Motion Picture Herald, April 24, 1954: “The large new Southside drive-in, owned by Joe Ripley and leased to Fred Kent, is expected to open in May under the supervision of Bob Anderson, manager of the Main Street drive-in.”
Kenmore’s street address is accurate, of course. However, I think it’s a shame that a drive-in named after a city and closer to that city’s limits should be filed instead under the city whose post office happens to deliver its mail. If it were up to me, I would list the Olewein under Olewein IA.
Motion Picture Herald, April 24, 1954: “For the first time in many years, Charles City will have only one theatre during the summer. The Gem theatre, operated by Royce Winkelman, has closed until fall. Meanwhile, the Highway 218 drive-in will serve as host to Charles City theatre fans.”
Motion Picture Herald, April 17, 1954: “The Sundown drive-in, Columbia, Tenn., has been purchased by R. P. Davis, from S. S. Fleming, Sidney Johnson and Jack Chappell.”
This photo appeared in the April 10, 1954 issue of Motion Picture Herald, which should be in the public domain. (Of course, it may have also appeared elsewhere.) The original caption:
The new attraction panel of the Hillside drive-in, Hillside, D., an operation of Sidney Lust Theatres, Washington, D. C., employs large Wagner 17-inch green plastic and 10-inch red plastic letters to form the chanegable copy. Fabricated and erected by the Whiteway Neon Sign Company, New York, the board has two faces with openings 23 feet, 1½ inches long by 85 inches high. Wagner glass and frames were also employed in the installation.
Motion Picture Herald, April 10, 1954: “The Sundown drive-in in Westfield opened its gates March 31 during an unseasonable blizzard. The new ownership is Joe Levine and Barnet Yanofsky.”
Most of the old Sands viewing area is the truck parking area behind and belonging to the Shell station at 2451 Needles Highway. But you’re right, the back edge of the Best Western property covers the location of the Sands' screen, and the side covers the former entrance road. Although either address points to the right place, the Best Western’s at 2371 Needles Highway is probably better.
Boxoffice, April 20, 1970: “The Starlite Drive-In was purchased March 3 by Mr. and Mrs. E. A. "Gene” Hulman, Las Vegas, from owners Russ Fillner of Billings, Eli Spannagel sr. and M. M. Gambill. The Hulmans, with their two sons David and Stephan, will reside in Forsyth."
Boxoffice, April 13, 1970: “Opening of the San Pedro Outdoor Theatre’s third screen was to be held Friday (10). Completion of the third screen, which has a 800-car capacity brings the San Pedro’s three-screen capacity to 2,100 cars, making the theatre the largest outdoor facility in South Texas, according to John L. Santikos, president of Santikos Theatres. Santikos said the movie complex’s name, now known as the San Pedro Twin, will be changed to the San Pedro Outdoor Complex”
Boxoffice, April 13, 1970: “Bob Ash, former operator of the Pastime Theatre and Pageant Drive-In, Medicine Lodge, Kas., has taken over the operation of the Anthony Theatre and the Star Vue Drive-In, Anthony, Kas. The theatres were formerly owned by Mrs. Hazel Droz and the change in ownership was effective Monday (6).”
Boxoffice, April 13, 1970: “Chairman of the board Lu Vaughan and president Martin Stone of the Kansas City-based Mid-America Cinema Corp., hosted a pre-opening screening at the new 1,600-car North Twin Drive-In, Riverside, Wednesday night (8). The two-screen drive-in is located on U.S. 71 at 50th Street, one-quarter mile south of I-29, and is the first twin-screen airer north of the river in metropolitan Kansas City. The entrance-way is accentuated by an eight-foot, lighted plexi-glass arch and the 1,300-foor entrance drive is outlined by mushroom lighting. Twin boxoffices with four cashiers keep four lanes of traffic moving … A two-story, air-conditioned building houses the projection booth, rest rooms and the refreshment center, which has four serving lanes. Just to the west of this area is a children’s playground. These facilities are centrally located between the two theatres. Ample parking is provided on 34 ramps spaced 40 feet apart. Speaker posts are spaced 20 feet apart. Electric in-car heaters make it possible to operate the drive-in year-round. The North Twin’s viewing area is in a natural amphitheatre and the entrance is located on one of the highest ridges in Platte County.”
Boxoffice, April 13, 1970: “Forman and United are in the process of remodeling the Midway Drive-In. The old theatre, which had been called the first in the Northwest, has been razed and the new structure, featuring an asbestos screen, will accommodate more than 1,000 cars and also will have a 6,000-square-foot playground. Plans call for a reopening later this month.”
Boxoffice, April 13, 1970: “A request for a zoning change which would permit construction of a drive-in north of Laurel on U.S. 13 has been approved by the planning and zoning commission of Sussex County. Midway Enterprises, owned by Richard H. Derrickson of Rehoboth Beach, requested the change on 15 acres of land from residential to business to be used for a family-type theatre. The proposed theatre would accommodate 412 cars.”
Boxoffice, April 13, 1970: “Bobby Goldhammer had two of his situations damaged by the recent windstorm. The screen of the Winchester Drive-In and the marquee on the Plaza Theatre, both in Winchester, Va., were blown down.”
The April 13, 1970 issue of Boxoffice noted that Fair Ground owner Gabe Rubin also owned the (ultimately short-lived) Pittsburgh Pipers of the American Basketball Association.
Had they lost track of when they opened, or were there years off, or??
Boxoffice, April 13, 1970: “Sam Gandell opened his Canandaigua Drive-In, Canandaigua, celebrating his 20th year of operation with outstanding anniversary programs, bands, giant searchlights, etc.”
Motion Picture Herald, April 24, 1954: “The large new Southside drive-in, owned by Joe Ripley and leased to Fred Kent, is expected to open in May under the supervision of Bob Anderson, manager of the Main Street drive-in.”
Kenmore’s street address is accurate, of course. However, I think it’s a shame that a drive-in named after a city and closer to that city’s limits should be filed instead under the city whose post office happens to deliver its mail. If it were up to me, I would list the Olewein under Olewein IA.
The 218 was open by 1954.
Motion Picture Herald, April 24, 1954: “For the first time in many years, Charles City will have only one theatre during the summer. The Gem theatre, operated by Royce Winkelman, has closed until fall. Meanwhile, the Highway 218 drive-in will serve as host to Charles City theatre fans.”
This appears to be a lightly cropped version of a 1998 photo © Alex Vosicka AKA mudsharkalex on Flickr. See https://www.flickr.com/photos/mudsharkalex/4733153373/
This appears to be a lightly cropped version of a 1998 photo © Alex Vosicka AKA mudsharkalex on Flickr. See https://www.flickr.com/photos/mudsharkalex/4733152937/
Corroborating MovieLady’s note. Motion Picture Herald, April 17, 1954: “J. L. Welsh, owner, has opened his new Star theatre, El Dorado, Ark.”
The 1950 Film Daily Year Book listed Cardwell’s Grand with 470 seats.
Motion Picture Herald, April 17, 1954: “Y & W Management Corp. now is operating the Hi-Way drive-in at Plymouth.”
Motion Picture Herald, April 17, 1954: “The Alger Circuit has opened a new 300-car drive-in at Princeton, Ill.”
Motion Picture Herald, April 17, 1954: “The Sundown drive-in, Columbia, Tenn., has been purchased by R. P. Davis, from S. S. Fleming, Sidney Johnson and Jack Chappell.”
This photo appeared in the April 10, 1954 issue of Motion Picture Herald, which should be in the public domain.
This photo appeared in the April 10, 1954 issue of Motion Picture Herald, which should be in the public domain. (Of course, it may have also appeared elsewhere.) The original caption:
The new attraction panel of the Hillside drive-in, Hillside, D., an operation of Sidney Lust Theatres, Washington, D. C., employs large Wagner 17-inch green plastic and 10-inch red plastic letters to form the chanegable copy. Fabricated and erected by the Whiteway Neon Sign Company, New York, the board has two faces with openings 23 feet, 1½ inches long by 85 inches high. Wagner glass and frames were also employed in the installation.
Motion Picture Herald, April 10, 1954: “C. W. Douglas has taken over the Roxy, which he will convert to an all-Negro patronage theatre.”
Motion Picture Herald, April 10, 1954: “The Sundown drive-in in Westfield opened its gates March 31 during an unseasonable blizzard. The new ownership is Joe Levine and Barnet Yanofsky.”
Most of the old Sands viewing area is the truck parking area behind and belonging to the Shell station at 2451 Needles Highway. But you’re right, the back edge of the Best Western property covers the location of the Sands' screen, and the side covers the former entrance road. Although either address points to the right place, the Best Western’s at 2371 Needles Highway is probably better.
Boxoffice, April 20, 1970: “The Starlite Drive-In was purchased March 3 by Mr. and Mrs. E. A. "Gene” Hulman, Las Vegas, from owners Russ Fillner of Billings, Eli Spannagel sr. and M. M. Gambill. The Hulmans, with their two sons David and Stephan, will reside in Forsyth."
Boxoffice, April 13, 1970: “Opening of the San Pedro Outdoor Theatre’s third screen was to be held Friday (10). Completion of the third screen, which has a 800-car capacity brings the San Pedro’s three-screen capacity to 2,100 cars, making the theatre the largest outdoor facility in South Texas, according to John L. Santikos, president of Santikos Theatres. Santikos said the movie complex’s name, now known as the San Pedro Twin, will be changed to the San Pedro Outdoor Complex”
Boxoffice, April 13, 1970: “Bob Ash, former operator of the Pastime Theatre and Pageant Drive-In, Medicine Lodge, Kas., has taken over the operation of the Anthony Theatre and the Star Vue Drive-In, Anthony, Kas. The theatres were formerly owned by Mrs. Hazel Droz and the change in ownership was effective Monday (6).”
Boxoffice, April 13, 1970: “Chairman of the board Lu Vaughan and president Martin Stone of the Kansas City-based Mid-America Cinema Corp., hosted a pre-opening screening at the new 1,600-car North Twin Drive-In, Riverside, Wednesday night (8). The two-screen drive-in is located on U.S. 71 at 50th Street, one-quarter mile south of I-29, and is the first twin-screen airer north of the river in metropolitan Kansas City. The entrance-way is accentuated by an eight-foot, lighted plexi-glass arch and the 1,300-foor entrance drive is outlined by mushroom lighting. Twin boxoffices with four cashiers keep four lanes of traffic moving … A two-story, air-conditioned building houses the projection booth, rest rooms and the refreshment center, which has four serving lanes. Just to the west of this area is a children’s playground. These facilities are centrally located between the two theatres. Ample parking is provided on 34 ramps spaced 40 feet apart. Speaker posts are spaced 20 feet apart. Electric in-car heaters make it possible to operate the drive-in year-round. The North Twin’s viewing area is in a natural amphitheatre and the entrance is located on one of the highest ridges in Platte County.”
Boxoffice, April 13, 1970: “Forman and United are in the process of remodeling the Midway Drive-In. The old theatre, which had been called the first in the Northwest, has been razed and the new structure, featuring an asbestos screen, will accommodate more than 1,000 cars and also will have a 6,000-square-foot playground. Plans call for a reopening later this month.”
Boxoffice, April 13, 1970: “A request for a zoning change which would permit construction of a drive-in north of Laurel on U.S. 13 has been approved by the planning and zoning commission of Sussex County. Midway Enterprises, owned by Richard H. Derrickson of Rehoboth Beach, requested the change on 15 acres of land from residential to business to be used for a family-type theatre. The proposed theatre would accommodate 412 cars.”
Boxoffice, April 13, 1970: “Bobby Goldhammer had two of his situations damaged by the recent windstorm. The screen of the Winchester Drive-In and the marquee on the Plaza Theatre, both in Winchester, Va., were blown down.”
The April 13, 1970 issue of Boxoffice noted that Fair Ground owner Gabe Rubin also owned the (ultimately short-lived) Pittsburgh Pipers of the American Basketball Association.
Boxoffice, April 13, 1970: “Sidney Cohen, new owner of the Orleans Drive-In, has made extensive improvements in the property.”
Had they lost track of when they opened, or were there years off, or??
Boxoffice, April 13, 1970: “Sam Gandell opened his Canandaigua Drive-In, Canandaigua, celebrating his 20th year of operation with outstanding anniversary programs, bands, giant searchlights, etc.”