The Hotchkiss Drive-In was listed in the 1955-56 Theatre Catalog, capacity 300, owner F. M. Peterson. But it was never included in the Motion Picture Almanacs' drive-in lists.
As suggested by its inclusion in the 1960 Motion Picture Almanac, the Paonia was open by 1959. A note under the Paonia news in Grand Junction CO’s Daily Sentinel of May 27, 1959 said that the Paonia high school’s freshman class “enjoyed a hobo party at the Paonia Drive-In Patio Thursday evening.”
I wonder where Chris1982 found his 1958 info, because the Paonia’s first appearance in the Motion Picture Almanac series was the 1960 edition. The 1960-66 MPAs listed the Paonia with a capacity of 300, owner Tom Poulos. The next update was in the 1977 MPA reboot, when the Paonia’s owner was D. Linza, and that’s how it stayed through the final MPA drive-in list in 1988.
Boxoffice, April 16, 1949: “GREELEY, COLO. – Changes in the Greeley Drive-In, which recently reopened for the season, include addition of wings on each side of the screen to close out the tower and traffic lights. The fence has also been improved to prevent lights from incoming cars shining on those already parked. Other improvements have been made in the restrooms, boxoffice and snack bar. The Greeley is located on Highway 34 across from the Greeley Country club. Owners Emmett Savard and R. W. Meyer also plan to landscape the front of the area later in the season.”
Boxoffice, Feb. 1, 1960: “Emmett Savard, owner of the Greeley Drive-In, has moved his offices to the swanky 655 Broadway Bldg.”
The Midway’s recent renovation isn’t its first. Boxoffice had this note on April 9, 1949: “BURLINGTON, COLO. – Renovation work at the Midway Theatre here got under way recently with improvements to include a new masonry front, a new neon sign, stainless steel marquee, new doors and windows, air conditioning, restrooms and complete redecoration. Manager Neil Beezley said the job would complete the thorough renovation project started several months ago. New projection, sound and screen equipment also has been installed.”
Boxoffice, April 9, 1949: “CLOVIS, N. M. – Final papers were expected to be signed immediately for sale of the Yucca Drive-In here by owner Tom Griffing to Russell Hardwick.”
Boxoffice, March 26, 1949: “SOCORRO, N. M. – Edsel Cavasos recently opened his Sunset Drive-In here. The Sunset is equipped with 100 in-car speakers and plans are to add more as they are needed, Cavasos said.”
Boxoffice, March 26, 1949: “Mitchell Kelloff has bought the Segundo in Segundo, formerly operated by the Colorado Fuel & Iron Co., and has reopened the theatre”
Boxoffice, March 19, 1949: “Wyoming drive-ins to be completed for spring opening include the Motor Vu, Cheyenne; Skyline, Casper; Skyline, Rawlins and West, Cody.”
Boxoffice, March 19, 1949: “Wyoming drive-ins to be completed for spring opening include the Motor Vu, Cheyenne; Skyline, Casper; Skyline, Rawlins and West, Cody.”
Looks like Wolfe had one detail just a little wrong. The Plainsman Herald of Springfield’s July 4, 1957 issue proclaimed that the Sunset would open the following evening, July 5.
Also, early ads called it the “Sunset Drive Inn Theatre”. What was up with that double n?
In a Feb. 21, 2010 article about “Night Lights,” local historian Mike Thomason’s book on Pueblo’s theaters, the Pueblo Chieftain wrote that the Pueblo Drive-In’s opening night was March 17, 1950.
But that just proves that some reporter got suckered by a season re-opening ad and didn’t read the book, which is admittedly hard to find. In Night Lights, Thomason clearly wrote that the Pueblo opened on May 20, 1948, closed on Sept. 4, 1988, and saw its screen tower burn down on Nov. 7, 1995.
A note in the Feb. 12, 1949 issue of Boxoffice said that the guy who ran the Eagle had more than one theater back then. “John Greve, Eagle, Colo., exhibitor, was on Filmrow for the first time in several months. His son, Lloyd, is doing most of the work of operating the theatres.”
In a fun article in the Feb. 5, 1949 issue of Boxoffice, titled “Drive-Ins as the Projectionist Sees Them,” Don Kennedy described an occasional problem at the East Side.
“Screen visibility has another enemy – the moonbeams. My advice is to never place a screen so that it faces toward the southeast. (If you are going to build in South America, I guess the position is just the opposite.) We found that out at the East Side Drive-In in Detroit, which faces in just about that position. When the moon is in its full period, conditions are worst. On a clear night it will hit the side of the screen structure as it rises, throwing deep shadows and then as it moves around to a more direct view of the screen, the light may become intense enough to cut down visibility and clarity of the picture on the screen.”
A note in the July 17, 1959 issue of Motion Picture Daily mentioned that Donald Monson owned the Ute and Chief theaters in Rifle. Don Munson was Fred Lind’s son-in-law, according to a note in the Feb. 5, 1949 Boxoffice.
Boxoffice, Feb. 5, 1949: “The drive-in now under construction by Fred Crockett (in Phoenix) was expected to have an opening March 1. To be known as the Cinema Park when completed, the open-airer is being built on a 12-acre tract at a cost of $200,000. It will be the largest drive-in in the state, with a capacity of approximately 1,000 cars.”
Boxoffice, Jan. 29, 1949: “Most of the branch managers went to Fort Collins as guests of Ray Davis, district manager for Fox Intermountain, and Bill Dollison, booker, to inspect the newly remodeled Lyric, which will become the first run theatre there.”
Boxoffice, Jan. 29, 1949: “John H. Roberts is doing extensive remodeling to the interior of the Emerson, Brush, Colo., and is installing new Simplex and booth equipment, bought from National Theatre Supply”
Boxoffice, Jan. 15, 1949: “PUEBLO, COLO. – L. R. Semon and W. H. Mayne plan to build a second drive-in theatre here. The two men now operate a $125,000 open air theatre on the city’s northwestern edge. The new ozoner will be smaller than the present drive-in.” That larger drive-in was the Pueblo Drive-In.
Was it ever renamed the Lake? Here’s a note from the Jan. 15, 1949 issue of Boxoffice:
JOHNSTOWN, COLO. – With an extension of 25 feet to the building, the newly reopened Lake Theatre now has more room for patrons between seat rows. Each seat has been reupholstered and respaced. A new stage, suitable for local and professional use, and complete with a new stage curtain, has also been erected. Other improvements include a new screen which is twice as large as the old one, two modern restrooms, new acoustical wall coverings and new overhead and wall lights.
And from the July 22, 1950 issue:
JOHNSTOWN, COLO. – A Wurlitzer electric organ has been installed in the Lake Theatre here and is being used for a brief program which is featured nightly between shows. Dave Warnock, owner and operator of the theatre, is the organist.
Boxoffice, Jan. 15, 1949: “JULESBURG, COLO. – Lynn Zorn, 38, owner of the Hippodrome Theatre here, died from a heart attack brought on by shoveling snow in the recent blizzard. Zorn has operated the Hippodrome for a number of years, since the death of his monther.”
Yet another spelling, the expected one, was in this note from Boxoffice, Jan. 8, 1949: “OURAY, COLO. – The Ouray Theatre reopened recently after completion of repairs to damages incurred in a fire about six weeks ago. Repairs included installation of fireproof booths, new projectors and other equipment.” Another note in the same issue mentioned that Les McClary was the manager of the Ouray.
Boxoffice, Jan. 8, 1949: “Russell Allen is building a 550-seat, $100,000 theatre in Farmington, N. M., where he already owns another. The new theatre will be given an Indian name, Totah, and is scheduled to open in the spring.”
Boxoffice, Jan. 1, 1949: “CRESTED BUTTE, COLO. – Mr. and Mrs. Rudy Verzuh have sold the Princess Theatre here to Rudy Sedmak and Martin Verzuh. The couple recently purchased the Columbine hotel in Gunnison and plan to move there soon.”
The Hotchkiss Drive-In was listed in the 1955-56 Theatre Catalog, capacity 300, owner F. M. Peterson. But it was never included in the Motion Picture Almanacs' drive-in lists.
As suggested by its inclusion in the 1960 Motion Picture Almanac, the Paonia was open by 1959. A note under the Paonia news in Grand Junction CO’s Daily Sentinel of May 27, 1959 said that the Paonia high school’s freshman class “enjoyed a hobo party at the Paonia Drive-In Patio Thursday evening.”
I wonder where Chris1982 found his 1958 info, because the Paonia’s first appearance in the Motion Picture Almanac series was the 1960 edition. The 1960-66 MPAs listed the Paonia with a capacity of 300, owner Tom Poulos. The next update was in the 1977 MPA reboot, when the Paonia’s owner was D. Linza, and that’s how it stayed through the final MPA drive-in list in 1988.
Boxoffice, April 16, 1949: “GREELEY, COLO. – Changes in the Greeley Drive-In, which recently reopened for the season, include addition of wings on each side of the screen to close out the tower and traffic lights. The fence has also been improved to prevent lights from incoming cars shining on those already parked. Other improvements have been made in the restrooms, boxoffice and snack bar. The Greeley is located on Highway 34 across from the Greeley Country club. Owners Emmett Savard and R. W. Meyer also plan to landscape the front of the area later in the season.”
Boxoffice, Feb. 1, 1960: “Emmett Savard, owner of the Greeley Drive-In, has moved his offices to the swanky 655 Broadway Bldg.”
The Midway’s recent renovation isn’t its first. Boxoffice had this note on April 9, 1949: “BURLINGTON, COLO. – Renovation work at the Midway Theatre here got under way recently with improvements to include a new masonry front, a new neon sign, stainless steel marquee, new doors and windows, air conditioning, restrooms and complete redecoration. Manager Neil Beezley said the job would complete the thorough renovation project started several months ago. New projection, sound and screen equipment also has been installed.”
Boxoffice, April 9, 1949: “CLOVIS, N. M. – Final papers were expected to be signed immediately for sale of the Yucca Drive-In here by owner Tom Griffing to Russell Hardwick.”
Boxoffice, March 26, 1949: “SOCORRO, N. M. – Edsel Cavasos recently opened his Sunset Drive-In here. The Sunset is equipped with 100 in-car speakers and plans are to add more as they are needed, Cavasos said.”
Boxoffice, March 26, 1949: “Mitchell Kelloff has bought the Segundo in Segundo, formerly operated by the Colorado Fuel & Iron Co., and has reopened the theatre”
Boxoffice, March 19, 1949: “Wyoming drive-ins to be completed for spring opening include the Motor Vu, Cheyenne; Skyline, Casper; Skyline, Rawlins and West, Cody.”
Boxoffice, March 19, 1949: “Wyoming drive-ins to be completed for spring opening include the Motor Vu, Cheyenne; Skyline, Casper; Skyline, Rawlins and West, Cody.”
Looks like Wolfe had one detail just a little wrong. The Plainsman Herald of Springfield’s July 4, 1957 issue proclaimed that the Sunset would open the following evening, July 5.
Also, early ads called it the “Sunset Drive Inn Theatre”. What was up with that double n?
In a Feb. 21, 2010 article about “Night Lights,” local historian Mike Thomason’s book on Pueblo’s theaters, the Pueblo Chieftain wrote that the Pueblo Drive-In’s opening night was March 17, 1950.
But that just proves that some reporter got suckered by a season re-opening ad and didn’t read the book, which is admittedly hard to find. In Night Lights, Thomason clearly wrote that the Pueblo opened on May 20, 1948, closed on Sept. 4, 1988, and saw its screen tower burn down on Nov. 7, 1995.
A note in the Feb. 12, 1949 issue of Boxoffice said that the guy who ran the Eagle had more than one theater back then. “John Greve, Eagle, Colo., exhibitor, was on Filmrow for the first time in several months. His son, Lloyd, is doing most of the work of operating the theatres.”
In a fun article in the Feb. 5, 1949 issue of Boxoffice, titled “Drive-Ins as the Projectionist Sees Them,” Don Kennedy described an occasional problem at the East Side.
“Screen visibility has another enemy – the moonbeams. My advice is to never place a screen so that it faces toward the southeast. (If you are going to build in South America, I guess the position is just the opposite.) We found that out at the East Side Drive-In in Detroit, which faces in just about that position. When the moon is in its full period, conditions are worst. On a clear night it will hit the side of the screen structure as it rises, throwing deep shadows and then as it moves around to a more direct view of the screen, the light may become intense enough to cut down visibility and clarity of the picture on the screen.”
A note in the July 17, 1959 issue of Motion Picture Daily mentioned that Donald Monson owned the Ute and Chief theaters in Rifle. Don Munson was Fred Lind’s son-in-law, according to a note in the Feb. 5, 1949 Boxoffice.
Boxoffice, Feb. 5, 1949: “The drive-in now under construction by Fred Crockett (in Phoenix) was expected to have an opening March 1. To be known as the Cinema Park when completed, the open-airer is being built on a 12-acre tract at a cost of $200,000. It will be the largest drive-in in the state, with a capacity of approximately 1,000 cars.”
Boxoffice, Jan. 29, 1949: “Most of the branch managers went to Fort Collins as guests of Ray Davis, district manager for Fox Intermountain, and Bill Dollison, booker, to inspect the newly remodeled Lyric, which will become the first run theatre there.”
Boxoffice, Jan. 29, 1949: “John H. Roberts is doing extensive remodeling to the interior of the Emerson, Brush, Colo., and is installing new Simplex and booth equipment, bought from National Theatre Supply”
Boxoffice, Jan. 15, 1949: “PUEBLO, COLO. – L. R. Semon and W. H. Mayne plan to build a second drive-in theatre here. The two men now operate a $125,000 open air theatre on the city’s northwestern edge. The new ozoner will be smaller than the present drive-in.” That larger drive-in was the Pueblo Drive-In.
Was it ever renamed the Lake? Here’s a note from the Jan. 15, 1949 issue of Boxoffice:
JOHNSTOWN, COLO. – With an extension of 25 feet to the building, the newly reopened Lake Theatre now has more room for patrons between seat rows. Each seat has been reupholstered and respaced. A new stage, suitable for local and professional use, and complete with a new stage curtain, has also been erected. Other improvements include a new screen which is twice as large as the old one, two modern restrooms, new acoustical wall coverings and new overhead and wall lights.
And from the July 22, 1950 issue:
JOHNSTOWN, COLO. – A Wurlitzer electric organ has been installed in the Lake Theatre here and is being used for a brief program which is featured nightly between shows. Dave Warnock, owner and operator of the theatre, is the organist.
Boxoffice, Jan. 15, 1949: “JULESBURG, COLO. – Lynn Zorn, 38, owner of the Hippodrome Theatre here, died from a heart attack brought on by shoveling snow in the recent blizzard. Zorn has operated the Hippodrome for a number of years, since the death of his monther.”
Boxoffice, Jan. 15, 1949: “RIFLE, COLO. – The old Ute Theatre building has been purchased by Jimmy LeDonne who, with a partner, plans to remodel.”
Yet another spelling, the expected one, was in this note from Boxoffice, Jan. 8, 1949: “OURAY, COLO. – The Ouray Theatre reopened recently after completion of repairs to damages incurred in a fire about six weeks ago. Repairs included installation of fireproof booths, new projectors and other equipment.” Another note in the same issue mentioned that Les McClary was the manager of the Ouray.
Boxoffice, Jan. 8, 1949: “Russell Allen is building a 550-seat, $100,000 theatre in Farmington, N. M., where he already owns another. The new theatre will be given an Indian name, Totah, and is scheduled to open in the spring.”
Boxoffice, Jan. 1, 1949: “CRESTED BUTTE, COLO. – Mr. and Mrs. Rudy Verzuh have sold the Princess Theatre here to Rudy Sedmak and Martin Verzuh. The couple recently purchased the Columbine hotel in Gunnison and plan to move there soon.”