Sky-Vue Drive-In

The Website for the Sky-Vue Drive In is http://skyvue1.homestead.com/skyvue1.html

Teh Sky-Vue was a feature on the New Channel 11 Website recently giveing a pretty good history of the Drive In
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Most people across the South Plains associate this town with the only drive-in movie theater in West Texas. The Sky Vue Drive-In has been a staple in Lamesa for 55 years, and every weekend, people from across the state travel here just to drive in.

NewsChannel 11's Ashley Stacy takes us there.

For many, taking a date to the movies has changed over the years, but thanks to the Sky Vue Theater in Lamesa, people across the South Plains are still driving in.

"The Sky Vue was built in 1948, so I guess it's been here 55 years. Mr. Noret and his dad Skeet Noret built it and I went to work here in about '57, so I've been here almost 46 years," said owner Sam Kirkland.

Sam and Carolyn Kirkland now own the only drive-in theater in West Texas that sits between two cotton fields. During the day, it looks just like an empty parking lot with a peculiar wall, but at night, up to 400 cars fill the lot and the dark sky surrounds the screen.

"Just being out in the open, the fresh air, it's nice just to sit and watch a movie," said Tonya Harley, a movie goer from Lamesa.

"It's just more relaxing, more fun for the kids. They can move around, get out, and stretch a bit," said Kyle Knox of Lubbock.

Sky Vue allows people to relax and visit while watching a movie. A pastime, Sam says, struggled with daylight savings time and video rental stores, but Sky Vue is still going strong.

"I think what they really like, of course, price is a big deal, but it's a getaway. Even people in hard times, you need a night out, and you come just to get out and forget about things. And of course, we're real reasonably priced. We're family oriented, and they just have a good time," said Sam Kirkland.

Sky Vue isn't just a drive-in, they also have a one-of-a-kind snack bar. As a matter of fact, their Chihuahua Sandwich has made them famous, and many people come here just for dinner.

"They're awesome, one of a kind, and once you have one you'll want to come back," said Shelley, a movie goer.

"It's unique, and it's one of the reasons people come out here. A lot of people come just to eat a Chihuahua. If you haven't had one, you need to come out here to Lamesa and eat one," said Harley.

But the Chihuahua isn't all they serve, they have a full restaurant from corn dogs to chicken gizzards, and a large selection of candy and popcorn.

"It's a good family atmosphere. The kids enjoy it, and they show good movies," said Rick Fisher, a movie goer from Tahoka.

The Kirkland family takes pride in showing family films and embracing the theatre's nostalgia. The snack bar sits in the original building, and the playground up front is still the original equipment. As for the best movie ever, Sam says Jurassic Park was a huge hit outdoors.

"That and Twister, and the night we showed Twister we had a big storm," he said.

But don't be fooled, weather rarely stops the show.

The Noret family started the Sky Vue and later sold it. Their grandson, Ryan Smith, is continuing the family tradition by opening a new drive-in in Lubbock, but the two theaters are not connected.

I spent the night in Lamesa, and my friend and I had to pick between the drive in and high school football. Should have watched the movie, Lamesa got stomped. I can't believe this is the only drive-in in the area. It's perfect drive-in terrain (so flat you can see the next county seat's water tower as you leave town), and there's very little rain.

Here's a little Sky-Vue anecdote for all.

I asked my mother about her experience singing for the crowd at the Sky-Vue, and this is an excerpt from my mother's reply:

"I talked to Patsie [my aunt] yesterday and she remembered a few things about our "debut" at the Sky-Vue.  She said we sang there in June of 1949. 

I remember I wore a pique green and white dress and she remembers she wore a red dress with white stitching that she had made.  She said her date had on a white fuzzy shirt that shed on her red dress.  Guess that means she was sitting close to him on the drive to Lamesa.  The only song we can remember singing was "Blue Skirt Waltz."  We stood on the roof of the snack bar or the ramp house as they called it. 

She thinks Skeet Noret knew about us from a Lion's Club Convention, when we represented the Seagraves Lions Club.  They gave us a rhinestone necklace and earrings with "Lions Club Sweethearts" on it.    I still have them.  Funny they could only muster up one pair.  Patsie thinks Skeet must have been there and that's why he asked us to sing.  I wondered how he got in touch with us, since we had no telephone.  Who knows?

She and I both think we might have sung "Truck Driver's Blues", but we can't be sure.  Gosh, that was so long ago.  She said the new drive in being built in Lubbock is out on the Clovis highway."

My mother is Marjore Chronister, and my aunt is Patsie Ross Milosevich. At the time they sang, they were Patsie and Marjore Scales. They grew up on a farm in Wellman, and moved to Lubbock for college. My uncles went to LHS and Tech as well, although no record exists of them singing at the Sky-Vue. Knowing their personalities, though, I'm sure each of them spent some time at the drive in, in either the front or back seat...

Hey dsnewton. Thanks for sharing. I am sure Skeet will remember, he is an exceptional individual. I will be talking to him soon. I know Wellman because I graduated Brownfield High in 1969 and lived in Lubbock the next 27 years.

Thanks again! Talk to you later.

-Don

Here is a 2007 photo of the Sky-Vue Drive-In.

Looks like a tiny screen.

That can't be the screen it's too low

Yeah, I think the movie shows on the top 2/3 and the bottom third must be painted black. I love that "in color" neon on the marquee.

This is an updated link for the Sky-Vue Drive-In website. There are additional photos on their website. Screens should be one and function is movies.

Here is another view of the screen and marquee:
http://tinyurl.com/l5sqly