More details on “the largest curved screen
tower in the world” in the Oct. 2, 1954 Billboard:
“A moving pirate ship, 60 feet long, rocks on
the waves on the screen tower, and
the theme of the theater name is
carried out in the ‘galley’ (concession booth).”
Billboard, Sept. 11, 1954: “The new Jolly Roger Drive-In at
Detroit has been scheduled for
opening tentatively over the Labor;
Day weekend by circuit owner
Nicholas George. The Jolly Roger
is said to be the first to introduce
the highly ornamental-type screen,
tower, common in the South, into
this part of the country, and is
said to have the first true Stereophonic sound equipment in a
drive-in ‘within 1,600 miles,’ using three-cone speakers in each
car.”
Maybe this was the end? Billboard, Sept. 4, 1954: “A $35,000 fire destroyed the screen of the Montopolis Drive-In, Austin, Tex. Eddie Joseph, owner, said that the
loss was not covered by insurance.
Work of rebuilding the screen
tower has started.”
Billboard, Sept. 4, 1954: “A twister caused damage estimated at $20,000 to Starlite Drive-In, Brenham, Tex. C. B. Schroeder Jr., who with his father operates the drive-in, said that the loss was covered by insurance.”
And the screen tower was still intact as of a March 2019 Google Street View.
Billboard, Sept. 4, 1954: “Associated Management Corporation has opened Connecticut’s newest outdoor project, the 850-car, $125,000 Bridge Drive-In Theater at Groton. Ed O'Neill, formerly general manager of the Markoff Bros.‘ Theaters, is serving as general manager of the venture.”
Here’s the first time I’ve ever noticed a drive-in expanding just for a playground. From Billboard, Sept. 4, 1954: “Lou Lipman and Morris Keppner, of the Mansfield (Conn.) Drive-In, have completed a children’s playground on newly acquired acreage adjoining the theater.”
Billboard, Sept. 4, 1954: “A 10 horsepower mechanical elephant was shipped to Houston from Essex, England, and assembled at the Winkler Drive-In. Free rides to children was offered in connection with the picture, ‘The Elephant Walk.’”
One of the largest drive-in crowds of the season jammed L. K. Lee’s Wadsworth Drive-In in Denver recently for the opening of a week’s run of “Bob and Sally.” Opening night saw cars lined up for more than 30 blocks with an estimated 500 cars turned away from the educational film on marital relations. A slight objection raised by church and civic groups in the suburb where the theater is located did nothing to hurt the box office. This latest addition to the Lee chain has had a tough uphill fight for its share of the auto theater trade in a city already boasting over 20 well established drive-in’s, but manager Walter Wright is beginning to see results of an extensive promotion campaign. Radio and newspaper advertising are keeping the theater’s name in front of the public, but a permanent policy of allowing every 50th car in free helps develop location identification.
This note, from Billboard Aug. 14, 1954, could be posted on any Wolfberg drive-in: “Unseasonably hot weather has boosted
drive-in business in the Denver
area with nearly a dozen theaters
making a bid for the trade. At
Wolfberg’s Compass theaters, the
Fuller Bros.‘ Drive-In Circus has
been making a three-week stay, moving from one theater to another. Show has 30 performers who put on 10 acts. This attraction is in addition to full-length double bills, comedies and short
subjects.”
Batschelet was back in the Aug. 14, 1954 Billboard: “Unseasonably hot weather has boosted drive-in business in the Denver area … In suburban Littleton, Ralph Batschelet’s Centennial Drive-In is featuring lucky seven night. Every seventh car is admitted free and every driver of a car bearing a license plate with a seven on it gets in free. In addition, every car receives two guest tickets to the Centennial Race Track.”
Billboard, Aug. 14, 1954: “Heavy winds up to 85 miles per hour caused extensive damage to the Plains Drive-In at Borger, Tex., according to Ed Lee. manager. The marquee was severely damaged, several fence sections were blown down and a number of speakers torn loose.”
Billboard, Sept. 10, 1955: “The Plians (sic) Drive-In at Borger, Tex., is offering 10 free round-trip educational tours via Central Airlines to Amarillo Air Force Base at Amarillo. Each Thursday night the trips are given away to youths between the ages of 8 to 18 years.”
Billboard, Aug. 14, 1954: “Vandals shattered the electric sign at the entrance of the Jet Drive-In Theater, Big Springs (sic), Tex. Rocks were thrown against the sign causing extensive damage.”
Hi Ken. Thanks for mentioning your sources to spare me from checking. I didn’t see any Meriden drive-ins in any of the Motion Picture Almanacs that I checked. Although other Billboard notes I’ve read have checked out okay, I don’t especially endorse this one. Although I found a follow-up note in the July 24 Billboard: “An August 1 opening is planned for the drive-in being built at Meriden, Conn., by Nick
Kounaris and Paul Tolis. Car capacity has been increased from original figure of 815 to 900, with screen to measure over 100 feet wide. Construction cost is estimated at $150,000.”
IF you believe these notes, this drive-in wasn’t just planned, it was actively under construction and within weeks of opening. A 1966 aerial photo shows that a former orchard (as of a 1950 aerial) behind the theater had become cleared land, but that weak hint is the only other indication I’ve seen that there was ever a drive-in being built on that site.
It’s likely that Something Happened, and the full account of that Something could make a fun anecdote in the story of the Showplace of Central Connecticut. I hope that Billboard’s short note is a springboard for historical research some day.
Billboard, July 24, 1954: “One of the first drive-in theaters in the country, E. M. Loew’s 850-car capacity Milford (Conn.) Drive-In, is to undergo extensive remodeling, including installation of a 76-foot-wide screen, according to George E. Landers, the circuit’s Hartford, Conn., division manager. The theater will have a new concession building, lounges and relandscaping.”
Billboard, July 17, 1954: “A. M. Gaines. owner of Bronco Drive-In, Beeville, Tex., has announced he will build a second drive-in on the Refugio Highway near that city. Gaines will install wide screens in both theaters.”
The highway to Refugio is Texas 202, but even in a 1974 USGS aerial, I can’t find a trace of a drive-in. My guesses would be either the housing development that starts at 2101 Lexington Rd, or where the new US 181 now crosses 202. Neither was there in a 1956 topo map but both were there in the 1974 aerial.
Kenmore, nice digging. I just posted a piece of a USGS photo from January 1955. In that larger photo of the whole town, the 816 S Cedar Ave location is the only drive-in; the Vaello Ave site was still unimproved. Also, the Cedar drive-in was smaller than the Vaello drive-in, and the guides all say the Pioneer was larger. I feel pretty confident that Tito’s was south, not east, of Hebbronville.
Billboard, July 17, 1954: “About 1100 feet of pipe was laid by the Twin Peak Drive-In, Alpine, Tex., to pipe water from nearby well. Previously the water was hauled in.”
Haar’s leases its land, and that landowner has put up a For Sale sign. Nobody has been able to get the landowner on record, but Haar’s’s (how do you type that?) owner Vickie Hardy said she was “completely caught off-guard” by the development. WHTM ran a news story with plenty of great views of the drive-in.
Billboard, June 26, 1954: “Bobbie Harris, manager of the Fiesta Drive-In, El Paso, was knocked down in a clash with a picket. The drive-in was being picketed following dispute over the discharge of a projectionist.”
This didn’t go as quickly as planned, but here’s the first announcement in Billboard on July 10, 1954: “Arthur Meiling, city manager of Long Theaters, Port Lavaca, Tex., has announced that the Port Drive-In there will be converted into a 1,600-car twin-screen drive-in. The project is expected to be completed by September 1 and will cost around $70,000.”
Almost a year later, the June 25, 1955 issue of Billboard noted: “The Port Lavaca Drive-In Theater at Port Lavaca, Tex., is being converted into a twin screen operation by the owner and operator, J. G. Long.”
The aerial photo here at CT is clearly a twin, so it deserves credit for two screens.
Centennial Drive-In, a new Denver open-airer said to be the largest west of the Mississippi, held a gala opening April 17. The project boasts a $500,000 installation of twin screens and sterophonic sound and has a capacity of 1,300 cars plus seating facilities for 500 additional customers. In addition, there is a complete kiddieland having a $500,000 miniature train installation. Site is the 60 acres of landscaped land comprising the area’s biggest race track. Owned by Television Theaters, Inc., headed by Tom Bailey, Ralph Batschelet and Gerald Schlessman, the theater received heavy publicity via radio, TV, newspapers and screen plugs in other company-owned theaters in advance of the opening. Initial attraction was “The Robe.” More than 4,000 prizes, including a Chevrolet, were given in a contest to name the theater’s concession stand. A remote TV show was also presented in connection with the opening.
And more details in the June 5, 1954 issue:
At Easter, Television Theaters, Inc., opened with a new twin screen, stereophonic sound drive-in, located on part of Denver’s swank Centennial Park race track. Recently Ralph Batschelet, general manager, announced the addition of Zero’s Hollywood Circus as part of the children’s playground. The miniature circus tent will feature cartoons for kiddies who pay only a dime after being admitted to the theater free.
I’m guessing that Batschelet was sending regular notices to Billboard, since he turned up again on July 10:
Ralph Batschelet’s Centennial Drive-In, Denver, is looking for big business thru the summer as the racing season gets under way. Located on part of the grounds of the West’s most modern track, the Centennial is a natural to draw not only the regular patronage of tourists and natives, but also horsemen in town for the 100-day running season. Excellent publicity and promotion has developed good trade for the twin screen drive-in. Participating spots on local TV shows, along with passes to teen-agers participating in the shows, live acts and other gimmicks has made the Centennial formidable competition. Last week, in addition to the usual twin-feature bill. Batschelet brought in Morey Burbank, aerial artist, for an intermission act, as well as to Mr. Zero. midget employee, who takes kiddies for rides in his small car, gives them postcards and does a generally good job of appealing to the kid trade.
Billboard, July 10, 1954: “The Blue Sky Drive-In at Pontiac, Mich., is installing a huge attraction board, 40 feet long by 27 high, said to be the largest for an outdoor theater in the State.”
More details on “the largest curved screen tower in the world” in the Oct. 2, 1954 Billboard: “A moving pirate ship, 60 feet long, rocks on the waves on the screen tower, and the theme of the theater name is carried out in the ‘galley’ (concession booth).”
Billboard, Sept. 11, 1954: “The new Jolly Roger Drive-In at Detroit has been scheduled for opening tentatively over the Labor; Day weekend by circuit owner Nicholas George. The Jolly Roger is said to be the first to introduce the highly ornamental-type screen, tower, common in the South, into this part of the country, and is said to have the first true Stereophonic sound equipment in a drive-in ‘within 1,600 miles,’ using three-cone speakers in each car.”
Maybe this was the end? Billboard, Sept. 4, 1954: “A $35,000 fire destroyed the screen of the Montopolis Drive-In, Austin, Tex. Eddie Joseph, owner, said that the loss was not covered by insurance. Work of rebuilding the screen tower has started.”
Billboard, Sept. 4, 1954: “Ford Taylor has announced that a drive-in is being built near Texon, Tex.”
Billboard, Sept. 4, 1954: “A twister caused damage estimated at $20,000 to Starlite Drive-In, Brenham, Tex. C. B. Schroeder Jr., who with his father operates the drive-in, said that the loss was covered by insurance.”
And the screen tower was still intact as of a March 2019 Google Street View.
Billboard, Sept. 4, 1954: “Associated Management Corporation has opened Connecticut’s newest outdoor project, the 850-car, $125,000 Bridge Drive-In Theater at Groton. Ed O'Neill, formerly general manager of the Markoff Bros.‘ Theaters, is serving as general manager of the venture.”
Here’s the first time I’ve ever noticed a drive-in expanding just for a playground. From Billboard, Sept. 4, 1954: “Lou Lipman and Morris Keppner, of the Mansfield (Conn.) Drive-In, have completed a children’s playground on newly acquired acreage adjoining the theater.”
Billboard, Sept. 4, 1954: “A 10 horsepower mechanical elephant was shipped to Houston from Essex, England, and assembled at the Winkler Drive-In. Free rides to children was offered in connection with the picture, ‘The Elephant Walk.’”
Billboard, Aug. 28, 1954:
One of the largest drive-in crowds of the season jammed L. K. Lee’s Wadsworth Drive-In in Denver recently for the opening of a week’s run of “Bob and Sally.” Opening night saw cars lined up for more than 30 blocks with an estimated 500 cars turned away from the educational film on marital relations. A slight objection raised by church and civic groups in the suburb where the theater is located did nothing to hurt the box office. This latest addition to the Lee chain has had a tough uphill fight for its share of the auto theater trade in a city already boasting over 20 well established drive-in’s, but manager Walter Wright is beginning to see results of an extensive promotion campaign. Radio and newspaper advertising are keeping the theater’s name in front of the public, but a permanent policy of allowing every 50th car in free helps develop location identification.
This note, from Billboard Aug. 14, 1954, could be posted on any Wolfberg drive-in: “Unseasonably hot weather has boosted drive-in business in the Denver area with nearly a dozen theaters making a bid for the trade. At Wolfberg’s Compass theaters, the Fuller Bros.‘ Drive-In Circus has been making a three-week stay, moving from one theater to another. Show has 30 performers who put on 10 acts. This attraction is in addition to full-length double bills, comedies and short subjects.”
Batschelet was back in the Aug. 14, 1954 Billboard: “Unseasonably hot weather has boosted drive-in business in the Denver area … In suburban Littleton, Ralph Batschelet’s Centennial Drive-In is featuring lucky seven night. Every seventh car is admitted free and every driver of a car bearing a license plate with a seven on it gets in free. In addition, every car receives two guest tickets to the Centennial Race Track.”
Billboard, Aug. 14, 1954: “Heavy winds up to 85 miles per hour caused extensive damage to the Plains Drive-In at Borger, Tex., according to Ed Lee. manager. The marquee was severely damaged, several fence sections were blown down and a number of speakers torn loose.”
Billboard, Sept. 10, 1955: “The Plians (sic) Drive-In at Borger, Tex., is offering 10 free round-trip educational tours via Central Airlines to Amarillo Air Force Base at Amarillo. Each Thursday night the trips are given away to youths between the ages of 8 to 18 years.”
Billboard, Aug. 14, 1954: “Vandals shattered the electric sign at the entrance of the Jet Drive-In Theater, Big Springs (sic), Tex. Rocks were thrown against the sign causing extensive damage.”
Billboard, July 31, 1954: “Mrs. Jerry Reynolds recently purchased the Rocket Drive-In at Strawn, Tex.”
Hi Ken. Thanks for mentioning your sources to spare me from checking. I didn’t see any Meriden drive-ins in any of the Motion Picture Almanacs that I checked. Although other Billboard notes I’ve read have checked out okay, I don’t especially endorse this one. Although I found a follow-up note in the July 24 Billboard: “An August 1 opening is planned for the drive-in being built at Meriden, Conn., by Nick Kounaris and Paul Tolis. Car capacity has been increased from original figure of 815 to 900, with screen to measure over 100 feet wide. Construction cost is estimated at $150,000.”
IF you believe these notes, this drive-in wasn’t just planned, it was actively under construction and within weeks of opening. A 1966 aerial photo shows that a former orchard (as of a 1950 aerial) behind the theater had become cleared land, but that weak hint is the only other indication I’ve seen that there was ever a drive-in being built on that site.
It’s likely that Something Happened, and the full account of that Something could make a fun anecdote in the story of the Showplace of Central Connecticut. I hope that Billboard’s short note is a springboard for historical research some day.
Billboard, July 24, 1954: “One of the first drive-in theaters in the country, E. M. Loew’s 850-car capacity Milford (Conn.) Drive-In, is to undergo extensive remodeling, including installation of a 76-foot-wide screen, according to George E. Landers, the circuit’s Hartford, Conn., division manager. The theater will have a new concession building, lounges and relandscaping.”
Billboard, July 17, 1954: “A. M. Gaines. owner of Bronco Drive-In, Beeville, Tex., has announced he will build a second drive-in on the Refugio Highway near that city. Gaines will install wide screens in both theaters.”
The highway to Refugio is Texas 202, but even in a 1974 USGS aerial, I can’t find a trace of a drive-in. My guesses would be either the housing development that starts at 2101 Lexington Rd, or where the new US 181 now crosses 202. Neither was there in a 1956 topo map but both were there in the 1974 aerial.
Kenmore, nice digging. I just posted a piece of a USGS photo from January 1955. In that larger photo of the whole town, the 816 S Cedar Ave location is the only drive-in; the Vaello Ave site was still unimproved. Also, the Cedar drive-in was smaller than the Vaello drive-in, and the guides all say the Pioneer was larger. I feel pretty confident that Tito’s was south, not east, of Hebbronville.
Billboard, July 17, 1954: “Tito Munoz has opened the Tito’s Drive-In at Hebbronville, Tex. Munoz will feature Spanish-language films.”
Billboard, July 17, 1954: “About 1100 feet of pipe was laid by the Twin Peak Drive-In, Alpine, Tex., to pipe water from nearby well. Previously the water was hauled in.”
Haar’s leases its land, and that landowner has put up a For Sale sign. Nobody has been able to get the landowner on record, but Haar’s’s (how do you type that?) owner Vickie Hardy said she was “completely caught off-guard” by the development. WHTM ran a news story with plenty of great views of the drive-in.
Billboard, June 26, 1954: “Bobbie Harris, manager of the Fiesta Drive-In, El Paso, was knocked down in a clash with a picket. The drive-in was being picketed following dispute over the discharge of a projectionist.”
This didn’t go as quickly as planned, but here’s the first announcement in Billboard on July 10, 1954: “Arthur Meiling, city manager of Long Theaters, Port Lavaca, Tex., has announced that the Port Drive-In there will be converted into a 1,600-car twin-screen drive-in. The project is expected to be completed by September 1 and will cost around $70,000.”
Almost a year later, the June 25, 1955 issue of Billboard noted: “The Port Lavaca Drive-In Theater at Port Lavaca, Tex., is being converted into a twin screen operation by the owner and operator, J. G. Long.”
The aerial photo here at CT is clearly a twin, so it deserves credit for two screens.
Larger chunk in the May 8, 1954 Billboard:
Centennial Drive-In, a new Denver open-airer said to be the largest west of the Mississippi, held a gala opening April 17. The project boasts a $500,000 installation of twin screens and sterophonic sound and has a capacity of 1,300 cars plus seating facilities for 500 additional customers. In addition, there is a complete kiddieland having a $500,000 miniature train installation. Site is the 60 acres of landscaped land comprising the area’s biggest race track. Owned by Television Theaters, Inc., headed by Tom Bailey, Ralph Batschelet and Gerald Schlessman, the theater received heavy publicity via radio, TV, newspapers and screen plugs in other company-owned theaters in advance of the opening. Initial attraction was “The Robe.” More than 4,000 prizes, including a Chevrolet, were given in a contest to name the theater’s concession stand. A remote TV show was also presented in connection with the opening.
And more details in the June 5, 1954 issue:
At Easter, Television Theaters, Inc., opened with a new twin screen, stereophonic sound drive-in, located on part of Denver’s swank Centennial Park race track. Recently Ralph Batschelet, general manager, announced the addition of Zero’s Hollywood Circus as part of the children’s playground. The miniature circus tent will feature cartoons for kiddies who pay only a dime after being admitted to the theater free.
I’m guessing that Batschelet was sending regular notices to Billboard, since he turned up again on July 10:
Ralph Batschelet’s Centennial Drive-In, Denver, is looking for big business thru the summer as the racing season gets under way. Located on part of the grounds of the West’s most modern track, the Centennial is a natural to draw not only the regular patronage of tourists and natives, but also horsemen in town for the 100-day running season. Excellent publicity and promotion has developed good trade for the twin screen drive-in. Participating spots on local TV shows, along with passes to teen-agers participating in the shows, live acts and other gimmicks has made the Centennial formidable competition. Last week, in addition to the usual twin-feature bill. Batschelet brought in Morey Burbank, aerial artist, for an intermission act, as well as to Mr. Zero. midget employee, who takes kiddies for rides in his small car, gives them postcards and does a generally good job of appealing to the kid trade.
Billboard, July 10, 1954: “The Blue Sky Drive-In at Pontiac, Mich., is installing a huge attraction board, 40 feet long by 27 high, said to be the largest for an outdoor theater in the State.”