The Prince Albert Historical Society sent me a newspaper ad (uploaded to the Photos section) and a directory listing, which placed the Nor-Lite (definitely hyphenated) Drive-In Theatre at “No. 2 Highway, ½ mile south of City, Phone ROger 3-7494.” A Facebook commenter said it was where Canadian Tire is now, which matches that description. Therefore its modern-day address would be 3725 2 Ave W.
The PAHS correspondent wrote, “I can remember the last time I went to it was in 1972 and I believe it closed shortly after. Even at that time it was not open on a regular basis.”
An article in the Oct. 6, 1977 Albuquerque Tribune said that the residents of the La Mesa neighborhood, with the help of the City Council, had purchased the Tesuque “at 500 Tennessee NE” to turn it into a park and community center. That became the present Mesa Verde Park.
I’m not sure of the exact closing date, but the Tesuque’s manager, Robert Millard, reported being robbed in August 1976.
The Tesuque’s first ad in the Albuquerque Journal, as far as I could find, was Aug. 7, 1949. It didn’t mention a grand opening but said it was “Albuquerque’s newest drive-in theatre”.
Historic Aerials shows a narrower field for the Tesuque in 1951, wider in 1959, then expanding to its full size by 1967.
This clipping at Newspapers.com shows that the Star had its Grand Opening on July 27, 1949.
The latest note I could find in the Albuquerque Journal was Dec. 20, 1968. It said that the Star, then showing Spanish-language films, would “close after this weekend.” (For the season?) Burglars stole two projection lenses according to a March 12, 1969 article.
Historic Aerials shows the drive-in still intact in 1981 but leveled by 1991.
Although that newspaper clipping said what it said, Kenmore is right. At the modern-day address of 3251 Broadway SE, Historic Aerials doesn’t show anything that looks like a drive-in, but a few blocks south, there it is. It was probably another victim of Albuquerque’s street renumbering, so Kenmore’s address is perfect.
I was reminded of this seeing a random June 1965 newspaper ad showing the Route 25 (by that point) showing all Spanish-language movies.
According to today’s Treasure Coast Newspapers, in a story headlined This week in history: March 31:
69 Years Ago: 1950
“The new Vero Drive-In theater under the management of Jack Chesnut will open rain or shine. … The opening attraction will be MGM’s ‘Neptune’s Daughter,’ in Technicolor, featuring Esther Williams.”
The Feb, 16, 1955 issue reports big plans for plenty of new drive-in construction “by Harry L. Nace Jr., president of the state-wide movie-house chain.” After leading with the Phoenix-area plans, the article adds “Other new theater sites are: San Manuel, Holbrook, Kingman, Clifton-Morenci, Tempe, and Goodyear. Construction on all will begin this year, and all will be equipped with 96x45-foot screens, Nace said.”
Construction was either already underway or went fast, because the 66 first appeared in the ad for various Nace Circuit theaters just two months later on April 17, 1955. The 66 continued to be included through at least August 1956.
An April 5, 1957 article datelined Flagstaff mentioned Nace holdings in Flagstaff and Winslow but didn’t mention Holbrook. The June 21, 1957 Nace ad also does not include the 66 or any other drive-in for Holbrook, just the indoor Roxy. Perhaps Nace sold the 66, or perhaps it just closed.
“The West Side Drive-In, Kingston Corner, Pa., between Kingston and Plymouth, Pa., on Route 11, was opened recently. It has a 1,000-car capacity and is operated by Tom Walker, Comerford Theaters, Robert Rowland and Charles Stecker.”
From the June 11, 1955 issue of Billboard: “Sal Adorno Hr., formerly assistant general manager of M&D Theaters, Middletown, Conn., has opened his first drive-in theater, the $200,000, 875-car capacity Middletown on Route 9, Middletown, Conn. The theater features a screen measuring 120 feet wide and 52 feet high. A corner of the concession building is termed the Diaper Den, where mothers may tend their youngsters.”
From the June 4, 1955 issue of Billboard: “The Colonial Drive-In at Denton, Tex., closed since last June, has been re-opened by Debs Reynolds of Dallas, who has leased it from its owners, Mr. and Mrs. George Franklin.”
From the May 28, 1955 issue of Billboard: “Newest addition to the growing chain of Lee theaters in the Rocky Mountain area is Centennial Drive-In, the plush outdoor house located on the grounds of Centennial Race Track. The purchase from TV Theaters, Inc., was announced last fortnight.”
From the May 28, 1955 issue of Billboard: “Unseasonably long and heavy dust storms have cut into outdoor business in Denver where smaller box offices have been hurt even more by extensive damage to equipment. Lem Lee, owner of three drive-ins in Denver, estimates that between 500 and 1,000 speakers had to be replaced in one week at the Monaco Drive-In. Over a 30-day period nearly 4,000 speakers have had to be repaired or replaced.”
The Oct. 24, 1956 issue of the Motion Picture Exhibitor reported “The Tab Drive-In, 4227 West Indian School, opened last week. The spot is owned and operated by Hi-Plains Picture Company, in which Wayne Arnold, Everett Toomey, and Marvin Bell are partners.
“The new ozoner is equipped with a wide screen and the latest sound equipment. Six playground units for children are being built and a snack bar is included in plans.”
Note that this address matches several ads posted in the Photo section here.
In a remarkable coincidence, Alana Edgin of the San Angelo Standard-Times wrote an update just yesterday. Edgin wrote that the Rocket was built in 1952, but it’s even more complicated.
“This drive-in actually existed twice. The first time was on US Highway 87 N. from 1952-1954. It was decimated by the Lake View tornado on 1953 … then at 4001 N. Chadbourne St., was destroyed (by fire) in September 1973”.
In a remarkable coincidence, Alana Edgin of the San Angelo Standard-Times wrote yesterday about San Angelo’s drive-in history. Although Edgin has the same open/close dates (and a nice photo of the screen fire) for the Jet, it was rebuilt as the Twin Vue at 1001 W. 29th St.
Alana Edgin of the San Angelo Standard-Times wrote yesterday that the Atomic “was open for just over a year”. It opened February 1952 and closed May 1953.
All I know is what I read. Rick Smith’s column, which accounted for every drive-in in CT’s San Angelo database, listed the Twilight as the drive-in at Chadbourne & Christoval and said that the Jet was at “3506 Sherwood Way (where the Angelo Bible Church is now).”
In a thoroughly remarkable coincidence, Alana Elgin of the San Angelo Standard-Times wrote an updated drive-in list article just yesterday. Elgin wrote that the Jet was at 112 W 29th St. and later became the Twin Vue, the Twilite was “on Christoval Road near US Highway 87 South”, and that the Starlite “was on the Mertzon highway at Arden Road.” It opened in 1950, was sold in 1953 and closed in 1954.
From the April 13, 1955 issue of The Exhibitor: “Another new drive-in to increase the fast growing number in Arizona is the Northern (sic) Star, Holbrook. Ozoner is owned by Robert Young.”
The Feb. 2, 1955 issue of The Exhibitor reported that 32-year-old Charlie Jernigan had been charged with murdering his wife in the basement of the Ritz in Woodbury. (He said it was an accident.) “Jernigan, who bought the Ritz about six months ago, also owns the drive-in there.”
The Motion Picture Almanac and Theatre Catalog both placed the Skylark in Woodbury, so that was probably what Jernigan reportedly owned, but I never saw that name in either set of reference books.
The Skylark probably opened in 1950 or 1951. An April 11, 1951 note in The Daily News-Journal of Murfreesboro reported that “Mr. and Mrs. Howard Knox and children have moved to Ekylark(sic) Drive-In Theater on Highway 70.”
The Skylark’s first appearance in the Theatre Catalog was the 1952 edition, capacity 85, owner W. Hamaker. By the 1955-56 edition, the owner had changed to H. B. Hancock.
Its first appearance in the MPA was the 1952-53 edition, capacity 87, no owner info. The next year, the owner was N. B. Hancock, then for 1955 it settled in on H. B. Hancock. That’s how it stayed until 1962, when it fell off the list. The Skylark returned to Woodbury in 1966 with a capacity of 200 and owner Maurice Bush. The Skylark fell off the MPA drive-in list for the last time in 1977.
An aside: As I type, Cinema Treasures associates the Skylark with Readyville, but that’s an unincorporated community. I would prefer to place it with Woodbury, the actual town with which it’s been historically associated.
The Prince Albert Historical Society sent me a newspaper ad (uploaded to the Photos section) and a directory listing, which placed the Nor-Lite (definitely hyphenated) Drive-In Theatre at “No. 2 Highway, ½ mile south of City, Phone ROger 3-7494.” A Facebook commenter said it was where Canadian Tire is now, which matches that description. Therefore its modern-day address would be 3725 2 Ave W.
The PAHS correspondent wrote, “I can remember the last time I went to it was in 1972 and I believe it closed shortly after. Even at that time it was not open on a regular basis.”
An article in the Oct. 6, 1977 Albuquerque Tribune said that the residents of the La Mesa neighborhood, with the help of the City Council, had purchased the Tesuque “at 500 Tennessee NE” to turn it into a park and community center. That became the present Mesa Verde Park.
I’m not sure of the exact closing date, but the Tesuque’s manager, Robert Millard, reported being robbed in August 1976.
The Tesuque’s first ad in the Albuquerque Journal, as far as I could find, was Aug. 7, 1949. It didn’t mention a grand opening but said it was “Albuquerque’s newest drive-in theatre”.
Historic Aerials shows a narrower field for the Tesuque in 1951, wider in 1959, then expanding to its full size by 1967.
This clipping at Newspapers.com shows that the Star had its Grand Opening on July 27, 1949.
The latest note I could find in the Albuquerque Journal was Dec. 20, 1968. It said that the Star, then showing Spanish-language films, would “close after this weekend.” (For the season?) Burglars stole two projection lenses according to a March 12, 1969 article.
Historic Aerials shows the drive-in still intact in 1981 but leveled by 1991.
Although that newspaper clipping said what it said, Kenmore is right. At the modern-day address of 3251 Broadway SE, Historic Aerials doesn’t show anything that looks like a drive-in, but a few blocks south, there it is. It was probably another victim of Albuquerque’s street renumbering, so Kenmore’s address is perfect.
I was reminded of this seeing a random June 1965 newspaper ad showing the Route 25 (by that point) showing all Spanish-language movies.
According to today’s Treasure Coast Newspapers, in a story headlined This week in history: March 31:
69 Years Ago: 1950 “The new Vero Drive-In theater under the management of Jack Chesnut will open rain or shine. … The opening attraction will be MGM’s ‘Neptune’s Daughter,’ in Technicolor, featuring Esther Williams.”
More clues from the Arizona Republic.
The Feb, 16, 1955 issue reports big plans for plenty of new drive-in construction “by Harry L. Nace Jr., president of the state-wide movie-house chain.” After leading with the Phoenix-area plans, the article adds “Other new theater sites are: San Manuel, Holbrook, Kingman, Clifton-Morenci, Tempe, and Goodyear. Construction on all will begin this year, and all will be equipped with 96x45-foot screens, Nace said.”
Construction was either already underway or went fast, because the 66 first appeared in the ad for various Nace Circuit theaters just two months later on April 17, 1955. The 66 continued to be included through at least August 1956.
An April 5, 1957 article datelined Flagstaff mentioned Nace holdings in Flagstaff and Winslow but didn’t mention Holbrook. The June 21, 1957 Nace ad also does not include the 66 or any other drive-in for Holbrook, just the indoor Roxy. Perhaps Nace sold the 66, or perhaps it just closed.
From the Sept. 17, 1955 issue of Billboard:
“The new Ono Drive-In Theater has been opened at Columbus, Tex., by Lester Miller. It is the only drive-in within a 20 mile area.”
From the Sept. 10, 1955 issue of Billboard:
“A new second screen has been installed at the Don Drive-In, Port Arthur, Tex. New lamps were also recently installed.”
From the Sept. 10, 1955 issue of Billboard:
“Savar Amusement Corporation opened the new Circle Drive-In, located on Route 38 near Camden, N. J., recently. The spot has a 1,200-car capacity.”
From the Sept. 10, 1955 issue of Billboard:
“The West Side Drive-In, Kingston Corner, Pa., between Kingston and Plymouth, Pa., on Route 11, was opened recently. It has a 1,000-car capacity and is operated by Tom Walker, Comerford Theaters, Robert Rowland and Charles Stecker.”
From the Sept. 10, 1955 issue of Billboard:
“Sam Yakish Jr. has purchased the Auto Drive-In, Titusville, Pa., from Art Kunes.”
From the August 6, 1955 issue of Billboard:
“Phil Cahill and associates have opened their new 800-car capacity Clinton (Conn.) Drive-In.”
From the July 2, 1955 issue of Billboard, as part of a note on Loew’s acquisition:
“The Normandy features a miniature Seaboard Silver Meteor, free donkey rides, and a five-acre playground.”
From the June 11, 1955 issue of Billboard: “Sal Adorno Hr., formerly assistant general manager of M&D Theaters, Middletown, Conn., has opened his first drive-in theater, the $200,000, 875-car capacity Middletown on Route 9, Middletown, Conn. The theater features a screen measuring 120 feet wide and 52 feet high. A corner of the concession building is termed the Diaper Den, where mothers may tend their youngsters.”
From the June 4, 1955 issue of Billboard: “The Colonial Drive-In at Denton, Tex., closed since last June, has been re-opened by Debs Reynolds of Dallas, who has leased it from its owners, Mr. and Mrs. George Franklin.”
From the May 28, 1955 issue of Billboard: “Newest addition to the growing chain of Lee theaters in the Rocky Mountain area is Centennial Drive-In, the plush outdoor house located on the grounds of Centennial Race Track. The purchase from TV Theaters, Inc., was announced last fortnight.”
From the May 28, 1955 issue of Billboard: “Unseasonably long and heavy dust storms have cut into outdoor business in Denver where smaller box offices have been hurt even more by extensive damage to equipment. Lem Lee, owner of three drive-ins in Denver, estimates that between 500 and 1,000 speakers had to be replaced in one week at the Monaco Drive-In. Over a 30-day period nearly 4,000 speakers have had to be repaired or replaced.”
The Oct. 24, 1956 issue of the Motion Picture Exhibitor reported “The Tab Drive-In, 4227 West Indian School, opened last week. The spot is owned and operated by Hi-Plains Picture Company, in which Wayne Arnold, Everett Toomey, and Marvin Bell are partners.
“The new ozoner is equipped with a wide screen and the latest sound equipment. Six playground units for children are being built and a snack bar is included in plans.”
Note that this address matches several ads posted in the Photo section here.
In a remarkable coincidence, Alana Edgin of the San Angelo Standard-Times wrote an update just yesterday. Edgin wrote that the Rocket was built in 1952, but it’s even more complicated.
“This drive-in actually existed twice. The first time was on US Highway 87 N. from 1952-1954. It was decimated by the Lake View tornado on 1953 … then at 4001 N. Chadbourne St., was destroyed (by fire) in September 1973”.
In a remarkable coincidence, Alana Edgin of the San Angelo Standard-Times wrote yesterday about San Angelo’s drive-in history. Although Edgin has the same open/close dates (and a nice photo of the screen fire) for the Jet, it was rebuilt as the Twin Vue at 1001 W. 29th St.
Alana Edgin of the San Angelo Standard-Times wrote that the “Belvue” opened in 1953 and closed in the “Late 1960s”.
Alana Edgin of the San Angelo Standard-Times wrote yesterday that the Atomic “was open for just over a year”. It opened February 1952 and closed May 1953.
All I know is what I read. Rick Smith’s column, which accounted for every drive-in in CT’s San Angelo database, listed the Twilight as the drive-in at Chadbourne & Christoval and said that the Jet was at “3506 Sherwood Way (where the Angelo Bible Church is now).”
In a thoroughly remarkable coincidence, Alana Elgin of the San Angelo Standard-Times wrote an updated drive-in list article just yesterday. Elgin wrote that the Jet was at 112 W 29th St. and later became the Twin Vue, the Twilite was “on Christoval Road near US Highway 87 South”, and that the Starlite “was on the Mertzon highway at Arden Road.” It opened in 1950, was sold in 1953 and closed in 1954.
From the April 13, 1955 issue of The Exhibitor: “Another new drive-in to increase the fast growing number in Arizona is the Northern (sic) Star, Holbrook. Ozoner is owned by Robert Young.”
The Feb. 2, 1955 issue of The Exhibitor reported that 32-year-old Charlie Jernigan had been charged with murdering his wife in the basement of the Ritz in Woodbury. (He said it was an accident.) “Jernigan, who bought the Ritz about six months ago, also owns the drive-in there.”
The Motion Picture Almanac and Theatre Catalog both placed the Skylark in Woodbury, so that was probably what Jernigan reportedly owned, but I never saw that name in either set of reference books.
The Skylark probably opened in 1950 or 1951. An April 11, 1951 note in The Daily News-Journal of Murfreesboro reported that “Mr. and Mrs. Howard Knox and children have moved to Ekylark(sic) Drive-In Theater on Highway 70.”
The Skylark’s first appearance in the Theatre Catalog was the 1952 edition, capacity 85, owner W. Hamaker. By the 1955-56 edition, the owner had changed to H. B. Hancock.
Its first appearance in the MPA was the 1952-53 edition, capacity 87, no owner info. The next year, the owner was N. B. Hancock, then for 1955 it settled in on H. B. Hancock. That’s how it stayed until 1962, when it fell off the list. The Skylark returned to Woodbury in 1966 with a capacity of 200 and owner Maurice Bush. The Skylark fell off the MPA drive-in list for the last time in 1977.
An aside: As I type, Cinema Treasures associates the Skylark with Readyville, but that’s an unincorporated community. I would prefer to place it with Woodbury, the actual town with which it’s been historically associated.