Boxoffice, July 10, 1948: “The West Springfield Drive-In on Memorial avenue will open the later part of July. Accomodating 500 cars the ozoner is owned and operated by Weymouth Drive-Ins Corp. The manager has not as yet been named”
Film Daily, Sept. 24, 1948: (under New Film Theatres Opened) “West Springfield Drive-In, West Springfield, Mass., by Weymouth Drive-In Theaters Corp.”
Boxoffice, Oct. 14, 1950: “Bill Black of Wellesley visited (Boston) Filmrow. He is the designer, builder and architect of the new Nepsonset Drive-In for Michael Redstone, the West Springfield Drive-In for E. M. Loew and the Quintree Drive-In for the Rifki circuit”
Thanks for the kind words, David. Many or most of the theater summaries at the tops of pages on CT are shaped by the collective evidence submitted by posters. In this case, the excellent Joe Vogel’s Boxoffice note said that the opening was expected by Thanksgiving Day; I suspect that’s what prompted our tireless editor to believe in a 1963 opener. In my experience, many drive-in grand openings slipped past their projected dates, which is why I thought it might be possible that it happened here.
I don’t know either way. Someone with access to the local Milledgeville newspapers from late 1963 to early 1964 could tell us for sure. If you ever drop in to a local library, someone there might be able to help.
Boxoffice, Feb. 1, 1981: “Fire officials in Nashua, N.H., blamed a popcorn machine for start of a fire that swept through the empty Star Cinema on the city’s Main St. on a recent Saturday, shortly after the matinee showing had ended. Although the 300-seat theatre was empty of patrons when the blaze broke out, some 60 people were evacuated from apartments adjacent to and above the theatre in the three-story brick building.”
I guess this must have been just before the name change.
Boxoffice, Sept. 24, 1949: “CORVALLIS, ORE. - Owner Fred Porter has changed the entrance of his Majestic Theatre here, building it into a sweeping curve to allow more space for displays. Pine columns replaced the pillars and recessed lighting was set into the ceiling.”
San Juan Record, April 21, 1955: “Norman and Connie Nielson announce that construction is now under way for their drive-in theater, and will be rushed to completion for the coming season. They will have the most modern equipment available with eighty foot screen and accommodations for three hundred cars. They have an engineer from Salt Lake and as soon as the equipment arrives, the steel man will come and erect the screen. Opening date will be announced later.”
Thanks to the Louisville History folks, who have shown me my error, at least one of them.
Although it was generally described during its lifetime as being in Louisville (it was just outside the city limits), the former L&L/Star Lite site is just barely in current-day Lafayette CO.
Although typical for the segregated times back then, the unnecessary inclusion of racial descriptions goes against today’s journalistic standards. My note from May 2019 covered the incident as was relevant to the drive-in.
I presume Craig Crawley’s adventure was related to the tornado that ripped down the Woodlane’s screen in October 1966.
And thinking of unusual drive-in names, I believe Missouri’s Woodlane is truly unique.
That is an excellent point, 50sSnipes! “Starline” was used in several company names, plus an apparently legendary South Australia drive-in, but I could find only one (other?) Starline Drive-In in the US. It was in Hines WV, and I just submitted the info to CT.
Ludington Daily News, June 28, 1963: “The 4-Star Theater in Scottville and the Starlite Drive-In Theater just east of Ludington are owned and operated by Glenn G. Wallace, who alternates the operation of the two. The 4-Star is open in the winter, closing when the Starlite opens in the spring, and reopening in the fall when the Drive-In closes. The Starlite plays mostly double features, shows being changed three, sometimes four times each week. Every Thursday night is Buck Night, with prices being a buck a carload. Saturday night is Spook Show and Dusk-to-Dawn shows - the features starting at sundown and Saturday night and continuing on until daybreak Sunday morning. Included in the features every Saturday night is a science fiction, mystery or suspense picture.”
Was the Starlite’s opening postponed a little? It happens…
Motion Picture Exhibitor, March 4, 1964: “Curly Burns has assumed buying and booking duties for Jack Jones' Blue Ridge and the new Starline (sic) Drive-In, Milledgeville, Ga.”
Just sayin', this drive-in was always listed under Milledgeville GA, and Kenmore’s address shows up with a Milledgeville Zip Code in Google Maps. Maybe CT should move the Cadet under Milledgeville?
Was there briefly a second drive-in in Boron? Since I can’t find even one on aerial photos, it seems unlikely. However…
Boxoffice, Sept. 30, 1963: (in Los Angeles notes) “Gilbert Evans, formerly with Vincent Miranda at the Lyric Theatre in Huntington Park, is opening the Sky Line Drive-In at Boron City.”
LA Times, Oct. 3, 1963: (movie listings) “BORON, Starline Drive-In, Hwy. 466 The Road to Hong Kong”
Similar listings appeared through at least the rest of October. Boron’s Starline had disappeared from the LA Times listings in 1964.
Boxoffice, Aug. 25, 1980: “Robert Maestri, of Oregon-California Theatres, Inc., announced the start of the conversion of the Broadway Theatre in Yreka to a twin cinema with a total seating capacity of 575. The complex will feature all new deluxe projection, sound, seating and refreshment facilities. Remodeling work is expected to be completed in late September.”
Boxoffice, April 19, 1952: “Mr. and Mrs. Roy M. Avery, well known throughout Siskiyou county, recently purchased the Shastona Theatre in Mount Shasta from Mr. and Mrs. M. E. Hammond … Avery’s brother Don and his wife, operate the theatre at Etna.”
Boxoffice, Feb. 11, 1950: “YREKA, CALIF. - Surveyors are at work on the site here where a 425-car, $65,000 drive-in is to be erected by Robert L. Lippert Theatres. The drive-in will be built south of town and opened about April 1. The firm’s construction superintendent J. E. Henning is here now supervising work.”
In Boxoffice’s roundup of drive-ins opened in 1950, (printed Feb. 17, 1951), it showed the 380-car Yreka as already in operation, owned by Robert Lippert.
1973 photo by Steve Fitch
Getting closer to the opening date…
Boxoffice, July 10, 1948: “The West Springfield Drive-In on Memorial avenue will open the later part of July. Accomodating 500 cars the ozoner is owned and operated by Weymouth Drive-Ins Corp. The manager has not as yet been named”
Film Daily, Sept. 24, 1948: (under New Film Theatres Opened) “West Springfield Drive-In, West Springfield, Mass., by Weymouth Drive-In Theaters Corp.”
Boxoffice, Oct. 14, 1950: “Bill Black of Wellesley visited (Boston) Filmrow. He is the designer, builder and architect of the new Nepsonset Drive-In for Michael Redstone, the West Springfield Drive-In for E. M. Loew and the Quintree Drive-In for the Rifki circuit”
Thanks for the kind words, David. Many or most of the theater summaries at the tops of pages on CT are shaped by the collective evidence submitted by posters. In this case, the excellent Joe Vogel’s Boxoffice note said that the opening was expected by Thanksgiving Day; I suspect that’s what prompted our tireless editor to believe in a 1963 opener. In my experience, many drive-in grand openings slipped past their projected dates, which is why I thought it might be possible that it happened here.
I don’t know either way. Someone with access to the local Milledgeville newspapers from late 1963 to early 1964 could tell us for sure. If you ever drop in to a local library, someone there might be able to help.
Boxoffice, Feb. 1, 1981: “Fire officials in Nashua, N.H., blamed a popcorn machine for start of a fire that swept through the empty Star Cinema on the city’s Main St. on a recent Saturday, shortly after the matinee showing had ended. Although the 300-seat theatre was empty of patrons when the blaze broke out, some 60 people were evacuated from apartments adjacent to and above the theatre in the three-story brick building.”
I guess the Nashua stayed open through at least the 1978 season.
Boxoffice, Oct. 9, 1978: “Five cinemas participated in a large-scale newspaper ad campaign … Concord Drive-In, Concord; Bedford Grove Drive-In, Manchester; Nashua Drive-In, Nashua; Seacoast Cinema, North Hampton; and Plaistow Drive-In, Plaistow.
The Esquire is scheduled to close on July 17. More about its troubles in the Denver Post.
The 1955-56 Theatre Catalog also listed the Riverdale under Roy, owned by Darrell Tullis, capacity 554 cars.
The 1955-56 Theatre Catalog listed the “Weber Motor Vu D. I.” under Ogden, owned by Associated Amuse. Co. and Clyde Blasius, capacity 726 cars.
A July 2023 Google Street View image showed the Motor Vu closed but intact.
The 1955 Theatre Catalog listed the Starlite under Dragerton, owned by Bernard W. Cline and Philip Turner, capacity 250 cars.
The 1955-56 Theatre Catalog had a different spelling, the Motor-View, owned by J. N. Bills, capacity 580 cars.
I guess this must have been just before the name change.
Boxoffice, Sept. 24, 1949: “CORVALLIS, ORE. - Owner Fred Porter has changed the entrance of his Majestic Theatre here, building it into a sweeping curve to allow more space for displays. Pine columns replaced the pillars and recessed lighting was set into the ceiling.”
San Juan Record, April 21, 1955: “Norman and Connie Nielson announce that construction is now under way for their drive-in theater, and will be rushed to completion for the coming season. They will have the most modern equipment available with eighty foot screen and accommodations for three hundred cars. They have an engineer from Salt Lake and as soon as the equipment arrives, the steel man will come and erect the screen. Opening date will be announced later.”
Thanks to the Louisville History folks, who have shown me my error, at least one of them.
Although it was generally described during its lifetime as being in Louisville (it was just outside the city limits), the former L&L/Star Lite site is just barely in current-day Lafayette CO.
Although typical for the segregated times back then, the unnecessary inclusion of racial descriptions goes against today’s journalistic standards. My note from May 2019 covered the incident as was relevant to the drive-in.
I presume Craig Crawley’s adventure was related to the tornado that ripped down the Woodlane’s screen in October 1966.
And thinking of unusual drive-in names, I believe Missouri’s Woodlane is truly unique.
That is an excellent point, 50sSnipes! “Starline” was used in several company names, plus an apparently legendary South Australia drive-in, but I could find only one (other?) Starline Drive-In in the US. It was in Hines WV, and I just submitted the info to CT.
Ludington Daily News, June 28, 1963: “The 4-Star Theater in Scottville and the Starlite Drive-In Theater just east of Ludington are owned and operated by Glenn G. Wallace, who alternates the operation of the two. The 4-Star is open in the winter, closing when the Starlite opens in the spring, and reopening in the fall when the Drive-In closes. The Starlite plays mostly double features, shows being changed three, sometimes four times each week. Every Thursday night is Buck Night, with prices being a buck a carload. Saturday night is Spook Show and Dusk-to-Dawn shows - the features starting at sundown and Saturday night and continuing on until daybreak Sunday morning. Included in the features every Saturday night is a science fiction, mystery or suspense picture.”
Was the Starlite’s opening postponed a little? It happens…
Motion Picture Exhibitor, March 4, 1964: “Curly Burns has assumed buying and booking duties for Jack Jones' Blue Ridge and the new Starline (sic) Drive-In, Milledgeville, Ga.”
Just sayin', this drive-in was always listed under Milledgeville GA, and Kenmore’s address shows up with a Milledgeville Zip Code in Google Maps. Maybe CT should move the Cadet under Milledgeville?
Thanks for your patience, Kenmore. I finally found the drive-in in one of those 1962 aerials. If only they’d had a 1963 photo of the Starline. ;)
Was there briefly a second drive-in in Boron? Since I can’t find even one on aerial photos, it seems unlikely. However…
Boxoffice, Sept. 30, 1963: (in Los Angeles notes) “Gilbert Evans, formerly with Vincent Miranda at the Lyric Theatre in Huntington Park, is opening the Sky Line Drive-In at Boron City.”
LA Times, Oct. 3, 1963: (movie listings) “BORON, Starline Drive-In, Hwy. 466 The Road to Hong Kong”
Similar listings appeared through at least the rest of October. Boron’s Starline had disappeared from the LA Times listings in 1964.
The FrameFinder site has a number of 1960s aerial photos available around Boron, but I haven’t found a nearby drive-in yet.
Two scraps that indicate the McDowell stayed in the picture.
Boxoffice, May 31, 1965: “Keith McDowell of the Desert Lake Drive-In, Boron, Calif., has opened the theatre for the season”
Boxoffice, May 2, 1966: “Boron, Calif., out on the desert, sent Keith McDowell of the Desert Lake Drive-In to (Los Angeles) Filmrow on business.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 25, 1980: “Robert Maestri, of Oregon-California Theatres, Inc., announced the start of the conversion of the Broadway Theatre in Yreka to a twin cinema with a total seating capacity of 575. The complex will feature all new deluxe projection, sound, seating and refreshment facilities. Remodeling work is expected to be completed in late September.”
Boxoffice, April 19, 1952: “Mr. and Mrs. Roy M. Avery, well known throughout Siskiyou county, recently purchased the Shastona Theatre in Mount Shasta from Mr. and Mrs. M. E. Hammond … Avery’s brother Don and his wife, operate the theatre at Etna.”
Boxoffice, Feb. 11, 1950: “YREKA, CALIF. - Surveyors are at work on the site here where a 425-car, $65,000 drive-in is to be erected by Robert L. Lippert Theatres. The drive-in will be built south of town and opened about April 1. The firm’s construction superintendent J. E. Henning is here now supervising work.”
In Boxoffice’s roundup of drive-ins opened in 1950, (printed Feb. 17, 1951), it showed the 380-car Yreka as already in operation, owned by Robert Lippert.