A three-page story about Merta and Truman Slothower in the July 4, 1960 issue of Boxoffice included: “The 54 and 81 drive-in theatres were acquired in 1956 from Nu-Vue Theatres of Kansas City. They built the Derby Drive-In, 12 miles south of Wichita, and purchased the Terrace Drive-In from George Sproule and Loren Jones.”
A three-page story about Merta and Truman Slothower in the July 4, 1960 issue of Boxoffice included: “The 54 and 81 drive-in theatres were acquired in 1956 from Nu-Vue Theatres of Kansas City.”
A three-page story about Merta and Truman Slothower in the July 4, 1960 issue of Boxoffice included: “The 54 and 81 drive-in theatres were acquired in 1956 from Nu-Vue Theatres of Kansas City.”
“HELENA, MONT. – Customers attending the Ski-Hi Drive-In Wednesday and Thursday were invited to come to the snack bar and purchase an envelope for 95 cents guaranteed to contain $1, $2, or $5. Some envelopes contained a $5 bill. Only one envelope was sold to a customer. The operators of the drive-in theater said there were no gimmicks and no obligation, that they just wanted to see the customers' smiling faces.” — Boxoffice, July 4, 1960
“A temporary injunction against a used car lot and restaurant adjacent to the Compton Drive-In, a Pacific Drive-In operation, for using brilliant lights to the detriment of the ozoner customers was secured in Superior Court. The action state that the defendants installed the lights after the start of the drive-in to distract patrons of the latter.” — Boxoffice, July 4, 1960
“John Cooper in Antlers … and his brothers E. A. and Bill, and their mother, Mrs. Bessie Cooper, operate the Cooper and Kiamichi Drive-In theatres.” — Boxoffice, June 27, 1960
“W.T. Kerr and wife Janice are operating the Arbuckle Drive-In, Davis, with one girl at the concessions stand. Kerr runs the machines; Mrs. Kerr sells tickets. Sunday-Tuesday they show the biggest and best picture they can buy from Warner and Fox. Thursday-Saturday they show a double feature, one picture of which much be western. They have tried to run without a western on this change but when they do, business drops off 50 per cent. The Kerrs close on Wednesdays and Waite takes off early in the morning for one of the numerous nearby lakes and usually comes back with a fine string of fish.” — Boxoffice, June 27, 1960
“Don and Pat Monson, Chief Drive-In, Rifle, set bookings around (Denver’s Film) Row and then motored on to Mexico on a vacation trip.” — Boxoffice, June 27, 1960
“Ross Campbell was taken over the operation of the Wyo Theatre, Sheridan, Wyo., from Fox Intermountain Theatres. Campbell has been operating the Orpheum Theatre in Sheridan” — Boxoffice, June 27, 1960
“MANKATO, KAS. – When this town was faced with the closing of its one theatre, the Ute, businessmen formed a local corporation and bought it from Mrs. J. D. DeLong, whose husband died in 1938. Then the corporation leased it as of May 29 to Bruce Waugh and his wife. The Waughs, who had previously operated the house, will continue to operate it under the new ownership.” — Boxoffice, June 20, 1960
“CARTHAGE, MO. – The Fox Midwest Theatre Building at 219-221 East Third St. has been purchased by three Springfield business men who said they have no plans to operate the building as a theatre. The Fox was remodeled a few years ago but has been closed several months.” — Boxoffice, June 20, 1960
“Herschel Wheeler has taken over the operation of the Chief Drive-In and Pace Theatre at Gordon, Neb., from the Black Hills Amusement Co.” — Boxoffice, June 20, 1960
BORON, CALIF. – The new 400-car Desert Lake Drive-In has been opened here by Neil Holloway, manager, and his partner, Keith McDowell. The new drive-in features a 34x80-foot screen, the largest outdoor screen in the desert area outside of Lancaster, and is held in place by 50-foot poles. William Deck of Mojave is the projectionist.
The snack bar features chicken and shrimp dinners, pizzas, hot dogs and a full menu of supporting concessions items. Mrs. Saylor is in charge of the kitchen.
Admission is 90 cents for adults and 75 cents for children 12 years old and up. Children under 12 are admitted free when accompanied by their parents. Mrs. Wilma Cummins is in charge of the boxoffice.
Here’s a note to add to the confusion. The June 20, 1960 issue of Boxoffice wrote: “LAS VEGAS, NEV. – The new 700-car Fort Union Drive-In was opened here recently by John Wolfe. A Spanish-language picture is included on each Tuesday night bill.” (That note was also summarized in a retrospective list the following January in Boxoffice.)
Spanish-language films tend to play better in New Mexico than Nevada. And of course, there was never a Fort Union drive-in in Nevada. Which is understandable because the old Fort Union, commemorated in the Fort Union National Monument, was less than 30 miles away from what is now New Mexico’s last active drive-in.
“Charles C. Wolfe was in (Dallas) working with Hardin Theatre Supply Co., the firm installing the equipment for his new Big Sky Drive-In, Carlsbad, N. M.” — Boxoffice, June 13, 1960
“At Harper, Carl Botkin has taken out the first four rows of seats in front of the screen, plays records in the booth, and couples dance before and after the show.” — Boxoffice, June 13, 1960
“The Ritz Theatre, owned by Otto Ingwersen, ceased operations after its show the night of May 28. It is unknown when the theatre will resume.” — Boxoffice, June 13, 1960
Yet another name, from the April 11, 1960 issue of Boxoffice: “Seen along Filmrow … Tommy Shaeffer, Grandee Drive-In, Sullivan, Mo.” The June 13, 1960 issue spelled the name “Tom Shaffer” but still called the drive-in the Grandee.
“The Starlite (sic) at Beardstown, Ill., was closed while repairs were made to the screen tower, following damage by a high wind. The Starlite is owned by the Pirtle company.” — Boxoffice, June 13, 1960
“Fred Stein, Fred Stein Enterprises, acquired the Studio Theatre in San Bernardino, formerly operated by Pacific Drive-In Theatres, effective June 15” — Boxoffice, June 13, 1960
Corral owner Tom Edwards had a side hustle, as noted in this June 6, 1960 note in Boxoffice: “Larry Bichele of American International Pictures called on Tom Edwards at Eldon, Mo., and found Tom getting his Monkey Jungle, which he operates in connection with his drive-in theatre and gift shop, ready for the tourist season.”
The VA, owned and operated by Jack and Jimmie Hull, was mentioned in the May 16, 1960 issue of Boxoffice as one of three Oklahoma drive-ins whose screen towers “were destroyed and other damage sustained” by storms on May 4 & 5 that year.
The Cherokee, operated by Charles Ralls, was mentioned in the May 16, 1960 issue of Boxoffice as one of three Oklahoma drive-ins whose screen towers “were destroyed and other damage sustained” by storms on May 4 & 5 that year.
The Tee Pee was mentioned in the May 16, 1960 issue of Boxoffice as one of three Oklahoma drive-ins whose screen towers “were destroyed and other damage sustained” by storms on May 4 & 5 that year.
A three-page story about Merta and Truman Slothower in the July 4, 1960 issue of Boxoffice included: “The 54 and 81 drive-in theatres were acquired in 1956 from Nu-Vue Theatres of Kansas City. They built the Derby Drive-In, 12 miles south of Wichita, and purchased the Terrace Drive-In from George Sproule and Loren Jones.”
A three-page story about Merta and Truman Slothower in the July 4, 1960 issue of Boxoffice included: “The 54 and 81 drive-in theatres were acquired in 1956 from Nu-Vue Theatres of Kansas City.”
A three-page story about Merta and Truman Slothower in the July 4, 1960 issue of Boxoffice included: “The 54 and 81 drive-in theatres were acquired in 1956 from Nu-Vue Theatres of Kansas City.”
“HELENA, MONT. – Customers attending the Ski-Hi Drive-In Wednesday and Thursday were invited to come to the snack bar and purchase an envelope for 95 cents guaranteed to contain $1, $2, or $5. Some envelopes contained a $5 bill. Only one envelope was sold to a customer. The operators of the drive-in theater said there were no gimmicks and no obligation, that they just wanted to see the customers' smiling faces.” — Boxoffice, July 4, 1960
“A temporary injunction against a used car lot and restaurant adjacent to the Compton Drive-In, a Pacific Drive-In operation, for using brilliant lights to the detriment of the ozoner customers was secured in Superior Court. The action state that the defendants installed the lights after the start of the drive-in to distract patrons of the latter.” — Boxoffice, July 4, 1960
“John Cooper in Antlers … and his brothers E. A. and Bill, and their mother, Mrs. Bessie Cooper, operate the Cooper and Kiamichi Drive-In theatres.” — Boxoffice, June 27, 1960
“W.T. Kerr and wife Janice are operating the Arbuckle Drive-In, Davis, with one girl at the concessions stand. Kerr runs the machines; Mrs. Kerr sells tickets. Sunday-Tuesday they show the biggest and best picture they can buy from Warner and Fox. Thursday-Saturday they show a double feature, one picture of which much be western. They have tried to run without a western on this change but when they do, business drops off 50 per cent. The Kerrs close on Wednesdays and Waite takes off early in the morning for one of the numerous nearby lakes and usually comes back with a fine string of fish.” — Boxoffice, June 27, 1960
“Don and Pat Monson, Chief Drive-In, Rifle, set bookings around (Denver’s Film) Row and then motored on to Mexico on a vacation trip.” — Boxoffice, June 27, 1960
“Ross Campbell was taken over the operation of the Wyo Theatre, Sheridan, Wyo., from Fox Intermountain Theatres. Campbell has been operating the Orpheum Theatre in Sheridan” — Boxoffice, June 27, 1960
“MANKATO, KAS. – When this town was faced with the closing of its one theatre, the Ute, businessmen formed a local corporation and bought it from Mrs. J. D. DeLong, whose husband died in 1938. Then the corporation leased it as of May 29 to Bruce Waugh and his wife. The Waughs, who had previously operated the house, will continue to operate it under the new ownership.” — Boxoffice, June 20, 1960
“CARTHAGE, MO. – The Fox Midwest Theatre Building at 219-221 East Third St. has been purchased by three Springfield business men who said they have no plans to operate the building as a theatre. The Fox was remodeled a few years ago but has been closed several months.” — Boxoffice, June 20, 1960
“Herschel Wheeler has taken over the operation of the Chief Drive-In and Pace Theatre at Gordon, Neb., from the Black Hills Amusement Co.” — Boxoffice, June 20, 1960
From the June 20, 1960 issue of Boxoffice:
BORON, CALIF. – The new 400-car Desert Lake Drive-In has been opened here by Neil Holloway, manager, and his partner, Keith McDowell. The new drive-in features a 34x80-foot screen, the largest outdoor screen in the desert area outside of Lancaster, and is held in place by 50-foot poles. William Deck of Mojave is the projectionist.
The snack bar features chicken and shrimp dinners, pizzas, hot dogs and a full menu of supporting concessions items. Mrs. Saylor is in charge of the kitchen.
Admission is 90 cents for adults and 75 cents for children 12 years old and up. Children under 12 are admitted free when accompanied by their parents. Mrs. Wilma Cummins is in charge of the boxoffice.
Here’s a note to add to the confusion. The June 20, 1960 issue of Boxoffice wrote: “LAS VEGAS, NEV. – The new 700-car Fort Union Drive-In was opened here recently by John Wolfe. A Spanish-language picture is included on each Tuesday night bill.” (That note was also summarized in a retrospective list the following January in Boxoffice.)
Spanish-language films tend to play better in New Mexico than Nevada. And of course, there was never a Fort Union drive-in in Nevada. Which is understandable because the old Fort Union, commemorated in the Fort Union National Monument, was less than 30 miles away from what is now New Mexico’s last active drive-in.
“Charles C. Wolfe was in (Dallas) working with Hardin Theatre Supply Co., the firm installing the equipment for his new Big Sky Drive-In, Carlsbad, N. M.” — Boxoffice, June 13, 1960
“Eugene Moos of Ellinwood … is assuming operation of the drive-in there in addition to the indoor theatre.” — Boxoffice, June 13, 1960
“At Harper, Carl Botkin has taken out the first four rows of seats in front of the screen, plays records in the booth, and couples dance before and after the show.” — Boxoffice, June 13, 1960
“The Ritz Theatre, owned by Otto Ingwersen, ceased operations after its show the night of May 28. It is unknown when the theatre will resume.” — Boxoffice, June 13, 1960
Yet another name, from the April 11, 1960 issue of Boxoffice: “Seen along Filmrow … Tommy Shaeffer, Grandee Drive-In, Sullivan, Mo.” The June 13, 1960 issue spelled the name “Tom Shaffer” but still called the drive-in the Grandee.
“The Starlite (sic) at Beardstown, Ill., was closed while repairs were made to the screen tower, following damage by a high wind. The Starlite is owned by the Pirtle company.” — Boxoffice, June 13, 1960
“Fred Stein, Fred Stein Enterprises, acquired the Studio Theatre in San Bernardino, formerly operated by Pacific Drive-In Theatres, effective June 15” — Boxoffice, June 13, 1960
Corral owner Tom Edwards had a side hustle, as noted in this June 6, 1960 note in Boxoffice: “Larry Bichele of American International Pictures called on Tom Edwards at Eldon, Mo., and found Tom getting his Monkey Jungle, which he operates in connection with his drive-in theatre and gift shop, ready for the tourist season.”
The VA, owned and operated by Jack and Jimmie Hull, was mentioned in the May 16, 1960 issue of Boxoffice as one of three Oklahoma drive-ins whose screen towers “were destroyed and other damage sustained” by storms on May 4 & 5 that year.
The Cherokee, operated by Charles Ralls, was mentioned in the May 16, 1960 issue of Boxoffice as one of three Oklahoma drive-ins whose screen towers “were destroyed and other damage sustained” by storms on May 4 & 5 that year.
The Tee Pee was mentioned in the May 16, 1960 issue of Boxoffice as one of three Oklahoma drive-ins whose screen towers “were destroyed and other damage sustained” by storms on May 4 & 5 that year.