Motion Picture Herald, May 30, 1953: “Herb Gumper is about ready to open his new Roundup, 300-car drive-in, La Jara, Colo.”
Boxoffice, July 4, 1953: “Mr. and Mrs. Herb Gumper opened their new Roundup Drive-In Theatre by inviting the public to a free show. The Roundup is north of La Jara on the La Jara highway.”
Boxoffice, June 27, 1953: “The Yergensen Bros. conducted an advertising slogan contest to call attention to their new Hyland Drive-In at Cedar City, Utah.”
Still not open? Boxoffice, Aug. 16, 1952: “VICTORVILLE, CALIF. – Vandalism by four boys, 6 to 8 years old, who entered the old Victorville Theatre building where the Western Amusement Co. had stored valuable and hard-to-replace amplifying and speaker equipment for its new drive-in, force postponement of the opening, according to Manager Frank Justice.”
Almost there? Boxoffice, June 6, 1953: “Western Amusement Co. was about ready to open a new ozoner, the 400-car Joshua Drive-In, near Victorville.”
And finally, Boxoffice, June 27, 1953: “The 400-car New Joshua Drive-In near Victorville, Calif., opened recently under Manager Frank Justice for the Western Amusement Co.”
I wrote in my book “Drive-Ins of Route 66” that the actual grand opening was May 29, 1953. I must have used LA Times advertisements to arrive at that date, but I don’t have those notes handy as I type.
Boxoffice, June 20, 1953: “The Yerington Drive-In at Nevada opened May 27. The 350-car ozoner is owned by Regina and Pete Perry who now are staging a contest to determine a name for the situation.”
Boxoffice, June 6, 1953: “Ellis Everill, whose Park-Vu was flooded out during Salt Lake’s unseasonal weather of a year ago, will open a new Park-Vu Drive-In within a week in the southeast section.”
Boxoffice, April 18, 1953: “CARSON CITY, NEV. – The new drive-in north of town was recently named the Sky-Vue in a contest. The winner was awarded a $50 savings bond. The opening date is set for May 1.
Boxoffice, June 6, 1953: “The Sky-Vue Drive-In at Carson City, Nev., opened Sunday (28). Operators are Cecil Perrin and George Gessler.
Boxoffice, May 9, 1953: “The Knight Drive-In, with enlarged snack bar and 135 more car spaces, has been opened (for the season), with owner Tom Knight in charge.”
Boxoffice, May 2, 1953: “LA JUNTA, COLO. – The Mesa Theatre here has been sold to Basil Smith, owner of the La Junta Drive-In. Harold Rice, Fox Intermountain district manager, said the sale was made in compliance with the consent decree. The Mesa is the newest theatre here, opened in 1950.”
Boxoffice, May 2, 1953: “KAMIAH, IDA. – Construction of the new outdoor theatre near here was halted temporarily when the large screen, being raised into position, was dropped. Three of the laminated legs that held the structure in place were broken, one of them in four places. … Opening date of the theatre, owned by Mr. and Mrs. Miner Bethman, was set for early May and it was thought that even though the screen had to be repaired, the drive-in still could open at that time.”
Boxoffice, May 2, 1953: “MEDFORD, ORE. – The Rogue Drive-In has been opened here by Robert Corbin, manager of the Oregon-California Theatres here. The new 600-car drive-in, accommodating some 70 less cars than the company’s Starlite Drive-In here, can be expanded to greater capacity if needed.”
Boxoffice, April 19, 1952: “Sam Rosenthal is building a 300-car, $60,000 drive-in at Buffalo, Wyo., where he already operates the Bison in town. He is planning a June opening.”
But there must have been a delay, because one year later, Boxoffice, April 18, 1953: “BUFFALO, WYO. – The new $50,000 Sunset Drive-In, a mile east on Highway 16, opened Friday (17). It has space for 275 cars. Sam Rosenthal is in charge.”
Boxoffice, April 4, 1953: “PASCO, WASH. – This city’s first outdoor theatre, the River-Vue Drive-In, has been opened by Midstate Amusement Corp. … The River-Vue has a capacity of 550 cars and features a snack bar patio and children’s playground.”
The March 7, 1953 issue of Boxoffice ran a full-page article about the Corral, mostly focused on its neon-lit mural. “Motorists are said to be able to see the screen tower from a distance of five miles, due to the face that it is 56 feet high and is located on top of a four-foot dirt hill, making the top of the tower 60 feet above ground.”
Boxoffice, March 7, 1953: “Merle Swank and Don Phillips, owners of a drive-in at Longmont, have bought the McCook (Neb.) Drive-In from Hankey & Giddings.”
Boxoffice, Feb. 21, 1953: “ROSWELL, N.M. – The capacity of the Starlite Drive-In is to be increased to handle 900 automobiles, according to Boyd F. Scott, local manager for Theatre Enterprises. Complete rearrangement of the projection room and refreshment stand also are planned. The airer was opened in May 1949.”
Lloyd’s must have opened before this note in the Jan. 31, 1953 issue of Boxoffice: “Lloyd Kerby has plans ready for the new 800-seat theatre he will build at Worland, Wyo., where he already owns one indoor house and a drive-in.”
Boxoffice, Jan. 17, 1953: “TUCSON – Two workmen were killed here Saturday (10) when a 57-foot screen tower wall collapsed during construction at the Prince Drive-In on East Prince road, near north Campbell avenue. One man was killed instantly beneath 20 tons of debris from the fallen screen. The second, who had loosened his safety belt and jumped from the falling screen, died at a local hospital four hours later. … Both men had been hired on the day of the accident by theatre manager Hugh Downs.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 8, 1951: “Billings' newest drive-in, the City-Vu Drive-In, opened this summer a mile east of town just off Highway 10. It has three-way exits which open onto two highways for quick and safe departure. Steve Trenka, who opened the ozoner, has been busy nearly a year on the new theatre and did most of the work himself.”
Boxoffice ran a full-page layout on the Suburbia Center Drive-In in its Sept. 6, 1952 issue, including several photos of its unusual screen tower and concession building. The tower included three floors of apartments for personnel, and the three-story concession stand included 350 theatre seats on its second floor.
Boxoffice, Aug. 30, 1952: “When Helena’s city drinking water was declared "not fit for human consumption” early this week, an advertisement in a daily paper notified the public that well water, free for the taking, had been made available to local residents at the Sky-Hi Drive-In on the east Helena highway. The announcement was made by Ralph Hahn, co-owner of the ozoner."
Boxoffice, Aug. 23, 1952: “A windstorm damaged the screen and other installations at the Starlight Drive-In, Newcastle, Wyo. The wind was so strong that it not only blew away 15 speakers, but some of the speaker posts went along for the ride also.”
That is one gorgeous sign. Also, RoadsideArchitecture was right.
Boxoffice, July 4, 1953: “The New Kitsap Lake Drive-In at Bremerton opened Tuesday (30). … A bang-up preview was staged Monday (22).”
Motion Picture Herald, May 30, 1953: “Herb Gumper is about ready to open his new Roundup, 300-car drive-in, La Jara, Colo.”
Boxoffice, July 4, 1953: “Mr. and Mrs. Herb Gumper opened their new Roundup Drive-In Theatre by inviting the public to a free show. The Roundup is north of La Jara on the La Jara highway.”
Boxoffice, June 27, 1953: “The Yergensen Bros. conducted an advertising slogan contest to call attention to their new Hyland Drive-In at Cedar City, Utah.”
Still not open? Boxoffice, Aug. 16, 1952: “VICTORVILLE, CALIF. – Vandalism by four boys, 6 to 8 years old, who entered the old Victorville Theatre building where the Western Amusement Co. had stored valuable and hard-to-replace amplifying and speaker equipment for its new drive-in, force postponement of the opening, according to Manager Frank Justice.”
Almost there? Boxoffice, June 6, 1953: “Western Amusement Co. was about ready to open a new ozoner, the 400-car Joshua Drive-In, near Victorville.”
And finally, Boxoffice, June 27, 1953: “The 400-car New Joshua Drive-In near Victorville, Calif., opened recently under Manager Frank Justice for the Western Amusement Co.”
I wrote in my book “Drive-Ins of Route 66” that the actual grand opening was May 29, 1953. I must have used LA Times advertisements to arrive at that date, but I don’t have those notes handy as I type.
Boxoffice, June 20, 1953: “The Yerington Drive-In at Nevada opened May 27. The 350-car ozoner is owned by Regina and Pete Perry who now are staging a contest to determine a name for the situation.”
Boxoffice, June 6, 1953: “Ellis Everill, whose Park-Vu was flooded out during Salt Lake’s unseasonal weather of a year ago, will open a new Park-Vu Drive-In within a week in the southeast section.”
Boxoffice, April 18, 1953: “CARSON CITY, NEV. – The new drive-in north of town was recently named the Sky-Vue in a contest. The winner was awarded a $50 savings bond. The opening date is set for May 1.
Boxoffice, June 6, 1953: “The Sky-Vue Drive-In at Carson City, Nev., opened Sunday (28). Operators are Cecil Perrin and George Gessler.
Boxoffice, May 9, 1953: “The Knight Drive-In, with enlarged snack bar and 135 more car spaces, has been opened (for the season), with owner Tom Knight in charge.”
Boxoffice, May 2, 1953: “LA JUNTA, COLO. – The Mesa Theatre here has been sold to Basil Smith, owner of the La Junta Drive-In. Harold Rice, Fox Intermountain district manager, said the sale was made in compliance with the consent decree. The Mesa is the newest theatre here, opened in 1950.”
Boxoffice, May 2, 1953: “KAMIAH, IDA. – Construction of the new outdoor theatre near here was halted temporarily when the large screen, being raised into position, was dropped. Three of the laminated legs that held the structure in place were broken, one of them in four places. … Opening date of the theatre, owned by Mr. and Mrs. Miner Bethman, was set for early May and it was thought that even though the screen had to be repaired, the drive-in still could open at that time.”
Boxoffice, May 2, 1953: “MEDFORD, ORE. – The Rogue Drive-In has been opened here by Robert Corbin, manager of the Oregon-California Theatres here. The new 600-car drive-in, accommodating some 70 less cars than the company’s Starlite Drive-In here, can be expanded to greater capacity if needed.”
Boxoffice, April 19, 1952: “Sam Rosenthal is building a 300-car, $60,000 drive-in at Buffalo, Wyo., where he already operates the Bison in town. He is planning a June opening.”
But there must have been a delay, because one year later, Boxoffice, April 18, 1953: “BUFFALO, WYO. – The new $50,000 Sunset Drive-In, a mile east on Highway 16, opened Friday (17). It has space for 275 cars. Sam Rosenthal is in charge.”
Boxoffice, April 4, 1953: “PASCO, WASH. – This city’s first outdoor theatre, the River-Vue Drive-In, has been opened by Midstate Amusement Corp. … The River-Vue has a capacity of 550 cars and features a snack bar patio and children’s playground.”
The March 7, 1953 issue of Boxoffice ran a full-page article about the Corral, mostly focused on its neon-lit mural. “Motorists are said to be able to see the screen tower from a distance of five miles, due to the face that it is 56 feet high and is located on top of a four-foot dirt hill, making the top of the tower 60 feet above ground.”
Boxoffice, March 7, 1953: “Merle Swank and Don Phillips, owners of a drive-in at Longmont, have bought the McCook (Neb.) Drive-In from Hankey & Giddings.”
Boxoffice, Feb. 21, 1953: “Dave Peterman succeeds Joseph James as manager of the Bar-Len Drive-In in Barstow.”
Boxoffice, Feb. 21, 1953: “ROSWELL, N.M. – The capacity of the Starlite Drive-In is to be increased to handle 900 automobiles, according to Boyd F. Scott, local manager for Theatre Enterprises. Complete rearrangement of the projection room and refreshment stand also are planned. The airer was opened in May 1949.”
Boxoffice, Feb. 14, 1953: “H. F. Boyneg has sold the Organ Drive-In, Las Cruces, to Luis Maynes.”
Lloyd’s must have opened before this note in the Jan. 31, 1953 issue of Boxoffice: “Lloyd Kerby has plans ready for the new 800-seat theatre he will build at Worland, Wyo., where he already owns one indoor house and a drive-in.”
Boxoffice, Jan. 17, 1953: “TUCSON – Two workmen were killed here Saturday (10) when a 57-foot screen tower wall collapsed during construction at the Prince Drive-In on East Prince road, near north Campbell avenue. One man was killed instantly beneath 20 tons of debris from the fallen screen. The second, who had loosened his safety belt and jumped from the falling screen, died at a local hospital four hours later. … Both men had been hired on the day of the accident by theatre manager Hugh Downs.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 8, 1951: “Billings' newest drive-in, the City-Vu Drive-In, opened this summer a mile east of town just off Highway 10. It has three-way exits which open onto two highways for quick and safe departure. Steve Trenka, who opened the ozoner, has been busy nearly a year on the new theatre and did most of the work himself.”
Boxoffice ran a full-page layout on the Suburbia Center Drive-In in its Sept. 6, 1952 issue, including several photos of its unusual screen tower and concession building. The tower included three floors of apartments for personnel, and the three-story concession stand included 350 theatre seats on its second floor.
Boxoffice, Aug. 30, 1952: “When Helena’s city drinking water was declared "not fit for human consumption” early this week, an advertisement in a daily paper notified the public that well water, free for the taking, had been made available to local residents at the Sky-Hi Drive-In on the east Helena highway. The announcement was made by Ralph Hahn, co-owner of the ozoner."
Boxoffice, Aug. 23, 1952: “A windstorm damaged the screen and other installations at the Starlight Drive-In, Newcastle, Wyo. The wind was so strong that it not only blew away 15 speakers, but some of the speaker posts went along for the ride also.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 16, 1952: “Commonwealth Theatres, Kansas City, has bought the Pawnee Drive-In, North Platte, Neb., from W. L. Smith.”