This note from the Feb. 22, 1960 issue of BoxOffice is phrased as if the Carol had opened earlier: “Charles and Mildred Payson, who have the Carol Drive-In at Carrollton, were on (Film) Row recently with the word that they will open their drive-in for the summer on April 8.”
Boxoffice, May 30, 1960: “The reopened Carol Drive-In has undergone a face-lifting during recent weeks. A new tile floor on the concession stand, refinishing of the restrooms, several technical changes in booth equipment and a layer of new rock on the ramps and roadways have improved the situation.”
Boxoffice, May 16, 1960: “Sunset Drive-In, Hot Springs, Ark., has been forced to close after the screen tower was destroyed. Mrs. Jesse Howe, owner, is rushing repairs and will reopen shortly”
Boxoffice, May 16, 1960: “B. B. Garner of Lakeland … retired from an active role in the industry during April when he released the Ritz Theater and the Outdoor Drive-In, both in Winter Haven, to the Floyd Theatres circuit.”
Same drive-in? Boxoffice, May 16, 1960: “Two brothers, Herman and Sherman Bowen, have taken over operations of the nearby (to Jacksonville) Fernandina Drive-In, Fernandina”
Boxoffice, May 16, 1960: “Mark Keel, new owner of the Plant City Drive-In, located in Dover, has changed the outdoorer’s name to the more appropriate one of Dover Drive-In.”
Boxoffice, May 9, 1960: “The Nite Auto Movies, Greeneville, Tenn., which was closed early in the year due to a fire, reopened Thursday (5). This drive-in, formerly operated by O. G. Roaden, Loyal, Ky., was taken over by E. L. Wilson, operator of the Ashway Drive-In, Greeneville.”
Boxoffice, May 2, 1960: “George Sobel has leased the Delray Drive-In, Delray, from Elias Chalhub, who is now operating the Riviera Drive-In, Riviera Beach.”
Boxoffice, May 2, 1960: “Frank Nolan and Frank X. Rauch … have purchased the Ace-Hi Drive-In at McConnelsville from George and Charles Barkhurst. The new owners said first-run product will be played at the 385-speaker drive-in located off Route 77, north of McConnelsville.”
There was something carved out of the forest west of town on US-129 / GA-11 in a 1967 aerial photo, on the south side of the highway at about today’s 280 State Hwy 11. The only signs that it had been a drive-in were two driveways and a lot of unusually pale ground.
Boxoffice, April 25, 1960: “C. H. Fountain is reopening his Fountain Drive-In at Lakeland April 29 for the season … Fountain is putting his drive-in, including 17 acres located on U. S. 129, on the market for $6,000.”
Boxoffice, April 18, 1960: “Gulf States has taken over operation of the Honey Theatre and Mojac Drive-In in Indianola, Miss., and has transferred the account from Memphis to the New Orleans exchanges”
Boxoffice, April 11, 1960: “The Elza and Skyway drive-ins, Oak Ridge, Tenn., have been taken over by Mrs. Juanita Foree and associates from O. G. Roaden of Loyal, Ky. Mrs. Foree is an officer in the Newport Amusement Co. and partner in the Lakemont Drive-In, Alcoa, Tenn.”
Boxoffice, April 4, 1960: “A unit of Floyd Theatres, the Tower Drive-In at Tampa, was forced to close temporarily when flood waters filled the outdoorer’s grounds”
Boxoffice, April 4, 1960: “Jim Poindexter was force to close his Floriland Drive-In, Tampa, because of extensive damage to his screen tower during a subtropical rainstorm”
Boxoffice, March 14, 1960: “Carl Floyd of Haines City has added the Auto Park Drive-In, Tamps, to his Floyd Theatres circuit. It was formerly operated by Mrs. S. E. Brittain, whose husband has the large Brittain Plaza Theatre at Tampa”
Boxoffice, Feb. 29, 1960: “BATESVILLE, ARK. - Twisting winds which struck this community February 9 flattened the screen tower of the winter-closed White River Drive-In, Commonwealth circuit outdoor theatre. Byers Jordan, manager of the theatres here, said the White River will be fully restored and added that the target date is April 8, which has been set as opening day for the drive-in season.”
Boxoffice, Feb. 29, 1960: “J. U. Burton, owner, reports that the Lake Drive-In, Wynnburg, had to close temporarily to repair wind damage to its screen.”
Boxoffice, Feb. 22, 1960: “Four gasoline pumps, each with a 10,000-gallon tank, have been installed at the Starlite Drive-In at Chicago by Stanford Kohlberg, owner-operator, where patrons may fill up at a savings of 12 cents a gallon below the prevailing station price. Most patrons may fill up, that is, since there is a limit of 15 gallons with each ticket. Free battery, tire and towing service is included.”
Boxoffice, Feb. 22, 1960: “The Tri-Hi Drive-In, northwest of Garrett, was sold at sheriff’s sale January 19 for $18,300 to Hudson Enterprises, Richmond. The only other bid, for $18,100, was made by Peter G. Maller, Fort Wayne theatre operator. The property was ordered sold November 12 by the DeKalb circuit court after judgments totaling more than $18,900 were awarded against Andromache Kalafat, Garrett, and the Tri-Hi Drive-In.”
Boxoffice, Feb. 22, 1960: “William Sarchet has purchased the interest of Alvin Seeley in the Twilite Theatre Co., which owns and operates the Twilite and Bel-Air drive-in theatres at Saginaw. Sarchet thus becomes half owner, effective March 1, with Ashmum Theatres owning the other half.”
Boxoffice, Feb. 22, 1960: “William Sarchet has purchased the interest of Alvin Seeley in the Twilite Theatre Co., which owns and operates the Twilite and Bel-Air drive-in theatres at Saginaw. Sarchet thus becomes half owner, effective March 1, with Ashmum Theatres owning the other half.”
Boxoffice, Feb. 22, 1960: “Percy Guitreau, Gonzales Drive-In, Gonzales, … and Irving Zeller reassumed operation of the drive-in after having leased it for a couple of years to Frank Pasqua, who owns and operates the town’s indoor theatre.”
This note from the Feb. 22, 1960 issue of BoxOffice is phrased as if the Carol had opened earlier: “Charles and Mildred Payson, who have the Carol Drive-In at Carrollton, were on (Film) Row recently with the word that they will open their drive-in for the summer on April 8.”
Boxoffice, May 30, 1960: “The reopened Carol Drive-In has undergone a face-lifting during recent weeks. A new tile floor on the concession stand, refinishing of the restrooms, several technical changes in booth equipment and a layer of new rock on the ramps and roadways have improved the situation.”
Boxoffice, May 16, 1960: “Sam Rutherford has taken over and reopened the Ski-Hi Drive-In, Moulton, Ala., effective Saturday (7).”
Boxoffice, May 16, 1960: “Sunset Drive-In, Hot Springs, Ark., has been forced to close after the screen tower was destroyed. Mrs. Jesse Howe, owner, is rushing repairs and will reopen shortly”
Boxoffice, May 16, 1960: “B. B. Garner of Lakeland … retired from an active role in the industry during April when he released the Ritz Theater and the Outdoor Drive-In, both in Winter Haven, to the Floyd Theatres circuit.”
Same drive-in? Boxoffice, May 16, 1960: “Two brothers, Herman and Sherman Bowen, have taken over operations of the nearby (to Jacksonville) Fernandina Drive-In, Fernandina”
Boxoffice, May 16, 1960: “Mark Keel, new owner of the Plant City Drive-In, located in Dover, has changed the outdoorer’s name to the more appropriate one of Dover Drive-In.”
Boxoffice, May 9, 1960: “The Nite Auto Movies, Greeneville, Tenn., which was closed early in the year due to a fire, reopened Thursday (5). This drive-in, formerly operated by O. G. Roaden, Loyal, Ky., was taken over by E. L. Wilson, operator of the Ashway Drive-In, Greeneville.”
Boxoffice, May 2, 1960: “George Sobel has leased the Delray Drive-In, Delray, from Elias Chalhub, who is now operating the Riviera Drive-In, Riviera Beach.”
Boxoffice, May 2, 1960: “Frank Nolan and Frank X. Rauch … have purchased the Ace-Hi Drive-In at McConnelsville from George and Charles Barkhurst. The new owners said first-run product will be played at the 385-speaker drive-in located off Route 77, north of McConnelsville.”
Boxoffice, May 2, 1960: “James M. Bullock took over ownership of the Cairo Drive-In, Fuquay Springs as of April 17”
There was something carved out of the forest west of town on US-129 / GA-11 in a 1967 aerial photo, on the south side of the highway at about today’s 280 State Hwy 11. The only signs that it had been a drive-in were two driveways and a lot of unusually pale ground.
Boxoffice, April 25, 1960: “C. H. Fountain is reopening his Fountain Drive-In at Lakeland April 29 for the season … Fountain is putting his drive-in, including 17 acres located on U. S. 129, on the market for $6,000.”
Boxoffice, April 18, 1960: “Gulf States has taken over operation of the Honey Theatre and Mojac Drive-In in Indianola, Miss., and has transferred the account from Memphis to the New Orleans exchanges”
Boxoffice, April 11, 1960: “The Elza and Skyway drive-ins, Oak Ridge, Tenn., have been taken over by Mrs. Juanita Foree and associates from O. G. Roaden of Loyal, Ky. Mrs. Foree is an officer in the Newport Amusement Co. and partner in the Lakemont Drive-In, Alcoa, Tenn.”
Boxoffice, April 4, 1960: “A new member of the Floyd (Theatres) circuit is the Ruskin Drive-In, Ruskin, which formerly was operated by Harry Jones”
Boxoffice, April 4, 1960: “A unit of Floyd Theatres, the Tower Drive-In at Tampa, was forced to close temporarily when flood waters filled the outdoorer’s grounds”
Boxoffice, April 4, 1960: “Jim Poindexter was force to close his Floriland Drive-In, Tampa, because of extensive damage to his screen tower during a subtropical rainstorm”
Adding detail to part of Nunzienick’s fine post:
Boxoffice, March 14, 1960: “Carl Floyd of Haines City has added the Auto Park Drive-In, Tamps, to his Floyd Theatres circuit. It was formerly operated by Mrs. S. E. Brittain, whose husband has the large Brittain Plaza Theatre at Tampa”
Boxoffice, May 23, 1960: “Skylark Drive-In at Corinth, Miss., has lost its screen by fire. Repairs are being rushed”
Boxoffice, Feb. 29, 1960: “BATESVILLE, ARK. - Twisting winds which struck this community February 9 flattened the screen tower of the winter-closed White River Drive-In, Commonwealth circuit outdoor theatre. Byers Jordan, manager of the theatres here, said the White River will be fully restored and added that the target date is April 8, which has been set as opening day for the drive-in season.”
Boxoffice, Feb. 29, 1960: “J. U. Burton, owner, reports that the Lake Drive-In, Wynnburg, had to close temporarily to repair wind damage to its screen.”
Boxoffice, Feb. 22, 1960: “Four gasoline pumps, each with a 10,000-gallon tank, have been installed at the Starlite Drive-In at Chicago by Stanford Kohlberg, owner-operator, where patrons may fill up at a savings of 12 cents a gallon below the prevailing station price. Most patrons may fill up, that is, since there is a limit of 15 gallons with each ticket. Free battery, tire and towing service is included.”
Boxoffice, Feb. 22, 1960: “The Tri-Hi Drive-In, northwest of Garrett, was sold at sheriff’s sale January 19 for $18,300 to Hudson Enterprises, Richmond. The only other bid, for $18,100, was made by Peter G. Maller, Fort Wayne theatre operator. The property was ordered sold November 12 by the DeKalb circuit court after judgments totaling more than $18,900 were awarded against Andromache Kalafat, Garrett, and the Tri-Hi Drive-In.”
Boxoffice, Feb. 22, 1960: “William Sarchet has purchased the interest of Alvin Seeley in the Twilite Theatre Co., which owns and operates the Twilite and Bel-Air drive-in theatres at Saginaw. Sarchet thus becomes half owner, effective March 1, with Ashmum Theatres owning the other half.”
Boxoffice, Feb. 22, 1960: “William Sarchet has purchased the interest of Alvin Seeley in the Twilite Theatre Co., which owns and operates the Twilite and Bel-Air drive-in theatres at Saginaw. Sarchet thus becomes half owner, effective March 1, with Ashmum Theatres owning the other half.”
Boxoffice, Feb. 22, 1960: “Percy Guitreau, Gonzales Drive-In, Gonzales, … and Irving Zeller reassumed operation of the drive-in after having leased it for a couple of years to Frank Pasqua, who owns and operates the town’s indoor theatre.”