In case you need a reminder of the fallibility of reports in Boxoffice magazine, not only did the writer of this Feb. 16, 1976 note misspell the drive-in’s name, he appears to have mistaken a twin indoor theater for a drive-in: “BRIGHTON, COLO. – Aldage R. Prevost, who bought the nearby Cinema Twin a year ago, has taken over the Kar-Vue, both drive-ins from Robert Miracle. The Cinema Twin has spaces for 260 cars on each side, while the Kar-Vue has room for 300 cars.”
Boxoffice, May 1981: “One of the oldest drive in theatres in the Denver metropolitan area, the Kar-Vu Drive In located in Brighton, Colorado, has ceased operation and is being dismantled.”
Boxoffice, Feb. 2, 1976: “BTL Theatre Service has taken over the buying and booking for the Rose Theatre and the Skylark Drive-In, Glendive, Mont. The theatres are owned by Lewis Moore.”
Boxoffice, Feb. 2, 1976, under Salt Lake City: “The Motor Vu Drive-In here, which was operated 15 years by ABC Intermountain Theatres and the last year by Plitt Theatres, has been closed permanently and is in the process of being demolished to make way for a new shopping center.”
Boxoffice, December 1982: “Bob Heyl, who has operated the Wyoming and the West Drive In theatres in Torrington, Wyoming, has sold out to Jya Schwartz and Mr. and Mrs. Jim Schwartz, who will continue to operate the Lusk Drive-In Theatre, in Lusk, Wyoming, along with the new theatres. Heyl had operated the theatres for the past 25 years.”
Boxoffice, December 1982: “The Lincoln Theatre located in downtown Cheyenne, Wyoming, recently ceased operations. The theatre had been operated by Mann Theatres and the building will now be demolished.”
Same drive-in? Boxoffice, August 1982: “Fred Kaysbier, who operates the Mesa Theatre and the Star Drive-In Theatre, Douglas, Wyoming has taken over the operation of the Cinema West Theatre and the Seven Flags Drive-In Theatre, Wheatland, Wyoming from the former owner Ed Thorne.”
Under the “Denver” heading, Boxoffice, August 1982: “Irma Beezley, who has operated the Midway Theatre for the past thirty years, has sold out to Paul and Marylyn Memmer. Poor health forced the sale by Mrs. Beezley. The Memmers, who are newcomers to the business, do not anticipate making any changed in house policy.”
Boxoffice, June 1982: “The Aladdin Theatre located in East Denver was closed by Mann Theatres. The 1,000 seat facility is the last of the luxurious theatres built in the early Thirties in the downtown Denver area.”
Billboard, December 1981: “Jim Bailey, who operated the Roxy Theatre and the Starlite Drive In Theatre in Hamilton, Montana has sold the properties and the new owner is Keith Kehmeier. Buying and booking will be handled by Warner Marketing of Bozeman, Montana.”
Boxoffice, December 1981: “Lamar Gwaltney of Mountain States Cinema … has awarded a contract to twin the Aggie Drive-In. Opening of the new twin drive-in is scheduled for March 1.”
Billboard, September 1981: “Warren Gavin has sold the Blaine Theatre, Chinook, Montana to Thomas and Ronald Gruss, who will be doing business as ABM Center.”
Boxoffice, October 1980: “Enea Brothers Theatres closed its Fremont Auto Movies in Fremont. The property is to be converted into a combination shopping center and housing development.”
Elaborating on Drivein101’s note, here’s a quote from Boxoffice, Sept. 24, 1979: “Theatre Operators Inc., headquartered in Bozeman, Mont., held a special celebration to mark the closing of its Big Sky Drive-In Theatre in Billings, Mont. The Big Sky is being dismantled and the ground will be used for the construction of a new Holiday Inn Motel. The final program was called a "Chicken Little Night” because the Big Sky is falling."
Boxoffice, Sept. 17, 1979: “Mid-America Theatres, headed by Craig Stout, has taken over the operation of the Prairie Theatre and the West 5th Street Drive-In Theatre in Ogallala, Neb. from Evergreen Theatres of Colorado which is headquartered in Loveland.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 10, 1979: “Don Graham, who operates theatres in Mountain Home, Idaho, has renamed his theaters. The Canyon Theatre will now be known as the Gaslight and the Motor-Vu now becomes the Twilight Drive-In Theatre.”
Boxoffice, July 2, 1979: “Warner Marketing, which is headquartered in Bozeman, Mont., has taken over the buying and booking for the Canon Theatre and Motor Vue Drive-In, Mountain Home, Idaho. The theatres are owned by Don Graham.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 10, 1979: “Don Graham, who operates theatres in Mountain Home, Idaho, has renamed his theaters. The Canyon Theatre will now be known as the Gaslight and the Motor-Vu now becomes the Twilight Drive-In Theatre.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 13, 1979: “Marvin Sigwing is closing the Zorn Theatre, Benkleman (sic), Neb. Sigwig had operated the theatre for the past 14 years and has sold the house to a group of local merchants. It has not been determined whether the new owners will reopen the facility as a theatre on a regular basis or as a community art-type center.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 13, 1979: “James A. Simmons has sold the Romona (sic) Theatre, Kremmling, Colo., to James and Gaile Bachand. The Bachands are newcomers to the business.”
In an article about rising theater entrepreneur Jerry Mike Place, the May 28, 1979 issue of Boxoffice wrote that Place got his start owning and operating the Bountiful drive-in. The article didn’t mention the date when his wife’s family “bought the financially plagued Bountiful, figuring the property alone was worth the investment. Mike, who has been holding down two jobs, figured it was easier to try to stay solvent by running the theatre.”
Boxoffice, June 25, 1979: “Leland Goolsby has taken over the operation of the Star Theatre, Guernsey, Wyo., from Mrs. H. L. Boner. Goolsby will open the theatre on a two-change-a-week basis and Batter Booking will handle the datings.”
Boxoffice, June 11, 1979: “Plitt Theatres has announced the opening of the Egyptian Theatre in Boise, Idaho. Formerly known as the Ada, the theatre has been renovated and equipped with new Dolby stereo sound and has been re-seated with rocker type chairs. Work is continuing on the 830 seat theatre; a new marquee front are to be completed shortly.”
Boxoffice, June 4, 1979: “The Statz family, which has taken over the Peerless Theatre in Tolyoke (sic), Colo., will be a 100 percent family-type operation. Husband Ralph will do the managing and wife Linda will do the cashiering while son Chip will be the projectionist and daughters Robyn and Aalyn will handle the concession counter.”
Boxoffice, Feb. 16, 1976: “Leland Stevenson has sold the Roosevelt Theatre and the Echo Drive-In, Roosevelt, Utah, to Mr. and Mrs. John Chasel.”
In case you need a reminder of the fallibility of reports in Boxoffice magazine, not only did the writer of this Feb. 16, 1976 note misspell the drive-in’s name, he appears to have mistaken a twin indoor theater for a drive-in: “BRIGHTON, COLO. – Aldage R. Prevost, who bought the nearby Cinema Twin a year ago, has taken over the Kar-Vue, both drive-ins from Robert Miracle. The Cinema Twin has spaces for 260 cars on each side, while the Kar-Vue has room for 300 cars.”
Boxoffice, May 1981: “One of the oldest drive in theatres in the Denver metropolitan area, the Kar-Vu Drive In located in Brighton, Colorado, has ceased operation and is being dismantled.”
Boxoffice, Feb. 2, 1976: “BTL Theatre Service has taken over the buying and booking for the Rose Theatre and the Skylark Drive-In, Glendive, Mont. The theatres are owned by Lewis Moore.”
Boxoffice, Feb. 2, 1976, under Salt Lake City: “The Motor Vu Drive-In here, which was operated 15 years by ABC Intermountain Theatres and the last year by Plitt Theatres, has been closed permanently and is in the process of being demolished to make way for a new shopping center.”
Boxoffice, December 1982: “Bob Heyl, who has operated the Wyoming and the West Drive In theatres in Torrington, Wyoming, has sold out to Jya Schwartz and Mr. and Mrs. Jim Schwartz, who will continue to operate the Lusk Drive-In Theatre, in Lusk, Wyoming, along with the new theatres. Heyl had operated the theatres for the past 25 years.”
Boxoffice, December 1982: “The Lincoln Theatre located in downtown Cheyenne, Wyoming, recently ceased operations. The theatre had been operated by Mann Theatres and the building will now be demolished.”
Same drive-in? Boxoffice, August 1982: “Fred Kaysbier, who operates the Mesa Theatre and the Star Drive-In Theatre, Douglas, Wyoming has taken over the operation of the Cinema West Theatre and the Seven Flags Drive-In Theatre, Wheatland, Wyoming from the former owner Ed Thorne.”
Under the “Denver” heading, Boxoffice, August 1982: “Irma Beezley, who has operated the Midway Theatre for the past thirty years, has sold out to Paul and Marylyn Memmer. Poor health forced the sale by Mrs. Beezley. The Memmers, who are newcomers to the business, do not anticipate making any changed in house policy.”
Boxoffice, June 1982: “The Aladdin Theatre located in East Denver was closed by Mann Theatres. The 1,000 seat facility is the last of the luxurious theatres built in the early Thirties in the downtown Denver area.”
Billboard, December 1981: “Jim Bailey, who operated the Roxy Theatre and the Starlite Drive In Theatre in Hamilton, Montana has sold the properties and the new owner is Keith Kehmeier. Buying and booking will be handled by Warner Marketing of Bozeman, Montana.”
Boxoffice, December 1981: “Lamar Gwaltney of Mountain States Cinema … has awarded a contract to twin the Aggie Drive-In. Opening of the new twin drive-in is scheduled for March 1.”
Billboard, September 1981: “Warren Gavin has sold the Blaine Theatre, Chinook, Montana to Thomas and Ronald Gruss, who will be doing business as ABM Center.”
Boxoffice, October 1980: “Enea Brothers Theatres closed its Fremont Auto Movies in Fremont. The property is to be converted into a combination shopping center and housing development.”
Elaborating on Drivein101’s note, here’s a quote from Boxoffice, Sept. 24, 1979: “Theatre Operators Inc., headquartered in Bozeman, Mont., held a special celebration to mark the closing of its Big Sky Drive-In Theatre in Billings, Mont. The Big Sky is being dismantled and the ground will be used for the construction of a new Holiday Inn Motel. The final program was called a "Chicken Little Night” because the Big Sky is falling."
Boxoffice, Sept. 17, 1979: “Mid-America Theatres, headed by Craig Stout, has taken over the operation of the Prairie Theatre and the West 5th Street Drive-In Theatre in Ogallala, Neb. from Evergreen Theatres of Colorado which is headquartered in Loveland.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 17, 1979: “Orvie Hough Jr. has sold the Pastime Theatre, Broadus, Mont., to Cyrus and Dolly Bidwell.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 10, 1979: “Don Graham, who operates theatres in Mountain Home, Idaho, has renamed his theaters. The Canyon Theatre will now be known as the Gaslight and the Motor-Vu now becomes the Twilight Drive-In Theatre.”
Boxoffice, July 2, 1979: “Warner Marketing, which is headquartered in Bozeman, Mont., has taken over the buying and booking for the Canon Theatre and Motor Vue Drive-In, Mountain Home, Idaho. The theatres are owned by Don Graham.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 10, 1979: “Don Graham, who operates theatres in Mountain Home, Idaho, has renamed his theaters. The Canyon Theatre will now be known as the Gaslight and the Motor-Vu now becomes the Twilight Drive-In Theatre.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 13, 1979: “Marvin Sigwing is closing the Zorn Theatre, Benkleman (sic), Neb. Sigwig had operated the theatre for the past 14 years and has sold the house to a group of local merchants. It has not been determined whether the new owners will reopen the facility as a theatre on a regular basis or as a community art-type center.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 13, 1979: “James A. Simmons has sold the Romona (sic) Theatre, Kremmling, Colo., to James and Gaile Bachand. The Bachands are newcomers to the business.”
In an article about rising theater entrepreneur Jerry Mike Place, the May 28, 1979 issue of Boxoffice wrote that Place got his start owning and operating the Bountiful drive-in. The article didn’t mention the date when his wife’s family “bought the financially plagued Bountiful, figuring the property alone was worth the investment. Mike, who has been holding down two jobs, figured it was easier to try to stay solvent by running the theatre.”
Boxoffice, June 23, 1979: “Wayne Marketing has taken over the buying and booking for the Sunset Drive-In, Havre, Mont., operated by Norman Costin.”
Boxoffice, June 25, 1979: “Leland Goolsby has taken over the operation of the Star Theatre, Guernsey, Wyo., from Mrs. H. L. Boner. Goolsby will open the theatre on a two-change-a-week basis and Batter Booking will handle the datings.”
Boxoffice, June 11, 1979: “Plitt Theatres has announced the opening of the Egyptian Theatre in Boise, Idaho. Formerly known as the Ada, the theatre has been renovated and equipped with new Dolby stereo sound and has been re-seated with rocker type chairs. Work is continuing on the 830 seat theatre; a new marquee front are to be completed shortly.”
Boxoffice, June 4, 1979: “The Statz family, which has taken over the Peerless Theatre in Tolyoke (sic), Colo., will be a 100 percent family-type operation. Husband Ralph will do the managing and wife Linda will do the cashiering while son Chip will be the projectionist and daughters Robyn and Aalyn will handle the concession counter.”