69 Drive-In
Old Highway 69 and E. 1090 Road,
Checotah,
OK
74426
Old Highway 69 and E. 1090 Road,
Checotah,
OK
74426
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A typical outdoor theatre, the 69 Drive-In served the movie entertainment needs of Checotah residents since opening on September 23, 1950 with Anthony Quinn in “Black Gold”. Since Connors State College and popular Lake Eufala are nearby it also got a nice share of students and tourist too. It was closed in the mid to late-1990’s and has since been demolished.
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Cactus Jack
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Recent comments (view all 20 comments)
“Busy as a cranberry merchant was Dick Crumpler at Checotah. He operates the Gentry there as was getting ready to reopen his 69 Drive-In. Several weeks ago during a high wind, his screen tower was blown back to about a 45-degree angle. He is busy getting it back in shape and has repainted the tower and the surrounding fence, as well as the concession stand in a bright pink.” — Boxoffice, April 18, 1960
Poor Dick Crumpler. “A tornado in eastern Oklahoma demolished Dick Crumpler’s 69 Drive-In, Checotah. Dick also operates the downtown Gentry and is serving as city manager of Checotah. We have not learned whether he will be able to reopen the 69 Drive-In this season.” — Boxoffic, Aug. 8, 1960
The 69 Drive-In Opened On September 23rd, 1950. In July 1960, The Theater Is Destroyed By Severe Storms But Was Later Rebuilt And Reopened. It Is Still In Operation Since 1966.
Dick Crumpler, J.P. Jones, and Harvey Griffith launched the 69 Drive-In on September 28, 1950 with Anthony Quinn in “Black Gold.” It was McIntosh County’s first o-zoner. The second iteration of the 69 Drive-In closed with the Nov. 1, 1974 showing of Michael Caine in “Sleuth.”
this one has long since been demolished! please update!
Okmulgee Daily News, July 26, 1950: “Construction work on a drive-in theater to be erected one mile south of Checotah on the Harvey Griffin farm will start within the next two or three weeks, it has been announced. J. P. Jones and Jack LeMasters of the Cozy theater, Dick Crumpler of the Gentry theater and Harvy Griffin will be the owners of the new enterprise … The theater will be operated under the name of "66 (sic) Drive-In theater.” A playground for children to be located inside the theater will be a novel feature of the new movie house."
A closer address is E 1090 Rd & Old Hwy 69, Checotah, OK. The address currently listed has E 1900 which is not correct.
Closed in the mid-to-late 1990s.
Opened on 23rd September 1950 with “Black gold”.
Only remains are parch marks of the outline and some ramps. There is a pile of dirt and concrete where the concession stand once stood. The foundation supports for the screen may still be present, but cannot be confirmed with current Google aerial and street views.