The son of the original Sundown owners rescued the sign, moved it to a nearby field, and restored it to its original cool, quirky glory. Great photo here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/27313808@N00/30224548771/
From a 2003 CNN Money article:
“It began when (owner Bobby) Tompson’s father came home one day with a used Ford truck, small popcorn machine and two movie projectors. He drove the Ford throughout Arkansas, stopping in towns to sell tickets to films that he projected on the sides of churches and school buildings.
“Eventually, Tompson’s dad erected a permanent giant movie screen in a field near their home, installed speaker stands, a tiny ticket booth and concession stand. Tompson took over after his father’s death, and he still runs the movies during summer nights.”
Nothing in the 1948-49 Theatre Catalog, but the Y is listed in the 1949-50 Catalog, Exec: M. A. Harris, M9-C300-D7. (In the 1952 Catalog, the Tower is listed as C208, but no Y.)
Both theaters are listed in the 1959 IMPA, the Y still with M.A. Harris but with capacity 200. Ditto 1963 IMPA. Both are also listed in the 1964 Film Daily Year Book. The 1969 IMPA lists only the Tower.
Its first appearance in the Theatre Catalogs was the 1949-50 edition, which lists it as a 430-car theater, nine-month season, seven days a week. By the 1984 International Motion Picture Almanac, it was gone.
About Mike Rogers' question, the Vegas Drive-In was listed in the 1949-50 Theatre Catalogs with a capacity of 350 cars. In the 1952 and 1955-56 Catalogs, its capacity was 300. The Fort Union was listed in the 1972 International Motion Picture Almanac with a capacity of 450. That’s a big difference.
Then again, the Fort Union Facebook page says it has a capacity of 340 cars. Either Chris1982’s quote of 1958 is wrong or maybe that’s just when the Vegas was renamed. I just don’t know.
The April 4 1963 Las Vegas Optic wrote: Announcement was made today by Les B. Dollison, owner of the Dollison Theaters in Santa Fe, that his company has purchased the Las Vegas Fort Union Drive-In Theater from its former owners, Ward and Elaine Olsen and H.C. Mitchell.
The Movie Manor is a treasure, and its setting is unique, but it was never the only motel-drive-in combo. The Fairlee Motel & Drive-In Theater in Vermont started adding its motel rooms in 1960, and it’s still in operation.
From WFIE on Feb. 22, 2017: “The drive-in movie theater outside of Beaver Dam, Kentucky closed two years ago, but it will hopefully be playing movies on that screen again this summer.” The 26-year-old new owner hopes to raise $200k to refurbish everything and build the “largest drive-in screen in the nation.” For a little old 200-car theater dozens of miles from any big cities? I really hope this is legit.
An article in the Fremont County Daily Ranger says that the photo above shows the project that expanded the wooden screen in May 1955 to accommodate wider movies.
The “Bar-Len” was listed in Lenwood in the 1964 Film Daily Year Book. It was also listed, with a capacity 460 cars and in Barstow in the 1972 International Motion Picture Almanac, so it survived until at least 1971. By the 1984 edition, it was gone.
A 1963 Barstow High School yearbook photo calls it the “Bar Len,” though the poster uses a hyphen.
For the clincher, this Flickr user posted “A single frame from the policy trailer shown at the Bar-Len Drive In.” It clearly shows a hyphen in the name.
This article from The Sonoma County Press Democrat says the Lakeport has been open since 1974.
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/6474023-181/drive-in-movie-theaters-gone-but?artslide=0
This changing name business is pretty confusing. The 1948-49 Theatre Catalog lists the Madera Drive-In as under construction. The 1949-50 edition lists the El Rio in operation, as does the 1952 and 1955-56 editions.
The 1956 Film Daily Year Book of Motion Pictures lists, for Madera CA, both the El Rio Drive-In and the Madera Drive-In. The 1964 edition lists only the El Rio, so I’m guessing the second drive-in in ‘56 was a crossed wire.
On the other hand, the 1984 International Motion Picture Almanac shows the only drive-in in Madera as the single-screen Park Vu Drive In, owned by R. Gran. And the 1995 edition of Goodridge’s Guide to Flea Markets also mentions the Park Vu Drive-In Flea Market at 201 Lincoln. It was definitely known as the Madera by 2004, so the Park Vu must have been an intermediate name.
From its Facebook posts and its old web site captures on Archive.org, the BDRP only showed movies for that one season and may have been completely out of business by 2012. In any event, it’s long gone now and should be moved to the Closed category here.
The Santa Maria Valley Historical Society Museum has a web page with a timeline of notable local dates. Fortunately for us, it includes the following line:
October 14, 1949 Park Aire Drive-In opened in the 200 block of east Donovan.Road
See http://santamariahistory.com/timeline.html
The Park Aire is listed in the 1949-50 Theatre Catalog but not in the preceding 1948-49 edition, so that opening date looks good.
DavidZ, thanks for the article link. It says the place opened as the Paramount, but don’t be fooled. Every contemporary reference I’ve seen calls it the Roadium. The article mentions that “it shut down in 1992,” so that might be a good closing date.
Now that it’s the only operating drive-in in Arizona, the Glendale would have to be the largest. :) Like the others in the West Wind chain, they’re smart about offering periodic free movies, typically on Thursdays, to draw in new customers.
Now that it’s running digital, a couple of the shiny old film projectors are mounted like museum displays in the concession stand area.
Is that a photo of the old Fiesta? When I check Google Street View, I don’t see anything like that hill on the right, nor the ridge behind the screen. And this photo doesn’t show the 6+ foot fence that surrounds the viewing area.
In a 2015 article in the UTEP student newspaper, The Prospector, the Fiesta manager says it “has two motion picture screens with a maximum capacity for 500 cars.” Looking at Google Earth images, I can’t find a second screen.
In a 2015 article in the UTEP student newspaper, The Prospector, the Fiesta manager says it “has two motion picture screens with a maximum capacity for 500 cars.” Looking at Google Earth images, I can’t find a second screen.
Somebody applied to the local zoning board for a variance to reopen the Moonlite. The previous owners had sued the West Wyoming Borough over alleged sewer mishaps, and now the borough owns the drive-in.
Many more details and links: http://carload.com/2017/01/pa-man-applies-to-revive-the-moonlite/
I don’t see a listing for the Graham in the 1948-49 Theatre Catalog drive-in census. It appears in the following edition (1949-50) with Exec: E. L. Williamson. The listing also says it ran 7 days, 12 months, with room for 300 cars.
Theatre Catalogs list it as operated by Glen Underwood (1949, 1952), then the Bancrofts in 1955 as Ken says. It wasn’t listed in the 1948 catalog, so 1949 might be its opening date.
The son of the original Sundown owners rescued the sign, moved it to a nearby field, and restored it to its original cool, quirky glory. Great photo here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/27313808@N00/30224548771/
From a 2003 CNN Money article: “It began when (owner Bobby) Tompson’s father came home one day with a used Ford truck, small popcorn machine and two movie projectors. He drove the Ford throughout Arkansas, stopping in towns to sell tickets to films that he projected on the sides of churches and school buildings.
“Eventually, Tompson’s dad erected a permanent giant movie screen in a field near their home, installed speaker stands, a tiny ticket booth and concession stand. Tompson took over after his father’s death, and he still runs the movies during summer nights.”
More: http://money.cnn.com/2003/12/05/pf/q_lostjob/
Nothing in the 1948-49 Theatre Catalog, but the Y is listed in the 1949-50 Catalog, Exec: M. A. Harris, M9-C300-D7. (In the 1952 Catalog, the Tower is listed as C208, but no Y.)
Both theaters are listed in the 1959 IMPA, the Y still with M.A. Harris but with capacity 200. Ditto 1963 IMPA. Both are also listed in the 1964 Film Daily Year Book. The 1969 IMPA lists only the Tower.
Its first appearance in the Theatre Catalogs was the 1949-50 edition, which lists it as a 430-car theater, nine-month season, seven days a week. By the 1984 International Motion Picture Almanac, it was gone.
About Mike Rogers' question, the Vegas Drive-In was listed in the 1949-50 Theatre Catalogs with a capacity of 350 cars. In the 1952 and 1955-56 Catalogs, its capacity was 300. The Fort Union was listed in the 1972 International Motion Picture Almanac with a capacity of 450. That’s a big difference.
Then again, the Fort Union Facebook page says it has a capacity of 340 cars. Either Chris1982’s quote of 1958 is wrong or maybe that’s just when the Vegas was renamed. I just don’t know.
The April 4 1963 Las Vegas Optic wrote: Announcement was made today by Les B. Dollison, owner of the Dollison Theaters in Santa Fe, that his company has purchased the Las Vegas Fort Union Drive-In Theater from its former owners, Ward and Elaine Olsen and H.C. Mitchell.
I watched Iron Man 3 at the Kiva on a busy Saturday evening in early May 2013. From what I heard, the theater closed a few months later.
The Movie Manor is a treasure, and its setting is unique, but it was never the only motel-drive-in combo. The Fairlee Motel & Drive-In Theater in Vermont started adding its motel rooms in 1960, and it’s still in operation.
From WFIE on Feb. 22, 2017: “The drive-in movie theater outside of Beaver Dam, Kentucky closed two years ago, but it will hopefully be playing movies on that screen again this summer.” The 26-year-old new owner hopes to raise $200k to refurbish everything and build the “largest drive-in screen in the nation.” For a little old 200-car theater dozens of miles from any big cities? I really hope this is legit.
http://www.14news.com/story/34563628/ohio-county-drive-in-could-re-open-this-summer
An article in the Fremont County Daily Ranger says that the photo above shows the project that expanded the wooden screen in May 1955 to accommodate wider movies.
http://dailyranger.com/story.php?story_id=1609
The 1984 Motion Picture Almanac lists it with four screens, suggesting an intermediate stage between one screen and six.
This page shows a Skyline logo with the tagline “Established 1964”
http://www.normreeveswestcovina.com/west-covina-drive-ins/
The “Bar-Len” was listed in Lenwood in the 1964 Film Daily Year Book. It was also listed, with a capacity 460 cars and in Barstow in the 1972 International Motion Picture Almanac, so it survived until at least 1971. By the 1984 edition, it was gone.
A 1963 Barstow High School yearbook photo calls it the “Bar Len,” though the poster uses a hyphen.
http://www.flickriver.com/photos/mojavegirl1216/4300343906/
For the clincher, this Flickr user posted “A single frame from the policy trailer shown at the Bar-Len Drive In.” It clearly shows a hyphen in the name.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/23731559@N07/4357654129/
I can’t tell which city it belonged in, but I think the name really ought to be hyphenated.
This article from The Sonoma County Press Democrat says the Lakeport has been open since 1974. http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/6474023-181/drive-in-movie-theaters-gone-but?artslide=0
This changing name business is pretty confusing. The 1948-49 Theatre Catalog lists the Madera Drive-In as under construction. The 1949-50 edition lists the El Rio in operation, as does the 1952 and 1955-56 editions.
The 1956 Film Daily Year Book of Motion Pictures lists, for Madera CA, both the El Rio Drive-In and the Madera Drive-In. The 1964 edition lists only the El Rio, so I’m guessing the second drive-in in ‘56 was a crossed wire.
On the other hand, the 1984 International Motion Picture Almanac shows the only drive-in in Madera as the single-screen Park Vu Drive In, owned by R. Gran. And the 1995 edition of Goodridge’s Guide to Flea Markets also mentions the Park Vu Drive-In Flea Market at 201 Lincoln. It was definitely known as the Madera by 2004, so the Park Vu must have been an intermediate name.
From its Facebook posts and its old web site captures on Archive.org, the BDRP only showed movies for that one season and may have been completely out of business by 2012. In any event, it’s long gone now and should be moved to the Closed category here.
The Santa Maria Valley Historical Society Museum has a web page with a timeline of notable local dates. Fortunately for us, it includes the following line:
October 14, 1949 Park Aire Drive-In opened in the 200 block of east Donovan.Road
See http://santamariahistory.com/timeline.html
The Park Aire is listed in the 1949-50 Theatre Catalog but not in the preceding 1948-49 edition, so that opening date looks good.
DavidZ, thanks for the article link. It says the place opened as the Paramount, but don’t be fooled. Every contemporary reference I’ve seen calls it the Roadium. The article mentions that “it shut down in 1992,” so that might be a good closing date.
Now that it’s the only operating drive-in in Arizona, the Glendale would have to be the largest. :) Like the others in the West Wind chain, they’re smart about offering periodic free movies, typically on Thursdays, to draw in new customers.
Now that it’s running digital, a couple of the shiny old film projectors are mounted like museum displays in the concession stand area.
Is that a photo of the old Fiesta? When I check Google Street View, I don’t see anything like that hill on the right, nor the ridge behind the screen. And this photo doesn’t show the 6+ foot fence that surrounds the viewing area.
In a 2015 article in the UTEP student newspaper, The Prospector, the Fiesta manager says it “has two motion picture screens with a maximum capacity for 500 cars.” Looking at Google Earth images, I can’t find a second screen.
http://www.theprospectordaily.com/2015/02/10/hot-and-heavy-at-the-drive-in/ https://goo.gl/maps/iDfkXUvide72
(Sorry that I first entered this as a comment on a particular photo. I’ll learn.)
In a 2015 article in the UTEP student newspaper, The Prospector, the Fiesta manager says it “has two motion picture screens with a maximum capacity for 500 cars.” Looking at Google Earth images, I can’t find a second screen.
http://www.theprospectordaily.com/2015/02/10/hot-and-heavy-at-the-drive-in/ https://goo.gl/maps/iDfkXUvide72
Somebody applied to the local zoning board for a variance to reopen the Moonlite. The previous owners had sued the West Wyoming Borough over alleged sewer mishaps, and now the borough owns the drive-in.
Many more details and links: http://carload.com/2017/01/pa-man-applies-to-revive-the-moonlite/
I don’t see a listing for the Graham in the 1948-49 Theatre Catalog drive-in census. It appears in the following edition (1949-50) with Exec: E. L. Williamson. The listing also says it ran 7 days, 12 months, with room for 300 cars.
Theatre Catalogs list it as operated by Glen Underwood (1949, 1952), then the Bancrofts in 1955 as Ken says. It wasn’t listed in the 1948 catalog, so 1949 might be its opening date.