The Wayne theater at 1014 South Calhoun was opened in 1941 by Maller Theater Circuit.
It was first opened about 1908 as the Lyric, however Mallers bought
the theater, and promptly changed its name to the Riley.
They decided to again change its name, this time to the Wayne, which was very popular during it hey-day.
The Sher Den Twin was opened in December, 1969 by Robb & Rowley.
It was located on Gallager Road between Denison and Sherman to replace the Perrin Drive In, which was demolished to make way for the Sher-Den Mall, which has also been demolished.
The Sher Den lasted fifteen years being closed in 1985, and the twin
screens came down in 1987.
The Marquee and snack bar were torn down for a new Dillingham school
in 1997 after a decade of falling apart and down.
One other thing about the Rwin City, it has always been known as a Sherman Drive In, but it was in the Denison City Limits, and much closer to Denison than Sherman.
Just want Denisonian' happy.s
Twin City Drive In Theater was opened in the Denison City Limits by C. D. Leon June 17, 1947 on Breezy Hill, Highway 75 South, which is
now known as Texoma Parkway.
The old marquee is well camoflouged, but still standing, but the old
Drive in went down long ago.
Twin City covered 10 acres with a 42x31 screen.
Gordon McClendon who created Radio/1190 KLIF at Dallas purchased the theater in November, 1970.
McClendon’s firm Southwest theaters operated several in Oak Cliff at
Dallas.
He had originally taken over for his father, the real businessman, but got the credit.
Twin City closed in 1976, and C. D. leon came rolling back reopening
the theater in 1977.
John Atchley’s B & B Theaters bought the Twin City in 1980, but in
1984 the old showplace went permantly silent.
I spent many wonderful hours at the Twin City, and manager Sparks ran my friends and i out of the place many times after we had sneaked in with him watching, but he was a real gentleman giving us
free tickets to get in a number of times.
Dave also posted the City Drive In on CT, but this is the place he
described.
The CAMPUS DRIVE IN was opened on US Highway 82 East In Sherman on
August 9, 1950 located across from what is now Sherman High School.
Harry Hardgrave was city manager at the time with R & R.
It was in operation until the early seventies, and demolished later
in the decade.
I have visited the site many times, and snapped a few shots of the
entrance where the old evergreens still look beautiful as they did
in its hey-day………
Other Sherman Drive In’s included Twin Cities/Perrin/Sher-Den.
All have vanished…
Lost Memory—-I correct you, i lived in Paris, and it is possible
someone tried to reopen the theater, but if they did, it would have been less than a month in operation.
..The theater was shut down in 1983, and the original owners are still around, and they seem to know nothing of its reopening.
..That don’t say much, but trust someone who is at least poutting these up for your derogitory remarks, Opps sorry, i forgot you know it all
I thought this site was anyone to contribute what they have to say:
Remember, everyone has memories about the movie days.
In fact, if anyone wants to know everything documented about theaters
of Odessa.
They can read all about them in booklet-MOVIE ROW-by Billy Holcomb
It tells everything you might want to know.
It is available at the Southwest Archives at Ector County library
It has not been published as yet, but all info is there.
Just my comment…
RED RIVER RETURNS TO DENISON
Trying to capture a little of movie hey days of the past, Red River
returned to the Rialto at Denison on a cool evening, March 18, 1982.
The event generated a little bit of excitement as quite a number of oldtimers reminished about the night 34 years earlier.
The celebration was a far cry from the original, however Denison’s leaders were a different breed, displaying a lack of concern for a
historic occasion of trying to bring back the Rialto’s golden years.
The Classic Red River itself had become relic, ragged and old.
Most in attendance wondered why they were not at home seeing it on
television. Billy Holcomb
television.
RED RIVER Premiered at the Rialto, Wednesday, August 25, 1948.
It was a world premier, but this was the Southwest Premier, but as
reported the stars did not appear at Denison.
Most of them came to Dallas during the weekend.
John Wayne did mention the reason for the premier at Denison was it
was possibly because it was so close to Red River.
The feature was supposed to open at Denison on the 25th, and open
at 350 theaters the next day.
However, many of the towns already had the feature such as Sherman,
and most of them opened their showings on the 25th.
Everyone at denison still has bragging rights that Red River made its
first showing in town……Billy Holcomb
The Lamar was opened by Claude Musselman in 1930 at 202 Bonham st.
Bonham street is Highway 82, which goes directly through the city.
The theater structure still stands, but bit the dust as a theater
in 1963
This was originally the Rita Theater at 746 Main which was built in 1947 by Robb & Rowley Circuit
Billy Holcomb—Don Lewis—Billy Smith
Should say posted by Billy Smith, Don lewis & Billy h.
The Wayne theater at 1014 South Calhoun was opened in 1941 by Maller Theater Circuit.
It was first opened about 1908 as the Lyric, however Mallers bought
the theater, and promptly changed its name to the Riley.
They decided to again change its name, this time to the Wayne, which was very popular during it hey-day.
The Fox theater was demolished during the late fifties, in fact all
theaters on Dallas Elm Street Movie Row are gone except the Majestic.
The top or first photo screening is MR MUSIC released in Nov/ 1950
Susan Slept Here was released in November, 1954
In answer to Date of Photo—it is 1954—Yellow Tomahawk with Rory Calhoun & Peggie Castle was released in May 1954..
The Sher Den Twin was opened in December, 1969 by Robb & Rowley.
It was located on Gallager Road between Denison and Sherman to replace the Perrin Drive In, which was demolished to make way for the Sher-Den Mall, which has also been demolished.
The Sher Den lasted fifteen years being closed in 1985, and the twin
screens came down in 1987.
The Marquee and snack bar were torn down for a new Dillingham school
in 1997 after a decade of falling apart and down.
DAVE
CHECK OUT THE TWIN CITY DRIVE IN.
YOU HAVE THE TWO THEATERS CONFUSED, BUT YOU HAVE DONE A SUPER JOB THANKS.
One other thing about the Rwin City, it has always been known as a Sherman Drive In, but it was in the Denison City Limits, and much closer to Denison than Sherman.
Just want Denisonian' happy.s
Twin City Drive In Theater was opened in the Denison City Limits by C. D. Leon June 17, 1947 on Breezy Hill, Highway 75 South, which is
now known as Texoma Parkway.
The old marquee is well camoflouged, but still standing, but the old
Drive in went down long ago.
Twin City covered 10 acres with a 42x31 screen.
Gordon McClendon who created Radio/1190 KLIF at Dallas purchased the theater in November, 1970.
McClendon’s firm Southwest theaters operated several in Oak Cliff at
Dallas.
He had originally taken over for his father, the real businessman, but got the credit.
Twin City closed in 1976, and C. D. leon came rolling back reopening
the theater in 1977.
John Atchley’s B & B Theaters bought the Twin City in 1980, but in
1984 the old showplace went permantly silent.
I spent many wonderful hours at the Twin City, and manager Sparks ran my friends and i out of the place many times after we had sneaked in with him watching, but he was a real gentleman giving us
free tickets to get in a number of times.
Dave also posted the City Drive In on CT, but this is the place he
described.
The CAMPUS DRIVE IN was opened on US Highway 82 East In Sherman on
August 9, 1950 located across from what is now Sherman High School.
Harry Hardgrave was city manager at the time with R & R.
It was in operation until the early seventies, and demolished later
in the decade.
I have visited the site many times, and snapped a few shots of the
entrance where the old evergreens still look beautiful as they did
in its hey-day………
Other Sherman Drive In’s included Twin Cities/Perrin/Sher-Den.
All have vanished…
derog-I-tory—Hey! you are alright, I guess i do liek you afterall
—IF YOU CAN’T TRUST A THEATER FREAK—WHO CAN YOU TRUST
Lost Memory—-I correct you, i lived in Paris, and it is possible
someone tried to reopen the theater, but if they did, it would have been less than a month in operation.
..The theater was shut down in 1983, and the original owners are still around, and they seem to know nothing of its reopening.
..That don’t say much, but trust someone who is at least poutting these up for your derogitory remarks, Opps sorry, i forgot you know it all
I thought this site was anyone to contribute what they have to say:
Remember, everyone has memories about the movie days.
In fact, if anyone wants to know everything documented about theaters
of Odessa.
They can read all about them in booklet-MOVIE ROW-by Billy Holcomb
It tells everything you might want to know.
It is available at the Southwest Archives at Ector County library
It has not been published as yet, but all info is there.
Just my comment…
Should say: Billy H Don Lewis Billy Smith
Don, Tiny Correction-The NorthPark building was refurbished in 2004, but it was never reopened as a movie theater.
Correct on the Liberty, I will try and get an old 1947 photo
posted, which shows both theaters in their heyday Billy h
THE FEATURES ARE FROM 1948
The High Road was opened the 3rd weekend of April, 1950
Billy Holcomb
RED RIVER RETURNS TO DENISON
Trying to capture a little of movie hey days of the past, Red River
returned to the Rialto at Denison on a cool evening, March 18, 1982.
The event generated a little bit of excitement as quite a number of oldtimers reminished about the night 34 years earlier.
The celebration was a far cry from the original, however Denison’s leaders were a different breed, displaying a lack of concern for a
historic occasion of trying to bring back the Rialto’s golden years.
The Classic Red River itself had become relic, ragged and old.
Most in attendance wondered why they were not at home seeing it on
television. Billy Holcomb
television.
I will get some pictures of the Red River Premier at Denison up soon
..Billy Holcomb….
RED RIVER Premiered at the Rialto, Wednesday, August 25, 1948.
It was a world premier, but this was the Southwest Premier, but as
reported the stars did not appear at Denison.
Most of them came to Dallas during the weekend.
John Wayne did mention the reason for the premier at Denison was it
was possibly because it was so close to Red River.
The feature was supposed to open at Denison on the 25th, and open
at 350 theaters the next day.
However, many of the towns already had the feature such as Sherman,
and most of them opened their showings on the 25th.
Everyone at denison still has bragging rights that Red River made its
first showing in town……Billy Holcomb
The Lamar was opened by Claude Musselman in 1930 at 202 Bonham st.
Bonham street is Highway 82, which goes directly through the city.
The theater structure still stands, but bit the dust as a theater
in 1963