The West Drive-In was originally constructed by Carl Hatton. Unfortunately they had two attempts on building the drive-in because, on the morning hours of May 2, 1956, strong wind gusts ripped through the 45x95ft screen tower, and the screen collapsed onto its marquee, destroying both the screen and severely damaging the marquee. They managed to rebuild the theater very quickly.
After all the harsh work following the wind destruction, the West Drive-In opened its gates by Video Independent Theatres on June 15, 1956 with Joel McCrea in “Wichita” (unknown if extras added). Unfortunately, it appears that the West Drive-In did not last long at all.
The West Drive-In closed a few months later in 1956 possibly due to poor management, and the theater sat empty and abandoned for more than three decades, as a 1960 and 1983 aerial views shows the drive-in with its screen standing but the traces are in poor condition.
NOTE: This was never known as the Altus Drive-In. That name belongs to the East Drive-In.
The Ritz Theatre opened around 1936, and closed on July 31, 1955 when a projection room fire damaged the theater, causing an estimate $10,000 in damage.
The Pioneer Drive-In opened its gates on June 2, 1950 with Susan Hayward in “Tulsa” along with an unnamed cartoon and the half-hour intermission track “Twilight Serenade”.
Exactly ten days later on the evening of June 12, 1950, Harry Millard, one of the employees at the Pioneer, was changing lettering on the show’s marquee when he lost his footing around the marquee and slipped. He fell several feet to the ground, suffering a broken wrist, bruises, and a slight concussion. Millard replied that the show’s title was fairly long and he was concentrating on getting all the lettering in place when he slipped and fell to the ground.
The exact address is 1197 Old US Hwy 17 S, Elizabeth City, NC 27909. It was still open in the 1980s. The traces were gutted by 1993 but the screen was still standing. The screen was demolished a few years later judging by a 1998 aerial.
There’s another drive-in south of the city on Halstead Boulevard, which will have its own CT page soon.
The Tower Drive-In opened its gates on June 10, 1949 with Yvonne DeCarlo in “Frontier Gal” along with two cartoons and the half-hour intermission track “The Twilight Serenade”.
The actual opening date is January 6, 1942 with Bing Crosby in “Birth of The Blues" (unknown if extras added). The Brauntex was once previously operated by the Griffith Amusement Company and later by Video Independent Theaters.
Opened on August 3, 1948 with Judy Garland in “The Pirate” with no extras, but a brief ceremony speech led by Vestal Supervisor Leland L. Jones was presented before the start of the movie.
The Hi-Way Drive-In opened its gates on May 28, 1948 with “Carnival At Costa Rica” and “Last Of The Redmen” along with a newsreel, and closed at the end of the 1982 season.
The Marionaire opened its gates on June 16, 1948 with a one-day rerelease showing of Spencer Tracy in “Boomtown” along with the Tom And Jerry cartoon “Salt Water Tabby” and the Pete Smith Specialty “I Love My Wife, But”.
The Indiana Theatre closed for the final time on June 15, 1978 with “Smokey And The Bandit”, and was last operated by Kerasotes. It was also once operated by V.I.P Theatres several years prior.
The Paramount Theatre opened its doors by Paramount-Publix on July 30, 1929 with the Marx Brothers in their smash “The Cocoanuts” along with the comedy short “Highlowbrow”, the musical novelty “Shubert’s Songs”, and Paramount News, featuring installations of both Western Electric and Da-Tone sound systems. It was also the first theater in Indiana to have installations of the Snyder self-adjusting lens which sizes the screen, and the theater was built with an estimate $500,000 in construction. The original marquee of the Paramount features more than 2,400 lights.
The Paramount closed on January 3, 1965 with Sean Connery in “Goldfinger” along with the Bugs Bunny Looney Tune “Dumb Patrol”.
Opened on November 5, 1999 as a replacement of two theaters (the North Park Mall Cinema and the Movies At Raintree Plaza), both will have their own CT pages soon.
The Princess Theatre building was rebuilt in 1927, and reopened on August 19 of that same year. During the theater’s operation, it was operated by the father-and-son team of Mr. J.S. and Richard Sanders. His father was the projectionist while Richard worked at the refreshment stand.
The Princess Theatre closed in either 1964 or 1965 and the marquee was removed in April 1966.
The West Drive-In was originally constructed by Carl Hatton. Unfortunately they had two attempts on building the drive-in because, on the morning hours of May 2, 1956, strong wind gusts ripped through the 45x95ft screen tower, and the screen collapsed onto its marquee, destroying both the screen and severely damaging the marquee. They managed to rebuild the theater very quickly.
After all the harsh work following the wind destruction, the West Drive-In opened its gates by Video Independent Theatres on June 15, 1956 with Joel McCrea in “Wichita” (unknown if extras added). Unfortunately, it appears that the West Drive-In did not last long at all.
The West Drive-In closed a few months later in 1956 possibly due to poor management, and the theater sat empty and abandoned for more than three decades, as a 1960 and 1983 aerial views shows the drive-in with its screen standing but the traces are in poor condition.
Opened on July 11, 1908.
The Ritz Theatre opened around 1936, and closed on July 31, 1955 when a projection room fire damaged the theater, causing an estimate $10,000 in damage.
The Buffalo Theatre opened during the final week of November 1921 by manager E.H. Rasberry.
The actual opening date is May 22, 1953 with Ronald Reagan in “The Last Outpost” and John Barrymore Jr. in “Quebec” with no extras.
The Pioneer Drive-In opened its gates on June 2, 1950 with Susan Hayward in “Tulsa” along with an unnamed cartoon and the half-hour intermission track “Twilight Serenade”.
It was still open in 1981.
Do you guys know the name of the drive-in? I cannot find the name anywhere.
The exact address is 1197 Old US Hwy 17 S, Elizabeth City, NC 27909. It was still open in the 1980s. The traces were gutted by 1993 but the screen was still standing. The screen was demolished a few years later judging by a 1998 aerial.
The Tower Drive-In opened its gates on June 10, 1949 with Yvonne DeCarlo in “Frontier Gal” along with two cartoons and the half-hour intermission track “The Twilight Serenade”.
The Tower Drive-In closed on September 2, 1984.
This appears to be extremely short-lived, which appears to have closed after the 1955 season.
The Paramount opened with Buddy Rogers in “Young Eagles” along with Laurel and Hardy in “Brats”, the color short “In Old Madrid”, and Paramount News.
The Paramount Theatre closed around New Year’s Day 1978 and was last operated by Gulf State Theatres.
Once operated by Cineplex Cinemas of Texas.
Actually, it was Cineplex Cinemas of Texas that took over the theater on January 17, 1975.
Actually, I’m very sure it was Cineplex Cinemas of Texas that operated the twin at the time.
The actual opening date is January 6, 1942 with Bing Crosby in “Birth of The Blues" (unknown if extras added). The Brauntex was once previously operated by the Griffith Amusement Company and later by Video Independent Theaters.
Once operated by Cinecom, closed on May 23, 1977 with “Network”.
Opened on August 3, 1948 with Judy Garland in “The Pirate” with no extras, but a brief ceremony speech led by Vestal Supervisor Leland L. Jones was presented before the start of the movie.
Once operated by V.I.P Theatres.
The Hi-Way Drive-In opened its gates on May 28, 1948 with “Carnival At Costa Rica” and “Last Of The Redmen” along with a newsreel, and closed at the end of the 1982 season.
The Marionaire opened its gates on June 16, 1948 with a one-day rerelease showing of Spencer Tracy in “Boomtown” along with the Tom And Jerry cartoon “Salt Water Tabby” and the Pete Smith Specialty “I Love My Wife, But”.
The Marionaire closed on September 5, 1983.
The actual opening date is November 30, 1901.
The Indiana Theatre closed for the final time on June 15, 1978 with “Smokey And The Bandit”, and was last operated by Kerasotes. It was also once operated by V.I.P Theatres several years prior.
The Paramount Theatre opened its doors by Paramount-Publix on July 30, 1929 with the Marx Brothers in their smash “The Cocoanuts” along with the comedy short “Highlowbrow”, the musical novelty “Shubert’s Songs”, and Paramount News, featuring installations of both Western Electric and Da-Tone sound systems. It was also the first theater in Indiana to have installations of the Snyder self-adjusting lens which sizes the screen, and the theater was built with an estimate $500,000 in construction. The original marquee of the Paramount features more than 2,400 lights.
The Paramount closed on January 3, 1965 with Sean Connery in “Goldfinger” along with the Bugs Bunny Looney Tune “Dumb Patrol”.
VIP Cinemas and V.I.P Theatres are two different theater chains. The V.I.P Theatres chain would have its own CT page soon.
Opened on November 5, 1999 as a replacement of two theaters (the North Park Mall Cinema and the Movies At Raintree Plaza), both will have their own CT pages soon.
The Princess Theatre building was rebuilt in 1927, and reopened on August 19 of that same year. During the theater’s operation, it was operated by the father-and-son team of Mr. J.S. and Richard Sanders. His father was the projectionist while Richard worked at the refreshment stand.
The Princess Theatre closed in either 1964 or 1965 and the marquee was removed in April 1966.