’s Hollywood Circus as part of the children’s playground. The miniature circus tent will feature cartoons for kiddies who pay only a dime after being admitted to the theater free.
I’m guessing that Batschelet was sending regular notices to Billboard, since he turned up again on July 10:
Ralph Batschelet’s Centennial Drive-In, Denver, is looking for big business thru the summer as the racing season gets under way. Located on part of the grounds of the West’s most modern track, the Centennial is a natural to draw not only the regular patronage of tourists and natives, but also horsemen in town for the 100-day running season. Excellent publicity and promotion has developed good trade for the twin screen drive-in. Participating spots on local TV shows, along with passes to teen-agers participating in the shows, live acts and other gimmicks has made the Centennial formidable competition. Last week, in addition to the usual twin-feature bill. Batschelet brought in Morey Burbank, aerial artist, for an intermission act, as well as to Mr. Zero. midget employee, who takes kiddies for rides in his small car, gives them postcards and does a generally good job of appealing to the kid trade.
Billboard, July 10, 1954: “The Blue Sky Drive-In at Pontiac, Mich., is installing a huge attraction board, 40 feet long by 27 high, said to be the largest for an outdoor theater in the State.”
Billboard, July 3, 1954: “Andalusia (Pa.) Drive-In opened with 20th Century-Fox’s CinemaScope "The Robe.” The open-airer, built by the Kauffman brothers and Laska, is the first in this part of the territory to play CinemaScope. The feature will be presented in single-track magnetic sound thru the use of a mixer. The theater is being serviced by the Theater Service Company, buying and booking agency operated by Earl M. Sweigert, Philadelphia."
Owner info from the July 3, 1954 issue of Billboard: “White Rock Terrace Drive-In has been opened at Dallas by Robert Hartgrove and Joan Holt. The drive-in has a 600-car capacity.”
HistoricAerials.com has a useful Compare feature for superimposing new aerial photos over old ones. Kennerado is on target – that rectangular building is the same shape and in the same location on the site as the original projection / concession building.
Apparently late news from Billboard, June 26, 1954: “Three Regina, Sask., businessmen, T. Berenbaum Sr., I. Berenbaum Sr. and Max Lifshitz have opened the city’s newest drive-in, the Starlite. Theater covers 20 acres and accommodates 750 cars.”
Also in the same issue: “New government regulations for theaters in
Saskatchewan include a provision against drive-ins being built within two miles of each other.”
From Billboard, June 26, 1954: “Triple swimming pools are part of a $50,000 improvement program under way at the Lone Star and Samuel Bolevard (sic) Drive-In theaters at Dallas. Other improvements include picnic patios, panoramic screens, booth equipment and general repainting and renovating. Each of the drive-ins will have three pools, two for kids and one for adults. Use of the pools and picnic patios will be free to patrons.”
From Billboard, June 26, 1954: “Triple swimming pools are part of a $50,000 improvement program under way at the Lone Star and Samuel Bolevard (sic) Drive-In theaters at Dallas. Other improvements include picnic patios, panoramic screens, booth equipment and general repainting and renovating. Each of the drive-ins will have three pools, two for kids and one for adults. Use of the pools and picnic patios will be free to patrons.”
From the June 19, 1954 issue of Billboard: “In Dagsboro, Del., Alfred W. Goodyear, owner of the Dagsboro Drive-In, was held under $500 bail on each of two charges of exhibiting indecent pictures. State police said they visited the drive-in after receiving complaints about the show. After looking for a time at what they termed burlesque-style motion pictures, they stopped the show and confiscated the film. Goodyear was arraigned in Sussex County Court and held for further hearing.”
From the June 12, 1954 issue of Billboard: “V. E. Hamm has purchased the Hunt and Trail Drive-In theaters, Greenville, Tex., from his brother, M. E. Hamm. Monroe Wright has been named manager.”
From the June 12, 1954 issue of Billboard: “V. E. Hamm has purchased the Hunt and Trail Drive-In theaters, Greenville, Tex., from his brother, M. E. Hamm. Monroe Wright has been named manager.”
On June 5, 1954, Billboard reported that the Meriden’s owners were building a drive-in in back. “A new $125,000 drive-in with capacity for 815 cars, now being erected at Meriden, Conn., will have a screen measuring 120 feet wide. Nick Kounaris and Paul Tolis, partners in Kounaris and Tolis Theaters, are building the project in the rear of their first-run Meriden Theater. July completion is planned.”
The 1952-54 editions of the Theatre Catalog listed the 77 as owned by Woodrow Good and George Clements. The 1955-56 edition had the owner as W. A. Smith. Billboard magazine filled in the connection on June 5, 1954: “Mr. and Mrs. Wilford A. Smith have purchased Cameron (Tex.) Drive-In. The Smiths come from Temple where they operated a theater for 10 years.”
More hints from the June 5, 1954 issue of Billboard: “Rocket Drive-In, San Angelo, Tex., which was extensively damaged by high winds for the second time this year, is being remodeled and will be equipped to show CinemaScope, according to John D. Jones.”
Billboard, Aug. 14, 1954: “Vandals shattered the electric sign at the entrance of the Jet Drive-In Theater, Big Springs (sic), Tex. Rocks were thrown against the sign causing extensive damage.”
Billboard, July 31, 1954: “Mrs. Jerry Reynolds recently purchased the Rocket Drive-In at Strawn, Tex.”
Hi Ken. Thanks for mentioning your sources to spare me from checking. I didn’t see any Meriden drive-ins in any of the Motion Picture Almanacs that I checked. Although other Billboard notes I’ve read have checked out okay, I don’t especially endorse this one. Although I found a follow-up note in the July 24 Billboard: “An August 1 opening is planned for the drive-in being built at Meriden, Conn., by Nick Kounaris and Paul Tolis. Car capacity has been increased from original figure of 815 to 900, with screen to measure over 100 feet wide. Construction cost is estimated at $150,000.”
IF you believe these notes, this drive-in wasn’t just planned, it was actively under construction and within weeks of opening. A 1966 aerial photo shows that a former orchard (as of a 1950 aerial) behind the theater had become cleared land, but that weak hint is the only other indication I’ve seen that there was ever a drive-in being built on that site.
It’s likely that Something Happened, and the full account of that Something could make a fun anecdote in the story of the Showplace of Central Connecticut. I hope that Billboard’s short note is a springboard for historical research some day.
Billboard, July 24, 1954: “One of the first drive-in theaters in the country, E. M. Loew’s 850-car capacity Milford (Conn.) Drive-In, is to undergo extensive remodeling, including installation of a 76-foot-wide screen, according to George E. Landers, the circuit’s Hartford, Conn., division manager. The theater will have a new concession building, lounges and relandscaping.”
Billboard, July 17, 1954: “A. M. Gaines. owner of Bronco Drive-In, Beeville, Tex., has announced he will build a second drive-in on the Refugio Highway near that city. Gaines will install wide screens in both theaters.”
The highway to Refugio is Texas 202, but even in a 1974 USGS aerial, I can’t find a trace of a drive-in. My guesses would be either the housing development that starts at 2101 Lexington Rd, or where the new US 181 now crosses 202. Neither was there in a 1956 topo map but both were there in the 1974 aerial.
Kenmore, nice digging. I just posted a piece of a USGS photo from January 1955. In that larger photo of the whole town, the 816 S Cedar Ave location is the only drive-in; the Vaello Ave site was still unimproved. Also, the Cedar drive-in was smaller than the Vaello drive-in, and the guides all say the Pioneer was larger. I feel pretty confident that Tito’s was south, not east, of Hebbronville.
Billboard, July 17, 1954: “Tito Munoz has opened the Tito’s Drive-In at Hebbronville, Tex. Munoz will feature Spanish-language films.”
Billboard, July 17, 1954: “About 1100 feet of pipe was laid by the Twin Peak Drive-In, Alpine, Tex., to pipe water from nearby well. Previously the water was hauled in.”
Haar’s leases its land, and that landowner has put up a For Sale sign. Nobody has been able to get the landowner on record, but Haar’s’s (how do you type that?) owner Vickie Hardy said she was “completely caught off-guard” by the development. WHTM ran a news story with plenty of great views of the drive-in.
Billboard, June 26, 1954: “Bobbie Harris, manager of the Fiesta Drive-In, El Paso, was knocked down in a clash with a picket. The drive-in was being picketed following dispute over the discharge of a projectionist.”
This didn’t go as quickly as planned, but here’s the first announcement in Billboard on July 10, 1954: “Arthur Meiling, city manager of Long Theaters, Port Lavaca, Tex., has announced that the Port Drive-In there will be converted into a 1,600-car twin-screen drive-in. The project is expected to be completed by September 1 and will cost around $70,000.”
Almost a year later, the June 25, 1955 issue of Billboard noted: “The Port Lavaca Drive-In Theater at Port Lavaca, Tex., is being converted into a twin screen operation by the owner and operator, J. G. Long.”
The aerial photo here at CT is clearly a twin, so it deserves credit for two screens.
Larger chunk in the May 8, 1954 Billboard:
Centennial Drive-In, a new Denver open-airer said to be the largest west of the Mississippi, held a gala opening April 17. The project boasts a $500,000 installation of twin screens and sterophonic sound and has a capacity of 1,300 cars plus seating facilities for 500 additional customers. In addition, there is a complete kiddieland having a $500,000 miniature train installation. Site is the 60 acres of landscaped land comprising the area’s biggest race track. Owned by Television Theaters, Inc., headed by Tom Bailey, Ralph Batschelet and Gerald Schlessman, the theater received heavy publicity via radio, TV, newspapers and screen plugs in other company-owned theaters in advance of the opening. Initial attraction was “The Robe.” More than 4,000 prizes, including a Chevrolet, were given in a contest to name the theater’s concession stand. A remote TV show was also presented in connection with the opening.
And more details in the June 5, 1954 issue:
At Easter, Television Theaters, Inc., opened with a new twin screen, stereophonic sound drive-in, located on part of Denver’s swank Centennial Park race track. Recently Ralph Batschelet, general manager, announced the addition of Zero’s Hollywood Circus as part of the children’s playground. The miniature circus tent will feature cartoons for kiddies who pay only a dime after being admitted to the theater free.
I’m guessing that Batschelet was sending regular notices to Billboard, since he turned up again on July 10:
Ralph Batschelet’s Centennial Drive-In, Denver, is looking for big business thru the summer as the racing season gets under way. Located on part of the grounds of the West’s most modern track, the Centennial is a natural to draw not only the regular patronage of tourists and natives, but also horsemen in town for the 100-day running season. Excellent publicity and promotion has developed good trade for the twin screen drive-in. Participating spots on local TV shows, along with passes to teen-agers participating in the shows, live acts and other gimmicks has made the Centennial formidable competition. Last week, in addition to the usual twin-feature bill. Batschelet brought in Morey Burbank, aerial artist, for an intermission act, as well as to Mr. Zero. midget employee, who takes kiddies for rides in his small car, gives them postcards and does a generally good job of appealing to the kid trade.
Billboard, July 10, 1954: “The Blue Sky Drive-In at Pontiac, Mich., is installing a huge attraction board, 40 feet long by 27 high, said to be the largest for an outdoor theater in the State.”
Billboard, July 3, 1954: “Andalusia (Pa.) Drive-In opened with 20th Century-Fox’s CinemaScope "The Robe.” The open-airer, built by the Kauffman brothers and Laska, is the first in this part of the territory to play CinemaScope. The feature will be presented in single-track magnetic sound thru the use of a mixer. The theater is being serviced by the Theater Service Company, buying and booking agency operated by Earl M. Sweigert, Philadelphia."
Owner info from the July 3, 1954 issue of Billboard: “White Rock Terrace Drive-In has been opened at Dallas by Robert Hartgrove and Joan Holt. The drive-in has a 600-car capacity.”
HistoricAerials.com has a useful Compare feature for superimposing new aerial photos over old ones. Kennerado is on target – that rectangular building is the same shape and in the same location on the site as the original projection / concession building.
Apparently late news from Billboard, June 26, 1954: “Three Regina, Sask., businessmen, T. Berenbaum Sr., I. Berenbaum Sr. and Max Lifshitz have opened the city’s newest drive-in, the Starlite. Theater covers 20 acres and accommodates 750 cars.”
Also in the same issue: “New government regulations for theaters in Saskatchewan include a provision against drive-ins being built within two miles of each other.”
From Billboard, June 26, 1954: “Triple swimming pools are part of a $50,000 improvement program under way at the Lone Star and Samuel Bolevard (sic) Drive-In theaters at Dallas. Other improvements include picnic patios, panoramic screens, booth equipment and general repainting and renovating. Each of the drive-ins will have three pools, two for kids and one for adults. Use of the pools and picnic patios will be free to patrons.”
From Billboard, June 26, 1954: “Triple swimming pools are part of a $50,000 improvement program under way at the Lone Star and Samuel Bolevard (sic) Drive-In theaters at Dallas. Other improvements include picnic patios, panoramic screens, booth equipment and general repainting and renovating. Each of the drive-ins will have three pools, two for kids and one for adults. Use of the pools and picnic patios will be free to patrons.”
From the June 19, 1954 issue of Billboard: “In Dagsboro, Del., Alfred W. Goodyear, owner of the Dagsboro Drive-In, was held under $500 bail on each of two charges of exhibiting indecent pictures. State police said they visited the drive-in after receiving complaints about the show. After looking for a time at what they termed burlesque-style motion pictures, they stopped the show and confiscated the film. Goodyear was arraigned in Sussex County Court and held for further hearing.”
From the June 12, 1954 issue of Billboard: “V. E. Hamm has purchased the Hunt and Trail Drive-In theaters, Greenville, Tex., from his brother, M. E. Hamm. Monroe Wright has been named manager.”
From the June 12, 1954 issue of Billboard: “V. E. Hamm has purchased the Hunt and Trail Drive-In theaters, Greenville, Tex., from his brother, M. E. Hamm. Monroe Wright has been named manager.”
On June 5, 1954, Billboard reported that the Meriden’s owners were building a drive-in in back. “A new $125,000 drive-in with capacity for 815 cars, now being erected at Meriden, Conn., will have a screen measuring 120 feet wide. Nick Kounaris and Paul Tolis, partners in Kounaris and Tolis Theaters, are building the project in the rear of their first-run Meriden Theater. July completion is planned.”
The 1952-54 editions of the Theatre Catalog listed the 77 as owned by Woodrow Good and George Clements. The 1955-56 edition had the owner as W. A. Smith. Billboard magazine filled in the connection on June 5, 1954: “Mr. and Mrs. Wilford A. Smith have purchased Cameron (Tex.) Drive-In. The Smiths come from Temple where they operated a theater for 10 years.”
More hints from the June 5, 1954 issue of Billboard: “Rocket Drive-In, San Angelo, Tex., which was extensively damaged by high winds for the second time this year, is being remodeled and will be equipped to show CinemaScope, according to John D. Jones.”