“Because of a petition asking that he be enabled to collect $40,000 put into the theatre, Max Weinstein caused the closing of the Wadsworth drive-in. A hearing was set for this week and the theatre will be sold at public auction Aug. 29. Built in 1954, the theatre is said to have cost $348,000.”
I’m not sure how this should fit in with CinemaTreasures' style. If the same people with the same stuff set up shop at a nearby location, is that one or two drive-ins? Anyway, the July 30, 1955 Motion Picture Herald wrote:
“Olin and Louis Evans have a drive-in under construction on Highway 31, two miles from Evergreen, Ala., on the Brewton road. They have christened it the Fairview. The drive-in will replace the Moonlite which was badly damaged by a severe windstorm recently. The screen tower and the attraction board were completely destroyed.”
The Moonlite was in the 1953-57 editions of the Motion Picture Almanac, capacity 200, owner Olin Evans. The Fairview was listed in the MPA’s 1958-59 editions, same capacity and owner. There was nothing under Evergreen in 1960.
A note in the July 30, 1955 Motion Picture Almanac suggests this drive-in opened that month. “Capshaw’s ‘Home of the Stars,’ a new drive-in theatre has just been opened at Chaffee, Mo., The layout includes a snack bar, carside service and a playground for the youngsters.”
An assistant manager, James Barnhart, was shot and killed by three soldiers from Fort Leonard Wood in an attempted robbery on July 20, 1960. The following February, the trigger man was sentenced to life in prison.
There were occasional fly-in drive-in theaters, but the Woodlane is the only one I know to get its power knocked out by a plane crash.
The April 2, 1966 issue of the Springfield (MO) Daily News reported that a single-engine Stinson 106 was flying too low over US 66. It clipped distribution lines but kept going for several miles “with a power line trailing from its tail.” After breaking more power lines, including the one leading to the Woodlane, the plane crashed into two cars near the Fort Leonard Wood main gate and was destroyed by fire. Only minor injuries were reported, but the pilot was charged with “flying an airplane too low while consuming intoxicating beverages”.
The 1955-56 Theatre Catalog listed the Lakeside with a capacity of 200, owner Milan G. Steele. He was still listed as owner when the Lakeside finally debuted in the Motion Picture Almanac’s 1966 edition.
Steele wrote a scathing review of Hansel & Gretel (1954) on behalf of the Lakeside in the July 16, 1955 Motion Picture Herald. He wrote, “You would be better off not to play it, since a picture like this stops them from coming for a long time, and some may never come back after seeing such a thing.”
When the MPA resumed including owner info in 1977, it listed P. McCray. That continued through 1982. In 1983, the Lakeside fell off the MPA list.
Update: Now I’m pretty sure it’s the Trail Drive-In of Athens TX. The dates line up better, but most important, the screen tower and lettering are a perfect match for a 2011 photo uploaded by another CT contributor.
Looks like the 19 opened in June 1955. From the June 25, 1955 Motion Picture Herald: “The new 19 drive-in theatre on Highway 19, just north of Cuba, Mo., held its grand opening the other day with a large turnout of people. The drive-in will accommodate 200 automobiles and has a refreshment stand.”
The 19 was absent from the 1952 Theatre Catalog but listed in the 1955-56 edition, capacity 160, owner A. P. Meier.
The 19’s first appearance in the Motion Picture Almanac was the 1957 drive-in list. All MPA mentions:
Verification of that story about what came before the Bel-Air. From the June 11, 1955 Motion Picture Herald:
Plans are under way for a new $750,000 drive-in theatre in the Chicago area, it was announced by M & R Theatres. A 25-year lease for the old Quarry site had been obtained. The drive-in is to be called the Bel-Air and that it will have a capacity of 2,500 cars. “Walk-in seats” will be a feature. CinemaScope, VistaVision and wide screen pictures will be projected, with the latest modern equipment, according to Harry Sears, on a 135 by 90-foot screen which he says will be the largest in the country.
Based on a 1952 USGS aerial, the then-61 was about a mile and a quarter south of Hayti on US 61, now Missouri J, the outer road west of I-55. Google Street View in October 2016 showed a couple of unrelated, undermaintained small buildings by the road there now.
If Blue bought this in 1953, then it was a couple of years before he twinned it. From the May 7, 1955 Motion Picture Herald:
The Admiral drive-in, Tulsa, will become the first drive-in in the state to operate a “double screen” effective early this month, Alex Blue, co-owner and operator announced. Blue said the theatre had duplicated its present accommodations to the rear of the existing outdoor movie screen and that the new facilities will open within the next few weeks. Capacity of the theater will be 1,350 automobiles, making it one of the largest in the southwest.
The Bee Gee Auto Theatre (sometimes Bee-Gee) advertised in the Daily Oklahoman through at least August 1948. The first Del Drive-In ad I could find was April 1949. The Del ads continued through 1959.
I could find no references to this drive-in ever being called the Sooner. After the Del closed, another drive-in opened east of it, and that drive-in was called the Twin, then the Sooner Twin.
“The Sunset Drive-In theatre at Houston, Mo., owned and operated by Mr. and Mrs. Hubert E. Lay since 1951, has been sold to Mr. and Mrs. Dick Fisher of Willow Springs, Mo.”
That lines up with the reference books. The 1952 Theatre Catalog listed the Sunset with capacity 350, Exec: H. E. Lay. The 1955-56 Catalog listed R. D. Fisher as the exec.
The 1951-52 MPA listed the Sunset without further details. The 1952-55 editions had the capacity of 150, “Owner or Booker” was H. E. Lay. The 1956-66 Almanacs listed R. D. Fischer as owner/booker. The MPAs stopped listing owners for a decade, then the 1977 edition listed the Sunset with a capacity of 200, owner Wyatt. That’s how it stayed through the final drive-in list, the 1988 Almanac.
“The Carver, first Negro-patronage drive-in and walk-in theatre, in Bessemer, Ala., has been opened. Dr. B. H. Johnson, owner, appointed James Benz manager. The combination theatre has space for 400 cars and 200 seats for walk-ins and is equipped for CinemaScope.”
Opened June 11, 1953 with The Magic Carpet starring Lucille Ball.
The Twilite bought a listing in the March 1978 yellow pages, but I couldn’t find any movie ads in the local newspaper that year.
From the Sept. 3, 1955 Motion Picture Herald:
Clarence Calland, owner of the Isis, Edgemont, S. D., has opened his new Atomic drive-in there, with 300-car capacity.
From the Aug. 27, 1955 Motion Picture Herald:
Herbert Martens has bought the Julesburg drive-in, Julesburg, Colo.
From the Aug. 20, 1955 Motion Picture Herald:
“Because of a petition asking that he be enabled to collect $40,000 put into the theatre, Max Weinstein caused the closing of the Wadsworth drive-in. A hearing was set for this week and the theatre will be sold at public auction Aug. 29. Built in 1954, the theatre is said to have cost $348,000.”
I’m not sure how this should fit in with CinemaTreasures' style. If the same people with the same stuff set up shop at a nearby location, is that one or two drive-ins? Anyway, the July 30, 1955 Motion Picture Herald wrote:
“Olin and Louis Evans have a drive-in under construction on Highway 31, two miles from Evergreen, Ala., on the Brewton road. They have christened it the Fairview. The drive-in will replace the Moonlite which was badly damaged by a severe windstorm recently. The screen tower and the attraction board were completely destroyed.”
The Moonlite was in the 1953-57 editions of the Motion Picture Almanac, capacity 200, owner Olin Evans. The Fairview was listed in the MPA’s 1958-59 editions, same capacity and owner. There was nothing under Evergreen in 1960.
From the July 30, 1955 Motion Picture Herald:
Edwin Koehler has opened his new 350-car drive-in at Gunnison, Colo., which he has named the Island Acres drive-in.
A note in the July 30, 1955 Motion Picture Almanac suggests this drive-in opened that month. “Capshaw’s ‘Home of the Stars,’ a new drive-in theatre has just been opened at Chaffee, Mo., The layout includes a snack bar, carside service and a playground for the youngsters.”
An assistant manager, James Barnhart, was shot and killed by three soldiers from Fort Leonard Wood in an attempted robbery on July 20, 1960. The following February, the trigger man was sentenced to life in prison.
There were occasional fly-in drive-in theaters, but the Woodlane is the only one I know to get its power knocked out by a plane crash.
The April 2, 1966 issue of the Springfield (MO) Daily News reported that a single-engine Stinson 106 was flying too low over US 66. It clipped distribution lines but kept going for several miles “with a power line trailing from its tail.” After breaking more power lines, including the one leading to the Woodlane, the plane crashed into two cars near the Fort Leonard Wood main gate and was destroyed by fire. Only minor injuries were reported, but the pilot was charged with “flying an airplane too low while consuming intoxicating beverages”.
The 1955-56 Theatre Catalog listed the Lakeside with a capacity of 200, owner Milan G. Steele. He was still listed as owner when the Lakeside finally debuted in the Motion Picture Almanac’s 1966 edition.
Steele wrote a scathing review of Hansel & Gretel (1954) on behalf of the Lakeside in the July 16, 1955 Motion Picture Herald. He wrote, “You would be better off not to play it, since a picture like this stops them from coming for a long time, and some may never come back after seeing such a thing.”
When the MPA resumed including owner info in 1977, it listed P. McCray. That continued through 1982. In 1983, the Lakeside fell off the MPA list.
From the June 18, 1955 Motion Picture Herald:
The Hi-Way drive-in, Bay St. Louis, Miss., closed. Operating it for the past year were Mr. and Mrs. Neilius Rhodes.
And three weeks later:
Russell Elliot reopened the Hi Way drive-in, Bay St. Louis, after a brief closing by the previous owners, Mr. and Mrs. Neilius Rhodes.
Sounds like the drive-in was closed in 1954 and reopened. From the July 2, 1955 Motion Picture Herald:
The Camdenton drive-in theatre at Camdenton, Mo., has just been opened for the first time in two years.
Update: Now I’m pretty sure it’s the Trail Drive-In of Athens TX. The dates line up better, but most important, the screen tower and lettering are a perfect match for a 2011 photo uploaded by another CT contributor.
Looks like the 19 opened in June 1955. From the June 25, 1955 Motion Picture Herald: “The new 19 drive-in theatre on Highway 19, just north of Cuba, Mo., held its grand opening the other day with a large turnout of people. The drive-in will accommodate 200 automobiles and has a refreshment stand.”
The 19 was absent from the 1952 Theatre Catalog but listed in the 1955-56 edition, capacity 160, owner A. P. Meier.
The 19’s first appearance in the Motion Picture Almanac was the 1957 drive-in list. All MPA mentions:
Huh! Was the 19 closed for a while?
Verification of that story about what came before the Bel-Air. From the June 11, 1955 Motion Picture Herald:
Plans are under way for a new $750,000 drive-in theatre in the Chicago area, it was announced by M & R Theatres. A 25-year lease for the old Quarry site had been obtained. The drive-in is to be called the Bel-Air and that it will have a capacity of 2,500 cars. “Walk-in seats” will be a feature. CinemaScope, VistaVision and wide screen pictures will be projected, with the latest modern equipment, according to Harry Sears, on a 135 by 90-foot screen which he says will be the largest in the country.
Based on a 1952 USGS aerial, the then-61 was about a mile and a quarter south of Hayti on US 61, now Missouri J, the outer road west of I-55. Google Street View in October 2016 showed a couple of unrelated, undermaintained small buildings by the road there now.
From the May 7, 1955 Motion Picture Herald:
Gene Boggs, who operates the Joy and Missouri theatres in Hayti, Mo., has changed the name of his drive-in from the “61” to “Moonlight.”
If Blue bought this in 1953, then it was a couple of years before he twinned it. From the May 7, 1955 Motion Picture Herald:
The Admiral drive-in, Tulsa, will become the first drive-in in the state to operate a “double screen” effective early this month, Alex Blue, co-owner and operator announced. Blue said the theatre had duplicated its present accommodations to the rear of the existing outdoor movie screen and that the new facilities will open within the next few weeks. Capacity of the theater will be 1,350 automobiles, making it one of the largest in the southwest.
Looks like it opened in 1955. From the April 30, 1955 Motion Picture Herald:
Taylor, Tanner and Armstrong have opened a 320-car drive-in, Cortez, Colo.
From the April 30, 1955 Motion Picture Herald:
Glen Wittstruck has opened his new 300-seater (sic), the Buckskin drive-in, at Ignacio, Colo.
From the April 23, 1955 Motion Picture Herald:
Rialto Theatres Inc., Casper, Wyo., has bought the Knox drive-in, Wheatland, Wyo., from Ted Knox. Rialto also owns the Ramona in Wheatland.
The Bee Gee Auto Theatre (sometimes Bee-Gee) advertised in the Daily Oklahoman through at least August 1948. The first Del Drive-In ad I could find was April 1949. The Del ads continued through 1959.
I could find no references to this drive-in ever being called the Sooner. After the Del closed, another drive-in opened east of it, and that drive-in was called the Twin, then the Sooner Twin.
The Jan. 29, 1955 Motion Picture Herald reported: “Ann and Stanley Dixon have bought the Motor-Vu (sic) drive-in, Delta, Colo., from Max Storey.”
It must have meant the Tru-Vu, which is the closest name. The 1955-56 Theatre Catalog listed the Tru-Vu’s owner as S. H. Dixon.
The Jan. 1, 1955 Motion Picture Herald reported:
“The Sunset Drive-In theatre at Houston, Mo., owned and operated by Mr. and Mrs. Hubert E. Lay since 1951, has been sold to Mr. and Mrs. Dick Fisher of Willow Springs, Mo.”
That lines up with the reference books. The 1952 Theatre Catalog listed the Sunset with capacity 350, Exec: H. E. Lay. The 1955-56 Catalog listed R. D. Fisher as the exec.
The 1951-52 MPA listed the Sunset without further details. The 1952-55 editions had the capacity of 150, “Owner or Booker” was H. E. Lay. The 1956-66 Almanacs listed R. D. Fischer as owner/booker. The MPAs stopped listing owners for a decade, then the 1977 edition listed the Sunset with a capacity of 200, owner Wyatt. That’s how it stayed through the final drive-in list, the 1988 Almanac.
From the Jan. 1, 1955 Motion Picture Almanac:
“The Carver, first Negro-patronage drive-in and walk-in theatre, in Bessemer, Ala., has been opened. Dr. B. H. Johnson, owner, appointed James Benz manager. The combination theatre has space for 400 cars and 200 seats for walk-ins and is equipped for CinemaScope.”