Parkview Drive-In
1206 Alabama Street,
St. Joseph,
MO
64504
1206 Alabama Street,
St. Joseph,
MO
64504
1 person
favorited this theater
The Cow Town Drive-In opened June 1, 1952, featuring “The Nevadan” from 1950 with Randolph Scott, Dorothy Malone and George F. Slavin. The second feature was “The Big Wheel” from 1949 with Mickey Rooney, Thomas Mitchell and Mary Hatcher. The drive-in was a partnership of Beverley Miller, Mary Belle Miller and Joseph W. Stark from Wichita, KS. In March of 1968, Mid-America Theatres Inc. located in St. Louis, MO. purchased the Cow Town Drive-In. At that time Mid-America owned and operated 20 theatres in MO & IL. On October 15, 1972, the Cow Town Drive-In closed for the season. In the early morning of October 20, 1972, a fire of unknown origin started in the concession stand and it did considerable damage.
On May 19, 1973, the Cow Town Drive-In reopened with a new name, Parkview Drive-In. New projection equipment was installed and the concession stand was rebuilt. It featured all new soft drink equipment, sandwich warmers, popcorn popper and fry stations.
On June 7, 1977, the ‘R’ rated movie “Smartie Pants” along with a second feature of “The Young Seducers” was screened at the Parkview Drive-In. On July 15, 1977, Clifford Brigman who was the chief projectionist for the drive-in at that time was charged with showing obscene movies. He pleaded not guilty to the charge. The action stemmed from a complaint by Harlan Springs, that the drive-in was showing obscene movies that could be seen by neighborhood children. Harlan Springs had picketed the drive-in with his two sons in June. Mr Brigman was found guilty by a jury and fined $250 plus $50 in court costs. He immediately filed an appeal and in August 1977 the obscenity case was dismissed. The court dismissed the case because the city did not have sufficient evidence to support the obscenity allegation. The city did not have a copy of the movie as evidence. All costs were refunded back to Brigman.
The Parkview Drive-In closed for good on August 7, 1979. It is now a salvage yard.
Contributed by
Randy Studer, MikeRogers
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Recent comments (view all 12 comments)
Opened on Friday 30May1952 last movie shown was on Sunday 15October1972 the movies were The Cowboys with John Wayne and Skin Game With James Garner on Friday 20October Firemen responded to a fire in the concession stand at 12.08AM and did not return to there station until 2.43AM. On Saturday 21April1973 It reopened under a new name called the Parkview Drive-In Theater the movies were Big Jake and RIO LOBO with John Wayne PLUS Lee Marvin in Monte Welch the add says ALL NEW SNACK BAR- YOU WILL LOVE IT
Sorry i did not put the year of the fire was Friday 20October1972. The last regular schedule daily date for the Parkview Drive-In Theater was Tuesday 7August1979 last movie shown was Invasion of the Body Snatchers + Coma. On Wednesday 8August1979 the add in the newspaper said Parkview is now closed for the season this add ran for 2 days. The manager of the Theater did reopen for a one night special anywhere from 1-3years later after this closing of 1979. I have been trying to find the add in the newspaper. The movie that night was Attack of the Killer Tomatoes, i dont remember if there was another movie that night or not but they did have a wet teeshirt contest for the women that night. Yes i was there. The thing i remember the most besides the contest and movie was the manager was the only one working. The concession stand was closed. The car speakers and poles were all removed, the sound came from large stero type speaker boxes just right outside concession stand.
On Monday 28November2011 i went to the Auto Salvage yard called Barnards Auto Salvage this is where the Old Drive-In Theater use to be called Cowtown/Parkview. As it turned out the owner was a old class mate of mine. The only thing still standing from the Drive-In days was the concession stand, bathroom and Projection booth room all in the same building. This building looks like it could fall down at anytime. The next time im in St Joseph i plan on taking some pictures of it.This is still amazing since this was one of the 3 drive-Ins that were here in the 50,60,70s
The address is 1526 Parkview I TRIED from the Rialto picture of getting a shot of this which is about 4 blocks from each other i was only able to get to the entrance the camera wouldnt go down the dirt road about 20 yards from the street.
I forgot to mention when i was there on Monday 28November2011 a nearby train with the horn blaring. This instantly brought bck memories when this would happen when the movies would be playing and drowning out all sounds of the movies. I use to think during the movies the train engineers would do this on purpose. But there is a major railroad crossing about a block a way from where the Drive-In Theater was.
Address anove is incorrect. Barnard’s Auto Salvage is at 1206 Alabama Street.
The address of 1526 Parkview is CORRECT if you click on the photo then newspaper adds you will see it says 1526 Parkview sometime from when it closed barnards auto the address changed to 1206 alabama. When i have sometime i will check with the city directory at the library to find out when.
Tp, jwmovies has listed a lot of addresses that have been changed to wrong addresses. Everything that is available on this drive-in lists the address as 1526 Parkview. In the old listings for Mid- America Theatres it lists the address as 1526 Parkview. You would think that the company that owned the theatre would know the correct address of their theatres.
neat stories…
When I researched this DI it is listed as 1526 Parkview. But, if you look at the maps it is located at 1206 Alabama St… Parkview is Side Street that runs parallel north of Alabama St. I was thinking the street name was changed years ago. I called the St Joe City street deptment about the addresses. I talked to a gentleman that used to go to the drive-in in the late 1950’s. He said the Parkview address might have been a mailing address? Maybe it is a misprint on advertising and nobody bother to change it. He said 1206 Alabama is the correct address for the drive-in. Also, he said there is other address’s in St. Joe that are off also like that.
I have written documentation from Clifford Brigman widow Fran that he was not the Head or Chief Projectionest that job already belonged to someone else who was already with the Drive-In When he took over as the Head Manager. Clifford Brigman was also the Head Manager of 2 other Drive-Ins the Skylark Drive-In located in Leavenworth Kansas and another Drive-In LOCATED Jefferson City Mo. Due to his busy schedule of being Head Manager for 3 Drive-Ins at one time Clifford Brigman hired an assistant to run Parkview. Years Later after the Parkview Drive In Closed he became the Head Manager of a Twin Screen Drive-In located Springfield Illinois. The Drive-in was not loosing money at the time it closed, i was told it just wasnt making big enough profit.