American Dream Drive-In
1070 Road 9,
Powell,
WY
82435
1070 Road 9,
Powell,
WY
82435
1 person
favorited this theater
The Paul’s Drive-In opened in 1948. It was renamed Vali Drive-In in March 1969, and renamed American Dream Drive-In in 2004.
Contributed by
Lost Memory
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Recent comments (view all 9 comments)
Great Name.
Didn’t this opened as Paul’s Drive-In ?
I show the Vali DI open as the late 1970’s onwards and Paul’s DI from the late 1940’s to the late 1970’s.
This drive-in did open as the Paul’s Drive-In in 1948 and was the Paul’s until 1975. It became the Vali-Drive-in in 1976. It became the American Dream Drive-In in 2004. website
Would you be willing to help me with information on setting up a drive-in theater please? I’m in Sheridan.
Facebook commenter “Joann Bentz” wrote “My husband and I were the second owners of the drive in and built the new snack bar/box office in 1971. … We also owned and operated the West drive in in Cody.”
The Theatre Catalog lists Paul McCalmon for Paul’s in 1949. Capacity 200.
The IMPAs continued to list it as “Pauls” through 1976. Still capacity 200. By 1982, it was the Vali, run by A. Mercer, who also ran the “Cory” in Basin WY.
The Casper Star Tribune wrote in 2013 that Scott and Kathleen Heny were the buyers in 2004. They installed a digital projector in 2013.
That article references a Saturday night in late August 2013 when “(s)lightly more than 70 cars had shown up for the evening show, a strong turnout.” So maybe they were having trouble filling that 200-car lot.
Boxoffice, Aug. 20, 1962: “Mr. and Mrs. Paul McCalmon have sold Paul’s Drive-In at Powell, Wyo., to Craig and Ann Jones”
Boxoffice, July 29, 1963: “Mr. and Mrs. Paul McCalmon again are operating Paul’s Drive-In, Powell, Wyo. They were the original owners prior to selling to Craig and Ann Jones at the beginning of the year”
Boxoffice, Oct. 30, 1967: “Norman Bentz has taken over the operation of Pauls Drive-In at Powell, Wyo., from Mr. and Mrs. Paul McCalmon.”
Boxoffice, March 10, 1969: “Bentz is remodeling the Pauls Drive-In at Powell, Wyo. His theatre will now be known as the "Vali” Drive-In. Entirely new concession stand has been erected with new restrooms and a patron rest area."