The Swingin' Midway is about halfway between Athens and Etowah. Its Facebook page names Athens as its home town. Google Maps gives its address as Athens. The International Motion Picture Almanac changed the Midway’s address from Etowah to Athens. Maybe you should consider moving this page?
The 1952 Theatre Catalog lists the Etowah Drive-In (capacity 300) for Etowah.
The 1959 IMPA lists the Etowah at 256 cars.
The 1963 IMPA had Etowah at 356, and showed just the Hatfield and Starlite for Athens. Its only TN Midways were Camden (200) and Sevierville (270), which were nowhere close.
By the 1969 IMPA, only the Starlite was left in Athens, and the Etowah was the only one there.
The 1976 IMPA lists both the Etowah and Midway in Athens.
The 1982 IMPA lists only the Midway in Etowah. The 1984 IMPA lists the Midway in Athens. Ditto 1987. I wonder when it started Swingin'?
The 1955 Theatre Catalog also shows Clyde Cannon but a capacity of 175.
Sure enough, the IMCA showed it at 100 for most of its run. The 1982 IMCA listed 200 and “W.F. Wilson.” It was absent from the 1984 IMCA, so I’m guessing it closed by 1983.
According to the Tiger web site, it was opened by Bill and Louise Wilson in April 1954 and reopened by their daughter, Sherryl Major, in 2004. Full history here: http://tigerdrivein.com/home/history/
Joe Vogel, I hope you saved a copy of that history, or is it the same as the one at the Swan’s web site: http://www.swan-drive-in.com/history.php
The Swan wasn’t listed in my 1955 Theatre Catalog, nor in my 1959 and 1963 IMPA. It’s there in my 1969 IMPA and beyond. I’m not doubting the history; I just wonder how many of these hidden drive-ins were left out of the “official” peak drive-in numbers.
According to today’s Carthage Press, Mark and Dixie Goodman have sold the Route 66 to Nathan McDonald, his wife, Amy, and three children.
McDonald said, “Since I started working here in the last 10 years, every time I would sit here on a nice Sunday evening in the warm sunset, I wanted to be a bigger part of it. I’ve been given an amazing opportunity, it’s something that the more you hear, the more you want to be here.”
The article details the ties between the Webb City Drive-In and the 66, and how an old drive-in lot could be a good place for a used auto parts store. Until the auto parts markets fades just as drive-in nostalgia ramps up.
Full story: http://www.carthagepress.com/news/20170313/mcdonald-family-takes-over-route-66-drive-in
The 1955 Theatre Catalog lists Exec: Glover Johnson, and the oddly specific capacity of 237. The 411 web site mentions that Glover was Emory’s father.
The 1959 IMPA lists “G.A. Johnson” as the owner or booker and capacity 250 for the “41 Drive-In” in “Centro”. The 1963 IMPA doesn’t list it at all. The spellings are correct in the 1969 IMPA, with a capacity of 200.
The 411 web site mentions reopening in July 2001, but doesn’t give any previous close date. The IMPAs carried a listing for it through at least the 1987 edition, now with “E. Johnson.”
Sits just east of the municipal power plant, which has the address of 1925 E Main St.
First listed in the 1949 Theatre Catalog, owned by John Sawaya.
The Peak was still listed in the 1987 IMPA, but it was closed by the time I first visited Trinidad in 1997. Thanks to the dry mountain air, it still looks almost ready to open 20 years later; the screen is in good shape and the concession building is still showing on satellite views.
From Archive.org’s copy of the defunct Pink Cadillac web site as of August 2009:
Ed Worley built the drive-in in the late 1950’s and named it The Bel Air. The theater was run by Clement and Mary Warren until the mid-80’s, a time when most drive-ins had already folded, with only 19 remaining in Tennessee in 1987. By 1999, there were only 14 remaining statewide.
Lisa and Donald Forrester purchased the Bel Air in 1992. They built a new screen, lengthened a fence around the screen, replaced the original projection equipment and the in-car speakers for FM radio sound. They gave the theater a pink theme and renamed it the Pink Cadillac Drive-in.
In 2000, the Forresters sold the Pink Cadillac to Leslie and Melissa Curtis.
The son of the original Sundown owners rescued the sign, moved it to a nearby field, and restored it to its original cool, quirky glory. Great photo here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/27313808@N00/30224548771/
From a 2003 CNN Money article:
“It began when (owner Bobby) Tompson’s father came home one day with a used Ford truck, small popcorn machine and two movie projectors. He drove the Ford throughout Arkansas, stopping in towns to sell tickets to films that he projected on the sides of churches and school buildings.
“Eventually, Tompson’s dad erected a permanent giant movie screen in a field near their home, installed speaker stands, a tiny ticket booth and concession stand. Tompson took over after his father’s death, and he still runs the movies during summer nights.”
Nothing in the 1948-49 Theatre Catalog, but the Y is listed in the 1949-50 Catalog, Exec: M. A. Harris, M9-C300-D7. (In the 1952 Catalog, the Tower is listed as C208, but no Y.)
Both theaters are listed in the 1959 IMPA, the Y still with M.A. Harris but with capacity 200. Ditto 1963 IMPA. Both are also listed in the 1964 Film Daily Year Book. The 1969 IMPA lists only the Tower.
Its first appearance in the Theatre Catalogs was the 1949-50 edition, which lists it as a 430-car theater, nine-month season, seven days a week. By the 1984 International Motion Picture Almanac, it was gone.
About Mike Rogers' question, the Vegas Drive-In was listed in the 1949-50 Theatre Catalogs with a capacity of 350 cars. In the 1952 and 1955-56 Catalogs, its capacity was 300. The Fort Union was listed in the 1972 International Motion Picture Almanac with a capacity of 450. That’s a big difference.
Then again, the Fort Union Facebook page says it has a capacity of 340 cars. Either Chris1982’s quote of 1958 is wrong or maybe that’s just when the Vegas was renamed. I just don’t know.
The April 4 1963 Las Vegas Optic wrote: Announcement was made today by Les B. Dollison, owner of the Dollison Theaters in Santa Fe, that his company has purchased the Las Vegas Fort Union Drive-In Theater from its former owners, Ward and Elaine Olsen and H.C. Mitchell.
The Movie Manor is a treasure, and its setting is unique, but it was never the only motel-drive-in combo. The Fairlee Motel & Drive-In Theater in Vermont started adding its motel rooms in 1960, and it’s still in operation.
From WFIE on Feb. 22, 2017: “The drive-in movie theater outside of Beaver Dam, Kentucky closed two years ago, but it will hopefully be playing movies on that screen again this summer.” The 26-year-old new owner hopes to raise $200k to refurbish everything and build the “largest drive-in screen in the nation.” For a little old 200-car theater dozens of miles from any big cities? I really hope this is legit.
An article in the Fremont County Daily Ranger says that the photo above shows the project that expanded the wooden screen in May 1955 to accommodate wider movies.
Both the 1952 Theatre Catalog and 1959 IMPA list the Parkway capacity at 350. The 1982 IMPA had it down to 300. It was still listed in the 1987 IMPA.
The Swingin' Midway is about halfway between Athens and Etowah. Its Facebook page names Athens as its home town. Google Maps gives its address as Athens. The International Motion Picture Almanac changed the Midway’s address from Etowah to Athens. Maybe you should consider moving this page?
The 1952 Theatre Catalog lists the Etowah Drive-In (capacity 300) for Etowah.
The 1959 IMPA lists the Etowah at 256 cars.
The 1963 IMPA had Etowah at 356, and showed just the Hatfield and Starlite for Athens. Its only TN Midways were Camden (200) and Sevierville (270), which were nowhere close.
By the 1969 IMPA, only the Starlite was left in Athens, and the Etowah was the only one there.
The 1976 IMPA lists both the Etowah and Midway in Athens.
The 1982 IMPA lists only the Midway in Etowah. The 1984 IMPA lists the Midway in Athens. Ditto 1987. I wonder when it started Swingin'?
The 1955 Theatre Catalog also shows Clyde Cannon but a capacity of 175.
Sure enough, the IMCA showed it at 100 for most of its run. The 1982 IMCA listed 200 and “W.F. Wilson.” It was absent from the 1984 IMCA, so I’m guessing it closed by 1983.
According to the Tiger web site, it was opened by Bill and Louise Wilson in April 1954 and reopened by their daughter, Sherryl Major, in 2004. Full history here: http://tigerdrivein.com/home/history/
Joe Vogel, I hope you saved a copy of that history, or is it the same as the one at the Swan’s web site: http://www.swan-drive-in.com/history.php
The Swan wasn’t listed in my 1955 Theatre Catalog, nor in my 1959 and 1963 IMPA. It’s there in my 1969 IMPA and beyond. I’m not doubting the history; I just wonder how many of these hidden drive-ins were left out of the “official” peak drive-in numbers.
According to today’s Carthage Press, Mark and Dixie Goodman have sold the Route 66 to Nathan McDonald, his wife, Amy, and three children.
McDonald said, “Since I started working here in the last 10 years, every time I would sit here on a nice Sunday evening in the warm sunset, I wanted to be a bigger part of it. I’ve been given an amazing opportunity, it’s something that the more you hear, the more you want to be here.”
The article details the ties between the Webb City Drive-In and the 66, and how an old drive-in lot could be a good place for a used auto parts store. Until the auto parts markets fades just as drive-in nostalgia ramps up.
Full story: http://www.carthagepress.com/news/20170313/mcdonald-family-takes-over-route-66-drive-in
In a Facebook post that sparked national news coverage, “As of December 16th (2016) the Henagar Drive-In is under new ownership.”
New York Times culture writer Sopan Deb said the new theater owner is Carol Laney.
Controversy summary here: http://www.kansascity.com/entertainment/ent-columns-blogs/stargazing/article136314508.html
The 1955 Theatre Catalog lists Exec: Glover Johnson, and the oddly specific capacity of 237. The 411 web site mentions that Glover was Emory’s father.
The 1959 IMPA lists “G.A. Johnson” as the owner or booker and capacity 250 for the “41 Drive-In” in “Centro”. The 1963 IMPA doesn’t list it at all. The spellings are correct in the 1969 IMPA, with a capacity of 200.
The 411 web site mentions reopening in July 2001, but doesn’t give any previous close date. The IMPAs carried a listing for it through at least the 1987 edition, now with “E. Johnson.”
October 2012 Google Street View shows a For Sale sign, 719-738-1818, the number of Walsenburg’s Acorn Realty.
Absent from 1976 (and earlier) IMPA. Listed in 1982 IMPA. Listed in 1987 IMPA.
Sits just east of the municipal power plant, which has the address of 1925 E Main St.
First listed in the 1949 Theatre Catalog, owned by John Sawaya.
The Peak was still listed in the 1987 IMPA, but it was closed by the time I first visited Trinidad in 1997. Thanks to the dry mountain air, it still looks almost ready to open 20 years later; the screen is in good shape and the concession building is still showing on satellite views.
If the Hi-Way 50 opened in 1946, it escaped the notice of the 1948 and 1949 editions of the Theatre Catalog. It was listed there by 1952.
Two more notes. The Pink Cadillac web site was wrong about Tennessee. My 1987 International Motion Picture Almanac lists about 60 for the state.
And good news: From what can be seen of the screen in this June 2016 Google Street View image, it looks much better then JackCoursey’s photo here.
https://goo.gl/maps/CdqPnLZhnXQ2
From Archive.org’s copy of the defunct Pink Cadillac web site as of August 2009:
Ed Worley built the drive-in in the late 1950’s and named it The Bel Air. The theater was run by Clement and Mary Warren until the mid-80’s, a time when most drive-ins had already folded, with only 19 remaining in Tennessee in 1987. By 1999, there were only 14 remaining statewide.
Lisa and Donald Forrester purchased the Bel Air in 1992. They built a new screen, lengthened a fence around the screen, replaced the original projection equipment and the in-car speakers for FM radio sound. They gave the theater a pink theme and renamed it the Pink Cadillac Drive-in.
In 2000, the Forresters sold the Pink Cadillac to Leslie and Melissa Curtis.
http://web.archive.org/web/20090826154155/http://www.pinkcadillacdrivein.com/
International Motion Picture Almanac notes:
1959 – not listed
1963 – listed, Owner: “Ed Doherty & Groover Wray of”
1969 – listed, 200 cars
1976 – listed, 200
1982 – listed, 230, Circuit: “D. Scott”
1987 – listed, D. Scott
and that’s about as far forward as the IMPA listed drive-ins.
The son of the original Sundown owners rescued the sign, moved it to a nearby field, and restored it to its original cool, quirky glory. Great photo here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/27313808@N00/30224548771/
From a 2003 CNN Money article: “It began when (owner Bobby) Tompson’s father came home one day with a used Ford truck, small popcorn machine and two movie projectors. He drove the Ford throughout Arkansas, stopping in towns to sell tickets to films that he projected on the sides of churches and school buildings.
“Eventually, Tompson’s dad erected a permanent giant movie screen in a field near their home, installed speaker stands, a tiny ticket booth and concession stand. Tompson took over after his father’s death, and he still runs the movies during summer nights.”
More: http://money.cnn.com/2003/12/05/pf/q_lostjob/
Nothing in the 1948-49 Theatre Catalog, but the Y is listed in the 1949-50 Catalog, Exec: M. A. Harris, M9-C300-D7. (In the 1952 Catalog, the Tower is listed as C208, but no Y.)
Both theaters are listed in the 1959 IMPA, the Y still with M.A. Harris but with capacity 200. Ditto 1963 IMPA. Both are also listed in the 1964 Film Daily Year Book. The 1969 IMPA lists only the Tower.
Its first appearance in the Theatre Catalogs was the 1949-50 edition, which lists it as a 430-car theater, nine-month season, seven days a week. By the 1984 International Motion Picture Almanac, it was gone.
About Mike Rogers' question, the Vegas Drive-In was listed in the 1949-50 Theatre Catalogs with a capacity of 350 cars. In the 1952 and 1955-56 Catalogs, its capacity was 300. The Fort Union was listed in the 1972 International Motion Picture Almanac with a capacity of 450. That’s a big difference.
Then again, the Fort Union Facebook page says it has a capacity of 340 cars. Either Chris1982’s quote of 1958 is wrong or maybe that’s just when the Vegas was renamed. I just don’t know.
The April 4 1963 Las Vegas Optic wrote: Announcement was made today by Les B. Dollison, owner of the Dollison Theaters in Santa Fe, that his company has purchased the Las Vegas Fort Union Drive-In Theater from its former owners, Ward and Elaine Olsen and H.C. Mitchell.
I watched Iron Man 3 at the Kiva on a busy Saturday evening in early May 2013. From what I heard, the theater closed a few months later.
The Movie Manor is a treasure, and its setting is unique, but it was never the only motel-drive-in combo. The Fairlee Motel & Drive-In Theater in Vermont started adding its motel rooms in 1960, and it’s still in operation.
From WFIE on Feb. 22, 2017: “The drive-in movie theater outside of Beaver Dam, Kentucky closed two years ago, but it will hopefully be playing movies on that screen again this summer.” The 26-year-old new owner hopes to raise $200k to refurbish everything and build the “largest drive-in screen in the nation.” For a little old 200-car theater dozens of miles from any big cities? I really hope this is legit.
http://www.14news.com/story/34563628/ohio-county-drive-in-could-re-open-this-summer
An article in the Fremont County Daily Ranger says that the photo above shows the project that expanded the wooden screen in May 1955 to accommodate wider movies.
http://dailyranger.com/story.php?story_id=1609
The 1984 Motion Picture Almanac lists it with four screens, suggesting an intermediate stage between one screen and six.
This page shows a Skyline logo with the tagline “Established 1964”
http://www.normreeveswestcovina.com/west-covina-drive-ins/