A note in a later issue of Boxoffice corrected the story to say that Floyd Merrill opened the Lake in Stratton, Nebraska. But I wonder whether the correction is what was wrong; the 1949 Film Daily Year Book had only the Moon Theatre under Stratton, Colorado.
Per CT style, we’re going to have to split this entry. As noted in a lengthy piece in the Dec. 30, 1950 issue of Boxoffice, the original Apache was opened “midway between Globe and Miami on Highway 60 and 70.” That matches what Kenmore found, which is definitely not the Apache’s final location northeast of Globe on Highway 60/77.
Boxoffice, Dec. 9, 1950: “PHOENIX – The Phoenix Drive-In Theatre on Van Buren street reopened recently with new car speakers, redecorated marquee, and added landscaping. The new speakers replaced the earlier horn system that was installed when the Phoenix was the first outdoorer in the valley.”
The Dec. 2, 1950 issue of Boxoffice ran a one-page story (with pictures) about the Cedar Valley adding a second concession stand at the rear of the viewing field. “Casting about for a solution (to the problem of serving so many patrons) they noticed the neglected stable near the back property line of the ramp area. Some architectural ingenuity, a little carpentry, some paint and display lighting effects … and a second concessions building, in the southern colonial style of the screen tower, blossomed to take care of the overflow from the original unit.”
Boxoffice ran a full page about the Roosevelt in its Nov. 11, 1950 issue, including plenty of photos. Not obvious from those pictures: “The drive-in tower provides an attention-getting device in the revolving lighted ball sitting atop it.”
Boxoffice, Nov. 4, 1950: “LA JUNTA, COLO. – Joe Vleck of Pocatello, Ida., has been named manager of the La Junta Fox Theatre here … Vleck will also manage the new Mesa Theatre, scheduled to open this month.”
Boxoffice, Oct. 21, 1950: “VICTORVILLE, CALIF. – A 600-car drive-in will be constructed here by the Western Amusement Co., according to City Manager Nolan Hartley. The El Rancho Theatre was completed here by the Western chain, and it also operates two other indoor shows, the Mesa and the Victor in its Victorville group.”
More info about that “experiment” in the July 8, 1950 issue of Boxoffice: “Lewiston Orchard’s first theatre has been opened at 607 Bryden Ave. Dean Baird and Walter Campbell are sponsoring the outdoor theatre, which seats 800 people, and has space for 40 cars. A permanent building will be erected later.”
And this must be what led to its closing, from Boxoffice, Oct. 21, 1950: “LEWISTON, IDA. – The Orchards Drive-In, located in Lewiston Orchards, suffered about $2,500 damage in a fire, which destroyed the projection booth. The Orchards, which opened early this summer, was owned by Walter Campbell of Genessee.”
Was the Pine renamed the Pearl? The 1949 Film Daily Year Book listed the Pine (200 seats) as the only theater in Buena Vista, and according to Boxoffice, Aug. 26, 1950: “Charles DeCastro has sold the Pine in Buena Vista to John Groy”.
Slightly elaborated/changed in the Oct. 14, 1950 Boxoffice: “BUENA VISTA, COLO. – Mr. and Mrs. Chad DeCastro, owners of the Pine Theatre and confectionery for the last 18 months, have sold both establishments to Louis Groy and Lawrence Wellborn of Saguache, Colo.”
The Oct. 7, 1950 issue of Boxoffice included a full page on the Le Jeune, focusing on the raised stage under the screen. It also mentioned that the drive-in’s capacity was 800 cars.
The Oct. 7, 1950 issue of Boxoffice ran a full-page feature of the new Park Drive-In, tucked “deep in the pines of the Guilford Battleground Park near Greensboro”. Its surrounding forest meant that no fencing was needed. The article also featured the Park’s “concession talk-back system”. Patrons could order food by depressing “a small lever on the side of his speaker” and speaking with the switchboard operator in the concession building.
Boxoffice, Oct. 7, 1950: “TOPPENISH, WASH. – The $85,000 Top-Hi Drive-In has been opened on the new Track road north of town by owners Arthur H. Darby and his son Erwin. The Darbys, who also own a theatre in Naches, started construction of the Top-Hi in May and did their own work throughout. The 350-car situation will be managed by Arthur Darby and his son will manage the Naches operation and will book for both theatres.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 30, 1950: “Mitchell Kelloff, who owns theatres at Las Vegas, N. M., and La Veta, Colo., has bought the Pine, Manassa, Colo., from Donald and Lamont Jarvis.”
Boxoffice, May 7, 1949: “Floyd Davis sr. and Nat Jones will open their new 85 Drive-In, at Raton, N. M., about June 1. The airer will accommodate 340 cars”
Boxoffice, June 25, 1949: “Floyd Davis and Nat Jones have opened their new No. 85 Drive-In at Raton, N. M., a 350-car $60,000 job.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 23, 1950: “RATON, N. M. – The 85 Drive-In here has been purchased by Hubbard & Murphy, Inc., from J. E. Oliver who built the house more than one year ago.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 26, 1950: “HOBBS, N. M. – The new Eagle Drive-In has been opened here by owner E. L. Williamson. Mrs. Lucile Nunnally is manager. The drive-in has a 500-car capacity and features a concrete-surfaced patio near the concessions stand.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 23, 1950: “HOBBS, N. M. – The newly opened Eagle Drive-In here, built and owned by E. L. Williamson, was named for the local high school football team and features a large mural on the screen tower, picturing a huge eagle. The mural was painted by H. R. McBride of Dallas. … The airer has a capacity of 450 cars”.
Boxoffice, Aug. 12, 1950: “DONIPHAN, MO. – Mrs. Ethel J. Chilton, owner of the 270-seat Missouri Theatre here, has started construction of a 150-car drive-in. … Opening is planned within the next few weeks.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 12, 1950: “SOCORRO, N. M. – Edsell Casavos, owner of the Star-Lite Drive-In, reopened the outdoor recently after rebuilding the fire-destroyed projection booth. Flames caused almost a total loss for the owner, since applied-for insurance had not become effective. However, he rebuilt the theatre and replaced in-car speakers, many of which had been carried off by patrons in their hurry to leave the burning drive-in. He also installed new projectors and a new popcorn vending machine.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 12, 1950: “While on a visit to Denver, Charles Brent, owner of the Yucca Drive-In, Santa Fe N. M., told of putting on stage shows twice a week, using the top of the concession stand as a stage. The first of these was put on by the Cal Schrum troupe. Go great was the enthusiasm of the crowd that the actors found it difficult to quit. The initial show was put on in the rain.”
First bit of the origin story? Boxoffice, Aug. 5, 1950: “O. K. Leonard … now is building a 500-car drive-in between Globe and Miami, Ariz., on Highway 60 and 70. … Since the drive-in will be in the heart of the Apache Indian reservation, it will be named the Apache and all decorations will carry out the Indian motif.”
The line from 1923 construction to the Isis to the Sun to the Pontiac to the Holly looks fairly strong. Not sure what happened to the Opera House that became the Star. Anyway, here are a pile of magazine clippings:
Motion Picture News, Dec. 28, 1918: “Fred Adamek of Holly, Colo., has sold his Opera House theatre there to a company of Holly men”.
Variety, Aug. 27?, 1919: “C. Runyan, proprietor of the Star at Holly, Colo., surprised his patrons last week by staging a vaudeville show all by himself after the regular moving picture program had been run off.”
The Film Daily, July 31, 1923, under New Theaters: “Holly, Colo. – Actual building on the new theater to be erected on North Main St. has begun.”
The Film Daily, Oct. 27, 1927: “Holly, Colo. – A petition to the town council protesting against Sunday shows is being fought by E. R. Wood, owner of the theater, through the columns of the local newspapers which he also owns.”
Motion Picture News, Nov. 25, 1927: “The movieless Sunday in Holly, Colo., is now a reality after a long and bitter struggle between R. E. Wood of the Isis theatre and local reformers. The town council passed the ordinance at its second reading last Wednesday night and it became a law.”
Exhibitors Herald, Dec. 24, 1927, reported that a Minusa Cine Screen Company screen had been installed at the “Isis theatre, Holly, Colo.”
The Film Daily, June 6, 1928, said that R. E. Wood, 49, was killed in a car wreck “after inspecting a theater which he was building” in Holly.
The Film Daily, June 21, 1935, wrote that among the exhibitors recently visiting Denver’s Film Row was “C. F. Mazanek, Holly, Colo.”
The Film Daily, March 27, 1937: “an old theater building in Holly, Colo., has been brought up to date and seats about 200.”
Variety, March 24, 1937: “Frank Northrup, who has remodeled an old theatre building in Holly, Colo., will have the reopening about March 25. Northrup also owns a theatre in Syracuse, Kan.”
The Film Daily, May 21, 1937: “Theaters under new names are … the Sun at Holly, Colo., reopened as the Pontiac by Frank Northrup”.
Motion Picture Exhibitor, Aug. 4, 1965: “Two theatres in the state are still closed on account of the June floods – the Lamar, Lamar, Colo., and the Holly, Holly, Colo.” Sept. 15, 1965: “The Holly, Holly, Colo., which suffered a great deal of damage during the June floods that hit Colorado, has been completely renovated and redecorated. New seats and new screen have been installed and it has been reopened by Marvin and Muriel Ellis.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 5, 1950: “Ronald Kramer received two one-year passes to Sunnymount theatres as a prize for his winning entry in the name contest for the new drive-in theatre. "Monte Vista” Kramer’s entry, was judged the best of more than 500 suggested. B. A. Vecchiarelli, district manager of Sunnymount, made the award."
Boxoffice, July 8, 1950: “The Starlight Investment Co. will open its new 300-car, $40,000 drive-in, the Starlight, at Newcastle, Wyo., about the middle of this month.”
Boxoffice, July 29, 1950: “The 200-car Starlight Drive-In, located about two miles south of the city on the highway toward Lusk, has been opened by B. J. Kearney, J. Edward Smith, Harry Henderson and E. Keith Thompson.”
The 1949 Film Daily Year Book listed only the Grand (225 seats) under Flagler, so this is probably about the same theater.
Boxoffice, July 22, 1950: “FLAGLER, COLO. – The marquee of the Grand Theatre here has been improved by the addition of new neon tubing and lettering. Other improvements planned by Mrs. Nora Wright, owner and operator of the theatre, include new air conditioning and new seating.”
A note in a later issue of Boxoffice corrected the story to say that Floyd Merrill opened the Lake in Stratton, Nebraska. But I wonder whether the correction is what was wrong; the 1949 Film Daily Year Book had only the Moon Theatre under Stratton, Colorado.
More precisely, the Jan. 6, 1951 issue of Boxoffice.
Per CT style, we’re going to have to split this entry. As noted in a lengthy piece in the Dec. 30, 1950 issue of Boxoffice, the original Apache was opened “midway between Globe and Miami on Highway 60 and 70.” That matches what Kenmore found, which is definitely not the Apache’s final location northeast of Globe on Highway 60/77.
Boxoffice, Dec. 9, 1950: “PHOENIX – The Phoenix Drive-In Theatre on Van Buren street reopened recently with new car speakers, redecorated marquee, and added landscaping. The new speakers replaced the earlier horn system that was installed when the Phoenix was the first outdoorer in the valley.”
The Dec. 2, 1950 issue of Boxoffice ran a one-page story (with pictures) about the Cedar Valley adding a second concession stand at the rear of the viewing field. “Casting about for a solution (to the problem of serving so many patrons) they noticed the neglected stable near the back property line of the ramp area. Some architectural ingenuity, a little carpentry, some paint and display lighting effects … and a second concessions building, in the southern colonial style of the screen tower, blossomed to take care of the overflow from the original unit.”
Boxoffice ran a full page about the Roosevelt in its Nov. 11, 1950 issue, including plenty of photos. Not obvious from those pictures: “The drive-in tower provides an attention-getting device in the revolving lighted ball sitting atop it.”
Boxoffice, Nov. 4, 1950: “LA JUNTA, COLO. – Joe Vleck of Pocatello, Ida., has been named manager of the La Junta Fox Theatre here … Vleck will also manage the new Mesa Theatre, scheduled to open this month.”
Boxoffice, Oct. 21, 1950: “VICTORVILLE, CALIF. – A 600-car drive-in will be constructed here by the Western Amusement Co., according to City Manager Nolan Hartley. The El Rancho Theatre was completed here by the Western chain, and it also operates two other indoor shows, the Mesa and the Victor in its Victorville group.”
More info about that “experiment” in the July 8, 1950 issue of Boxoffice: “Lewiston Orchard’s first theatre has been opened at 607 Bryden Ave. Dean Baird and Walter Campbell are sponsoring the outdoor theatre, which seats 800 people, and has space for 40 cars. A permanent building will be erected later.”
And this must be what led to its closing, from Boxoffice, Oct. 21, 1950: “LEWISTON, IDA. – The Orchards Drive-In, located in Lewiston Orchards, suffered about $2,500 damage in a fire, which destroyed the projection booth. The Orchards, which opened early this summer, was owned by Walter Campbell of Genessee.”
Was the Pine renamed the Pearl? The 1949 Film Daily Year Book listed the Pine (200 seats) as the only theater in Buena Vista, and according to Boxoffice, Aug. 26, 1950: “Charles DeCastro has sold the Pine in Buena Vista to John Groy”.
Slightly elaborated/changed in the Oct. 14, 1950 Boxoffice: “BUENA VISTA, COLO. – Mr. and Mrs. Chad DeCastro, owners of the Pine Theatre and confectionery for the last 18 months, have sold both establishments to Louis Groy and Lawrence Wellborn of Saguache, Colo.”
The Oct. 7, 1950 issue of Boxoffice included a full page on the Le Jeune, focusing on the raised stage under the screen. It also mentioned that the drive-in’s capacity was 800 cars.
The Oct. 7, 1950 issue of Boxoffice ran a full-page feature of the new Park Drive-In, tucked “deep in the pines of the Guilford Battleground Park near Greensboro”. Its surrounding forest meant that no fencing was needed. The article also featured the Park’s “concession talk-back system”. Patrons could order food by depressing “a small lever on the side of his speaker” and speaking with the switchboard operator in the concession building.
Boxoffice, Oct. 7, 1950: “TOPPENISH, WASH. – The $85,000 Top-Hi Drive-In has been opened on the new Track road north of town by owners Arthur H. Darby and his son Erwin. The Darbys, who also own a theatre in Naches, started construction of the Top-Hi in May and did their own work throughout. The 350-car situation will be managed by Arthur Darby and his son will manage the Naches operation and will book for both theatres.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 30, 1950: “Mitchell Kelloff, who owns theatres at Las Vegas, N. M., and La Veta, Colo., has bought the Pine, Manassa, Colo., from Donald and Lamont Jarvis.”
Boxoffice, May 7, 1949: “Floyd Davis sr. and Nat Jones will open their new 85 Drive-In, at Raton, N. M., about June 1. The airer will accommodate 340 cars”
Boxoffice, June 25, 1949: “Floyd Davis and Nat Jones have opened their new No. 85 Drive-In at Raton, N. M., a 350-car $60,000 job.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 23, 1950: “RATON, N. M. – The 85 Drive-In here has been purchased by Hubbard & Murphy, Inc., from J. E. Oliver who built the house more than one year ago.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 26, 1950: “HOBBS, N. M. – The new Eagle Drive-In has been opened here by owner E. L. Williamson. Mrs. Lucile Nunnally is manager. The drive-in has a 500-car capacity and features a concrete-surfaced patio near the concessions stand.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 23, 1950: “HOBBS, N. M. – The newly opened Eagle Drive-In here, built and owned by E. L. Williamson, was named for the local high school football team and features a large mural on the screen tower, picturing a huge eagle. The mural was painted by H. R. McBride of Dallas. … The airer has a capacity of 450 cars”.
Boxoffice, Aug. 12, 1950: “DONIPHAN, MO. – Mrs. Ethel J. Chilton, owner of the 270-seat Missouri Theatre here, has started construction of a 150-car drive-in. … Opening is planned within the next few weeks.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 12, 1950: “SOCORRO, N. M. – Edsell Casavos, owner of the Star-Lite Drive-In, reopened the outdoor recently after rebuilding the fire-destroyed projection booth. Flames caused almost a total loss for the owner, since applied-for insurance had not become effective. However, he rebuilt the theatre and replaced in-car speakers, many of which had been carried off by patrons in their hurry to leave the burning drive-in. He also installed new projectors and a new popcorn vending machine.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 12, 1950: “While on a visit to Denver, Charles Brent, owner of the Yucca Drive-In, Santa Fe N. M., told of putting on stage shows twice a week, using the top of the concession stand as a stage. The first of these was put on by the Cal Schrum troupe. Go great was the enthusiasm of the crowd that the actors found it difficult to quit. The initial show was put on in the rain.”
This photo is also on the city of Prescott’s web site.
First bit of the origin story? Boxoffice, Aug. 5, 1950: “O. K. Leonard … now is building a 500-car drive-in between Globe and Miami, Ariz., on Highway 60 and 70. … Since the drive-in will be in the heart of the Apache Indian reservation, it will be named the Apache and all decorations will carry out the Indian motif.”
The line from 1923 construction to the Isis to the Sun to the Pontiac to the Holly looks fairly strong. Not sure what happened to the Opera House that became the Star. Anyway, here are a pile of magazine clippings:
Motion Picture News, Dec. 28, 1918: “Fred Adamek of Holly, Colo., has sold his Opera House theatre there to a company of Holly men”.
Variety, Aug. 27?, 1919: “C. Runyan, proprietor of the Star at Holly, Colo., surprised his patrons last week by staging a vaudeville show all by himself after the regular moving picture program had been run off.”
The Film Daily, July 31, 1923, under New Theaters: “Holly, Colo. – Actual building on the new theater to be erected on North Main St. has begun.”
The Film Daily, Oct. 27, 1927: “Holly, Colo. – A petition to the town council protesting against Sunday shows is being fought by E. R. Wood, owner of the theater, through the columns of the local newspapers which he also owns.”
Motion Picture News, Nov. 25, 1927: “The movieless Sunday in Holly, Colo., is now a reality after a long and bitter struggle between R. E. Wood of the Isis theatre and local reformers. The town council passed the ordinance at its second reading last Wednesday night and it became a law.”
Exhibitors Herald, Dec. 24, 1927, reported that a Minusa Cine Screen Company screen had been installed at the “Isis theatre, Holly, Colo.”
The Film Daily, June 6, 1928, said that R. E. Wood, 49, was killed in a car wreck “after inspecting a theater which he was building” in Holly.
The Film Daily, June 21, 1935, wrote that among the exhibitors recently visiting Denver’s Film Row was “C. F. Mazanek, Holly, Colo.”
The Film Daily, March 27, 1937: “an old theater building in Holly, Colo., has been brought up to date and seats about 200.”
Variety, March 24, 1937: “Frank Northrup, who has remodeled an old theatre building in Holly, Colo., will have the reopening about March 25. Northrup also owns a theatre in Syracuse, Kan.”
The Film Daily, May 21, 1937: “Theaters under new names are … the Sun at Holly, Colo., reopened as the Pontiac by Frank Northrup”.
Exhibitor: July 1, 1953: “Mrs. Muriel Ellis, Pontiac, Holly, Colo., installed 3-D.”
Motion Picture Exhibitor, Aug. 4, 1965: “Two theatres in the state are still closed on account of the June floods – the Lamar, Lamar, Colo., and the Holly, Holly, Colo.” Sept. 15, 1965: “The Holly, Holly, Colo., which suffered a great deal of damage during the June floods that hit Colorado, has been completely renovated and redecorated. New seats and new screen have been installed and it has been reopened by Marvin and Muriel Ellis.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 5, 1950: “Ronald Kramer received two one-year passes to Sunnymount theatres as a prize for his winning entry in the name contest for the new drive-in theatre. "Monte Vista” Kramer’s entry, was judged the best of more than 500 suggested. B. A. Vecchiarelli, district manager of Sunnymount, made the award."
Boxoffice, July 8, 1950: “The Starlight Investment Co. will open its new 300-car, $40,000 drive-in, the Starlight, at Newcastle, Wyo., about the middle of this month.”
Boxoffice, July 29, 1950: “The 200-car Starlight Drive-In, located about two miles south of the city on the highway toward Lusk, has been opened by B. J. Kearney, J. Edward Smith, Harry Henderson and E. Keith Thompson.”
The 1949 Film Daily Year Book listed only the Grand (225 seats) under Flagler, so this is probably about the same theater.
Boxoffice, July 22, 1950: “FLAGLER, COLO. – The marquee of the Grand Theatre here has been improved by the addition of new neon tubing and lettering. Other improvements planned by Mrs. Nora Wright, owner and operator of the theatre, include new air conditioning and new seating.”