Sounds like the King was long gone by this note in the May 9, 1960 issue of Boxoffice: “Dan McCarthy gave a glowing account to B&H Mfrs. Associates on the trampoline and Go-Kary center he has opened on the former King Drive-In Theatre site at San Marcos. He has called the center Bounceville.”
KAUKAUNA, WIS. – The 23-year-old Rialto and the Tower Outdoor theatres have been purchased from Harry Melcher of United Theatres, Milwaukee, by Marcus Theatres Management Co., for an undisclosed amount. The Tower Outdoor, north of Highway 41 between Kaukauna and Little Chute, has been a Marcus theatre on an operating rental basis for the last five years.
“BROOKVILLE, PA. – The Moonlite Drive-In near here has been sold by Orville Hollobaugh to Richard Neff. Neff operates the Super 220 Drive-In near Altoona and he is widely known in the trade as manager of the Wilson Theatres of Tyrone, Pa.” — Boxoffice, May 2, 1960
“CORPUS CHRISTI – The Boulevard Drive-In screen is now within ten feet of the highway, which passes the front of theatre, as a result of a highway widening project.” — Boxoffice, April 11, 1960
The May 2, 1960 Boxoffice elaborated on that news. “The Boulevard Drive-In at Corpus Christi will be closed as a result of widening the highway between Chapman Ranch road and the Charide Drive-In in Flour Bluff. Don Skewis of the state highway department said the project will be completed in August.”
“Four theatres (owned by Claude Ezell & Associates) will get complete resurfacing this year, including the Buckner Drive-In here. The Buckner also is to have a complete decoration job on its screen building, concession stand, fences and playground equipment as well as a new clown mural for the face of the building. Work has been completed on two new ramps at the Buckner, adding more than 200 cars to its present capacity and making this theatre one of the largest airers in this city.” — Boxoffice, May 2, 1960
A new owner by the start of the 1960 season, per Boxoffice, May 2 that year: “Ed Harris opened the Edgewood Drive-In at Neosho April 14 and closed the Orpheum downtown house.”
“Clarence Files has taken over the operation of the Starlite Drive-In, Grand Junction, from the former operator William Moore.” — Boxoffice, May 2, 1960
“Joe Bronstein, Sierra Family Drive-In in Sierra Vista, Ariz., was a visitor to (Los Angeles Film) Row conferring with his booker and buyer, Earle Johnson.” — Boxoffice, May 2, 1960
“TUSCOLA, ILL. – Kerasotes Theatres of Springfield has purchased the Strand Theatre and the Tuscola Drive-In from George Barber, who is retiring from the theatre business.” — Boxoffice, April 25, 1960
I wonder if this news in the April 25, 1960 issue of Boxoffice led to the sale: “One of the casualties of the recent windstorms was the screen tower of Glen Krock’s drive-in at Neodesha, Kas.”
“Construction had begun at the 63rd Street Drive-In to expand its car capacity to 1,500 cars. The screen tower will be a new entrance road and a third boxoffice. The expansion will cost around $200,000 in 18 months.” — Boxoffice, April 25, 1960
McPHERSON, KAS. – Glen Cooper of Dodge City and Robert Woodson of Jefferson City have bought the Starview Drive-In one and a half miles north of town on U.S. 81. An Easter opening was planned by the new owners. V. C. Anderson had owned the 81 (sic) since spring of 1949.
Mr. and Mrs. Woodson have moved to McPherson from Jefferson City, since Woodson will be the resident manager. He has had 14 years of experience in theatre operation. Cooper owns and operated theatres in Dodge City and Hays. Remodeling carried out before the opening included installing a 90-foot widescreen, to replace the former 60-foot screen, remodeling of the snack bar and redecoration.
“Lou Siebert has taken over the Joyce Drive-In and reopened on the 14th. Siebert has had lots of experience in the motion picture business, having run theatres all over the south and has been a film salesman for many of the film companies. He has put in a widescreen, and has repainted the entire screen tower, fence and concession stand.” — Boxoffice, April 18, 1960
“Busy as a cranberry merchant was Dick Crumpler at Checotah. He operates the Gentry there as was getting ready to reopen his 69 Drive-In. Several weeks ago during a high wind, his screen tower was blown back to about a 45-degree angle. He is busy getting it back in shape and has repainted the tower and the surrounding fence, as well as the concession stand in a bright pink.” — Boxoffice, April 18, 1960
Season-opener note from the April 18, 1960 issue of Boxoffice: “Bill Slepka … was busy getting his Jewel Drive-In in shape for his opening on the 15th.”
Boxoffice ran an obituary for Walter “Watt” Long in its April 18, 1960 issue. “About five years ago he erected the Hollis Drive-In about a mile from the downtown section. About the time he took ill he turned over the two theatre properties (including the indoor Watt) … to his assistant in show business, Raymond Patton, who now operates them.”
“Fred Munson is busily engaged in refurbishing the 166 Drive-In at Arkansas City, preparatory to opening it this spring after two seasons during which it has been idle.” — Boxoffice, Feb. 22, 1960
“Fred Munson … who lives at Arkansas City, has just reopened the 166 Drive-In which has been closed for two years. Extensive remodeling was done which included three pairs of CinemaScope lenses.” — Boxoffice, April 18, 1960
From the April 18, 1960 issue of Boxoffice: “The Lyons Drive-In was purchased by Fred Munson, effective March 15, from Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Peterson. Munson did extensive remodeling before opening up, installing a Ross-Temp icebreaker, a new drink machine and corrugated galvanized iron on the screen before repainting it.”
“Ross Campbell, operating the Orpheum Theatre, Sheridan, Wyo., has purchased the Skyline Drive-In in that city from Richard Bennett.” — Boxoffice, April 18, 1960
“Wendell Peck will manage the Parsons Drive-In for Louis Stein and supervise the Stein Twilight in Baxter Springs. Peck has been with Stein for the last five years, living in Baxter Springs, but has moved with his family to Parsons. Commonwealth Theatres operated the Stein theatres the last two years under a lease arrangement which expired March 1.” — Boxoffice, April 11, 1960
“Another show place has been torn down to make way for a parking lot. The Rialto, which was built in Tonkawa in the late 1930s, has been sold to a real estate company. The theatre has been closed for several years.” — Boxoffice, April 4, 1960
“LINDSAY, OKLA. – F. B. Garrett, Chevrolet dealer in Lindsay and in recent years at Enid, has purchased the Waldron Theater and the Hillcrest Drive-In here from the Waldron estate. Jep Holman, whose wife was the late Avece Waldron, managed the properties till Garrett took over.” — Boxoffice, April 4, 1960
“JACKSONVILLE, ILL. – The Frisina Amusement Co. of Springfield has taken over operation of the 67 Drive-In from the Betty Amusement Co., marking the return to this city of the Frisina circuit, which was founded here 33 years ago. Howard Busey will remain as manager of the 67 Drive-In, located just south of town.” — Boxoffice, April 4, 1960
Sounds like the King was long gone by this note in the May 9, 1960 issue of Boxoffice: “Dan McCarthy gave a glowing account to B&H Mfrs. Associates on the trampoline and Go-Kary center he has opened on the former King Drive-In Theatre site at San Marcos. He has called the center Bounceville.”
From the May 9, 1960 issue of Boxoffice:
KAUKAUNA, WIS. – The 23-year-old Rialto and the Tower Outdoor theatres have been purchased from Harry Melcher of United Theatres, Milwaukee, by Marcus Theatres Management Co., for an undisclosed amount. The Tower Outdoor, north of Highway 41 between Kaukauna and Little Chute, has been a Marcus theatre on an operating rental basis for the last five years.
“BROOKVILLE, PA. – The Moonlite Drive-In near here has been sold by Orville Hollobaugh to Richard Neff. Neff operates the Super 220 Drive-In near Altoona and he is widely known in the trade as manager of the Wilson Theatres of Tyrone, Pa.” — Boxoffice, May 2, 1960
“CORPUS CHRISTI – The Boulevard Drive-In screen is now within ten feet of the highway, which passes the front of theatre, as a result of a highway widening project.” — Boxoffice, April 11, 1960
The May 2, 1960 Boxoffice elaborated on that news. “The Boulevard Drive-In at Corpus Christi will be closed as a result of widening the highway between Chapman Ranch road and the Charide Drive-In in Flour Bluff. Don Skewis of the state highway department said the project will be completed in August.”
“Four theatres (owned by Claude Ezell & Associates) will get complete resurfacing this year, including the Buckner Drive-In here. The Buckner also is to have a complete decoration job on its screen building, concession stand, fences and playground equipment as well as a new clown mural for the face of the building. Work has been completed on two new ramps at the Buckner, adding more than 200 cars to its present capacity and making this theatre one of the largest airers in this city.” — Boxoffice, May 2, 1960
A new owner by the start of the 1960 season, per Boxoffice, May 2 that year: “Ed Harris opened the Edgewood Drive-In at Neosho April 14 and closed the Orpheum downtown house.”
“Clarence Files has taken over the operation of the Starlite Drive-In, Grand Junction, from the former operator William Moore.” — Boxoffice, May 2, 1960
“Joe Bronstein, Sierra Family Drive-In in Sierra Vista, Ariz., was a visitor to (Los Angeles Film) Row conferring with his booker and buyer, Earle Johnson.” — Boxoffice, May 2, 1960
“TUSCOLA, ILL. – Kerasotes Theatres of Springfield has purchased the Strand Theatre and the Tuscola Drive-In from George Barber, who is retiring from the theatre business.” — Boxoffice, April 25, 1960
I wonder if this news in the April 25, 1960 issue of Boxoffice led to the sale: “One of the casualties of the recent windstorms was the screen tower of Glen Krock’s drive-in at Neodesha, Kas.”
“Construction had begun at the 63rd Street Drive-In to expand its car capacity to 1,500 cars. The screen tower will be a new entrance road and a third boxoffice. The expansion will cost around $200,000 in 18 months.” — Boxoffice, April 25, 1960
From the April 25, 1960 issue of Boxoffice:
McPHERSON, KAS. – Glen Cooper of Dodge City and Robert Woodson of Jefferson City have bought the Starview Drive-In one and a half miles north of town on U.S. 81. An Easter opening was planned by the new owners. V. C. Anderson had owned the 81 (sic) since spring of 1949.
Mr. and Mrs. Woodson have moved to McPherson from Jefferson City, since Woodson will be the resident manager. He has had 14 years of experience in theatre operation. Cooper owns and operated theatres in Dodge City and Hays. Remodeling carried out before the opening included installing a 90-foot widescreen, to replace the former 60-foot screen, remodeling of the snack bar and redecoration.
“Lou Siebert has taken over the Joyce Drive-In and reopened on the 14th. Siebert has had lots of experience in the motion picture business, having run theatres all over the south and has been a film salesman for many of the film companies. He has put in a widescreen, and has repainted the entire screen tower, fence and concession stand.” — Boxoffice, April 18, 1960
“Busy as a cranberry merchant was Dick Crumpler at Checotah. He operates the Gentry there as was getting ready to reopen his 69 Drive-In. Several weeks ago during a high wind, his screen tower was blown back to about a 45-degree angle. He is busy getting it back in shape and has repainted the tower and the surrounding fence, as well as the concession stand in a bright pink.” — Boxoffice, April 18, 1960
Season-opener note from the April 18, 1960 issue of Boxoffice: “Bill Slepka … was busy getting his Jewel Drive-In in shape for his opening on the 15th.”
Boxoffice ran an obituary for Walter “Watt” Long in its April 18, 1960 issue. “About five years ago he erected the Hollis Drive-In about a mile from the downtown section. About the time he took ill he turned over the two theatre properties (including the indoor Watt) … to his assistant in show business, Raymond Patton, who now operates them.”
“Fred Munson is busily engaged in refurbishing the 166 Drive-In at Arkansas City, preparatory to opening it this spring after two seasons during which it has been idle.” — Boxoffice, Feb. 22, 1960
“Fred Munson … who lives at Arkansas City, has just reopened the 166 Drive-In which has been closed for two years. Extensive remodeling was done which included three pairs of CinemaScope lenses.” — Boxoffice, April 18, 1960
From the April 18, 1960 issue of Boxoffice: “The Lyons Drive-In was purchased by Fred Munson, effective March 15, from Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Peterson. Munson did extensive remodeling before opening up, installing a Ross-Temp icebreaker, a new drink machine and corrugated galvanized iron on the screen before repainting it.”
“Ross Campbell, operating the Orpheum Theatre, Sheridan, Wyo., has purchased the Skyline Drive-In in that city from Richard Bennett.” — Boxoffice, April 18, 1960
“Wendell Peck will manage the Parsons Drive-In for Louis Stein and supervise the Stein Twilight in Baxter Springs. Peck has been with Stein for the last five years, living in Baxter Springs, but has moved with his family to Parsons. Commonwealth Theatres operated the Stein theatres the last two years under a lease arrangement which expired March 1.” — Boxoffice, April 11, 1960
“John Wallace has taken over operation of the Belle Drive-In at Durango from former owner Ted Knox”. — Boxoffice, April 11, 1960
Brothers Ben and Vance Terry (for which the theater was named) were still running the place as of a note in the April 4, 1960 issue of Boxoffice.
“Another show place has been torn down to make way for a parking lot. The Rialto, which was built in Tonkawa in the late 1930s, has been sold to a real estate company. The theatre has been closed for several years.” — Boxoffice, April 4, 1960
“LINDSAY, OKLA. – F. B. Garrett, Chevrolet dealer in Lindsay and in recent years at Enid, has purchased the Waldron Theater and the Hillcrest Drive-In here from the Waldron estate. Jep Holman, whose wife was the late Avece Waldron, managed the properties till Garrett took over.” — Boxoffice, April 4, 1960
“JACKSONVILLE, ILL. – The Frisina Amusement Co. of Springfield has taken over operation of the 67 Drive-In from the Betty Amusement Co., marking the return to this city of the Frisina circuit, which was founded here 33 years ago. Howard Busey will remain as manager of the 67 Drive-In, located just south of town.” — Boxoffice, April 4, 1960