From the Theatres For Sale section of BoxOffice, May 30, 1966: “FLORIDA, Titusville. … 300-car drive-in. Ground and equipment. Less than one year old. Selling due to dissolving partnership.” The seller was a P.O. Box in Titusville.
The May 30, 1966 issue of BoxOffice reporter that owner/manager Bob Smith notified his patrons via the local newspaper that the Grand would close for a week for remodeling. “We are going to remodel the foyer, the concession area and part of the outside.”
The next ownership change came in 1966, per this May 30 note in BoxOffice: “Recently General Cinema Corp. of Boston, Mass., purchased the Admiral Twin Drive-In in Tulsa from Alex Blue and Hank Robb”.
“CAMDEN, TENN. – The Mid-Way Drive-In here, which had been operated by Exhibitors Services, is now being operated by new owners J. W. Bowden and J. C. Harris.” —BoxOffice, May 30, 1966
“Chuck Thomas of Osawatomie-Paola, Kas., reports bad weather has prevented completion of a renovation program at his Midway Drive-In.” —BoxOffice, May 30, 1966
This note in the May 30, 1966 issue of BoxOffice may have marked the end: “Eldon Eaton is closing the Civic Theatre, Hay Springs, Neb., and will be moving to Huron, S. D.”
It was still open for this note in the May 30, 1966 issue of BoxOffice: “Lee Tile has resigned as assistant manager of the Sparks Theatre to enter the motorcycle business. His replacement is Philip Brown, whose father owns a local drugstore.”
The April 18, 1966 issue of BoxOffice reported that among the exhibitors visiting the Oklahoma City film row were “Mr. and Mrs. Joe Harris, Rex Theatre, Konawa, who reported the house had been closed and his equipment was for sale, since he has other interests to take care of and does not have time to operate the theatre.”
Stanley and Jeanne Dewsnup bought two other Delta theaters in 1966, according to a Sept. 21, 2013 article in The Daily Sentinel of Grand Junction. An earlier Daily Sentinel story added, “A year later came the acquisition of the Tru-Vu,” which would make the year of their purchase 1967.
Stan passed away in 2008, and Jeanne died April 9, 2019.
Not so long after Hardy bought the Big Sky, both the drive-in and the indoor Egyptian were purchased by Stanley and Jeanne Dewsnup “in the late ‘60s after the former owner was killed in a plane crash,” according to an April 14, 2000 story in The Daily Sentinel of Grand Junction. “A year later came the acquisition of the Tru-Vu. The oil shale bust forced the sale of the Big Sky in 1986.”
(The purchase of the Big Sky & Egyptian was in 1966, according to a Sept. 21, 2013 article.)
An Aug. 26, 2018 story in the Daily Sentinel said the couple acquired the first two theaters after seeing an ad in BoxOffice. The Dewsnups “kept them running for years, showing Spanish-language films at the Big Sky.” After the oil shale bust of the 1980s, they decided to close one and preferred the Tru-Vu for its lack of light pollution. Stan passed away in 2008, and Jeanne died April 9, 2019.
The long story of the Taggerts reaching an out-of-court settlement in 1962 with the former Tru-Vu owners is available in that drive-in’s listing on CT. Subsequent newspaper stories imply that’s about the time the Taggerts ceased to own the Skylite.
The name change occurred in March 1964 along with another ownership change, as reported in the March 30, 1964 edition of The Daily Sentinel of Grand Junction. “DELTA – The newly remodeled Big Sky Drive-In Theater on Crawford avenue east of here was opened this week under new management. Formerly known as the Skylite theater, the outdoor movie was purchased by Tom Hardy, manager of the Egyptian Theater here, from Edgar Jones of Vernal, Utah. Hardy will continue management of both units.”
Although newspaper advertisements through at least 1976 also used the Vista View spelling, the Motion Picture Almanacs' drive-in lists always spelled its name as “Vista Vu”. The 1958-59 editions listed it in Security with a capacity of 652, owner W. H. Claiborne. The 1960-76 MPAs listed the owner as Westland Theatres, Inc.
The 1977-88 MPAs listed the Vista Vu Drive-In in Colorado Springs, capacity 600, owner Westland Theatres, Inc. In its Circuit entry, Westland called it the Vista Vue during 1961-85 before Westland fell off the circuit list in 1986.
Nothing remains of the Vista View Drive-In. Today a garden center occupies most of the former site. Most of the ramps were in what is now Security-Widefield, but the screen was in what is now Fountain.
Grouped together, these stories from The Daily Sentinel of Grand Junction CO read like a novel.
Jan. 6, 1958: “Vandals wrought about $1,000 damage to the exterior of the Tru-Vu drive-in theatre, which is closed for the winter. … The marquee was torn up and all glass except in three windows was broken.”
Sept. 8, 1958: “Vandals (ripped out 14 speakers,) and 72 wires connecting speakers with the main system were found missing”.
Oct. 14, 1958: Twenty-six speakers and connecting wires were missing Sunday when Fred Chubka, owner, went to the theatre and noticed the vandalism.
July 21, 1960: “A blazing fire gutted the Tru-Vue Drive-In theatre building … causing about $7,000 in damages. The blaze apparently was set, according to Fire Chief Harvey Richards.”
Oct. 4, 1961: Mr. & Mrs. Chubka have sued the owners of the nearby Starlite Drive-In. At the time of the fire, the defendants were also co-owners of the Tru-Vu. “Claiming that one or more of the defendants set fire to the Tru-Vue Theater to eliminate competition, the Chubkas sought actual damages of $30,000 and exemplary damages of $100,000.”
(That trial ended in a hung jury. The case was rescheduled for early 1962. After delays, on May 14, the date the second trial was to begin, the two parties reached an out-of-court settlement.)
Jan. 5, 1963: June Chubka was granted a divorce from Fred Chubka, filed Aug. 20, 1962.
May 28, 1963: “The two drive-in theaters at Delta, the Skylite and Tru-Vu, were burglarized early this morning … (a few items) were found missing at the Skylite theater. Nothing was taken from the unused Tru-Vu Theater. The break-ins were discovered this morning by the owner, Fred Chubka.”
Sept. 12, 1963: “The Tru-Vue Drive-In Theater was reopened Wednesday night (Sept. 11) under the new ownership of Police Chief Dan Morgan and James Hanson, both of Delta. The theater … was sold through the district court to expedite property settlement in a divorce case”.
The Skylite opened on Tuesday, May 10, 1949, according to a very brief note the next day in The Daily Sentinel of Grand Junction.
According to a couple of stories in the mid-1950s, only part of the Skylite was within the Delta city limits. Bill Taggert repeatedly asked the city council to hook into the local electrical grid; the drive-in started with service from the Delta-Montrose Rural Power Lines Association.
The Daily Sentinel wrote on Nov. 15, 1961, that Fred and June Chubka had sued William and Helen Taggert over “a destructive fire which closed the Tru-Vue Drive-In Theater in July of 1960. They also allege fraudulent acquisition of an interest in the theater.”
The Tsaya fell off the Motion Picture Almanac drive-in list between the 1967 edition and 1969, a rare update for MPA for that period. The drive-in looked fairly intact even in a 1993 aerial, and it was included in a 1984 topo map.
This Westland Theatres drive-in was consistently advertised as the Sky Vue, with an E, though editors sometimes added a hyphen or just combined the words in stories that included the name.
As “Sky Vu”, it debuted in the 1957 edition of the Motion Picture Almanac series of drive-in lists, capacity 450, owner R. N. Cullen. In the 1960 MPA, ownership changed to Westland, and that’s how it stayed through the final MPA list in 1988.
A widely published Associated Press report noted that the final movie at the 8th Street was on Friday, Sept. 28, 1984. It said the drive-in opened in 1950 with the double feature of “Jolson Sings Again” and “Riders in the Sky.”
Westland Theaters sold the 8th Street to developers Bob Osborne and Duane Hays, who held one last performance for drive-in fans. The film that night, and the reason so many papers included the little story, was “The Last Picture Show.”
Same drive-in? The Independent Film Journal reported on April 4, 1953: “Owners Guidry and Duplisses will also open their 900-car Surf Drive-In, Lake Charles, around April 15, for year-round operation and 3 to 6 changes weekly."
Same drive-in? The Independent Film Journal reported on April 4, 1953: “The new 400-car Frontier Drive-In at Sulphur, La. will have its formal opening around April 20 for all year operation with 5-6 changes weekly.” The owners were Guidry and Duplisses.
“Herbert Gumper, Frontier Drive-In, Center, Colo., and the Roundup Drive-In, La Jara, Colo., died of a heart attack. The 54-year-old theatre man is survived by his wife, a son, and three grandchildren.” —Motion Picture Exhibitor, Aug. 12, 1964
The June 10, 1964 issue of Motion Picture Exhibitor reported: “Earl Kerr has opened the new Hi-Vu Drive-In, Knoxville, Ia. The new drive-in replaces the Frontier Drive-In. The federal Red Rock dam project necessitated the move.”
The Frontier was still there in 1962 when Carl Schwanebeck gave away a diamond ring to mark the drive-in’s ninth anniversary, according to a note in the Aug. 6, 1962 BoxOffice.
But the Frontier was gone by this June 10, 1964 note from Motion Picture Exhibitor: “Earl Kerr has opened the new Hi-Vu Drive-In, Knoxville, Ia. The new drive-in replaces the Frontier Drive-In. The federal Red Rock dam project necessitated the move.”
The Frontier Drive-In was opened in July 1953 according to a note about the 25th anniversary of E. W. Kerr’s Bethany theaters reported in the July 30, 1962 issue of BoxOffice. Frestle Chenoweth was the manager since the Frontier opened. “The screen at the Frontier was replaced following the tornado-like wind of September 1959.”
From the Theatres For Sale section of BoxOffice, May 30, 1966: “FLORIDA, Titusville. … 300-car drive-in. Ground and equipment. Less than one year old. Selling due to dissolving partnership.” The seller was a P.O. Box in Titusville.
A note in the May 30, 1966 BoxOffice said, “Bill Crosby and Harve Wooden operate the Little River Drive-In at Wright City.”
The May 30, 1966 issue of BoxOffice reporter that owner/manager Bob Smith notified his patrons via the local newspaper that the Grand would close for a week for remodeling. “We are going to remodel the foyer, the concession area and part of the outside.”
The next ownership change came in 1966, per this May 30 note in BoxOffice: “Recently General Cinema Corp. of Boston, Mass., purchased the Admiral Twin Drive-In in Tulsa from Alex Blue and Hank Robb”.
“CAMDEN, TENN. – The Mid-Way Drive-In here, which had been operated by Exhibitors Services, is now being operated by new owners J. W. Bowden and J. C. Harris.” —BoxOffice, May 30, 1966
“Chuck Thomas of Osawatomie-Paola, Kas., reports bad weather has prevented completion of a renovation program at his Midway Drive-In.” —BoxOffice, May 30, 1966
This note in the May 30, 1966 issue of BoxOffice may have marked the end: “Eldon Eaton is closing the Civic Theatre, Hay Springs, Neb., and will be moving to Huron, S. D.”
It was still open for this note in the May 30, 1966 issue of BoxOffice: “Lee Tile has resigned as assistant manager of the Sparks Theatre to enter the motorcycle business. His replacement is Philip Brown, whose father owns a local drugstore.”
The April 18, 1966 issue of BoxOffice reported that among the exhibitors visiting the Oklahoma City film row were “Mr. and Mrs. Joe Harris, Rex Theatre, Konawa, who reported the house had been closed and his equipment was for sale, since he has other interests to take care of and does not have time to operate the theatre.”
“Mrs. Sam Covey is reopening the Mertzon Drive-In, Mertzon, prior to May 1. The airer has been closed since 1961.” —BoxOffice, April 18, 1966
Stanley and Jeanne Dewsnup bought two other Delta theaters in 1966, according to a Sept. 21, 2013 article in The Daily Sentinel of Grand Junction. An earlier Daily Sentinel story added, “A year later came the acquisition of the Tru-Vu,” which would make the year of their purchase 1967.
Stan passed away in 2008, and Jeanne died April 9, 2019.
Not so long after Hardy bought the Big Sky, both the drive-in and the indoor Egyptian were purchased by Stanley and Jeanne Dewsnup “in the late ‘60s after the former owner was killed in a plane crash,” according to an April 14, 2000 story in The Daily Sentinel of Grand Junction. “A year later came the acquisition of the Tru-Vu. The oil shale bust forced the sale of the Big Sky in 1986.”
(The purchase of the Big Sky & Egyptian was in 1966, according to a Sept. 21, 2013 article.)
An Aug. 26, 2018 story in the Daily Sentinel said the couple acquired the first two theaters after seeing an ad in BoxOffice. The Dewsnups “kept them running for years, showing Spanish-language films at the Big Sky.” After the oil shale bust of the 1980s, they decided to close one and preferred the Tru-Vu for its lack of light pollution. Stan passed away in 2008, and Jeanne died April 9, 2019.
The long story of the Taggerts reaching an out-of-court settlement in 1962 with the former Tru-Vu owners is available in that drive-in’s listing on CT. Subsequent newspaper stories imply that’s about the time the Taggerts ceased to own the Skylite.
The name change occurred in March 1964 along with another ownership change, as reported in the March 30, 1964 edition of The Daily Sentinel of Grand Junction. “DELTA – The newly remodeled Big Sky Drive-In Theater on Crawford avenue east of here was opened this week under new management. Formerly known as the Skylite theater, the outdoor movie was purchased by Tom Hardy, manager of the Egyptian Theater here, from Edgar Jones of Vernal, Utah. Hardy will continue management of both units.”
Although newspaper advertisements through at least 1976 also used the Vista View spelling, the Motion Picture Almanacs' drive-in lists always spelled its name as “Vista Vu”. The 1958-59 editions listed it in Security with a capacity of 652, owner W. H. Claiborne. The 1960-76 MPAs listed the owner as Westland Theatres, Inc.
The 1977-88 MPAs listed the Vista Vu Drive-In in Colorado Springs, capacity 600, owner Westland Theatres, Inc. In its Circuit entry, Westland called it the Vista Vue during 1961-85 before Westland fell off the circuit list in 1986.
Nothing remains of the Vista View Drive-In. Today a garden center occupies most of the former site. Most of the ramps were in what is now Security-Widefield, but the screen was in what is now Fountain.
Grouped together, these stories from The Daily Sentinel of Grand Junction CO read like a novel.
Jan. 6, 1958: “Vandals wrought about $1,000 damage to the exterior of the Tru-Vu drive-in theatre, which is closed for the winter. … The marquee was torn up and all glass except in three windows was broken.”
Sept. 8, 1958: “Vandals (ripped out 14 speakers,) and 72 wires connecting speakers with the main system were found missing”.
Oct. 14, 1958: Twenty-six speakers and connecting wires were missing Sunday when Fred Chubka, owner, went to the theatre and noticed the vandalism.
July 21, 1960: “A blazing fire gutted the Tru-Vue Drive-In theatre building … causing about $7,000 in damages. The blaze apparently was set, according to Fire Chief Harvey Richards.”
Oct. 4, 1961: Mr. & Mrs. Chubka have sued the owners of the nearby Starlite Drive-In. At the time of the fire, the defendants were also co-owners of the Tru-Vu. “Claiming that one or more of the defendants set fire to the Tru-Vue Theater to eliminate competition, the Chubkas sought actual damages of $30,000 and exemplary damages of $100,000.”
(That trial ended in a hung jury. The case was rescheduled for early 1962. After delays, on May 14, the date the second trial was to begin, the two parties reached an out-of-court settlement.)
Jan. 5, 1963: June Chubka was granted a divorce from Fred Chubka, filed Aug. 20, 1962.
May 28, 1963: “The two drive-in theaters at Delta, the Skylite and Tru-Vu, were burglarized early this morning … (a few items) were found missing at the Skylite theater. Nothing was taken from the unused Tru-Vu Theater. The break-ins were discovered this morning by the owner, Fred Chubka.”
Sept. 12, 1963: “The Tru-Vue Drive-In Theater was reopened Wednesday night (Sept. 11) under the new ownership of Police Chief Dan Morgan and James Hanson, both of Delta. The theater … was sold through the district court to expedite property settlement in a divorce case”.
The Skylite opened on Tuesday, May 10, 1949, according to a very brief note the next day in The Daily Sentinel of Grand Junction.
According to a couple of stories in the mid-1950s, only part of the Skylite was within the Delta city limits. Bill Taggert repeatedly asked the city council to hook into the local electrical grid; the drive-in started with service from the Delta-Montrose Rural Power Lines Association.
The Daily Sentinel wrote on Nov. 15, 1961, that Fred and June Chubka had sued William and Helen Taggert over “a destructive fire which closed the Tru-Vue Drive-In Theater in July of 1960. They also allege fraudulent acquisition of an interest in the theater.”
The Tsaya fell off the Motion Picture Almanac drive-in list between the 1967 edition and 1969, a rare update for MPA for that period. The drive-in looked fairly intact even in a 1993 aerial, and it was included in a 1984 topo map.
This Westland Theatres drive-in was consistently advertised as the Sky Vue, with an E, though editors sometimes added a hyphen or just combined the words in stories that included the name.
As “Sky Vu”, it debuted in the 1957 edition of the Motion Picture Almanac series of drive-in lists, capacity 450, owner R. N. Cullen. In the 1960 MPA, ownership changed to Westland, and that’s how it stayed through the final MPA list in 1988.
A widely published Associated Press report noted that the final movie at the 8th Street was on Friday, Sept. 28, 1984. It said the drive-in opened in 1950 with the double feature of “Jolson Sings Again” and “Riders in the Sky.”
Westland Theaters sold the 8th Street to developers Bob Osborne and Duane Hays, who held one last performance for drive-in fans. The film that night, and the reason so many papers included the little story, was “The Last Picture Show.”
Same drive-in? The Independent Film Journal reported on April 4, 1953: “Owners Guidry and Duplisses will also open their 900-car Surf Drive-In, Lake Charles, around April 15, for year-round operation and 3 to 6 changes weekly."
Same drive-in? The Independent Film Journal reported on April 4, 1953: “The new 400-car Frontier Drive-In at Sulphur, La. will have its formal opening around April 20 for all year operation with 5-6 changes weekly.” The owners were Guidry and Duplisses.
“Herbert Gumper, Frontier Drive-In, Center, Colo., and the Roundup Drive-In, La Jara, Colo., died of a heart attack. The 54-year-old theatre man is survived by his wife, a son, and three grandchildren.” —Motion Picture Exhibitor, Aug. 12, 1964
The June 10, 1964 issue of Motion Picture Exhibitor reported: “Earl Kerr has opened the new Hi-Vu Drive-In, Knoxville, Ia. The new drive-in replaces the Frontier Drive-In. The federal Red Rock dam project necessitated the move.”
The Frontier was still there in 1962 when Carl Schwanebeck gave away a diamond ring to mark the drive-in’s ninth anniversary, according to a note in the Aug. 6, 1962 BoxOffice.
But the Frontier was gone by this June 10, 1964 note from Motion Picture Exhibitor: “Earl Kerr has opened the new Hi-Vu Drive-In, Knoxville, Ia. The new drive-in replaces the Frontier Drive-In. The federal Red Rock dam project necessitated the move.”
The Frontier Drive-In was opened in July 1953 according to a note about the 25th anniversary of E. W. Kerr’s Bethany theaters reported in the July 30, 1962 issue of BoxOffice. Frestle Chenoweth was the manager since the Frontier opened. “The screen at the Frontier was replaced following the tornado-like wind of September 1959.”