The June 10, 1950 issue of BoxOffice reported that the “Lake-Air, owned by R. E. and C. B. McFarland, a 600-car situation at Oklahoma City,” opened in April.
A fire at the Trail Drive-In Theater, 7500 E. Amarillo Blvd., early this morning caused an estimated $4,500 damage, including heavy damage to the movie screen.
The blaze was reported to Amarillo firemen at 3:19 a.m. The first report came from a passing motorist and the second call was made by an employe of an all-night service station across the street from the drive-in.
La Roy Doyal of 1313 Avondale, manager of the theater, said the exact cause of the blaze has not been determined, but it is believed to have resulted from faulty electrical wiring.
Doyal said the theater would not be able to reopen until repairs could be made to the electrical circuits and the movie screen rebuilt.
SHAMROCK – (Special) – Seibert Worley, manager of the Liberty and Texas theatres, has been in Dallas and Oklahoma City recently conferring with architects and equipment people about Shamrock’s new drive-in theatre.
Contracts on equipment are to be let soon in order that the spring completion date agreement of contractors can be met. Worley said the drive-in would be completed in 60 days after construction begins.
The April 23, 1962 issue of BoxOffice reported, “J. S. Worley, who operates theatres in Shamrock, Tex., is expanding in the cable television field. He has a cable system in Shamrock and is constructing others in Beaver, Okla., and Dalhart and Clarendon, Tex. He closed the Texas Theatre in Shamrock, except for weekends, when he reopened his Pioneer Drive-In for the season, since there’s not enough midweek business for both. Despite his theatre and cable TV activities, Worley consented to have his name appear on the ticket for the recent mayoralty election on a write-in basis, although he was not a formal candidate. He has been twice mayor. In the April 3 voting, he barely missed being elected again.”
If that’s true, it was one of the few times in his adult life that Worley was not mayor of Shamrock. I’ve found references to Mayor Worley in 1956, 1958, 1966, 1972, 1975 (see below), and 1982. That last one was a UPI story that mentioned that Worley had “served as mayor six different times since 1956”.
A legal filing in 1982 wrote that, “The appellant had elicited from George Hooten, the chief of police of Shamrock, that during March, 1975, the mayor of Shamrock, Siebert Worley, had ordered Hooten to obtain the appellant’s ‘rap sheet.’”
BIG SPRING, TEX. – A spectacular fire destroyed the 100-foot high screen of the Jet Drive-In on a recent Wednesday night. Police escorted about ten cars to safety before the intense heat drove spectators a block from the drive-in.
The fire broke out about 11 p.m. at the theatre, which is on the south edge of town. Manager Ike Robb said the feature had ended only a few minutes earlier. He estimated the loss at $30,000.
Probably between the opening of the Star and the building of the Movie Manor is this note from the April 23, 1962 issue of BoxOffice: “George Kelloff has completed construction of his new home which was erected on the grounds of the Star Drive-In, Monte Vista.”
The April 23, 1962 issue of BoxOffice reported, “The screen tower at the Holiday Drive-In, Boulder, was blown down and completely demolished in a 60-mile-an-hour wind.”
A lengthy article in the April 23, 1962 issue of BoxOffice talked about the reopening of the Highland on April 18, 1962. It sure sounded like that was the date of the grand unveiling of the new 150-foot-wide curved screens.
KTVI ran a news video recently promoting the SkyView’s 70th Anniversary with its current owner, Steve Bloomer. It showed off the framed photos in the concession stand, and also had a framed full-page Grand Opening ad. From the date on the top of that newspaper, the SkyView opened on Friday, July 8, 1949.
The May 20, 1950 issue of BoxOffice reported that “the Crest, a 300-car situation, was opened at Hobart May 10” by Video Theatres.
BoxOffice added a few more details on June 3. “Tom Kirkham is local manager for the (Video) circuit. The drive-in has a capacity of 400 cars, a snack bar and asphalt drive surfaces.”
The drive-in probably opened in late May 1950, given the note in the June 3, 1950 issue of BoxOffice:
NEWTON, KAS. – The West-Vue, first drive-in in this area, has been opened by Lee J. Sproule and his partner Roy Roberson, who also manages the West-Vue along with the Rex Theatre. The 350-car theatre is equipped with RCA projection and sound.
Looks like the Pines opened in 1949. From the June 3, 1950 issue of BoxOffice:
YORK, NEB. – The Pines Drive-In has been reopened by Manager Carl Rose and his assistant Keith Hines, former assistant manager at the Sun Theatre. The 400-car ozoner was built and opened last summer by Dean Sack, who later leased it to the Central States Theatre Corp.
I wonder why the Carmar didn’t open on schedule, as elaborated in the June 3, 1950 issue of BoxOffice:
NEOSHO, MO. – Hugh Gardner will open a 225-car drive-in one mile south of Neosho on Highway 71 which leads into Camp Crowder. The opening is scheduled for July 1 to coincide with the 30th anniversary date on which Gardner took over the old Whiteway Theatre, which was renamed the Orpheum. Besides the Orpheum he now operates the Band Box. Harley Fryer, who has been manager of the city theatres for seven years, also will manage the new drive-in.
This drive-in, listed in the 1952 Theatre Catalog, was set to open in June 1950. From the June 3, 1950 issue of BoxOffice:
ARCADIA, MO. – The 300-car drive-in being constructed on Route 70 by William Basden and Irwin Degonia will be named the Killarney. Equipment purchased from Joe Hornstein, Inc., St. Louis, includes a timber screen tower, Century projection and sound and Cooperative diecast speakers. The theatre will open this month.
From the June 3, 1950 issue of BoxOffice, under the Salt Lake City area heading: “Al Knox and O. J. Hazen were in Cheyenne last week for the opening of the Starlite Drive-In, being operated by the Motor-Vu Theatre Co.”
I just uploaded a 1953 aerial that matches the angled aerial shared by jeterga. DEFG is right in saying that the thick-walled screen tower from the June 1948 photo doesn’t match the metal supports in jeterga’s.
Also, it’s true that there are too many photos posted on CT without permission (and too often without proper attribution!), but keep in mind that CT is a non-profit, and these photos are typically posted for the Fair Use of illustrating some point of history.
An approximate date for the renaming comes from the April 16, 1955 issue of BoxOffice:
FORT WORTH, TEX. – The Corral Drive-In, which is the former Jacksboro Drive-In doubled in size and with everything made new, held open house recently. Everybody was invited to see the first show free.
CHAFFEE, MO. – The Montgomery Drive-In just north of the city limits had its grand opening on Easter Sunday (April 10, 1955). It is owned and operated by Bernice Montgomery, who also owns and operates the 500-seat Horstman Theatre. The opposition, Home of the Stars Drive-In, owned by Robert Capshaw, a local automobile dealer, also had its grand opening the same day.
From the April 16, 1955 issue of BoxOffice: “Sero Amusement, headed by William Oldknow, has taken over and reopened the Cherry Pass Drive-In between Banning and Beaumont. For a time the ozoner was operated by Syd Lehman and Harry Rackin of Exhibitors' Service.”
From the April 16, 1955 issue of BoxOffice: “Lee Theatres, operating three drive-ins in the state, has bought the Lakewood Theatre in Lakewood from the Jefferson Amusement Co.”
More details on the Aircadia’s opening, as carried by the April 16, 1955 issue of BoxOffice:
COLORADO SPRINGS – The new Aircadia, 800-car drive-in just completed by Westland Theatres on Highway 24, was opened recently. Named manager was Gerald R. Truesdell, who comes from the Eighth Street Drive-In. Derald Hart is city manager for Westland Theatres. Larry Starsmore is president and general manager of the company.
The theatre is situated on a 40-acre tract, part of which has been made into a supervised Fairyland for children. Parents can watch the playground from the patio which is one one side of the self-service snack restaurant. The manager’s office and projection booth are on top of the restaurant. The screen accommodates an 86x48-foot picture.
Grounds of the theatre are adorned with large planter boxes of flowers outside the restaurant, projection building and boxoffice. The two exits at the rear of the parking space lead to several routes of departure from the grounds.
Architects were Lusk and Wallace, and local contractors did most of the work.
WELLINGTON, KAS. – The new 420-car Chisholm Trail Drive-In on Route 160 about one mile east of here recently was opened. The open air theatre was erected and is being operated by Sol Frank, Coldwater, and F. E. Estes, Charles Gregg and J. L. Young, all of Caney.
I wonder if anyone still has a copy of the Grand Opening program. From the May 27, 1950 issue of BoxOffice:
Al Powell, co-owner and manager of the affiliated Griffith Theatres in Guthrie, Okla., recently opened the Beacon Drive-In, an event that was marked by special cooperation from local merchants.
Powell prepared a special 48-page souvenir program giving complete details on the service and comforts offered by the new operation, biographical information on all executives in the organization, and a list of future attractions booked at the three local theatres.
Merchant ads covered complete cost of the program.
The June 10, 1950 issue of BoxOffice reported that the “Lake-Air, owned by R. E. and C. B. McFarland, a 600-car situation at Oklahoma City,” opened in April.
From the June 1, 1966 Amarillo Globe-Times:
A fire at the Trail Drive-In Theater, 7500 E. Amarillo Blvd., early this morning caused an estimated $4,500 damage, including heavy damage to the movie screen.
The blaze was reported to Amarillo firemen at 3:19 a.m. The first report came from a passing motorist and the second call was made by an employe of an all-night service station across the street from the drive-in.
La Roy Doyal of 1313 Avondale, manager of the theater, said the exact cause of the blaze has not been determined, but it is believed to have resulted from faulty electrical wiring.
Doyal said the theater would not be able to reopen until repairs could be made to the electrical circuits and the movie screen rebuilt.
From the Jan. 25, 1950 Pampa (TX) Daily News:
SHAMROCK – (Special) – Seibert Worley, manager of the Liberty and Texas theatres, has been in Dallas and Oklahoma City recently conferring with architects and equipment people about Shamrock’s new drive-in theatre.
Contracts on equipment are to be let soon in order that the spring completion date agreement of contractors can be met. Worley said the drive-in would be completed in 60 days after construction begins.
Three sites are under consideration.
The April 23, 1962 issue of BoxOffice reported, “J. S. Worley, who operates theatres in Shamrock, Tex., is expanding in the cable television field. He has a cable system in Shamrock and is constructing others in Beaver, Okla., and Dalhart and Clarendon, Tex. He closed the Texas Theatre in Shamrock, except for weekends, when he reopened his Pioneer Drive-In for the season, since there’s not enough midweek business for both. Despite his theatre and cable TV activities, Worley consented to have his name appear on the ticket for the recent mayoralty election on a write-in basis, although he was not a formal candidate. He has been twice mayor. In the April 3 voting, he barely missed being elected again.”
If that’s true, it was one of the few times in his adult life that Worley was not mayor of Shamrock. I’ve found references to Mayor Worley in 1956, 1958, 1966, 1972, 1975 (see below), and 1982. That last one was a UPI story that mentioned that Worley had “served as mayor six different times since 1956”.
A legal filing in 1982 wrote that, “The appellant had elicited from George Hooten, the chief of police of Shamrock, that during March, 1975, the mayor of Shamrock, Siebert Worley, had ordered Hooten to obtain the appellant’s ‘rap sheet.’”
From the April 23, 1962 issue of BoxOffice:
BIG SPRING, TEX. – A spectacular fire destroyed the 100-foot high screen of the Jet Drive-In on a recent Wednesday night. Police escorted about ten cars to safety before the intense heat drove spectators a block from the drive-in.
The fire broke out about 11 p.m. at the theatre, which is on the south edge of town. Manager Ike Robb said the feature had ended only a few minutes earlier. He estimated the loss at $30,000.
Probably between the opening of the Star and the building of the Movie Manor is this note from the April 23, 1962 issue of BoxOffice: “George Kelloff has completed construction of his new home which was erected on the grounds of the Star Drive-In, Monte Vista.”
The April 23, 1962 issue of BoxOffice reported, “The screen tower at the Holiday Drive-In, Boulder, was blown down and completely demolished in a 60-mile-an-hour wind.”
A lengthy article in the April 23, 1962 issue of BoxOffice talked about the reopening of the Highland on April 18, 1962. It sure sounded like that was the date of the grand unveiling of the new 150-foot-wide curved screens.
KTVI ran a news video recently promoting the SkyView’s 70th Anniversary with its current owner, Steve Bloomer. It showed off the framed photos in the concession stand, and also had a framed full-page Grand Opening ad. From the date on the top of that newspaper, the SkyView opened on Friday, July 8, 1949.
The May 20, 1950 issue of BoxOffice reported that “the Crest, a 300-car situation, was opened at Hobart May 10” by Video Theatres.
BoxOffice added a few more details on June 3. “Tom Kirkham is local manager for the (Video) circuit. The drive-in has a capacity of 400 cars, a snack bar and asphalt drive surfaces.”
The drive-in probably opened in late May 1950, given the note in the June 3, 1950 issue of BoxOffice:
NEWTON, KAS. – The West-Vue, first drive-in in this area, has been opened by Lee J. Sproule and his partner Roy Roberson, who also manages the West-Vue along with the Rex Theatre. The 350-car theatre is equipped with RCA projection and sound.
Looks like the Pines opened in 1949. From the June 3, 1950 issue of BoxOffice:
YORK, NEB. – The Pines Drive-In has been reopened by Manager Carl Rose and his assistant Keith Hines, former assistant manager at the Sun Theatre. The 400-car ozoner was built and opened last summer by Dean Sack, who later leased it to the Central States Theatre Corp.
I wonder why the Carmar didn’t open on schedule, as elaborated in the June 3, 1950 issue of BoxOffice:
NEOSHO, MO. – Hugh Gardner will open a 225-car drive-in one mile south of Neosho on Highway 71 which leads into Camp Crowder. The opening is scheduled for July 1 to coincide with the 30th anniversary date on which Gardner took over the old Whiteway Theatre, which was renamed the Orpheum. Besides the Orpheum he now operates the Band Box. Harley Fryer, who has been manager of the city theatres for seven years, also will manage the new drive-in.
This drive-in, listed in the 1952 Theatre Catalog, was set to open in June 1950. From the June 3, 1950 issue of BoxOffice:
ARCADIA, MO. – The 300-car drive-in being constructed on Route 70 by William Basden and Irwin Degonia will be named the Killarney. Equipment purchased from Joe Hornstein, Inc., St. Louis, includes a timber screen tower, Century projection and sound and Cooperative diecast speakers. The theatre will open this month.
From the June 3, 1950 issue of BoxOffice, under the Salt Lake City area heading: “Al Knox and O. J. Hazen were in Cheyenne last week for the opening of the Starlite Drive-In, being operated by the Motor-Vu Theatre Co.”
I wonder whether this note, from the June 3, 1950 issue of BoxOffice, is relevant:
GLENDIVE, MONT. – Bob and Bill Johnson have opened the new Star-Lit Drive-In, first local outdoor theatre. The theatre accommodates 300 cars.
I just uploaded a 1953 aerial that matches the angled aerial shared by jeterga. DEFG is right in saying that the thick-walled screen tower from the June 1948 photo doesn’t match the metal supports in jeterga’s.
Also, it’s true that there are too many photos posted on CT without permission (and too often without proper attribution!), but keep in mind that CT is a non-profit, and these photos are typically posted for the Fair Use of illustrating some point of history.
An approximate date for the renaming comes from the April 16, 1955 issue of BoxOffice:
FORT WORTH, TEX. – The Corral Drive-In, which is the former Jacksboro Drive-In doubled in size and with everything made new, held open house recently. Everybody was invited to see the first show free.
The April 16, 1955 issue of BoxOffice reported, “Norman Edwards is completing his new Branson Drive-In here, which is scheduled to be opened May 15.”
From the April 16, 1955 issue of BoxOffice:
CHAFFEE, MO. – The Montgomery Drive-In just north of the city limits had its grand opening on Easter Sunday (April 10, 1955). It is owned and operated by Bernice Montgomery, who also owns and operates the 500-seat Horstman Theatre. The opposition, Home of the Stars Drive-In, owned by Robert Capshaw, a local automobile dealer, also had its grand opening the same day.
From the April 16, 1955 issue of BoxOffice: “Sero Amusement, headed by William Oldknow, has taken over and reopened the Cherry Pass Drive-In between Banning and Beaumont. For a time the ozoner was operated by Syd Lehman and Harry Rackin of Exhibitors' Service.”
From the April 16, 1955 issue of BoxOffice: “Lee Theatres, operating three drive-ins in the state, has bought the Lakewood Theatre in Lakewood from the Jefferson Amusement Co.”
More details on the Aircadia’s opening, as carried by the April 16, 1955 issue of BoxOffice:
COLORADO SPRINGS – The new Aircadia, 800-car drive-in just completed by Westland Theatres on Highway 24, was opened recently. Named manager was Gerald R. Truesdell, who comes from the Eighth Street Drive-In. Derald Hart is city manager for Westland Theatres. Larry Starsmore is president and general manager of the company.
The theatre is situated on a 40-acre tract, part of which has been made into a supervised Fairyland for children. Parents can watch the playground from the patio which is one one side of the self-service snack restaurant. The manager’s office and projection booth are on top of the restaurant. The screen accommodates an 86x48-foot picture.
Grounds of the theatre are adorned with large planter boxes of flowers outside the restaurant, projection building and boxoffice. The two exits at the rear of the parking space lead to several routes of departure from the grounds.
Architects were Lusk and Wallace, and local contractors did most of the work.
From the May 27, 1950 issue of BoxOffice:
WELLINGTON, KAS. – The new 420-car Chisholm Trail Drive-In on Route 160 about one mile east of here recently was opened. The open air theatre was erected and is being operated by Sol Frank, Coldwater, and F. E. Estes, Charles Gregg and J. L. Young, all of Caney.
I wonder if anyone still has a copy of the Grand Opening program. From the May 27, 1950 issue of BoxOffice:
Al Powell, co-owner and manager of the affiliated Griffith Theatres in Guthrie, Okla., recently opened the Beacon Drive-In, an event that was marked by special cooperation from local merchants.
Powell prepared a special 48-page souvenir program giving complete details on the service and comforts offered by the new operation, biographical information on all executives in the organization, and a list of future attractions booked at the three local theatres.
Merchant ads covered complete cost of the program.