The Merrimack Drive-In Theater launched May 26, 1950 with “Oh You Beautiful Doll” and “The Big Sombrero.“ The theater was launched as an independent operated by business partners Morris LIffman, Joseph Bronstein, and Sidney & Henry Kessler. After just one season, the Graphic Theaters Circuit took on the Merrimack on April 19, 1951 they opened for the season under the name Nashua Drive-In Theater which it held until its closing.
The North Hampton Drive-In on Lafayette had a challenging time going from approval and construction dating back as far as 1949 then halted for traffic safety concerns. In 1951, the drive-in was – again – approved for construction, halted, and re-commenced but missing its targeted 1951 opening. But on May 31, 1952, owner Louis Fucci’s North Hampton Drive-In Theater had its long awaited grand opening with a comedy double feature of “The Milkman” and “The Bowery Champs.” Most exciting day was when a freight train near the operation sparked and set the theater on fire causing traffic delays.
For the 1960 season, the Lucci family transferred the N-H D-I to drive-in veterans Anthony Norcia and Phillip Adams came in and renamed the ozone as the Seacoast Drive-in having their grand opening on April 7, 1960. They fused their last name becoming Norad Entertainment. In June of 1960, a local baptist church held services at the Seacoast and “Gone with the Wind” played on the big screen. The Seacoast operated through the 1977 season. On September 25, 1977, the drive-in’s season closed with a Russ Meyer triple feature. If the local paper is correct, those are the final showings for the drive-in which would be a nice way to go.
A 2015 Seacoast News online article stated that in 1978, the Fucci family decided to discontinue the drive-in. Ricardo Fucci began the redevelopment of the former Seacoast Drive-In Theater “successfully transforming the site into the retail and commercial property" which was part of Lafayette Acres. That makes the timeline of the ozoner about 25 years from 1952-1977.
The predecessor to the Carroll was the Earle Theatre. The 800-seat Earle Theatre opened in 1927 architected by John Latenser & Sons and owned by Earl N. Neu. Latenser’s Italian athmospheric theater with Cornthian columns melded in Lombardy poplar trees and two Pompeiian fountains along with Chris Fuchs’ murals set the tone. The 800-pipe Mighty Wurlitzer Pipe Organ made the Earle appear as if it were in a metropolitan area. Pioneer Theatre Circuit bought the Earle in 1930.
It was extensively remodeled in 1942 with a grand re-opening under Pioneer. After a damaging fire in 1945, it was remodeled and became the Carroll Theatre on May 7, 1946. Pioneer was bought out by Carroll Theater Inc. in 1963. Carroll Theatre purchased by Fridley Theaters Circuit in July 1970. In 1975, Fridley theater twinned the Carroll but it could show 70mm film. The theater had a long run but was fairly unrecognizable from any of its first three iterations due to modernizing.
Opened by Tri-States Theatre Circuit on July 14, 1950 showing “The Big Wheel.” The land cost $23,970 with the drive-in costing $100,000. Central States Theatre Circuit took on the theater shortly thereafter getting involved with in a price-fixing case along with seven other drive-ins.
The ozoner operated until closing at the end of the 2006 season with Central States Theatre selling it in January of 2007 for $1,250,000. The theater was demolished later that year.
There were two Carroll Drive-In Theatres. The first was one mile North on U.S. 71 launching with “Abie’s Irish Rose” on September 9, 1948 by Ted Keogh and Cecil Crouse. The 300-car ozone called Drive-In Theatre caught the attention of the city’s theatre circuit. Just weeks after Drive-In Theatre’s launch, Pioneer Theatre Corporation announced it would build the Carroll Drive-In Theatre on a ten-acre plot just east of Carroll on Highway 30. Despite architectural plans and beginning to get the its new drive-in built, Pioneer reversed course and bought the existing Drive-In Theatre in February of 1949. It totally revamped the less than one year old drive-in and would operate there from May-September for four seasons renaming it the Carroll Drive-In Theatre. The Carroll D-I ceased operations in September of 1952 as Pioneer built an improved and larger facility on the parcel of land it had acquired in 1948. The original drive-in would later be demolished.
Carroll Drive-In Theatre “#2” was architected by Associated Design Inc. of Minneapolis. It opened with “Small Town Girl” on July 4, 1953. All 500 spaces were in use in the drive-in lot and liked the improved 52 x 40 screen. The water-cooled long throw projection system allowed for the concession and projection area to be at the rear of the theater freeing the center for prime parking spots.
The Pioneer group of theatres in Carroll would become part of W.C. Arts' Carroll Theatre Company. On July 1, 1970, Carroll Theatre Corporation sold its theaters including the drive-in to Fridley Theatre Circuit. The Carroll Drive-In would get to its 25th anniversary as a long-time staple of the community but would be discontinued as the home video era was beginning.
Opened as the Royal Theatre at least as of 1913. Pioneer Theatres Corporation took on the Earle and the Royal. Pioneer renovated the Royal in 1936 and rebranded it as the State Theatre. It would then build Carroll Theatre where the Earle was destroyed by fire in 1945. Pioneer shuttered the State Theatre in 1952. The theatre building would be demolished but just across the street, the multiscreen Carroll Theater would entertain the community for decades.
The theater’s name for its first 12 years is the Alt-Wood Outdoor Theatre. The name of the theatre was given because it was between East Alton and Wood River. And on June 10, 1949, the feature film “Wild Harvest” was on the big screen. Mayors from nine surrounding cities and towns were on hand to commemorate the event including those of Alton and Wood River. 500 roses were given out to the ladies who were in attendance.
Mid-America bought the theater — operators of the Bel-Air Drive-In and several other locations — in March of 1961 converting it to the Capri Drive-In Theatre on March 24, 1961 mid-retrofitting.
With all due respect to the local library, the Twin Star Theater was definitely closed in 1937 becoming Woody Electric appliances in October of 1937 followed soon after by Walsh Furniture. With the Collegian coming and the Twin Star at end of lease, the writing was on the wall for the aged theater which was converted for retail use. On the opposite end, the entertainment place started as a turn of the century bowling alley owned by John Kintzley. It became Ames first motion picture theater as the Scenic in 1907.
Began its run in September of 1937 with “Double or Nothing” and Western Electric’s Mirrophonic sound system. Ended its run January 23, 1974 with “Instinct for Survival.” Seven customers showed up for the beginning of the show and just one was there when the feature ended.
Architected by Norm Rudi, the Century Cinemas I & II was the first theater built as a twin-screen in Ames and launched February 20, 1970 for Heartland Cinemas Circuit. The larger screen was 430 seats at opening — first film “The Undefeated.” And the smaller screen was 270 seats — first film “Gone with the Wind.” The theater was taken over by the Ames Theatre Circuit in December of 1973.
The theater should have been named the Century Dive-In as its South Duff location was frequented by damaging flood waters in 1975, 1993, and 1996. But the knockout was the flood of 1998 which — combined with the Cinemark megaplex built that year — spelled the end of the Century. It was mercifully razed the next year as the Century would not quite last into the new century.
On November 18, 1971, the Central States Theatre Circuit opened its latest Ames cinema with the Mall Theatres 1 & 2. Its first films were “Scandalous John” and “T.R. Baskin.” The circuit opened a second mall theater with the North Grand 5 in 1996. The twin-screen theater closed in the summer of 1998 with Cinemark opening the Movies 12 megaplex. Cinemark then purchased the remaining mall theater, the North Grand 5, converting it to dollar house runs from 1999 to 2014.
The long-running Ranch Drive-In opened in 1949 with “The Return of October” by the Ames Theatre Company. In August of 1962, operational control of the Ames Theatres including the Ranch to the Central States Theatre Circuit. The theatre closed in 1995 and demolished in 1999.
The Starlite Drive-In Theatre launched June 9, 1949 with “Drums Along the Mohawk” and was operated by Wilmer Brown, Earl Spike, and Paul McCarty. Just prior to its one year anniversary a storm toppled the screen tower but the theater got back in business quickly. Following the 1973 season, the Starlite name was dropped and the theater became the Algona Drive-In Theatre the remainder of its operation. It celebrated its 30th anniversary but was a casualty in the home video era.
Estherville’s entry into drive-in theaters was conceptualized and proposed in 1947 but, the city council unanimously voted against the outdoor theatre as well as a drive-in restaurant to serve both passers by and for theater goers as traffic hazards. But by 1949, a construction permit was authorized and the Hi-Land Drive-In Theatre was built and another permit allowed a nearby and disconnected concession stand. The root beer and fast food stand opened in 1949 but the theater didn’t begin until 1950.
The Hi-Land Drive-In Theatre on Highway 9 scheduled its grand opening on May 12, 1950 with “The Spoilers.” A huge storm destroyed much of the theater just a week before the opening on May 5, 1950 including the attraction / welcome sign and knocking down the hastily constructed 30’ by 40’ canvas screen supported by telephone poles. The 200-space drive-in was owned by three partners in Stan Richey, Lester Larsen and Merlyn Clark of Wallingford had a centralized speaker system. And the concession stand built on Highway 9 was open generally 5p-1a for anyone whether they went to the film. The drive-in theater and restaurant closed for the season on October 2, 1950 with the theater promising a better experience for 1951. But that may have just been too much to consider for the operators.
Veteran exhibitors Charles W. Legg and Robert L. Johnson acquired property to conceive of a more modern drive-in theater concept for Estherville but it would take a couple of years. They would expand to a 340-car capacity as their Chief Drive-In launched on July 9, 1951 with “At War with the Army.” Much as the Hi-Land Drive-In had done, the central speaker concept was used instead of individual speakers. They used an indoor type of theater screen but still supported by telephone poles. There was a low power AM radio concept so that patrons could listen on their car radios. That concept was discontinued at year’s end when the theater installed individual speakers.
On June 23, 1952, a storm blew over the telephone-pole screen which closed the theater for nearly two months but did allow for a real screen to be built anchored in 80 tons of concrete. The 4x8 On the final weekend of its 1952 season, a blaze caused by nitrate cartoons catching fire destroyed the projector building causing $8,000 damage, destroying the projectors and the season’s final feature.
The theater hit is stride during the 1954 calendar year. It expanded to 400 cars and bought new projection equipment to start its 1954 season April 1st with “Battle of Rogue River.” and the screen was enlarged to 92 by 56 feet for the 1955 season to accommodate widescreen formats including CinemaScope. Also in 1954, the theater went into concessions on the premises in a more serious way incorporating a pizza oven as America was just beginning a nationwide pizza boom.
In 1958, the theater bought in-car heaters so that it could operate in colder months on weekends. In 1970, the theater was taken over by Fridley Theatres Circuit along with the downtown Grand Theatre. In 1976 , the managers of the Chief from 1973 to 1976 – Laddie Kozak and his wife – bought the theater from the Fridleys and steered it to its closure in 1978. Thirty years later, the abandoned screen was dismantled and taken to the Superior 71 Drive-in in Spirit Lake, Iowa. Locals inform that the original concession stand still can be found on Highway 9.
Status: Demolished
AKA: Hi-Land Drive-In Theatre (opened May 12, 1950)
Thomas S. Scott bought his first motion picture projector in 1903 and took his show on the road before exhibiting at the Grand Opera House which would later become the city’s first Illinois Theatre. But T.S. Scott and his fledgling Great Scott Theatre Circuit would create Scott’s Theatre as his “A” house. The theater made the news in the wrong way closing for two months in 1917 due to an influenza breakout. But it was open the rest of tihe time operating from 1909 to April 1929, likely on two ten year leases, Scott would sell off his theatre which would not be chosen to make the transition to talkies. The theater would advertise as Scott’s Theatre from 1909 to 1926 and the Scott Theatre from 1926 to 1929.
The Times Theater was an unlikely survivor in a 70-year ride under four chains and an independent owner at the end. Midwest Fox Theatre Circuit built the Times Theatre in 1940 launching Christmas Day of that year. It was the only Jacksonville theater to be part of the Paramount decree which aimed to break up the vertical monopoly of the movie theaters. Fox was forced to divest of one Jacksonville theater and the Times was the one excised from its portfolio. In a five theater deal, four Southern Illinois theaters and the Times went to El Fran Theatres Circuit Inc.
On May 31, 1953 the El Fran operation of the Times went live and on July 29, 1953, the theater was repositioned as a first-run operation. Less than two months later and just four months into its operation with the Times Theatre, fire ravaged the building on September 22, 1953 and El Fran had bookings and no house in Jacksonville to show them. El Fran approached Fox Midwest and created a deal to sell its – then – lightly used Majestic to El Fran while the Times was brought back to life. The Majestic would close in 1954 with the Times relaunching Christmas Day 1953 – its 13th birthday – after preview soft launches on December 22 and 23. The theater seating was increased to 700 patrons.
Howard Busey, an investor in the El Fran Circuit, held on to the 67 Drive-In and would purchase the Times in 1963 operating both theaters for his Frisina Theatres company. Kerasotes took on the Fusina holdings next twinning the Times' house in its ownership from 1978-2008. The theater then went independent as it tried to remain relevant in a DCP universe. It ceased as a film theater in 2011. It hosts other retail in its lobby and is the site of a haunted house Halloween event.
The Starland Drive-In launched April 30, 1952 with Abbott and Costello’s only color feature film, “Jack and the Beanstalk.” The 700-slot theater was opened seasonally from April 1st to the end of October. J. Frank Glenn owned both of Mt. Vernon’s drive-in theaters with the earlier Mt. Vernon Drive-In. The Starland closed October 30, 1960 for the season with a showing of “The Apartment.” That would turn out to be the final showing as the Starland and Mr. Vernon Drive-Ins were sold by Glenn to the Kerasotes Theatre Circuit which continued the Mt. Vernon Drive-In but discontinued the Starland.
Luttrell’s Majestic Theatre was named by Green M. Luttrell who launched the 400 seat theater in 1917. Ten years into its operation, the independent Luttrell both updated his theater re-opening as the New Majestic Theatre (though in exactly the same spot) in January of 1927 and was named to the board of directors in a national theater owners association.
Luttrell battled against the Jacksonville Theatre Company which was better positioned with the Illinois Theatre, the Scott Theatre and the Rialto Theatre. But in January of 1929, fire ravaged the Rialto and Jacksonville Theaters purchased the Majestic from Mr. Luttrell. Adding sound to the Majestic, Jacksonville Theatre Company had a nice position in Jacksonville theatrical exhibition which was not lost on the Fox owned Fox Rocky Mountain Theater Company which officially took over and rebranded the Jacksonville Theatre holdings. Within months, the portfolio was in the hands of the more appropriate Fox Midwest Theater Company.
In 1937, Fox Theatre Circuit made extensive Deco-era updates to the Majestic and announced a contest to change the name of the theater. The name Fox Majestic was retained, however, and the theater went from a first-run showplace to the second-run house for Jacksonville. Seating increased from 400 to 450 seats as the theater tried to recoup costs with more seats at lower ticket prices. Regular film exhibition for Fox ran until 1952 when Fox ended regular film screenings. Special events occurred in the theater including viewing of the 1952 baseball World Series.
A fire in another Jacksonville theater gave the Majestic one last shot at regular film exhibition. El Fran Theatres Circuit was running the competing Times Theatre which had a major fire in September of 1953. Fox subleased the Majestic to its competitor in El Fran and the Majestic resumed regular screenings until 1954. I believe that’s the end of the theater’s run of 37 years and the building was repurposed for other retail functions.
This is one of “those” drive-ins that was as memorable for its setting as much as its presentation. Ogle Country visitors and residents visiting the White Pines State Park for camping, picnics, and perhaps staying overnight in the camp or using the cabins and lodge found entertainment in the form of the White Pines Roller Rink and as of July 21, 1950 the Pines Drive-In Theater. Conceptualized as the White Pines Drive-In, names for the state park that was across the road, the Pines was operator by Lamb Theatre of Mt. Morris owner Jim Lamb.
The rustic design of the Pines D-I blended with the hills and bluffs surrounding the theater. The 55' high screen tower was constructed of split log and sapling designed to emulate a natural amphitheater. Cedar fencing was at the entrance with a log fence running around the perimeter of the 400-space drive-in lot. The mural on the face of the original screen tower was of White Pines State Park. It was among the most beautiful settings for a drive-in in the Midwestern United States.
The theatre was updated with a new screen tower to allow for widescreen films. Though it lost a lot of its charm, the presentation improved and kept the theater more current. Kerasotes took on the theater in the 1966 season and the theater entertained patrons for decades into the home video era.
Opened in the Fall of 1936 and closure as a regular movie house was July 3, 1963 after a final showing of “The Adventures of the Brothers Grimm.” The Lee-Dix Theatre Circuit which operated the Dixon Theater said the theater – which had no functioning air conditioning system at that time – would reopen in the Fall when cooler weather came. Though that didn’t transpire, the Lee was used for special events and organ recitals into 1964. Osco Drugs announced a deal in summer of 1964 to take over the Lee Building and converted the former Lee to a retail pharmacy.
Decatur Drive-In Grand Opening night was July 30, 1948 with 2,000 cars coming but not enough spaces for them to watch “Pardon My Sarong” with Abbott & Costello, Architected by William M. Weidemeyer, the 100 foot high original tower was patterned after a New Jersey drive-in which provided artificial moonlight without interfering with the on-screen image.
Cars entered the center of the theater instead of the front at opening to help get the cars to the ramps with all parking space numbers illuminated. The name of the theater was selected in a contest in which original and innovative names must have all been tossed out. The theater was the first for the Kerasotes Theater Circuit and such a big success and prompted Kerasotes to build a second ozoner in the city. Creativity and differentiation were still not apparent with the name Outdoor Theatre selected for that theater.
In 1955, the the Decatur D-I went to a Mancovision aluminum screen to accommodate widescreen presentations including CinemaScope and to try to get a brighter image. The family-centric location had a train, ferris wheel, merry-go-round and other playground fun for the kids.
Grand opening was July 31, 1949 with the opening film of “Out of the Blue.” Operator M.A. Osborn hoped patrons liked the 40' by 50' screen and had spaces for 500 cars. Mayor G.W. Smith was on hand to help dedicate Mattoon’s first drive-in theatre. Osborn announced the sale of the Skyway at the end of his third season with the Mattoon Theater Company taking it on for 1953. The theater was redone for its grand reopening Easter Sunday, April 5, 1953.
Opened June 24, 1969 with “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” and “Goodbye Columbus.”
The Merrimack Drive-In Theater launched May 26, 1950 with “Oh You Beautiful Doll” and “The Big Sombrero.“ The theater was launched as an independent operated by business partners Morris LIffman, Joseph Bronstein, and Sidney & Henry Kessler. After just one season, the Graphic Theaters Circuit took on the Merrimack on April 19, 1951 they opened for the season under the name Nashua Drive-In Theater which it held until its closing.
The North Hampton Drive-In on Lafayette had a challenging time going from approval and construction dating back as far as 1949 then halted for traffic safety concerns. In 1951, the drive-in was – again – approved for construction, halted, and re-commenced but missing its targeted 1951 opening. But on May 31, 1952, owner Louis Fucci’s North Hampton Drive-In Theater had its long awaited grand opening with a comedy double feature of “The Milkman” and “The Bowery Champs.” Most exciting day was when a freight train near the operation sparked and set the theater on fire causing traffic delays.
For the 1960 season, the Lucci family transferred the N-H D-I to drive-in veterans Anthony Norcia and Phillip Adams came in and renamed the ozone as the Seacoast Drive-in having their grand opening on April 7, 1960. They fused their last name becoming Norad Entertainment. In June of 1960, a local baptist church held services at the Seacoast and “Gone with the Wind” played on the big screen. The Seacoast operated through the 1977 season. On September 25, 1977, the drive-in’s season closed with a Russ Meyer triple feature. If the local paper is correct, those are the final showings for the drive-in which would be a nice way to go.
A 2015 Seacoast News online article stated that in 1978, the Fucci family decided to discontinue the drive-in. Ricardo Fucci began the redevelopment of the former Seacoast Drive-In Theater “successfully transforming the site into the retail and commercial property" which was part of Lafayette Acres. That makes the timeline of the ozoner about 25 years from 1952-1977.
The Mason City Drive-In launched May 10, 1949 with Abbott & Costello’s “In the Navy.” The 800-car lot was operated by Central States Theatres Corp.
John Latenser and Sons architected the Chief, a $200,000 theater built in 1945 just after WW2 had ended.
The predecessor to the Carroll was the Earle Theatre. The 800-seat Earle Theatre opened in 1927 architected by John Latenser & Sons and owned by Earl N. Neu. Latenser’s Italian athmospheric theater with Cornthian columns melded in Lombardy poplar trees and two Pompeiian fountains along with Chris Fuchs’ murals set the tone. The 800-pipe Mighty Wurlitzer Pipe Organ made the Earle appear as if it were in a metropolitan area. Pioneer Theatre Circuit bought the Earle in 1930.
It was extensively remodeled in 1942 with a grand re-opening under Pioneer. After a damaging fire in 1945, it was remodeled and became the Carroll Theatre on May 7, 1946. Pioneer was bought out by Carroll Theater Inc. in 1963. Carroll Theatre purchased by Fridley Theaters Circuit in July 1970. In 1975, Fridley theater twinned the Carroll but it could show 70mm film. The theater had a long run but was fairly unrecognizable from any of its first three iterations due to modernizing.
Opened by Tri-States Theatre Circuit on July 14, 1950 showing “The Big Wheel.” The land cost $23,970 with the drive-in costing $100,000. Central States Theatre Circuit took on the theater shortly thereafter getting involved with in a price-fixing case along with seven other drive-ins.
The ozoner operated until closing at the end of the 2006 season with Central States Theatre selling it in January of 2007 for $1,250,000. The theater was demolished later that year.
There were two Carroll Drive-In Theatres. The first was one mile North on U.S. 71 launching with “Abie’s Irish Rose” on September 9, 1948 by Ted Keogh and Cecil Crouse. The 300-car ozone called Drive-In Theatre caught the attention of the city’s theatre circuit. Just weeks after Drive-In Theatre’s launch, Pioneer Theatre Corporation announced it would build the Carroll Drive-In Theatre on a ten-acre plot just east of Carroll on Highway 30. Despite architectural plans and beginning to get the its new drive-in built, Pioneer reversed course and bought the existing Drive-In Theatre in February of 1949. It totally revamped the less than one year old drive-in and would operate there from May-September for four seasons renaming it the Carroll Drive-In Theatre. The Carroll D-I ceased operations in September of 1952 as Pioneer built an improved and larger facility on the parcel of land it had acquired in 1948. The original drive-in would later be demolished.
Carroll Drive-In Theatre “#2” was architected by Associated Design Inc. of Minneapolis. It opened with “Small Town Girl” on July 4, 1953. All 500 spaces were in use in the drive-in lot and liked the improved 52 x 40 screen. The water-cooled long throw projection system allowed for the concession and projection area to be at the rear of the theater freeing the center for prime parking spots.
The Pioneer group of theatres in Carroll would become part of W.C. Arts' Carroll Theatre Company. On July 1, 1970, Carroll Theatre Corporation sold its theaters including the drive-in to Fridley Theatre Circuit. The Carroll Drive-In would get to its 25th anniversary as a long-time staple of the community but would be discontinued as the home video era was beginning.
Opened as the Royal Theatre at least as of 1913. Pioneer Theatres Corporation took on the Earle and the Royal. Pioneer renovated the Royal in 1936 and rebranded it as the State Theatre. It would then build Carroll Theatre where the Earle was destroyed by fire in 1945. Pioneer shuttered the State Theatre in 1952. The theatre building would be demolished but just across the street, the multiscreen Carroll Theater would entertain the community for decades.
The theater’s name for its first 12 years is the Alt-Wood Outdoor Theatre. The name of the theatre was given because it was between East Alton and Wood River. And on June 10, 1949, the feature film “Wild Harvest” was on the big screen. Mayors from nine surrounding cities and towns were on hand to commemorate the event including those of Alton and Wood River. 500 roses were given out to the ladies who were in attendance.
Mid-America bought the theater — operators of the Bel-Air Drive-In and several other locations — in March of 1961 converting it to the Capri Drive-In Theatre on March 24, 1961 mid-retrofitting.
With all due respect to the local library, the Twin Star Theater was definitely closed in 1937 becoming Woody Electric appliances in October of 1937 followed soon after by Walsh Furniture. With the Collegian coming and the Twin Star at end of lease, the writing was on the wall for the aged theater which was converted for retail use. On the opposite end, the entertainment place started as a turn of the century bowling alley owned by John Kintzley. It became Ames first motion picture theater as the Scenic in 1907.
Began its run in September of 1937 with “Double or Nothing” and Western Electric’s Mirrophonic sound system. Ended its run January 23, 1974 with “Instinct for Survival.” Seven customers showed up for the beginning of the show and just one was there when the feature ended.
Architected by Norm Rudi, the Century Cinemas I & II was the first theater built as a twin-screen in Ames and launched February 20, 1970 for Heartland Cinemas Circuit. The larger screen was 430 seats at opening — first film “The Undefeated.” And the smaller screen was 270 seats — first film “Gone with the Wind.” The theater was taken over by the Ames Theatre Circuit in December of 1973.
The theater should have been named the Century Dive-In as its South Duff location was frequented by damaging flood waters in 1975, 1993, and 1996. But the knockout was the flood of 1998 which — combined with the Cinemark megaplex built that year — spelled the end of the Century. It was mercifully razed the next year as the Century would not quite last into the new century.
On November 18, 1971, the Central States Theatre Circuit opened its latest Ames cinema with the Mall Theatres 1 & 2. Its first films were “Scandalous John” and “T.R. Baskin.” The circuit opened a second mall theater with the North Grand 5 in 1996. The twin-screen theater closed in the summer of 1998 with Cinemark opening the Movies 12 megaplex. Cinemark then purchased the remaining mall theater, the North Grand 5, converting it to dollar house runs from 1999 to 2014.
The long-running Ranch Drive-In opened in 1949 with “The Return of October” by the Ames Theatre Company. In August of 1962, operational control of the Ames Theatres including the Ranch to the Central States Theatre Circuit. The theatre closed in 1995 and demolished in 1999.
The Starlite Drive-In Theatre launched June 9, 1949 with “Drums Along the Mohawk” and was operated by Wilmer Brown, Earl Spike, and Paul McCarty. Just prior to its one year anniversary a storm toppled the screen tower but the theater got back in business quickly. Following the 1973 season, the Starlite name was dropped and the theater became the Algona Drive-In Theatre the remainder of its operation. It celebrated its 30th anniversary but was a casualty in the home video era.
Estherville’s entry into drive-in theaters was conceptualized and proposed in 1947 but, the city council unanimously voted against the outdoor theatre as well as a drive-in restaurant to serve both passers by and for theater goers as traffic hazards. But by 1949, a construction permit was authorized and the Hi-Land Drive-In Theatre was built and another permit allowed a nearby and disconnected concession stand. The root beer and fast food stand opened in 1949 but the theater didn’t begin until 1950.
The Hi-Land Drive-In Theatre on Highway 9 scheduled its grand opening on May 12, 1950 with “The Spoilers.” A huge storm destroyed much of the theater just a week before the opening on May 5, 1950 including the attraction / welcome sign and knocking down the hastily constructed 30’ by 40’ canvas screen supported by telephone poles. The 200-space drive-in was owned by three partners in Stan Richey, Lester Larsen and Merlyn Clark of Wallingford had a centralized speaker system. And the concession stand built on Highway 9 was open generally 5p-1a for anyone whether they went to the film. The drive-in theater and restaurant closed for the season on October 2, 1950 with the theater promising a better experience for 1951. But that may have just been too much to consider for the operators.
Veteran exhibitors Charles W. Legg and Robert L. Johnson acquired property to conceive of a more modern drive-in theater concept for Estherville but it would take a couple of years. They would expand to a 340-car capacity as their Chief Drive-In launched on July 9, 1951 with “At War with the Army.” Much as the Hi-Land Drive-In had done, the central speaker concept was used instead of individual speakers. They used an indoor type of theater screen but still supported by telephone poles. There was a low power AM radio concept so that patrons could listen on their car radios. That concept was discontinued at year’s end when the theater installed individual speakers.
On June 23, 1952, a storm blew over the telephone-pole screen which closed the theater for nearly two months but did allow for a real screen to be built anchored in 80 tons of concrete. The 4x8 On the final weekend of its 1952 season, a blaze caused by nitrate cartoons catching fire destroyed the projector building causing $8,000 damage, destroying the projectors and the season’s final feature.
The theater hit is stride during the 1954 calendar year. It expanded to 400 cars and bought new projection equipment to start its 1954 season April 1st with “Battle of Rogue River.” and the screen was enlarged to 92 by 56 feet for the 1955 season to accommodate widescreen formats including CinemaScope. Also in 1954, the theater went into concessions on the premises in a more serious way incorporating a pizza oven as America was just beginning a nationwide pizza boom.
In 1958, the theater bought in-car heaters so that it could operate in colder months on weekends. In 1970, the theater was taken over by Fridley Theatres Circuit along with the downtown Grand Theatre. In 1976 , the managers of the Chief from 1973 to 1976 – Laddie Kozak and his wife – bought the theater from the Fridleys and steered it to its closure in 1978. Thirty years later, the abandoned screen was dismantled and taken to the Superior 71 Drive-in in Spirit Lake, Iowa. Locals inform that the original concession stand still can be found on Highway 9.
Status: Demolished AKA: Hi-Land Drive-In Theatre (opened May 12, 1950)
Thomas S. Scott bought his first motion picture projector in 1903 and took his show on the road before exhibiting at the Grand Opera House which would later become the city’s first Illinois Theatre. But T.S. Scott and his fledgling Great Scott Theatre Circuit would create Scott’s Theatre as his “A” house. The theater made the news in the wrong way closing for two months in 1917 due to an influenza breakout. But it was open the rest of tihe time operating from 1909 to April 1929, likely on two ten year leases, Scott would sell off his theatre which would not be chosen to make the transition to talkies. The theater would advertise as Scott’s Theatre from 1909 to 1926 and the Scott Theatre from 1926 to 1929.
The Times Theater was an unlikely survivor in a 70-year ride under four chains and an independent owner at the end. Midwest Fox Theatre Circuit built the Times Theatre in 1940 launching Christmas Day of that year. It was the only Jacksonville theater to be part of the Paramount decree which aimed to break up the vertical monopoly of the movie theaters. Fox was forced to divest of one Jacksonville theater and the Times was the one excised from its portfolio. In a five theater deal, four Southern Illinois theaters and the Times went to El Fran Theatres Circuit Inc.
On May 31, 1953 the El Fran operation of the Times went live and on July 29, 1953, the theater was repositioned as a first-run operation. Less than two months later and just four months into its operation with the Times Theatre, fire ravaged the building on September 22, 1953 and El Fran had bookings and no house in Jacksonville to show them. El Fran approached Fox Midwest and created a deal to sell its – then – lightly used Majestic to El Fran while the Times was brought back to life. The Majestic would close in 1954 with the Times relaunching Christmas Day 1953 – its 13th birthday – after preview soft launches on December 22 and 23. The theater seating was increased to 700 patrons.
Howard Busey, an investor in the El Fran Circuit, held on to the 67 Drive-In and would purchase the Times in 1963 operating both theaters for his Frisina Theatres company. Kerasotes took on the Fusina holdings next twinning the Times' house in its ownership from 1978-2008. The theater then went independent as it tried to remain relevant in a DCP universe. It ceased as a film theater in 2011. It hosts other retail in its lobby and is the site of a haunted house Halloween event.
The Starland Drive-In launched April 30, 1952 with Abbott and Costello’s only color feature film, “Jack and the Beanstalk.” The 700-slot theater was opened seasonally from April 1st to the end of October. J. Frank Glenn owned both of Mt. Vernon’s drive-in theaters with the earlier Mt. Vernon Drive-In. The Starland closed October 30, 1960 for the season with a showing of “The Apartment.” That would turn out to be the final showing as the Starland and Mr. Vernon Drive-Ins were sold by Glenn to the Kerasotes Theatre Circuit which continued the Mt. Vernon Drive-In but discontinued the Starland.
Luttrell’s Majestic Theatre was named by Green M. Luttrell who launched the 400 seat theater in 1917. Ten years into its operation, the independent Luttrell both updated his theater re-opening as the New Majestic Theatre (though in exactly the same spot) in January of 1927 and was named to the board of directors in a national theater owners association.
Luttrell battled against the Jacksonville Theatre Company which was better positioned with the Illinois Theatre, the Scott Theatre and the Rialto Theatre. But in January of 1929, fire ravaged the Rialto and Jacksonville Theaters purchased the Majestic from Mr. Luttrell. Adding sound to the Majestic, Jacksonville Theatre Company had a nice position in Jacksonville theatrical exhibition which was not lost on the Fox owned Fox Rocky Mountain Theater Company which officially took over and rebranded the Jacksonville Theatre holdings. Within months, the portfolio was in the hands of the more appropriate Fox Midwest Theater Company.
In 1937, Fox Theatre Circuit made extensive Deco-era updates to the Majestic and announced a contest to change the name of the theater. The name Fox Majestic was retained, however, and the theater went from a first-run showplace to the second-run house for Jacksonville. Seating increased from 400 to 450 seats as the theater tried to recoup costs with more seats at lower ticket prices. Regular film exhibition for Fox ran until 1952 when Fox ended regular film screenings. Special events occurred in the theater including viewing of the 1952 baseball World Series.
A fire in another Jacksonville theater gave the Majestic one last shot at regular film exhibition. El Fran Theatres Circuit was running the competing Times Theatre which had a major fire in September of 1953. Fox subleased the Majestic to its competitor in El Fran and the Majestic resumed regular screenings until 1954. I believe that’s the end of the theater’s run of 37 years and the building was repurposed for other retail functions.
This is one of “those” drive-ins that was as memorable for its setting as much as its presentation. Ogle Country visitors and residents visiting the White Pines State Park for camping, picnics, and perhaps staying overnight in the camp or using the cabins and lodge found entertainment in the form of the White Pines Roller Rink and as of July 21, 1950 the Pines Drive-In Theater. Conceptualized as the White Pines Drive-In, names for the state park that was across the road, the Pines was operator by Lamb Theatre of Mt. Morris owner Jim Lamb.
The rustic design of the Pines D-I blended with the hills and bluffs surrounding the theater. The 55' high screen tower was constructed of split log and sapling designed to emulate a natural amphitheater. Cedar fencing was at the entrance with a log fence running around the perimeter of the 400-space drive-in lot. The mural on the face of the original screen tower was of White Pines State Park. It was among the most beautiful settings for a drive-in in the Midwestern United States.
The theatre was updated with a new screen tower to allow for widescreen films. Though it lost a lot of its charm, the presentation improved and kept the theater more current. Kerasotes took on the theater in the 1966 season and the theater entertained patrons for decades into the home video era.
Opened in the Fall of 1936 and closure as a regular movie house was July 3, 1963 after a final showing of “The Adventures of the Brothers Grimm.” The Lee-Dix Theatre Circuit which operated the Dixon Theater said the theater – which had no functioning air conditioning system at that time – would reopen in the Fall when cooler weather came. Though that didn’t transpire, the Lee was used for special events and organ recitals into 1964. Osco Drugs announced a deal in summer of 1964 to take over the Lee Building and converted the former Lee to a retail pharmacy.
Decatur Drive-In Grand Opening night was July 30, 1948 with 2,000 cars coming but not enough spaces for them to watch “Pardon My Sarong” with Abbott & Costello, Architected by William M. Weidemeyer, the 100 foot high original tower was patterned after a New Jersey drive-in which provided artificial moonlight without interfering with the on-screen image.
Cars entered the center of the theater instead of the front at opening to help get the cars to the ramps with all parking space numbers illuminated. The name of the theater was selected in a contest in which original and innovative names must have all been tossed out. The theater was the first for the Kerasotes Theater Circuit and such a big success and prompted Kerasotes to build a second ozoner in the city. Creativity and differentiation were still not apparent with the name Outdoor Theatre selected for that theater.
In 1955, the the Decatur D-I went to a Mancovision aluminum screen to accommodate widescreen presentations including CinemaScope and to try to get a brighter image. The family-centric location had a train, ferris wheel, merry-go-round and other playground fun for the kids.
Grand opening was July 31, 1949 with the opening film of “Out of the Blue.” Operator M.A. Osborn hoped patrons liked the 40' by 50' screen and had spaces for 500 cars. Mayor G.W. Smith was on hand to help dedicate Mattoon’s first drive-in theatre. Osborn announced the sale of the Skyway at the end of his third season with the Mattoon Theater Company taking it on for 1953. The theater was redone for its grand reopening Easter Sunday, April 5, 1953.