The Mustang Drive-in opened May 25, 1966, on property owned by The Newhall Land and Farming Co. at 21021 Soledad Canyon Road in Saugus. Canyon Country wasn’t called “Canyon Country” at the time; this area of Saugus was known as Honby, the name of an old rail stop.
The Mustang closed in October 1984 and was torn down in 1986 to make way for a small business park where, in December 1987, the brand-new City of Santa Clarita set up a temporary administrative headquarters before moving into the (then-) Valencia National Bank building at 23920 W. Valencia Blvd.
This Utah Theaters page has this photo and a half-dozen more, all taken by Grant Smith on June 10, 2011. I would wager that Grant Smith still owns the copyright.
Emery County Progress, May 26, 1955: (Green River News) “The new outdoor River Vu Drive In Theatre opened last Thursday (19) with a free showing of Queen of Africa. Over 200 cars witnessed the show. The shows will continue every night with three changes of shows a week. Gene Hunt, Alma Scovill, Lewis Allen and Jay Vetere are the owners and Lee Carroll is the Projectionist.”
Independent Film Journal, July 9, 1955: “Jack Swanson of Swanson Bros. Circuit opened his River-Vu Drive-In at Green River, Utah, and the new ozoners at Blanding, Utah and Dillon, Mont.”
Green River Journal, Aug, 11, 1955: “The River Vu Drive-In Theater … is operated by Eugene Hunt, Jay Vetere, Alma Scoville, and Lewis Allen, all residents of Green River.”
Price Sun-Advocate, July 26, 1978: “Green River” note about Mrs. Geneva Powell, plus nephews and cousins, ten in all. “One of their projects has been the River Vu drive-in movie, and the Snack Bar has been painted and renovated, the movie projectors repaired and the speakers overhauled, with some new ones purchased. Ms. Powell plans to show family-type films … and hopes for better turnouts the rest of the summer.”
According to the Indianapolis Star, Starlite owner Will Langman has put it up for sale. It will continue to operate as normal until sold, he said. The motive for the sale is to raise money to buy a different drive-in in Terre Haute, Langman’s home town.
On the Shoebox’s Facebook page, from when it reopened in the summer of 2020 until January 2023, its photos show the Highland name (as does the Facebook URL itself). It apparently changed its name to Shoebox by April 2023.
The new owners are sooo close to being ready to open, according to their Facebook post yesterday. The Moonlite has already scheduled a particular couple of movies for dates in July 2025.
West Lebanon Valley News, April 28, 2025: “The Fairlee Drive-in’s towering film screen will remain blank this summer as owner Peter Trapp recovers from an illness.” Full story.
Responding to a Google Maps reviewer a year ago, the Corral’s owner wrote, “Unfortunately we had to close down the theater a few years ago, just didn’t want you to make the theater your destination and be disappointed.”
The screen is still there, but this theater should be marked closed.
Some history from one of the drive-in’s Instagram posts: In 2020 the Beckley Family purchased the VBDI with a great dream and ambition to see this once popular destination brought back to its former glory and then some. Countless hours of work began almost immediately clearing the lot that had been reclaimed by nature over the past 30 years. Work was done to the still existing concession stand, part of the ticket building and its roof had to be rebuilt as it had been torn down with the screen. We had a brand new screen built in the same place as the old one (that) had once stood so strong and proud for 62 years. Finally, in September of 2021 we opened gates for the first time in 30 years. We did not yet have use of the ticketbooth nor the concession building, but used tents, port a potties and a generator for lights and the projector in order to bring movies back to the big screen for the community that had been waiting so long to see happen.
“Amy Bracewell, superintendent of the Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt said Monday that an operator has been selected and that the two sides are currently reviewing the terms of the lease agreement.”
That was part of an article at the Daily Freeman that ran one year ago today. Three weeks ago, its headline was “Hyde Park Drive-In in limbo as deal awaits federal OK”.
The King’s most recent Facebook post was in July 2023. Although I can’t find any stories about a change, Google Maps marks it as permanently closed. :(
The former Henagar is now the Ridgeview. Its web site says, “Ridgeview Drive-in is owned and operated by the Smothers family. After buying the drive-in there were major upgrades made and a new name. In November of 2023 Ridgeview Drive-in opened its gates for the first time!”
Boxoffice, Aug. 10, 1957: “Construction of a second drive-in theatre for Pendleton has been started by John Matlock. The outdoor theatre, which will open next March 1, is being built two miles east of town on a county road just off Highway 30. Matlock, who owns Pendleton’s other outdoor theatre and has interest in two downtown Pendleton theatres, said parking spaces for 500 automobiles will be provided. Julian Hart Construction Co., Vancouver, Wash., is building the screen tower and Francis McGee Construction Co., Pendleton, is building the snack bar building and boxoffice. Matlock said the screen tower will be 100 feet long and 75 feet high.”
The Round-up Drive-In’s first appearance in the Motion Picture Almanac was in the 1960 edition. It was listed with a capacity of 385 cars, owned by John Matlock-Adamson Circuit.
Boxoffice, Sept. 11, 1954: “The Family Drive-In, a Jesse Jones operation managed by Paul LaRiviera, has enlarged its screen for CinemaScope showings.”
Boxoffice, July 27, 1957: Under Portland - “Purchase of the Family Drive-In Theatre by Al Forman of United Theatres was announced here Sunday (28). The four-year-old, modern, nine-acre theatre was sold to Forman by Jesse Jones, well-known theatre operator in this area. Jerry Forman of Salem will manage the drive-in. Plans call for a completely equipped playground and an increase in theatre capacity to 800 cars.”
Boxoffice, July 6, 1957: “The Clark Drive-In at Summer Hill, Ill., owned by Russell Armentrout of Louisiana, Mo., was flattened by the tornado of June 11, which also did considerable damage at Jacksonville and Springfield, Ill. The screen tower was blown down and considerable damage was done to the concession-projection building. Armentrout hoped to have it ready for opening at the end of this week.”
Boxoffice, June 1, 1957: “Clyde and Betty Nihiser have purchased the Limberlost Drive-In Theatre and were planning to have it open before the end of May. Clyde and Betty have operated theatres here for seven years, relinquishing their lease on the Limberlost Drive-In, which they were instrumental in getting started, a little over a year ago. W. R. Miller, owner of the Limberlost, had been offering it for sale during the past several months.”
Boxoffice, May 18, 1957: “VERNAL, UTAH – A short circuit in the wiring was blamed for a fire that destroyed the screen at the Starlite Drive-in west of town. Firemen were called at 11:45 p.m. and fought the raging fire, fanned by a high wind, until 2:30 a.m. Flames leaped 100 feet into the air until the 60-foot screen toppled over. Damage was estimated in the region of $1,200, part of which was covered by insurance. The drive-in is operated by Deward and Alson Shiner. They estimated that the theatre would be back in operation about June 1.”
For the gold standard on capacity, I turn to the 1955-56 Theatre Catalog. It said that Lee Guthrie’s Mustang held 150 cars.
From the SCV History web site:
The Mustang Drive-in opened May 25, 1966, on property owned by The Newhall Land and Farming Co. at 21021 Soledad Canyon Road in Saugus. Canyon Country wasn’t called “Canyon Country” at the time; this area of Saugus was known as Honby, the name of an old rail stop.
The Mustang closed in October 1984 and was torn down in 1986 to make way for a small business park where, in December 1987, the brand-new City of Santa Clarita set up a temporary administrative headquarters before moving into the (then-) Valencia National Bank building at 23920 W. Valencia Blvd.
This Utah Theaters page has this photo and a half-dozen more, all taken by Grant Smith on June 10, 2011. I would wager that Grant Smith still owns the copyright.
A few more notes.
Emery County Progress, May 26, 1955: (Green River News) “The new outdoor River Vu Drive In Theatre opened last Thursday (19) with a free showing of Queen of Africa. Over 200 cars witnessed the show. The shows will continue every night with three changes of shows a week. Gene Hunt, Alma Scovill, Lewis Allen and Jay Vetere are the owners and Lee Carroll is the Projectionist.”
Independent Film Journal, July 9, 1955: “Jack Swanson of Swanson Bros. Circuit opened his River-Vu Drive-In at Green River, Utah, and the new ozoners at Blanding, Utah and Dillon, Mont.”
Green River Journal, Aug, 11, 1955: “The River Vu Drive-In Theater … is operated by Eugene Hunt, Jay Vetere, Alma Scoville, and Lewis Allen, all residents of Green River.”
Price Sun-Advocate, July 26, 1978: “Green River” note about Mrs. Geneva Powell, plus nephews and cousins, ten in all. “One of their projects has been the River Vu drive-in movie, and the Snack Bar has been painted and renovated, the movie projectors repaired and the speakers overhauled, with some new ones purchased. Ms. Powell plans to show family-type films … and hopes for better turnouts the rest of the summer.”
According to the Indianapolis Star, Starlite owner Will Langman has put it up for sale. It will continue to operate as normal until sold, he said. The motive for the sale is to raise money to buy a different drive-in in Terre Haute, Langman’s home town.
On the Shoebox’s Facebook page, from when it reopened in the summer of 2020 until January 2023, its photos show the Highland name (as does the Facebook URL itself). It apparently changed its name to Shoebox by April 2023.
As Splashcat66 noted, the Twilight is now permanently closed. :(
The new owners are sooo close to being ready to open, according to their Facebook post yesterday. The Moonlite has already scheduled a particular couple of movies for dates in July 2025.
West Lebanon Valley News, April 28, 2025: “The Fairlee Drive-in’s towering film screen will remain blank this summer as owner Peter Trapp recovers from an illness.” Full story.
Closed after the 2024 season. ABC4 story.
Responding to a Google Maps reviewer a year ago, the Corral’s owner wrote, “Unfortunately we had to close down the theater a few years ago, just didn’t want you to make the theater your destination and be disappointed.”
The screen is still there, but this theater should be marked closed.
Some history from one of the drive-in’s Instagram posts: In 2020 the Beckley Family purchased the VBDI with a great dream and ambition to see this once popular destination brought back to its former glory and then some. Countless hours of work began almost immediately clearing the lot that had been reclaimed by nature over the past 30 years. Work was done to the still existing concession stand, part of the ticket building and its roof had to be rebuilt as it had been torn down with the screen. We had a brand new screen built in the same place as the old one (that) had once stood so strong and proud for 62 years. Finally, in September of 2021 we opened gates for the first time in 30 years. We did not yet have use of the ticketbooth nor the concession building, but used tents, port a potties and a generator for lights and the projector in order to bring movies back to the big screen for the community that had been waiting so long to see happen.
“Amy Bracewell, superintendent of the Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt said Monday that an operator has been selected and that the two sides are currently reviewing the terms of the lease agreement.”
That was part of an article at the Daily Freeman that ran one year ago today. Three weeks ago, its headline was “Hyde Park Drive-In in limbo as deal awaits federal OK”.
As the above link predicted, the Teton Vu has not reopened for the 2025 season. Google Maps lists it as permanently closed.
The King’s most recent Facebook post was in July 2023. Although I can’t find any stories about a change, Google Maps marks it as permanently closed. :(
Per its most recent Facebook post, the Sand Mountain “temporarily closed” on July 21, 2023.
The former Henagar is now the Ridgeview. Its web site says, “Ridgeview Drive-in is owned and operated by the Smothers family. After buying the drive-in there were major upgrades made and a new name. In November of 2023 Ridgeview Drive-in opened its gates for the first time!”
There’s an MSN story about the unnamed couple who have stepped up to save Memory Lane.
Boxoffice, Aug. 10, 1957: “Construction of a second drive-in theatre for Pendleton has been started by John Matlock. The outdoor theatre, which will open next March 1, is being built two miles east of town on a county road just off Highway 30. Matlock, who owns Pendleton’s other outdoor theatre and has interest in two downtown Pendleton theatres, said parking spaces for 500 automobiles will be provided. Julian Hart Construction Co., Vancouver, Wash., is building the screen tower and Francis McGee Construction Co., Pendleton, is building the snack bar building and boxoffice. Matlock said the screen tower will be 100 feet long and 75 feet high.”
The Round-up Drive-In’s first appearance in the Motion Picture Almanac was in the 1960 edition. It was listed with a capacity of 385 cars, owned by John Matlock-Adamson Circuit.
Boxoffice, Sept. 11, 1954: “The Family Drive-In, a Jesse Jones operation managed by Paul LaRiviera, has enlarged its screen for CinemaScope showings.”
Boxoffice, July 27, 1957: Under Portland - “Purchase of the Family Drive-In Theatre by Al Forman of United Theatres was announced here Sunday (28). The four-year-old, modern, nine-acre theatre was sold to Forman by Jesse Jones, well-known theatre operator in this area. Jerry Forman of Salem will manage the drive-in. Plans call for a completely equipped playground and an increase in theatre capacity to 800 cars.”
Boxoffice, July 6, 1957: “The Clark Drive-In at Summer Hill, Ill., owned by Russell Armentrout of Louisiana, Mo., was flattened by the tornado of June 11, which also did considerable damage at Jacksonville and Springfield, Ill. The screen tower was blown down and considerable damage was done to the concession-projection building. Armentrout hoped to have it ready for opening at the end of this week.”
Boxoffice, June 29, 1957: “The Monument View Drive-In, 350 cars, has been opened at Grand Junction. Ted Knox furnished the equipment”
Boxoffice, June 1, 1957: “Clyde and Betty Nihiser have purchased the Limberlost Drive-In Theatre and were planning to have it open before the end of May. Clyde and Betty have operated theatres here for seven years, relinquishing their lease on the Limberlost Drive-In, which they were instrumental in getting started, a little over a year ago. W. R. Miller, owner of the Limberlost, had been offering it for sale during the past several months.”
Correcting the date.
Boxoffice, May 18, 1957: “VERNAL, UTAH – A short circuit in the wiring was blamed for a fire that destroyed the screen at the Starlite Drive-in west of town. Firemen were called at 11:45 p.m. and fought the raging fire, fanned by a high wind, until 2:30 a.m. Flames leaped 100 feet into the air until the 60-foot screen toppled over. Damage was estimated in the region of $1,200, part of which was covered by insurance. The drive-in is operated by Deward and Alson Shiner. They estimated that the theatre would be back in operation about June 1.”
Boxoffice, May 18, 1957: “The Uptown Theatre in Richmond which was sold recently by Richard Nasser will be converted into a department store”