Turns out there that this part of Tennessee had both a Starlite AND a Midway.
Boxoffice, June 1, 1970: “W. W. Fincher of Chatsworth … sold his Starlite Drive-In at Athens, Tenn., to Jack Jones … (who) also owns and operated the Midway Drive-In at Etowah, Tenn.”
Boxoffice, June 1, 1970: “Billy Bowen, owner of the Europa (sic) Drive-In at Europa, Miss., has had to close the airer temporarily after fire destroyed his home. Bowen said that while he was trying to get his residential problems solved he didn’t have time to operate the drive-in. He hopes to relight it soon.”
Boxoffice, June 1, 1970: “Sidney J. Cohen announces excellent business at his new Sheridan II Drive-In at Sheridan Drive and Ensminger Road. The 850-car ozoner is equipped with a 100-foot screen and the last word in projection and sound equipment. "Loving” was the opening film"
Boxoffice, May 25, 1970: “Texas Cinema Corp. of Ennis has purchased a half-interest in the local King’s Theatre and Rancho Drive-In from L. D. Sipes of Kingsville and has assumed operation of both situations. Sipes will concentrate on management of his Parkway Foods Store, 1906 East Kennedy.”
Boxoffice, May 25, 1970: “Motion Picture Booking Agency announced taking over the booking and buying for the Regent and Chisholm Trail drive-ins in Wellington, Kas., effective Saturday (2). The theatre, formerly operated by James Brakeall, is now under the ownership of Paul Corey.”
Boxoffice, May 25, 1970: “Owens Drive-In Theatres has opened the old Rialto on Quarrier Street under the name Owens Midtown, it was announced by Jack Cadle, manager of the firm.”
Boxoffice, May 18, 1970: “William Wetsman has increased his holdings by the purchase of the following Ashmun theatres: … Auto Drive-In, Saginaw; Belair Drive-In, Saginaw; amd the Twilight Drive-In, Saginaw.”
Boxoffice, May 18, 1970: “William Wetsman has increased his holdings by the purchase of the following Ashmun theatres: … Auto Drive-In, Saginaw; Belair Drive-In, Saginaw; amd the Twilight Drive-In, Saginaw.”
Boxoffice, May 18, 1970: “William Wetsman has increased his holdings by the purchase of the following Ashmun theatres: … Auto Drive-In, Saginaw; Belair Drive-In, Saginaw; amd the Twilight Drive-In, Saginaw.”
Boxoffice, May 18, 1970: “Cincinnati-based Mid States Theatres reopened its 438-car drive-in after a complete remodeling with a three-day old-fashioned festival Thursday, April 30 through Saturday (2) to celebrate the occasion. The new decor is in the old-western style of the early 1900s and the drive-in name has been changed from Flatwoods to Corral Drive-In.”
This note said that the Monroe opened in October 1969.
Boxoffice, May 18, 1970: “The Tom Jones Agency in nearby Decatur has added the Monroe Drive-In and the Madison Theatre to its accounts. Jones will buy and book for the Monroe airer, which was opened in October and is owned and operated by Charles Whitley.”
Aha! A greatly belated thanks, kennerado. Without digging up that clip again, I’d guess the “nearby” in that quote came from a Phoenix notes column. I’ve posted a copy at the true Joy/Valley page you provided.
Boxoffice wrote on Jan. 6, 1969 about the 440 Twin, apparently under construction. “A building permit for the 1,400-car, twin screen drive-in was taken out in November by Wade Wallace, general manager of Killeen Theatres … The two screens, mounted on steel towers, will be 40x90 feet, while the two-story concession building will be 40x100 feet.”
The first mention I could find of the Buena Vista was an ad for a log yard in the Aug. 20, 1957 issue of the Covington Virginian. The yard was “located ½ mile beyond city limits of Buena Vista, Virginia, on Route 501, across from Buena Vista Drive-In Theatre.”
The Aug. 18, 1954 issue of Canadian Film Weekly included under Ten New Theatres: “Cold Lake, Alberta: Mr. & Mrs. Cecil Wolver’s 300-car Cold Lake Drive-in.”
It was still listed that way in the Canadian Film Weekly 1963-64 Year Book. The Canadian Film Digest 1976 Year Book had the 298-car Cold Lake owned by Dave Krause. By the 1982 edition, the owner had changed to Harb Drechsel.
A 1987 letter to the editor in the Houston Chronicle claimed the Epsom was built on the site of a former, possibly illegal horse or dog race track.
The earliest mention I could find for the Epsom was a humble 1-inch ad in the Nov. 29, 1945 issue of the Chronicle; it said nothing about any grand opening. The last ad I could find was from March 14, 1962. But that may have been when the Epsom switched to Spanish-language films, which may not have been advertised in the Chronicle.
A legal notice on April 16, 1964 from the IRS said it had seized lots of the Epsom’s equipment from W. V. Ratcliff due to tax delinquency.
An article in the April 28, 1975 issue of Boxoffice said that Spanish-language theaters such as the Epsom were seeing a surge of business, quoting from a Denver Post article. Ray Hugger owned three of them, including the Epsom Drive-In.
No present-day address is perfect for the Waco site is perfect, but I think 2221 S. Slocumb is a bit closer.
The Raleigh News and Observer noted on Jan. 16, 1952 that Goldsboro’s Waco Drive-In Theatre had suffered a break-in, with a loss of about $135 in candy, cigarettes, and cigars.
Later that year, manager Starkey Howard distributed copies of “A Driver’s Prayer,” published by the North Carolina department of motor vehicles, to all Waco patrons, according to the Aug. 9, 1952 issue of Boxoffice.
The drive-in was included in a 1958 topo map. Aerial photos show that someone added three or four rows to the narrow viewing field between 1959 and 1977. Photos show it intact in 1983, overgrown but with the screen still up in 1993, and the entire site razed by 1997.
Boxoffice, April 27, 1970: “An agreement on leasing between Bridgham Theatres of Dover, N. H., and Mrs. Joena Seward of Rutland assures the Rutland Drive-In of one more year of operation, according to manager Edwin Morgan. The lease was terminated by Mrs. Seward in 1968 and the ruling was upheld in February 1969 by the state supreme court. The land upon which the drive-in is situated has become much more valuable since the theatre was built in 1947.”
Boxoffice, March 9, 1970: “Harry Mohney, Durand theatre circuit operator, has purchased the Laney Drive-Ins in Michigan from Mrs. Margaret Laney, wife of the late founder. The theatres involved are: Alpena and Thunder Bay drive-ins, Alpena, and Sunset Drive-In, Lapeer. Buying and booking of films will be handled by Clark Theatre Service, Oak Park.”
Boxoffice, April 27, 1970: “Sheriff’s deputies censored movies at the Sunset Drive-In as they were being shown, under orders from the circuit court judge, on a recent Friday night. An injunction was issued at the request of the Lapeer County prosecutor, which banned the showing of "obscene” portions of the picture. Deputies and the prosecutor stood by where the film was being run and the prosecutor placed his hand in front of the projector lens to edit the film. The parts found to be objectionable were deleted for Saturday and Sunday evening showings."
Boxoffice, June 1, 1970: “W. W. Fincher of Chatsworth … purchased the Blue Sky Drive-In at LaFayette in this state from Jim Maffett."
Turns out there that this part of Tennessee had both a Starlite AND a Midway.
Boxoffice, June 1, 1970: “W. W. Fincher of Chatsworth … sold his Starlite Drive-In at Athens, Tenn., to Jack Jones … (who) also owns and operated the Midway Drive-In at Etowah, Tenn.”
Boxoffice, June 1, 1970: “Billy Bowen, owner of the Europa (sic) Drive-In at Europa, Miss., has had to close the airer temporarily after fire destroyed his home. Bowen said that while he was trying to get his residential problems solved he didn’t have time to operate the drive-in. He hopes to relight it soon.”
Boxoffice, June 1, 1970: “Sidney J. Cohen announces excellent business at his new Sheridan II Drive-In at Sheridan Drive and Ensminger Road. The 850-car ozoner is equipped with a 100-foot screen and the last word in projection and sound equipment. "Loving” was the opening film"
Boxoffice, May 25, 1970: “Jim Travis again is operating the Strand Theatre and Lakeland Drive-In at Milford, Iowa.”
Boxoffice, May 25, 1970: “Texas Cinema Corp. of Ennis has purchased a half-interest in the local King’s Theatre and Rancho Drive-In from L. D. Sipes of Kingsville and has assumed operation of both situations. Sipes will concentrate on management of his Parkway Foods Store, 1906 East Kennedy.”
Boxoffice, May 25, 1970: “The name of the Joey Drive-In at Monroe has been changed to Showtown USA Drive-In”
Boxoffice, May 25, 1970: “Storm damage to the screen has brought about the temporary closing of the Trace Drive-In at Amory, Miss.”
Boxoffice, May 25, 1970: “Don Davison has changed the name of his Dragon Drive-In at High Springs to the Art Theatre Drive-In”
Boxoffice, May 25, 1970: “Motion Picture Booking Agency announced taking over the booking and buying for the Regent and Chisholm Trail drive-ins in Wellington, Kas., effective Saturday (2). The theatre, formerly operated by James Brakeall, is now under the ownership of Paul Corey.”
Boxoffice, May 25, 1970: “Owens Drive-In Theatres has opened the old Rialto on Quarrier Street under the name Owens Midtown, it was announced by Jack Cadle, manager of the firm.”
Boxoffice, May 18, 1970: “William Wetsman has increased his holdings by the purchase of the following Ashmun theatres: … Auto Drive-In, Saginaw; Belair Drive-In, Saginaw; amd the Twilight Drive-In, Saginaw.”
Boxoffice, May 18, 1970: “William Wetsman has increased his holdings by the purchase of the following Ashmun theatres: … Auto Drive-In, Saginaw; Belair Drive-In, Saginaw; amd the Twilight Drive-In, Saginaw.”
Boxoffice, May 18, 1970: “William Wetsman has increased his holdings by the purchase of the following Ashmun theatres: … Auto Drive-In, Saginaw; Belair Drive-In, Saginaw; amd the Twilight Drive-In, Saginaw.”
Boxoffice, May 18, 1970: “William Wetsman has increased his holdings by the purchase of the following Ashmun theatres: Sunset Drive-In, Midland”
Boxoffice, May 18, 1970: “Cincinnati-based Mid States Theatres reopened its 438-car drive-in after a complete remodeling with a three-day old-fashioned festival Thursday, April 30 through Saturday (2) to celebrate the occasion. The new decor is in the old-western style of the early 1900s and the drive-in name has been changed from Flatwoods to Corral Drive-In.”
This note said that the Monroe opened in October 1969.
Boxoffice, May 18, 1970: “The Tom Jones Agency in nearby Decatur has added the Monroe Drive-In and the Madison Theatre to its accounts. Jones will buy and book for the Monroe airer, which was opened in October and is owned and operated by Charles Whitley.”
Aha! A greatly belated thanks, kennerado. Without digging up that clip again, I’d guess the “nearby” in that quote came from a Phoenix notes column. I’ve posted a copy at the true Joy/Valley page you provided.
Boxoffice wrote on Jan. 6, 1969 about the 440 Twin, apparently under construction. “A building permit for the 1,400-car, twin screen drive-in was taken out in November by Wade Wallace, general manager of Killeen Theatres … The two screens, mounted on steel towers, will be 40x90 feet, while the two-story concession building will be 40x100 feet.”
The first mention I could find of the Buena Vista was an ad for a log yard in the Aug. 20, 1957 issue of the Covington Virginian. The yard was “located ½ mile beyond city limits of Buena Vista, Virginia, on Route 501, across from Buena Vista Drive-In Theatre.”
The Aug. 18, 1954 issue of Canadian Film Weekly included under Ten New Theatres: “Cold Lake, Alberta: Mr. & Mrs. Cecil Wolver’s 300-car Cold Lake Drive-in.”
It was still listed that way in the Canadian Film Weekly 1963-64 Year Book. The Canadian Film Digest 1976 Year Book had the 298-car Cold Lake owned by Dave Krause. By the 1982 edition, the owner had changed to Harb Drechsel.
A 1987 letter to the editor in the Houston Chronicle claimed the Epsom was built on the site of a former, possibly illegal horse or dog race track.
The earliest mention I could find for the Epsom was a humble 1-inch ad in the Nov. 29, 1945 issue of the Chronicle; it said nothing about any grand opening. The last ad I could find was from March 14, 1962. But that may have been when the Epsom switched to Spanish-language films, which may not have been advertised in the Chronicle.
A legal notice on April 16, 1964 from the IRS said it had seized lots of the Epsom’s equipment from W. V. Ratcliff due to tax delinquency.
An article in the April 28, 1975 issue of Boxoffice said that Spanish-language theaters such as the Epsom were seeing a surge of business, quoting from a Denver Post article. Ray Hugger owned three of them, including the Epsom Drive-In.
No present-day address is perfect for the Waco site is perfect, but I think 2221 S. Slocumb is a bit closer.
The Raleigh News and Observer noted on Jan. 16, 1952 that Goldsboro’s Waco Drive-In Theatre had suffered a break-in, with a loss of about $135 in candy, cigarettes, and cigars.
Later that year, manager Starkey Howard distributed copies of “A Driver’s Prayer,” published by the North Carolina department of motor vehicles, to all Waco patrons, according to the Aug. 9, 1952 issue of Boxoffice.
The drive-in was included in a 1958 topo map. Aerial photos show that someone added three or four rows to the narrow viewing field between 1959 and 1977. Photos show it intact in 1983, overgrown but with the screen still up in 1993, and the entire site razed by 1997.
Boxoffice, April 27, 1970: “An agreement on leasing between Bridgham Theatres of Dover, N. H., and Mrs. Joena Seward of Rutland assures the Rutland Drive-In of one more year of operation, according to manager Edwin Morgan. The lease was terminated by Mrs. Seward in 1968 and the ruling was upheld in February 1969 by the state supreme court. The land upon which the drive-in is situated has become much more valuable since the theatre was built in 1947.”
Boxoffice, March 9, 1970: “Harry Mohney, Durand theatre circuit operator, has purchased the Laney Drive-Ins in Michigan from Mrs. Margaret Laney, wife of the late founder. The theatres involved are: Alpena and Thunder Bay drive-ins, Alpena, and Sunset Drive-In, Lapeer. Buying and booking of films will be handled by Clark Theatre Service, Oak Park.”
Boxoffice, April 27, 1970: “Sheriff’s deputies censored movies at the Sunset Drive-In as they were being shown, under orders from the circuit court judge, on a recent Friday night. An injunction was issued at the request of the Lapeer County prosecutor, which banned the showing of "obscene” portions of the picture. Deputies and the prosecutor stood by where the film was being run and the prosecutor placed his hand in front of the projector lens to edit the film. The parts found to be objectionable were deleted for Saturday and Sunday evening showings."