Boxoffice, Oct. 16, 1948: “COLORADO SPRINGS – The Broadmoor Theatre, located in the Broadmoor hotel here, has been opened to the public. New projection and sound equipment has been installed. One performance is given nightly. The downtown price scale is in effect at the house.”
Boxoffice, Oct. 9, 1948: “REDDING, CALIF. – A drive-in, being built here by a group of local businessmen, is scheduled to be in operation by November 15. The new project will cost from $40,000 to $50,000 and is located just north of the Sacramento river bridge on highway 99. Nordell Huffaker, Merit L. Espy and Arthur O. Perkins are backing the business. The theatre will accommodate 400 cars.”
When was this theater renamed? Boxoffice, Sept. 25, 1948: “Lester Dollison, who owns the Studio at East Vaughn, N. M., bought the Pecos, Santa Rosa, N. M., from Max Kugelman”
More details two weeks later. Boxoffice, Oct. 9, 1948: “SANTA ROSA, N. M. – Interests of Max Gugelman and Max Wortheim in the Pecos Theatre here have been purchased by Lester Dollison, widely known Texas operator. The house will be remodeled and redecorated, and new lighting and projection equipment will be installed.”
Boxoffice, Jan. 10, 1948: “CARLSBAD, N. M. – Construction of a 570-car drive-in theatre here by Carl Burton, Oklahoma City theatre owner, is expected to start this month. Burton has acquired 18 acres of land for the project. This will allow for future expansion to 1,000-car capacity, he said. The theatre will have RCA equipment and will operate ten months of the year, closing only in January and February, according to Burton.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 21, 1948: “CARLSBAD, N. M. – Victor Farrar, formerly of Chickasha, Okla., has been named house manager of the newly opened Fiesta Drive-In, built here by Carl Burton at a cost exceeding $150,000. The 625-car ozoner was sold to Ray Bartlett of Artesia shortly before the formal opening."
Boxoffice, Aug. 28, 1948: “CARLSBAD – An editorial in the Carlsbad Current Argus took Theatre Enterprises, Inc., to task recently on the occasion of the opening of the Fiesta Drive-In, swank $150,000 ozoner built here by the circuit. The editorial said that the people of Carlsbad were disappointed with the opening attraction at the drive-in, and described the picture as a “10-year-old” film – “so old, in fact, that the actors' and actresses' clothes were out of style.” "
Boxoffice, Oct. 2, 1948: “CARLSBAD, N. M. – Bill Bartlett, city manager for Theatre Enterprises, Inc., owners of the swank new $50,000 Fiesta Drive-In opened here recently, replied to criticism of the opening film with a lengthy open letter to the Carlsbad Current Argus. Bartlett explained that the three first run houses here played current released long before they would be available to the ozoners. He also explained the the policy of the Fiesta was to play the best reissues."
The movie that caused such a fuss was “God’s Country and the Woman,” Warner Brothers' first feature-length film in full 3-strip Technicolor, released in January 1937.
Boxoffice, Sept. 25, 1948: “L. E. Harvey and Carl T. Nall have opened their new Hi-Way Drive-In between Kingsville and Bishop. Both men are new to the industry and are regularly employed at Corpus Christi, a few miles away. They drive out in the evening to operate the ozoner.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 25, 1948: “C. E. McLaughlin, owner of the Ritz at Las Animas, Colo., is adding to his wealth via a gusher in the oil fields of Oklahoma. McLaughlin owns an eighth interest. But he says he will watch his expenses as much as ever and that he will continue to operate his theatre since it now, more than ever before, will become his hobby.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 25, 1948: “The Crescent Drive-In, newest Vallejo theatre enterprise, was erected at a cost of $150,000. It has a capacity of 735 cars, with each terrace constructed to give a perfect view of the 70x60-foot screen”
BoxofficeSept. 18, 1948: “R. W. Hendrick of the Stardust Drive-In an San Angelo … said he had taken on R. C. Gunter as a partner in the drive-in … In addition to the drive-in, Hendrick has owned and operated the Pic Theatre nearby for ten years. This is the drive-in’s second year.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 18, 1948: “CORTEZ, COLO. – The new theatre here has been named the Anle in honor of Anna Lee Survant, daughter of owner John Survant. Manager Owen Maxey said the theatre probably would open between September 15 and October 1, as soon as finishing touches have been added to the construction job.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 11, 1948: “PALISADE, COLO. – Harold J. Johnson and his wife Eleanor have been ordered to pay a total of $1,683.71 to the former Johnson-Waite partnership which operated the Elberta Theatre here until the recent dissolution of the partnership. Judge Paul L. Littler’s findings in the court case further ordered the Johnsons to pay the U.S. government internal revenue department the interest and penalties assessed on delinquent admissions taxes, or to make a settlement satisfactory to the revenue department.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 11, 1948 (five pages later, same issue): “PALISADE, COLO. – The Palisade Theatre case, involving ownership of a local theatre, has been settled amicably with Frank H. Waite, one of the owners, taking over complete control of the Elberta, and buying out his former partner Harold J. Johnson, who will retire from exhibition here."
Boxoffice, Sept. 29, 1951: “The Elberta Theatre, owned and operated by Mr. and Mrs. Frank Waite for the past three and one-half years, has been sold to Kermit R. Hurst, recently of Heningford, Neb.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 11, 1948: “TUCUMCARI, N. M. — Construction has begun here on the County Drive-In, a 400-car airer being built by J. H. Snow of Hinton, Okla. The new ozoner is located on highway 66. Snow, a native of Oklahoma, has been in the theatre business only three years. He owns and operates two theatres in Hinton. Snow said the Tucumcari ozoner would be opened about October unless construction work is delayed by material shortages. He plans to operate the airer nine months out of the year.”
Boxoffice, Dec. 4, 1948: “TUCUMCARI, N. M. – The first drive-in in Quay county opened recently on West Highway 66 with accommodations for 400 cars.”
Boxoffice, April 16, 1949: “The County Drive-In, located on west Highway 66, opened for its second season. J. H. Snow of Hinton, Okla., is owner and operator.”
Adding a name, Boxoffice, Sept. 4, 1948: “R. Lewis Barton has opened the Tinker Drive-In west of Midwest City on the Depot drive near the Tinker air force base, the largest military installation in the world.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 4, 1948: “Motor Movies in Hayward advertise: "No need to pay for baby sitters … bring the whole family.” Therefore, it was of great interest last week when a young woman appeared in an auto filled with about seven children ranging from 7 and 9. She was a baby-sitter collecting 75 cents an hour for each kid and paying 60 cents for one carload."
Boxoffice, Aug. 28, 1948: “LEWISTON, IDA. – The Naturvue, a north Lewiston drive-in, was opened here recently by owner F. S. Daugherty. The airer is located near the north and south highway.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 28, 1948: “SILVERTON, COLO. – The Capital Theatre here, owned and operated by Mr. and Mrs. R. L. Frame, has been closed and dismantled. Booth equipment was shipped to Denver and C. G. Diller and Les McClary of the Lode Theatre have purchased the seats, screen and carpet for installation at the Beaumont hotel at Ouray. The hotel showcase will be used exclusively while the Ouray Theatre undergoes extensive remodeling.”
A 1968 aerial photo showed a drive-in on the west side of Kermit at about 140 Perry Lane, actually the northeast corner of Perry and Texas Highway 302.
More names in Boxoffice, Aug. 21, 1948: “CLOVIS, N. M. – Three Plainview, Tex., men who built the new Yucca Drive-In near here have estimated the total cost of the ozoner at $60,000. The 400-car ozoner, which opened recently, was built and will be operated by John Sands, W. M. Goates and John Blocker.”
The inaugural Motion Picture Almanac drive-in list, in the 1950-51 edition, included only the Starlite for Roswell, capacity 450, owner Theatre Enterprises. That last bit makes me wonder whether it might have opened as the Valley.
Boxoffice, Aug. 21, 1948: “ROSWELL, N. M. – Construction work was under way on the new $125,000 Valley Drive-In, being erected near the Roswell city limits by Theatre Enterprises, Inc. Ed Kidwell, local manager for Theatre Enterprises, said the company hoped to open the 600-car ozoner some time in September.”
Yes, the Mt. Vernon was on US 66, which ran along Baseline Road when it was built, though it’s more like 55-60 miles east of downtown L.A. A much closer match would be the Foothill Drive-In in Rialto, just west of the San Bernardino city limits. Maybe CT should move the fake matchbook cover to that page? ;)
Boxoffice, Aug. 21, 1948: “SAN BERNARDINO, CALIF. – A new drive-in theatre is being erected at Baseline and Cunningham avenue here for the Highland Theatre Co. Projection and screen buildings will be of frame and stucco construction. Designed by theatre architect C. A. and W. G. Balch of Los Angeles the new plant will cost $40,000.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 21, 1948: “Tentative plans call for the opening of the new Starlite Drive-In in South San Francisco in the middle of September. The new ozoner will be located on a 13-acre site at 32 Linden Ave., and will have a 650-car capacity, according to San Francisco Drive-In Theatres Corp., owners. Principals of the firm are Rex Stevenson, Dave Bolton, Thornton Howell and James B. Howell jr.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 15, 1948: “LUBBOCK, TEX. – Texas Rep. Preston Smith of Lubbock has added the Five Points (sic) Drive-In. He also operates the State, Tech and Plains theatres here.”
Thanks so much for finding that, MI-DI! It was much closer to Marshfield (vs. Niangua) than I expected, only about a mile and a half from the center of town. Since the site used to be a cafe, I was a little nervous that the Skyline was really a mislabeled drive-in restaurant, but your find cures that worry!
One more Boxoffice note, March 15, 1952: “Lloyd Smith is erecting the 300-car Skyline.”
And I just checked a USGS photo taken May 1, 1964. In that aerial, the Skyline is long gone, with only its entrance and exit driveways clearly visible.
Billboard, Jan. 1, 1973: “Western Amusement Co.’s plans for a 625-car drive-in in the West Hesperia area recently were approved by the county planning commission. The ozoner is to be located on the east side of Balsam Road, north of Bear Valley Road, and about a half-mile east of the Barstow Freeway.”
Boxoffice, Oct. 16, 1948: “COLORADO SPRINGS – The Broadmoor Theatre, located in the Broadmoor hotel here, has been opened to the public. New projection and sound equipment has been installed. One performance is given nightly. The downtown price scale is in effect at the house.”
Boxoffice, Oct. 9, 1948: “REDDING, CALIF. – A drive-in, being built here by a group of local businessmen, is scheduled to be in operation by November 15. The new project will cost from $40,000 to $50,000 and is located just north of the Sacramento river bridge on highway 99. Nordell Huffaker, Merit L. Espy and Arthur O. Perkins are backing the business. The theatre will accommodate 400 cars.”
When was this theater renamed? Boxoffice, Sept. 25, 1948: “Lester Dollison, who owns the Studio at East Vaughn, N. M., bought the Pecos, Santa Rosa, N. M., from Max Kugelman”
More details two weeks later. Boxoffice, Oct. 9, 1948: “SANTA ROSA, N. M. – Interests of Max Gugelman and Max Wortheim in the Pecos Theatre here have been purchased by Lester Dollison, widely known Texas operator. The house will be remodeled and redecorated, and new lighting and projection equipment will be installed.”
Boxoffice, Jan. 10, 1948: “CARLSBAD, N. M. – Construction of a 570-car drive-in theatre here by Carl Burton, Oklahoma City theatre owner, is expected to start this month. Burton has acquired 18 acres of land for the project. This will allow for future expansion to 1,000-car capacity, he said. The theatre will have RCA equipment and will operate ten months of the year, closing only in January and February, according to Burton.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 21, 1948: “CARLSBAD, N. M. – Victor Farrar, formerly of Chickasha, Okla., has been named house manager of the newly opened Fiesta Drive-In, built here by Carl Burton at a cost exceeding $150,000. The 625-car ozoner was sold to Ray Bartlett of Artesia shortly before the formal opening."
Boxoffice, Aug. 28, 1948: “CARLSBAD – An editorial in the Carlsbad Current Argus took Theatre Enterprises, Inc., to task recently on the occasion of the opening of the Fiesta Drive-In, swank $150,000 ozoner built here by the circuit. The editorial said that the people of Carlsbad were disappointed with the opening attraction at the drive-in, and described the picture as a “10-year-old” film – “so old, in fact, that the actors' and actresses' clothes were out of style.” "
Boxoffice, Oct. 2, 1948: “CARLSBAD, N. M. – Bill Bartlett, city manager for Theatre Enterprises, Inc., owners of the swank new $50,000 Fiesta Drive-In opened here recently, replied to criticism of the opening film with a lengthy open letter to the Carlsbad Current Argus. Bartlett explained that the three first run houses here played current released long before they would be available to the ozoners. He also explained the the policy of the Fiesta was to play the best reissues."
The movie that caused such a fuss was “God’s Country and the Woman,” Warner Brothers' first feature-length film in full 3-strip Technicolor, released in January 1937.
Boxoffice, Sept. 25, 1948: “L. E. Harvey and Carl T. Nall have opened their new Hi-Way Drive-In between Kingsville and Bishop. Both men are new to the industry and are regularly employed at Corpus Christi, a few miles away. They drive out in the evening to operate the ozoner.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 25, 1948: “C. E. McLaughlin, owner of the Ritz at Las Animas, Colo., is adding to his wealth via a gusher in the oil fields of Oklahoma. McLaughlin owns an eighth interest. But he says he will watch his expenses as much as ever and that he will continue to operate his theatre since it now, more than ever before, will become his hobby.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 25, 1948: “The Crescent Drive-In, newest Vallejo theatre enterprise, was erected at a cost of $150,000. It has a capacity of 735 cars, with each terrace constructed to give a perfect view of the 70x60-foot screen”
The Miller was described as a 780-seat theatre in its for-lease display ad in the Sept. 18, 1948 issue of Boxoffice.
BoxofficeSept. 18, 1948: “R. W. Hendrick of the Stardust Drive-In an San Angelo … said he had taken on R. C. Gunter as a partner in the drive-in … In addition to the drive-in, Hendrick has owned and operated the Pic Theatre nearby for ten years. This is the drive-in’s second year.”
Here’s the Grand (Re-)Opening ad:
Boxoffice, Sept. 18, 1948: “CORTEZ, COLO. – The new theatre here has been named the Anle in honor of Anna Lee Survant, daughter of owner John Survant. Manager Owen Maxey said the theatre probably would open between September 15 and October 1, as soon as finishing touches have been added to the construction job.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 11, 1948: “PALISADE, COLO. – Harold J. Johnson and his wife Eleanor have been ordered to pay a total of $1,683.71 to the former Johnson-Waite partnership which operated the Elberta Theatre here until the recent dissolution of the partnership. Judge Paul L. Littler’s findings in the court case further ordered the Johnsons to pay the U.S. government internal revenue department the interest and penalties assessed on delinquent admissions taxes, or to make a settlement satisfactory to the revenue department.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 11, 1948 (five pages later, same issue): “PALISADE, COLO. – The Palisade Theatre case, involving ownership of a local theatre, has been settled amicably with Frank H. Waite, one of the owners, taking over complete control of the Elberta, and buying out his former partner Harold J. Johnson, who will retire from exhibition here."
Boxoffice, Sept. 29, 1951: “The Elberta Theatre, owned and operated by Mr. and Mrs. Frank Waite for the past three and one-half years, has been sold to Kermit R. Hurst, recently of Heningford, Neb.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 11, 1948: “TUCUMCARI, N. M. — Construction has begun here on the County Drive-In, a 400-car airer being built by J. H. Snow of Hinton, Okla. The new ozoner is located on highway 66. Snow, a native of Oklahoma, has been in the theatre business only three years. He owns and operates two theatres in Hinton. Snow said the Tucumcari ozoner would be opened about October unless construction work is delayed by material shortages. He plans to operate the airer nine months out of the year.”
Boxoffice, Dec. 4, 1948: “TUCUMCARI, N. M. – The first drive-in in Quay county opened recently on West Highway 66 with accommodations for 400 cars.”
Boxoffice, April 16, 1949: “The County Drive-In, located on west Highway 66, opened for its second season. J. H. Snow of Hinton, Okla., is owner and operator.”
Adding a name, Boxoffice, Sept. 4, 1948: “R. Lewis Barton has opened the Tinker Drive-In west of Midwest City on the Depot drive near the Tinker air force base, the largest military installation in the world.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 4, 1948: “Motor Movies in Hayward advertise: "No need to pay for baby sitters … bring the whole family.” Therefore, it was of great interest last week when a young woman appeared in an auto filled with about seven children ranging from 7 and 9. She was a baby-sitter collecting 75 cents an hour for each kid and paying 60 cents for one carload."
Boxoffice, Aug. 28, 1948: “LEWISTON, IDA. – The Naturvue, a north Lewiston drive-in, was opened here recently by owner F. S. Daugherty. The airer is located near the north and south highway.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 28, 1948: “SILVERTON, COLO. – The Capital Theatre here, owned and operated by Mr. and Mrs. R. L. Frame, has been closed and dismantled. Booth equipment was shipped to Denver and C. G. Diller and Les McClary of the Lode Theatre have purchased the seats, screen and carpet for installation at the Beaumont hotel at Ouray. The hotel showcase will be used exclusively while the Ouray Theatre undergoes extensive remodeling.”
A 1968 aerial photo showed a drive-in on the west side of Kermit at about 140 Perry Lane, actually the northeast corner of Perry and Texas Highway 302.
More names in Boxoffice, Aug. 21, 1948: “CLOVIS, N. M. – Three Plainview, Tex., men who built the new Yucca Drive-In near here have estimated the total cost of the ozoner at $60,000. The 400-car ozoner, which opened recently, was built and will be operated by John Sands, W. M. Goates and John Blocker.”
The inaugural Motion Picture Almanac drive-in list, in the 1950-51 edition, included only the Starlite for Roswell, capacity 450, owner Theatre Enterprises. That last bit makes me wonder whether it might have opened as the Valley.
Boxoffice, Aug. 21, 1948: “ROSWELL, N. M. – Construction work was under way on the new $125,000 Valley Drive-In, being erected near the Roswell city limits by Theatre Enterprises, Inc. Ed Kidwell, local manager for Theatre Enterprises, said the company hoped to open the 600-car ozoner some time in September.”
Yes, the Mt. Vernon was on US 66, which ran along Baseline Road when it was built, though it’s more like 55-60 miles east of downtown L.A. A much closer match would be the Foothill Drive-In in Rialto, just west of the San Bernardino city limits. Maybe CT should move the fake matchbook cover to that page? ;)
Boxoffice, Aug. 21, 1948: “SAN BERNARDINO, CALIF. – A new drive-in theatre is being erected at Baseline and Cunningham avenue here for the Highland Theatre Co. Projection and screen buildings will be of frame and stucco construction. Designed by theatre architect C. A. and W. G. Balch of Los Angeles the new plant will cost $40,000.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 21, 1948: “Tentative plans call for the opening of the new Starlite Drive-In in South San Francisco in the middle of September. The new ozoner will be located on a 13-acre site at 32 Linden Ave., and will have a 650-car capacity, according to San Francisco Drive-In Theatres Corp., owners. Principals of the firm are Rex Stevenson, Dave Bolton, Thornton Howell and James B. Howell jr.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 15, 1948: “LUBBOCK, TEX. – Texas Rep. Preston Smith of Lubbock has added the Five Points (sic) Drive-In. He also operates the State, Tech and Plains theatres here.”
Thanks so much for finding that, MI-DI! It was much closer to Marshfield (vs. Niangua) than I expected, only about a mile and a half from the center of town. Since the site used to be a cafe, I was a little nervous that the Skyline was really a mislabeled drive-in restaurant, but your find cures that worry!
One more Boxoffice note, March 15, 1952: “Lloyd Smith is erecting the 300-car Skyline.”
And I just checked a USGS photo taken May 1, 1964. In that aerial, the Skyline is long gone, with only its entrance and exit driveways clearly visible.
Billboard, Jan. 1, 1973: “Western Amusement Co.’s plans for a 625-car drive-in in the West Hesperia area recently were approved by the county planning commission. The ozoner is to be located on the east side of Balsam Road, north of Bear Valley Road, and about a half-mile east of the Barstow Freeway.”