The Nor-West was still operating on May 31, 1996, when the Denver Post ran an article about the remaining active drive-ins in the area. Bill Holshue then owned the Nor-West and the 88 of Commerce City.
An article in Westword said that the Denver Mart would open June 12, 2015. In January that year, it was announced with a Memorial Day opening, “ but manic spring thunderstorms delayed the installation of the drive-in’s massive, 87-foot-wide by 40-foot-tall screen until this week (May 18).”
The Rocky Mountain News reported on May 3, 1996 that the city had ordered the Holiday Twin’s owners to securely board up the concession stand building, which had become a magnet for transients.
“Transients also have taken shelter under one of the screens, toppled in strong winds, (assistant Boulder fire chief) Stolz said. The old drive-in theater, which closed in 1989, is for sale, listed at $5 million to $6 million.”
The Durango Herald ran an article on August 30, 2003 to salute what could be the final weekend for the Rocket. “The Scales brothers, Leonard and Jack, built the drive-in located on U.S. Highway 550/160, just south of Wal-Mart, in 1956. One year later, the drive-in opened and has remained with the family.”
Leonard’s daughter Melanie Scales, the Rocket’s manager, said the 2003 season had been one of its most successful, but the drive-in was still for sale with no buyers.
The April 14, 1990 Rocky Mountain News had a short article about Steven Vannoy, who heard that the East was going to be demolished so he cleaned it up and opened it for that season as The East Drive-In Revisited. He added FM radio and armed guards, and planned to build volleyball courts.
“Anton Schulz opened the Corral Drive-In, Bismarck, N. D.” (presumably for the season) – The Exhibitor, May 16, 1951
“A tornado demolished the Corral drive-in at Bismarck, N. D. Owner Otto Fink has announced that he will rebuild the stand immediately with CinemaScope and the latest equipment.” – Motion Picture Herald, Aug. 20, 1955
Couple of clarifications: The Auto Vu was included in the 1955-56 Theatre Catalog, but in the Salt Lake City territory. owned by Neil P. Bolt and George Armstrong, capacity 130.
And Kenmore, the building that’s on the site now was built there between 1980 and 1993, based on my interpretation of Historic Aerials' images. It sits about where the back row was when the drive-in was active. Based on HA’s comparison tools, I don’t think that was ever the projection building.
The 1950 Film Daily Year Book, published early in the year, listed the Skylite Drive-In under Montrose. It also listed a Skylite under Delta (~30 minutes away), so maybe someone there was confused.
The 1951 edition listed both the Star and the Skylite. Hmm.
An ad in the June 16, 1988 Steamboat Pilot of Steamboat Springs CO said that the “Craig Motor View Drive-In Theatre Opens for season Friday, June 17th”. It continued to advertise, starting late every year, through September 1990.
From the Steamboat Pilot of Steamboat Springs CO, Aug. 2, 1979: “‘The Warriors,’ a movie with an anti-gang theme, (really?) apparently didn’t make its point with Craig viewers. The Moffat County Sheriff’s Office received a call to make a drive through at the Monday night (July 30) showing of the film after the Motor Vu Drive-In employees reported the viewers were becoming hostile, according to a sheriff’s office report.”
Oct. 17, 1963’s Steamboat Pilot of Steamboat Springs CO had a note about Small Business Administration loans in Colorado. The only entry we’d care about was:
Name and Location: Bolt Theatres, Dove Creek
Amount of Loan: 19,000
No. of Emp.: 1
Nature of Business: Drive-In Theatre
From the Steamboat Pilot of Steamboat Springs CO, Aug. 10, 1950: “Construction is well underway on the new drive-in theatre west of Glenwood on Highways 6 and 24. Latest type screening and auditory facilities have been installed and the new theatre will be named ‘Canyon Drive-In Theatre.’”
Although it advertised in the Douglas County News as the Castle Rock Outdoor Cinema as late as 1973, this theater advertised as the Castle Rock Drive-In throughout 1976. Redevelopment plans were approved over the following winter, and although a kite contest was held on the site in the summer of 1977, the screen was dismantled that August.
The L & L Motor Vu opened on May 15, 1953, based on an article in the previous day’s Louisville Times. “Carmen Romano, owner of the Rex theater and Walter Houser, owner of the La-Fay theater in Lafayette started the outdoor theater a year ago.” The drive-in had given a “courtesy show” on May 13 to select friends and theater personnel, and the Lions club of Lafayette booked a preview show on May 14.
The opening program was “Flat Top” with the cartoon “The Car of Tomorrow” and the short “Fishing Feats”.
In a Looking Back roundup 10 years later, the Times reported that on March 11, 1971, “Carmen Romano of Louisville, and Walter Houser of Lafayette have sold the L & L Drive-In to Daryl Decker of Louisville.”
The renaming of the L&L didn’t take place until the middle of the 1980 season. The season-opening ad from the May 28, 1980 Louisville Times called it the L&L Drive-In. But by June 18 it was advertising there as the Star Lite on 10103 South Boulder Road, “Formerly the L&L Drive-In”. The Star Lite advertised into October that year, but I couldn’t find any ads for it in 1981.
Subsequent stories about redeveloping the drive-in site always called it the L&L or the L&L Motor Vu.
Looks like Steve Fitch gets the credit for this amazing picture, taken in July 1980. See https://www.artsy.net/artwork/steve-fitch-star-vu-drive-in-theater-longmont-colorado-july-1980
There’s a magnificent article by Mark Wolfe in the Winter 2007 issue of Colorado Heritage, which included most of the details of the Sunset’s life. The article, “Silver Screens Under Starry Skies,” is hard to find (cough Google), but here are the high points:
Schumour Theaters, Inc., built the Sunset and chose its name from submitted contest entries. The 280-car drive-in was scheduled to open on Aug. 5, 1954, but heavy rains turned the as-yet ungraveled ramps to mud, so the actual grand opening was the following night. The first double feature was “The Outlaw Stallion” and “Nature’s Half Acre”.
At the time of the article, “Stan Dewsnup, whose family owns the Big Sky and Tru-Vu drive-ins in Delta and indoor theaters in Delta, Rifle, and Craig, now owns the Sunset, which has been closed since 1976.”
There’s a magnificent article by Mark Wolfe in the Winter 2007 issue of Colorado Heritage, which included most of the details of the Tsaya’s life. The article, “Silver Screens Under Starry Skies,” is hard to find (cough Google), but here are the high points:
Ralph Tanner and Raymond Taylor built the Tsaya, which opened on April 21, 1955. The opening show was “Rails Into Laramie”. The drive-in held 360 cars and had a wide 42x84-foot screen mounted on a 65-foot tower.
The owners of the Arroyo Drive-In acquired the Tsaya in the early 1960s. By May 1967, Margory Gai had closed the Tsaya, eventually repurchased by Tanner. “The theater was torn down in the 1970s and replaced by the Sikis Village mobile home court.”
There’s a magnificent article by Mark Wolfe in the Winter 2007 issue of Colorado Heritage, although he mistook the Arroyo’s April 17, 1952 season-opening ad (clearly marked as “Spring Opening”) for the grand opening. The article, “Silver Screens Under Starry Skies,” is hard to find (cough Google), but here are the high points:
Edward Davidson built the Arroyo, which held 300 cars. In 1952, Terenzio and Anna Gai bought a half-interest, and they eventually became its sole owners. In the “early ‘60s,” their daughter Margory acquired the Arroyo along with the rest of the town’s theaters.
In 1967, Margory Gai sold the Arroyo along with Cortez’s indoor theaters to Allen Theatres, started by Lane Allen of Farmington. “In 1988 Lee (sic?) learned that it would cost him $7,500 to repaint the screen, and he decided to close the theater.” He gave the sign to a local collector.
According to a magnificent article by Mark Wolfe in the Winter 2007 issue of Colorado Heritage, the Julesburg was renamed the Arrow in less than a year. The article, “Silver Screens Under Starry Skies,” is hard to find (cough Google), but here are the high points:
Herman Koeppen and M. V. Nygren built the Julesburg, which opened May 4, 1955. Its opening double feature was “Silver City” and “The Savage”. The Julesburg held 318 cars.
Herb and Doris Martens, who ran a small airport nearby, bought the drive-in and renamed it the Arrow. “New flashing arrows pointed to a 20-foot neon arrow at the entrance.” They replaced the screen with a wide 76-footer and added 50 speakers to bring capacity up to 368.
In 1969, a major electrical storm hit, and a bolt of lightning somehow shattered the bulbs in the light fixtures and fried the sound system. The Arrow never reopened.
According to a magnificent article by Mark Wolfe in the Winter 2007 issue of Colorado Heritage, the Kar-Vu had a long and confusing history. The article, “Silver Screens Under Starry Skies,” is hard to find (cough Google), but here are the high points:
Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Bell and Mr. and Mrs. Everett Toomey of Sunray TX announced in 1957 that they were building the Sunnyside, but when it opened on July 4, 1957, it was advertised as the Sunset. It had a 35x70-foot screen tower and could hold 350 cars. The opening program was “Davy Crockett and the River Pirates,” “Man In Space,” and a cartoon.
In 1961, the Bells and Toomeys sublet the drive-in to Bob Hough and Doyle Smith of Dumas TX, who renamed it the Apache. In 1966, Baca Theaters (consisting of Bernard D. Newman and Ike and Ruby Ross) acquired the drive-in and renamed it the Kar-Vu.
In 2000, Ruby Ross sold the Kar-Vu and the local indoor Capitol theater to Trent and Anna High. A windstorm hit the Kar-Vu in 2002, taking panels off the screen tower. The article pretty much ends there.
The Nor-West was still operating on May 31, 1996, when the Denver Post ran an article about the remaining active drive-ins in the area. Bill Holshue then owned the Nor-West and the 88 of Commerce City.
An article in Westword said that the Denver Mart would open June 12, 2015. In January that year, it was announced with a Memorial Day opening, “ but manic spring thunderstorms delayed the installation of the drive-in’s massive, 87-foot-wide by 40-foot-tall screen until this week (May 18).”
The Rocky Mountain News reported on May 3, 1996 that the city had ordered the Holiday Twin’s owners to securely board up the concession stand building, which had become a magnet for transients.
“Transients also have taken shelter under one of the screens, toppled in strong winds, (assistant Boulder fire chief) Stolz said. The old drive-in theater, which closed in 1989, is for sale, listed at $5 million to $6 million.”
The Durango Herald ran an article on August 30, 2003 to salute what could be the final weekend for the Rocket. “The Scales brothers, Leonard and Jack, built the drive-in located on U.S. Highway 550/160, just south of Wal-Mart, in 1956. One year later, the drive-in opened and has remained with the family.”
Leonard’s daughter Melanie Scales, the Rocket’s manager, said the 2003 season had been one of its most successful, but the drive-in was still for sale with no buyers.
The April 14, 1990 Rocky Mountain News had a short article about Steven Vannoy, who heard that the East was going to be demolished so he cleaned it up and opened it for that season as The East Drive-In Revisited. He added FM radio and armed guards, and planned to build volleyball courts.
The address was listed as 12819 E. Colfax Ave.
“Anton Schulz opened the Corral Drive-In, Bismarck, N. D.” (presumably for the season) – The Exhibitor, May 16, 1951
“A tornado demolished the Corral drive-in at Bismarck, N. D. Owner Otto Fink has announced that he will rebuild the stand immediately with CinemaScope and the latest equipment.” – Motion Picture Herald, Aug. 20, 1955
“The Ski-Hi, Rock Island, Ill., changed its name to the Corral.” – The Exhibitor, July 11, 1951
‘Al Aved, 100-Twin Drive-In, has taken over operation of the Corral, outdoor stand, Moline, Ill.“ – The Exhibitor, July 25, 1951
Couple of clarifications: The Auto Vu was included in the 1955-56 Theatre Catalog, but in the Salt Lake City territory. owned by Neil P. Bolt and George Armstrong, capacity 130.
And Kenmore, the building that’s on the site now was built there between 1980 and 1993, based on my interpretation of Historic Aerials' images. It sits about where the back row was when the drive-in was active. Based on HA’s comparison tools, I don’t think that was ever the projection building.
The 1950 Film Daily Year Book, published early in the year, listed the Skylite Drive-In under Montrose. It also listed a Skylite under Delta (~30 minutes away), so maybe someone there was confused.
The 1951 edition listed both the Star and the Skylite. Hmm.
The 1951 Film Daily Year Book listed both Drive-In and West Drive-In under Fort Morgan.
An ad in the June 16, 1988 Steamboat Pilot of Steamboat Springs CO said that the “Craig Motor View Drive-In Theatre Opens for season Friday, June 17th”. It continued to advertise, starting late every year, through September 1990.
From the Steamboat Pilot of Steamboat Springs CO, Aug. 2, 1979: “‘The Warriors,’ a movie with an anti-gang theme, (really?) apparently didn’t make its point with Craig viewers. The Moffat County Sheriff’s Office received a call to make a drive through at the Monday night (July 30) showing of the film after the Motor Vu Drive-In employees reported the viewers were becoming hostile, according to a sheriff’s office report.”
Oct. 17, 1963’s Steamboat Pilot of Steamboat Springs CO had a note about Small Business Administration loans in Colorado. The only entry we’d care about was:
Name and Location: Bolt Theatres, Dove Creek
Amount of Loan: 19,000
No. of Emp.: 1
Nature of Business: Drive-In Theatre
From the Steamboat Pilot of Steamboat Springs CO, Aug. 10, 1950: “Construction is well underway on the new drive-in theatre west of Glenwood on Highways 6 and 24. Latest type screening and auditory facilities have been installed and the new theatre will be named ‘Canyon Drive-In Theatre.’”
Although it advertised in the Douglas County News as the Castle Rock Outdoor Cinema as late as 1973, this theater advertised as the Castle Rock Drive-In throughout 1976. Redevelopment plans were approved over the following winter, and although a kite contest was held on the site in the summer of 1977, the screen was dismantled that August.
The L & L Motor Vu opened on May 15, 1953, based on an article in the previous day’s Louisville Times. “Carmen Romano, owner of the Rex theater and Walter Houser, owner of the La-Fay theater in Lafayette started the outdoor theater a year ago.” The drive-in had given a “courtesy show” on May 13 to select friends and theater personnel, and the Lions club of Lafayette booked a preview show on May 14.
The opening program was “Flat Top” with the cartoon “The Car of Tomorrow” and the short “Fishing Feats”.
In a Looking Back roundup 10 years later, the Times reported that on March 11, 1971, “Carmen Romano of Louisville, and Walter Houser of Lafayette have sold the L & L Drive-In to Daryl Decker of Louisville.”
The renaming of the L&L didn’t take place until the middle of the 1980 season. The season-opening ad from the May 28, 1980 Louisville Times called it the L&L Drive-In. But by June 18 it was advertising there as the Star Lite on 10103 South Boulder Road, “Formerly the L&L Drive-In”. The Star Lite advertised into October that year, but I couldn’t find any ads for it in 1981.
Subsequent stories about redeveloping the drive-in site always called it the L&L or the L&L Motor Vu.
Looks like Steve Fitch gets the credit for this amazing picture, taken in July 1980. See https://www.artsy.net/artwork/steve-fitch-star-vu-drive-in-theater-longmont-colorado-july-1980
There’s a magnificent article by Mark Wolfe in the Winter 2007 issue of Colorado Heritage, which included most of the details of the Sunset’s life. The article, “Silver Screens Under Starry Skies,” is hard to find (cough Google), but here are the high points:
Schumour Theaters, Inc., built the Sunset and chose its name from submitted contest entries. The 280-car drive-in was scheduled to open on Aug. 5, 1954, but heavy rains turned the as-yet ungraveled ramps to mud, so the actual grand opening was the following night. The first double feature was “The Outlaw Stallion” and “Nature’s Half Acre”.
At the time of the article, “Stan Dewsnup, whose family owns the Big Sky and Tru-Vu drive-ins in Delta and indoor theaters in Delta, Rifle, and Craig, now owns the Sunset, which has been closed since 1976.”
There’s a magnificent article by Mark Wolfe in the Winter 2007 issue of Colorado Heritage, which included most of the details of the Tsaya’s life. The article, “Silver Screens Under Starry Skies,” is hard to find (cough Google), but here are the high points:
Ralph Tanner and Raymond Taylor built the Tsaya, which opened on April 21, 1955. The opening show was “Rails Into Laramie”. The drive-in held 360 cars and had a wide 42x84-foot screen mounted on a 65-foot tower.
The owners of the Arroyo Drive-In acquired the Tsaya in the early 1960s. By May 1967, Margory Gai had closed the Tsaya, eventually repurchased by Tanner. “The theater was torn down in the 1970s and replaced by the Sikis Village mobile home court.”
There’s a magnificent article by Mark Wolfe in the Winter 2007 issue of Colorado Heritage, although he mistook the Arroyo’s April 17, 1952 season-opening ad (clearly marked as “Spring Opening”) for the grand opening. The article, “Silver Screens Under Starry Skies,” is hard to find (cough Google), but here are the high points:
Edward Davidson built the Arroyo, which held 300 cars. In 1952, Terenzio and Anna Gai bought a half-interest, and they eventually became its sole owners. In the “early ‘60s,” their daughter Margory acquired the Arroyo along with the rest of the town’s theaters.
In 1967, Margory Gai sold the Arroyo along with Cortez’s indoor theaters to Allen Theatres, started by Lane Allen of Farmington. “In 1988 Lee (sic?) learned that it would cost him $7,500 to repaint the screen, and he decided to close the theater.” He gave the sign to a local collector.
According to a magnificent article by Mark Wolfe in the Winter 2007 issue of Colorado Heritage, the Julesburg was renamed the Arrow in less than a year. The article, “Silver Screens Under Starry Skies,” is hard to find (cough Google), but here are the high points:
Herman Koeppen and M. V. Nygren built the Julesburg, which opened May 4, 1955. Its opening double feature was “Silver City” and “The Savage”. The Julesburg held 318 cars.
Herb and Doris Martens, who ran a small airport nearby, bought the drive-in and renamed it the Arrow. “New flashing arrows pointed to a 20-foot neon arrow at the entrance.” They replaced the screen with a wide 76-footer and added 50 speakers to bring capacity up to 368.
In 1969, a major electrical storm hit, and a bolt of lightning somehow shattered the bulbs in the light fixtures and fried the sound system. The Arrow never reopened.
According to a magnificent article by Mark Wolfe in the Winter 2007 issue of Colorado Heritage, the Kar-Vu had a long and confusing history. The article, “Silver Screens Under Starry Skies,” is hard to find (cough Google), but here are the high points:
Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Bell and Mr. and Mrs. Everett Toomey of Sunray TX announced in 1957 that they were building the Sunnyside, but when it opened on July 4, 1957, it was advertised as the Sunset. It had a 35x70-foot screen tower and could hold 350 cars. The opening program was “Davy Crockett and the River Pirates,” “Man In Space,” and a cartoon.
In 1961, the Bells and Toomeys sublet the drive-in to Bob Hough and Doyle Smith of Dumas TX, who renamed it the Apache. In 1966, Baca Theaters (consisting of Bernard D. Newman and Ike and Ruby Ross) acquired the drive-in and renamed it the Kar-Vu.
In 2000, Ruby Ross sold the Kar-Vu and the local indoor Capitol theater to Trent and Anna High. A windstorm hit the Kar-Vu in 2002, taking panels off the screen tower. The article pretty much ends there.
The Chief was still outlined in a 1984 topo map but was gone by the 1988 map.
This looks like a detail of John Margolies' 1991 photo, now effectively in the public domain at the Library of Congress web site.
This photo is identical to John Margolies' 1980 photo, now effectively in the public domain at the Library of Congress web site.