Motor-Vu Drive-In
3301 E. 3300 South,
Salt Lake City,
UT
84103
3 people favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Intermountain Theatres, Plitt Theatres
Architects: Paul K. Evans
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Opened June 3, 1947 by Eric & Carl Peterson, the Motor-Vu Drive-In held 700 cars making it one of Salt Lake City’s larger drive-ins. By 1956 it was owned by S.L. Gillette and was located at 33rd South Street at 35th East Steet. One showing only each night of "Diary of Anne Frank". Surprized they never ran a second feature. This was on October 2, 1959. It was taken over by Intermountain Theatres from 1960. It was closed by Plitt Theatres in January 1976.
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Recent comments (view all 9 comments)
PLEASE CHANGE ADDRESS TO:
3300 South
Opening movie was NIGHT AND DAY in Technicolor, with Cary Grant & Alexis Smith.
More info and photos are always welcome.
Ah yes, my two older Sister’s would borrow Dad’s car and take me with them to see movies here. I don’t remember any of them because I would fall asleep in the back seat.
In looking at the aerial from 1958 it looks like there was a DI across the street also. Anybody have a clue on that on?
The $65,000 Paul K. Evans architected Motor-Vu Drive-In launched June 3, 1947 for Eric and Carl Peterson. At the end of the 1953 season, the Petersons went large converting to a 105 foot wide CinemaScope compatible screen relaunching March 19, 1954 with “The Robe.” Sound was stereo using two Utah in-car speakers.
The grand opening was June 7, 1947.
Boxoffice, Feb. 2, 1976, under Salt Lake City: “The Motor Vu Drive-In here, which was operated 15 years by ABC Intermountain Theatres and the last year by Plitt Theatres, has been closed permanently and is in the process of being demolished to make way for a new shopping center.”
There was a very lengthy article in the June 13, 1960 Boxoffice about the apparent retirement of Eric Peterson, builder and owner of the Motor-Vu, which he had just leased to Intermountain Theatres. The article said the Motor-Vu “was the first ozoner in the Intermountain West” when it opened in 1947. “It was filled every night that first season and grew in popularity ever season after.”
House below the screen
Motor Vu house below the screen 09 Jan 1949, Sun The Salt Lake Tribune (Salt Lake City, Utah) Newspapers.com