“Mrs. Hackney, a retired school teacher who has been booking and buying for the Twin City Drive-In at Rogers, Ark., recently married owner Harvey Nichols. Their former projectionist and his wife will be resident managers of the drive-in and the new Mrs. Nichols will continue to book and buy for it.” — Boxoffice, April 4, 1960
Commonwealth Amusement Corp. leased all of Mr. and Mrs. T. H. Slothower’s theaters on April 1, 1960. Per a report three days later in Boxoffice, all of them were in Wichita except the Derby Drive-In.
Apparently the Bandera Road Drive-In opened in 1956, per this note in the March 28, 1960 issue of Boxoffice: “The Bandera Road Drive-In here celebrated their fourth anniversary by giving all patrons free popcorn, drinks and candy”.
A 1965 topo map places a drive-in to the northwest of the present-day intersection of Trevino Street and Lariette. The closest address that Google Maps likes is 516 W Trevino St. Since the drive-in is so close to town, I’d guess it was the first one in Falfurrias. The site is now home to the baseball diamond at Falfurrias High School.
In a roundup of seasonal reopenings in the March 28, 1960 issue of Boxoffice: “Gustavo Vasquez, owner of the Longhorn Drive-In, Hebbronville, is soon to reopen the Star Drive-In at Falfurrias … Raul Soliz is building a new drive-in at Falfurrias.”
MIDLAND, TEX. — Ground-breaking ceremonies were held Monday morning
(14) for the Howard Hodge Theatre, Midland’s first new first-run motion picture house in more than 30 years. J. Howard Hodge, Midland theatre operator, turned the first spade of earth on the project
at 200 Plaza St., directly west of the Village Shopping center. Guests included Mayor Prank Thompson, President Stanley Moore of the Chamber of Commerce and Joe Wright, general contractor on the project.
Completion of the 1,100-seat theatre is to be within 240 days of the start. Precast terrazzo will be used on the front exterior trim of the de luxe theatre, which will have a steel superstructure and masonry
construction.
The theatre will be owned by J. Howard Hodge and Video Independent Theatres. The firm of Pierce, Norris, Pace & Associates has the architectural contract. The contract for construction was awarded
the Midwest Lumber Co. of Midland.
Same street, same drive-in? From the March 28, 1960 issue of Boxoffice:
TEXARKANA — Purchase of the Red River Drive-In on West Seventh by Houck
& Powers Theatres has been announced by L. D. Powers. The new owners have closed the drive-in for remodeling and redecoration and will reopen around April 1.
Movies booked will be the “latest and the best,” according to Powers, who has been in theatre business 21 years. His partner, Joy Houck, has been in exhibition 30 years and also produces pictures.
They plan to redesign the concessions stand, repair speakers, repaint the building and improve the ramp area. The drive-in was built eight years ago, formerly owned by Eldon Peek of Oklahoma City.
“We have faith in Texarkana and its future and in show business,” Powers said. He and Houck also own the Leo, the Joy Drive-In and a theatre in Prescott, Ark.
MARSHALL. TEX. — The Capri Drive-In on U. S. 80 East is ready for a new season following remodeling necessitated by damage to screen and boxoffice in a November tornado. The theatre formerly was known
as the Fox, and is owned and operated by Mr. and Mrs. Henry Lucht.
The new screen, for which a new concrete foundation had to be laid, is the third of its kind in the southwest, Mrs. Lucht said, being a new type Glatex screen produced by U. S. Gypsum Co. The other two such screens are said to be at Lubbock and at Nashville, Ark. Features
include elimination of the possibility of rust stains forming to spoil the screen picture.
Attractive shades of green and yellow have been used in remodeling the boxoffice, as well as in painting the screen frame, signs and concessions building. New playground equipment has been
added. Entrances and boxoffice are now behind and not under the screen, as they were prior to the storm. Entrances have been improved with new surfacing.
“M. Phillipsen will attempt to operate the Coral (sic) Drive-In at Hudson, Colo., for one more season. Construction of a new highway will cut off access to the drive-in area.” — Boxoffice, March 28, 1960
So far, the only place I’ve seen the Mt. spelled out is this note in the March 28, 1960 issue of Boxoffice: “The Mount Baldy Drive-In, to be located at 3515 North Lincoln Ave., will be built this spring by Walter G. Long & Associates. The drive-in will be designed for 1,200 cars and will require an investment of around $200,000.”
“Chapman Amusement Co., headed by George Chapman, will open the new Pheasant at Mobridge, S. D. in June. The theatre accommodates 400 cars and is located at the west end of town on Highway 12. … Another drive-in at Mobridge, the Lakevu, is operated by Ernie Borud.” — Boxoffice, March 21, 1960
As part of a story on the drive-ins owned by Lloyd Franklin and W. O. Bearden, the March 21, 1960 issue of Boxoffice wrote, “The Comet, erected in 1958, has approximately a 550-car capacity”.
In a discussion of the drive-ins owned by Lloyd Franklin and W. O. Bearden, the March 21, 1960 issue of BoxOffice wrote, “They bought the Four Lane Drive-In east of town in the fall of 1955 but never did open it.”
“Lloyd Franklin of Clovis, N. M., is dickering with his partner W. O. Bearden of Lubbock, Tex., and with contractors, on rebuilding the screen tower at the LaFonda Drive-In, which burned to the ground last August during a thunderstorm and Franklin was not sure whether or not lightning or faulty wiring caused the fire.” — BoxOffice, March 21, 1960
From the March 21, 1960 issue of Boxoffice: “COLUMBUS, KAS. – Donald Bowin of Parsons purchased the Liberty Theatre and the Cherokee Drive-In from John B. Huston and his sister, Mrs. Dorothy Madson of Burson, Calif., effective March 15. The sale also included the Liberty Building, which was built by the late N. W. Huston and the theatre operated by him for many years. He acquired the Cherokee Drive-In from Louis Stein of Parsons, who constructed it. At the time of its construction, Bowin was associated with Stein.”
“Booking and buying along (Los Angeles) Filmrow were Gladys Underhill, Twentynine Palms and Starlight Drive-In in Twentynine Palms, who reported she has closed her Plaza Theatre.” — Boxoffice, March 21, 1960
“The closing of the Chateau at Wauneta, Neb., operated by Dr. F. E. Rider, leaves Dr. W. E. Scott, owner of the Rio at Meeker, Colo., as the only dentist in the Rocky mountain area operating a theatre”. — BoxOffice, March 21, 1960
Fun little note from the March 21, 1960 issue of BoxOffice: “George DeVries of Montrose has postponed the opening of his Star Drive-In — snow is so deep that four-wheel drive vehicles are unable to enter the airer.”
The March 21, 1960 issue of BoxOffice reported the theater’s (temporary) closure as the Star: “The Star at Imperial, Neb., managed by W. H. ‘Rusty’ Kinder, has been forced to close due to poor business.”
BoxOffice used to get chatty, and this note from the March 7, 1960 issue told me more about John Sanders than I might have asked for:
John Sanders plans to reopen his Cleveland Drive-In about May 1. At present he is playing one picture a week in his Melba Theatre, on Friday-Saturday. When he reopens the drive-in, he will close the Melba to a Saturday only, using a film from the airer. He also has a cattle ranch. With all this snow, his feed bill is running into many dollars. His daughter is in high school in Cleveland and his son-in-law is finishing up his course at Oklahoma State University at Stillwater. During school hours, grandpa and grandma Sanders baby-sit with the daughter’s 10-month-old son. They think the grandson is about the finest thing that ever happened to them.
A rare glimpse into the life of the Striblings appeared in the March 7, 1960 issue of BoxOffice:
Joe Stribling, Gem and Rig drive-in theatres, Davenport, who also works for the local telephone company, reports the company plans an expansion program which will keep him busier than ever. He plans to reopen the drive-in full time around the middle of April, and to run a Gem late show Saturday nights, using the same picture in the drive-in on the two following days. He has practically turned over the buying and booking to his wife.
“Mrs. Hackney, a retired school teacher who has been booking and buying for the Twin City Drive-In at Rogers, Ark., recently married owner Harvey Nichols. Their former projectionist and his wife will be resident managers of the drive-in and the new Mrs. Nichols will continue to book and buy for it.” — Boxoffice, April 4, 1960
Commonwealth Amusement Corp. leased all of Mr. and Mrs. T. H. Slothower’s theaters on April 1, 1960. Per a report three days later in Boxoffice, all of them were in Wichita except the Derby Drive-In.
Apparently the Bandera Road Drive-In opened in 1956, per this note in the March 28, 1960 issue of Boxoffice: “The Bandera Road Drive-In here celebrated their fourth anniversary by giving all patrons free popcorn, drinks and candy”.
A 1965 topo map places a drive-in to the northwest of the present-day intersection of Trevino Street and Lariette. The closest address that Google Maps likes is 516 W Trevino St. Since the drive-in is so close to town, I’d guess it was the first one in Falfurrias. The site is now home to the baseball diamond at Falfurrias High School.
In a roundup of seasonal reopenings in the March 28, 1960 issue of Boxoffice: “Gustavo Vasquez, owner of the Longhorn Drive-In, Hebbronville, is soon to reopen the Star Drive-In at Falfurrias … Raul Soliz is building a new drive-in at Falfurrias.”
As with most “numbered” drive-ins, the Circle 81 was named for its adjacent highway, which was US 81 when it was built.
The March 28, 1960 issue of Boxoffice noted, “The Circle 81 Drive-In is now playing Spanish-language pictures six days a week.”
From Boxoffice, March 28, 1960:
MIDLAND, TEX. — Ground-breaking ceremonies were held Monday morning (14) for the Howard Hodge Theatre, Midland’s first new first-run motion picture house in more than 30 years. J. Howard Hodge, Midland theatre operator, turned the first spade of earth on the project at 200 Plaza St., directly west of the Village Shopping center. Guests included Mayor Prank Thompson, President Stanley Moore of the Chamber of Commerce and Joe Wright, general contractor on the project.
Completion of the 1,100-seat theatre is to be within 240 days of the start. Precast terrazzo will be used on the front exterior trim of the de luxe theatre, which will have a steel superstructure and masonry construction.
The theatre will be owned by J. Howard Hodge and Video Independent Theatres. The firm of Pierce, Norris, Pace & Associates has the architectural contract. The contract for construction was awarded the Midwest Lumber Co. of Midland.
Same street, same drive-in? From the March 28, 1960 issue of Boxoffice:
TEXARKANA — Purchase of the Red River Drive-In on West Seventh by Houck & Powers Theatres has been announced by L. D. Powers. The new owners have closed the drive-in for remodeling and redecoration and will reopen around April 1.
Movies booked will be the “latest and the best,” according to Powers, who has been in theatre business 21 years. His partner, Joy Houck, has been in exhibition 30 years and also produces pictures.
They plan to redesign the concessions stand, repair speakers, repaint the building and improve the ramp area. The drive-in was built eight years ago, formerly owned by Eldon Peek of Oklahoma City.
“We have faith in Texarkana and its future and in show business,” Powers said. He and Houck also own the Leo, the Joy Drive-In and a theatre in Prescott, Ark.
From the March 28, 1960 issue of Boxoffice:
MARSHALL. TEX. — The Capri Drive-In on U. S. 80 East is ready for a new season following remodeling necessitated by damage to screen and boxoffice in a November tornado. The theatre formerly was known as the Fox, and is owned and operated by Mr. and Mrs. Henry Lucht.
The new screen, for which a new concrete foundation had to be laid, is the third of its kind in the southwest, Mrs. Lucht said, being a new type Glatex screen produced by U. S. Gypsum Co. The other two such screens are said to be at Lubbock and at Nashville, Ark. Features include elimination of the possibility of rust stains forming to spoil the screen picture.
Attractive shades of green and yellow have been used in remodeling the boxoffice, as well as in painting the screen frame, signs and concessions building. New playground equipment has been added. Entrances and boxoffice are now behind and not under the screen, as they were prior to the storm. Entrances have been improved with new surfacing.
“M. Phillipsen will attempt to operate the Coral (sic) Drive-In at Hudson, Colo., for one more season. Construction of a new highway will cut off access to the drive-in area.” — Boxoffice, March 28, 1960
“Carmen Romano, L&L Drive-In at Louisville, plans a series of eye treatments”. — Boxoffice, March 28, 1960
So far, the only place I’ve seen the Mt. spelled out is this note in the March 28, 1960 issue of Boxoffice: “The Mount Baldy Drive-In, to be located at 3515 North Lincoln Ave., will be built this spring by Walter G. Long & Associates. The drive-in will be designed for 1,200 cars and will require an investment of around $200,000.”
“Chapman Amusement Co., headed by George Chapman, will open the new Pheasant at Mobridge, S. D. in June. The theatre accommodates 400 cars and is located at the west end of town on Highway 12. … Another drive-in at Mobridge, the Lakevu, is operated by Ernie Borud.” — Boxoffice, March 21, 1960
As part of a story on the drive-ins owned by Lloyd Franklin and W. O. Bearden, the March 21, 1960 issue of Boxoffice wrote, “The Comet, erected in 1958, has approximately a 550-car capacity”.
In a discussion of the drive-ins owned by Lloyd Franklin and W. O. Bearden, the March 21, 1960 issue of BoxOffice wrote, “They bought the Four Lane Drive-In east of town in the fall of 1955 but never did open it.”
“Lloyd Franklin of Clovis, N. M., is dickering with his partner W. O. Bearden of Lubbock, Tex., and with contractors, on rebuilding the screen tower at the LaFonda Drive-In, which burned to the ground last August during a thunderstorm and Franklin was not sure whether or not lightning or faulty wiring caused the fire.” — BoxOffice, March 21, 1960
From the March 21, 1960 issue of Boxoffice: “COLUMBUS, KAS. – Donald Bowin of Parsons purchased the Liberty Theatre and the Cherokee Drive-In from John B. Huston and his sister, Mrs. Dorothy Madson of Burson, Calif., effective March 15. The sale also included the Liberty Building, which was built by the late N. W. Huston and the theatre operated by him for many years. He acquired the Cherokee Drive-In from Louis Stein of Parsons, who constructed it. At the time of its construction, Bowin was associated with Stein.”
“Booking and buying along (Los Angeles) Filmrow were Gladys Underhill, Twentynine Palms and Starlight Drive-In in Twentynine Palms, who reported she has closed her Plaza Theatre.” — Boxoffice, March 21, 1960
“Fred Stein sold his Bishop Theatre and Bishop Drive-In to Harry E. Ulsh, who operates the Fillmore in Fillmore.” — Boxoffice, March 21, 1960
“The closing of the Chateau at Wauneta, Neb., operated by Dr. F. E. Rider, leaves Dr. W. E. Scott, owner of the Rio at Meeker, Colo., as the only dentist in the Rocky mountain area operating a theatre”. — BoxOffice, March 21, 1960
In its March 21, 1960 issue, BoxOffice thought the Chateau, operated by Dr. F. E. Rider, a dentist, was closed permanently.
Fun little note from the March 21, 1960 issue of BoxOffice: “George DeVries of Montrose has postponed the opening of his Star Drive-In — snow is so deep that four-wheel drive vehicles are unable to enter the airer.”
The March 21, 1960 issue of BoxOffice reported the theater’s (temporary) closure as the Star: “The Star at Imperial, Neb., managed by W. H. ‘Rusty’ Kinder, has been forced to close due to poor business.”
BoxOffice used to get chatty, and this note from the March 7, 1960 issue told me more about John Sanders than I might have asked for:
John Sanders plans to reopen his Cleveland Drive-In about May 1. At present he is playing one picture a week in his Melba Theatre, on Friday-Saturday. When he reopens the drive-in, he will close the Melba to a Saturday only, using a film from the airer. He also has a cattle ranch. With all this snow, his feed bill is running into many dollars. His daughter is in high school in Cleveland and his son-in-law is finishing up his course at Oklahoma State University at Stillwater. During school hours, grandpa and grandma Sanders baby-sit with the daughter’s 10-month-old son. They think the grandson is about the finest thing that ever happened to them.
A rare glimpse into the life of the Striblings appeared in the March 7, 1960 issue of BoxOffice:
Joe Stribling, Gem and Rig drive-in theatres, Davenport, who also works for the local telephone company, reports the company plans an expansion program which will keep him busier than ever. He plans to reopen the drive-in full time around the middle of April, and to run a Gem late show Saturday nights, using the same picture in the drive-in on the two following days. He has practically turned over the buying and booking to his wife.