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.”
An approximate opening date. Boxoffice, Aug. 16, 1952: “The grand opening of the Ocean Drive-In was held recently. A total of 450 cars may be accommodated at the ozoner, located five miles north of (Crescent City) on Wonder Stump road off Highway 101.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 2, 1952: “LAS CRUCES, N. M. – The newly completed Rocket Drive-In recently opened on Highway 70 east of here. The airer is owned and operated by Hugh Kane.”
Boxoffice, July 26, 1952: “CLOVIS, N. M. – The La Fonda airer, owned by Lord Franklin and W. O. Bearden, has opened. Construction of the $100,000 situation began last May 12.”
Another theater? Boxoffice, July 19, 1952: “Mrs. Marie J. Green has opened her new 280-seat Green Theatre, Lodge Grass, Mont., using equipment and chairs bought from Service Theatre Supply Co., Denver”
Looks like there was another drive-in before the Starlight.
Boxoffice, July 12, 1952: “Joe Sikes has opened his new Stockade outdoor theatre, with 250-car capacity, which cost about $50,000, at Chadron, Neb.”
And the following week, Boxoffice indicated that Black Hills' drive-in in Chadron was unfinished. “The Black Hills Amusement Co. is building drive-ins in many of its towns … They will be about 300-car capacity, with the Chadron job almost ready for opening.”
Boxoffice, Dec. 13, 1952: “A flood at the Starlight Drive-In in South San Francisco a year ago has resulted in three suits, totaling $241,000, against South San Francisco. The suits were filed in superior court at Redwood City by the Starlight Theatre Corp., the Trans-California Theatres and Joseph Van Arkel, manager of the theatre. The complaint also named as defendant Arthur W. Baum, a contractor. It accused Baum and South San Francisco of negligence in cutting into the banks of Colma creek thus weakening them. Mud, silt and debris washed over the theatre property, forcing Van Arkle and his wife to evacuate their apartment by rowboat last January 26.”
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.”
An approximate opening date. Boxoffice, Aug. 16, 1952: “The grand opening of the Ocean Drive-In was held recently. A total of 450 cars may be accommodated at the ozoner, located five miles north of (Crescent City) on Wonder Stump road off Highway 101.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 2, 1952: “LAS CRUCES, N. M. – The newly completed Rocket Drive-In recently opened on Highway 70 east of here. The airer is owned and operated by Hugh Kane.”
Boxoffice, July 26, 1952: “CLOVIS, N. M. – The La Fonda airer, owned by Lord Franklin and W. O. Bearden, has opened. Construction of the $100,000 situation began last May 12.”
Another theater? Boxoffice, July 19, 1952: “Mrs. Marie J. Green has opened her new 280-seat Green Theatre, Lodge Grass, Mont., using equipment and chairs bought from Service Theatre Supply Co., Denver”
Looks like there was another drive-in before the Starlight.
Boxoffice, July 12, 1952: “Joe Sikes has opened his new Stockade outdoor theatre, with 250-car capacity, which cost about $50,000, at Chadron, Neb.”
And the following week, Boxoffice indicated that Black Hills' drive-in in Chadron was unfinished. “The Black Hills Amusement Co. is building drive-ins in many of its towns … They will be about 300-car capacity, with the Chadron job almost ready for opening.”
Boxoffice, Dec. 13, 1952: “A flood at the Starlight Drive-In in South San Francisco a year ago has resulted in three suits, totaling $241,000, against South San Francisco. The suits were filed in superior court at Redwood City by the Starlight Theatre Corp., the Trans-California Theatres and Joseph Van Arkel, manager of the theatre. The complaint also named as defendant Arthur W. Baum, a contractor. It accused Baum and South San Francisco of negligence in cutting into the banks of Colma creek thus weakening them. Mud, silt and debris washed over the theatre property, forcing Van Arkle and his wife to evacuate their apartment by rowboat last January 26.”