Checking Film Daily Year Books, there was a Mobridge “Drive-In” that first appeared in the 1950 drive-in list.
The 1955-56 Theatre Catalog listed the Lakeview in Mobridge, capacity 400, owner Doug Kressley.
The Lakeview was the first Mobridge drive-in to appear in the Motion Picture Almanac, in its 1955 list. By 1960 the MPA added the Lakeview’s capacity of 350 and owner, Ernie Bouud (sic).
Per a note in Motion Picture Daily, Ernie Borud bought an unnamed drive-in in Mobridge in April 1955.
A 1969 topo map showed the drive-in at its current location.
A note in the June 26, 1957 Motion Picture Daily said that Joseph O'Neill had been named assistant to Joseph Bresnahan, resident manager of the “2,070-car capacity Meadows Drive-In, Hartford.”
Per the June 26, 1957 issue of Motion Picture Daily, the Dix was sold to A. M. Ellis Theatres Co. of Philadelphia. The drive-in “was built in 1955 and has a capacity of 1,250 cars.”
I visited the site last week and uploaded a photo. A dozen wooden screen support stumps are still there with a few metal pole stubs near the front and the remnants of a wooden fence along the north side. The ramps are visible but overgrown.
Just visited the site last week and uploaded a photo. The Walmart is vacant; its building is for lease. At the drive-in site, many (most?) of the poles remain as stubs ranging from one inch to about eight inches. The paved ramps are still visible with plenty of foliage growing in the cracks. The For Sale sign says to Call IRA at 213-393-9980.
BTW Mquiroz, I bought coffee at that Burger King but couldn’t detect any trace of the Joshua Drive-In that used to be behind it.
As suggested above, the Sundown’s first appearance in the Motion Picture Almanacs was the 1952-53 edition.
The 1977-82 MPAs listed the Sundown with J. Highsmith but the capacity down to 150. The 1983-84 MPAs showed the owner as T. B. Leggett. The Sundown dropped off the MPA drive-in list in 1985.
Correct in spirit, though the original projection building, now surrounded by the Super 8 and other buildings, was still visible in the 1989 photo at HistoricAerials.
Coincidence? The MovieWorks Cinema 4 is precisely where that projection building used to be. I just submitted that tiny indoor theater to the database here.
BTW, Kenmore, I could use your help with a project. Would you please drop me a line at mkilgore@carload.com?
The rights to this 1987 photo by John Margolies were purchased by the Library of Congress, effectively placing it in the public domain. See https://www.loc.gov/resource/mrg.00331/
The Twin Lakes Drive-In first appeared in the 1949-50 Theatre Catalog with a capacity of 500, owners Oral Pierson and F. B. Youndblood (sic). The 1952 Catalog listed the owner as J. Vestal. By the 1955-56 Catalog, the name had changed to Ronnie’s Drive-In, owners Leon Jarodsky and E. L. Staup.
Thank goodness for a July 8, 1970 clipping from the Decatur Herald, which said in part, “the name of the outdoor theatre, Ronnie, has been changed to the Twin Lakes Drive-In, according to Bill Hoffman, manager”. At the time it was part of “the Kerasotes-Frisina chain.” Because the Motion Picture Almanac got really confused.
Motion Picture Almanac drive-in list mentions of Paris IL:
1950-53: Twin Lakes, 400, Youngblood & Pearson
1953-55: Twin Lakes, 400, E. L. Staup
1956-59: Twin Lakes, 400, E. L. Staup & Ronnie's, 500, Jarodsky & Staup
1960-66: Ronnie's, 500, Jarodky & Staup
1969-70: Ronnie's, 500
1972-76: Ronnie's, 500 & Twin Lakes*, 500
1977-82: The Twin Lake Drive In, 400, Kerasotes
1983-88: Twin Lake, 1 screen, no owner info
In the 1972-76 MPAs, Kerasotes' holdings included the Twin Lakes.
This drive-in opened after 1946, when an aerial photo of the site shows a vacant field. Based on its first appearance in the Theatre Catalog, it probably opened in 1949. It was closed by 1988, when another aerial photo shows the screen missing.
The Waukegan Outdoor Drive-In was first listed in the 1949-50 Theatre Catalog at Route 41 & Washington, capacity 1250, owner F. Ryan. The 1952-56 Theatre Catalogs showed it with capacity 772, owner Henry C. Rhyan.
The Kay was open by 1951, run by Merle Stewartson (or Stewardson). By 1999, the site was replaced by what is now a truck repair shop at 2090 IL-16, Shelbyville, IL.
Based on its first appearances in the Theatre Catalog and Film Daily Year Book, the Gordon probably opened in 1949. It still looked active in a nice 1978 photo at VintageAerial.com.
There’s a nice 1974 photo at VintageAerial.com showing mobile homes in place on those pads to the northwest of the drive-in. Sure looks like a prime restoration candidate.
Checking Film Daily Year Books, there was a Mobridge “Drive-In” that first appeared in the 1950 drive-in list.
The 1955-56 Theatre Catalog listed the Lakeview in Mobridge, capacity 400, owner Doug Kressley.
The Lakeview was the first Mobridge drive-in to appear in the Motion Picture Almanac, in its 1955 list. By 1960 the MPA added the Lakeview’s capacity of 350 and owner, Ernie Bouud (sic).
Per a note in Motion Picture Daily, Ernie Borud bought an unnamed drive-in in Mobridge in April 1955.
A 1969 topo map showed the drive-in at its current location.
D.W. Chambers of Albany OR sold the “Starlight” to Ed Chambers for over $60,000 per a note in the April 8, 1955 Motion Picture Daily.
Peterson Brothers sold the Geneva to Ray Syufy for a reported $230,000 per a note in the April 8, 1955 Motion Picture Daily.
A note in the June 26, 1957 Motion Picture Daily said that Joseph O'Neill had been named assistant to Joseph Bresnahan, resident manager of the “2,070-car capacity Meadows Drive-In, Hartford.”
Per the June 26, 1957 issue of Motion Picture Daily, the Dix was sold to A. M. Ellis Theatres Co. of Philadelphia. The drive-in “was built in 1955 and has a capacity of 1,250 cars.”
The Super 50 opened on May 15, 1957, according to a May 27 note in Motion Picture Daily.
According to the April 22, 1957 issue of Motion Picture Daily, the grand opening of the All-Weather Theatre was “Saturday,” making it April 20, 1957.
I visited the site last week and uploaded a photo. A dozen wooden screen support stumps are still there with a few metal pole stubs near the front and the remnants of a wooden fence along the north side. The ramps are visible but overgrown.
Just visited the site last week and uploaded a photo. The Walmart is vacant; its building is for lease. At the drive-in site, many (most?) of the poles remain as stubs ranging from one inch to about eight inches. The paved ramps are still visible with plenty of foliage growing in the cracks. The For Sale sign says to Call IRA at 213-393-9980.
BTW Mquiroz, I bought coffee at that Burger King but couldn’t detect any trace of the Joshua Drive-In that used to be behind it.
As suggested above, the Sundown’s first appearance in the Motion Picture Almanacs was the 1952-53 edition.
The 1977-82 MPAs listed the Sundown with J. Highsmith but the capacity down to 150. The 1983-84 MPAs showed the owner as T. B. Leggett. The Sundown dropped off the MPA drive-in list in 1985.
Correct in spirit, though the original projection building, now surrounded by the Super 8 and other buildings, was still visible in the 1989 photo at HistoricAerials.
Coincidence? The MovieWorks Cinema 4 is precisely where that projection building used to be. I just submitted that tiny indoor theater to the database here.
BTW, Kenmore, I could use your help with a project. Would you please drop me a line at mkil
The rights to this 1987 photo by John Margolies were purchased by the Library of Congress, effectively placing it in the public domain. See https://www.loc.gov/resource/mrg.00331/
Hey dallasmovietheaters! I could use your help. Could you please drop me an email at mkil
The Decatur IL Herald and Review wrote on May 25, 1983, that the drive-in in Charleston “has been dismantled” and its land was being sold.
It might have continued to operate through 1987, since there’s a nice aerial photo from that year at VintageAerial.com.
The Twin Lakes Drive-In first appeared in the 1949-50 Theatre Catalog with a capacity of 500, owners Oral Pierson and F. B. Youndblood (sic). The 1952 Catalog listed the owner as J. Vestal. By the 1955-56 Catalog, the name had changed to Ronnie’s Drive-In, owners Leon Jarodsky and E. L. Staup.
Thank goodness for a July 8, 1970 clipping from the Decatur Herald, which said in part, “the name of the outdoor theatre, Ronnie, has been changed to the Twin Lakes Drive-In, according to Bill Hoffman, manager”. At the time it was part of “the Kerasotes-Frisina chain.” Because the Motion Picture Almanac got really confused.
Motion Picture Almanac drive-in list mentions of Paris IL:
There are nice aerial photos of the 34 from 1965 and 1970 at VintageAerial.com
This ad is for the Morton Grove Drive-In at the southeast corner of Waukegan and Golf. Please move it to that listing.
This drive-in opened after 1946, when an aerial photo of the site shows a vacant field. Based on its first appearance in the Theatre Catalog, it probably opened in 1949. It was closed by 1988, when another aerial photo shows the screen missing.
The Waukegan Outdoor Drive-In was first listed in the 1949-50 Theatre Catalog at Route 41 & Washington, capacity 1250, owner F. Ryan. The 1952-56 Theatre Catalogs showed it with capacity 772, owner Henry C. Rhyan.
Motion Picture Almanac mentions:
It was still active in 1981, as shown in a nice photo at VintageAerial.com.
There’s a nice 1966 photo of the Kay at VintageAerial.com.
The Kay was open by 1951, run by Merle Stewartson (or Stewardson). By 1999, the site was replaced by what is now a truck repair shop at 2090 IL-16, Shelbyville, IL.
Based on its first appearances in the Theatre Catalog and Film Daily Year Book, the Gordon probably opened in 1949. It still looked active in a nice 1978 photo at VintageAerial.com.
A crisper version of this photo (same angle, cars in same positions) is apparently on VintageAerial.com, where it’s labelled as a 1981 photo.
There’s a nice 1974 photo at VintageAerial.com showing mobile homes in place on those pads to the northwest of the drive-in. Sure looks like a prime restoration candidate.
There’s a 1977 photo of the Sunset at VintageAerial.com.