Boxoffice, Feb. 16, 1970: “CAMPBELL, CALIF. - The city planning commission was slated to consider the deferred request of Syufy Enterprises for a zone change and use permit to allow a third screen for the Winchester Drive-In to be installed on property adjacent to the present airer at its mid-January meeting.”
Boxoffice, July 27, 1970: “The city council, by a 4-1 vote, has overruled the planning commission recommendation which had denied the zone change request of Syufy Enterprises to permit the erection of a third screen at the Winchester Drive-In.”
Boxoffice, July 27, 1970: “William Gearing of the Silver Spring-based B&B circuit has taken over the booking of … the Buckeye Drive-In, Buckeye, W. Va., and the Blue Star Drive-In, Petersburg, Va. These theatres were booked by the late Joe Walsh, Baltimore booker.”
Boxoffice, July 27, 1970: “William Gearing of the Silver Spring-based B&B circuit has taken over the booking of … the Buckeye Drive-In, Buckeye, W. Va., and the Blue Star Drive-In, Petersburg, Va. These theatres were booked by the late Joe Walsh, Baltimore booker.”
Boxoffice, July 20, 1970: “Jerry Bullard has opened his new 120-car drive-in at Sundance, Wyo. The theatre will be on a two-change-a-week basis, with bookings being on a circuit with Bullard’s Drive-In located in nearby Upton, Wyo.”
A note in the July 13, 1970 issue of Boxoffice implied that the Marshalltown was built in 1948, though that might not be accurate. Manager Walter Gary spent $2000 on refurbishment, some of it repainting the 20x70-foot screen, “the first major improvements made at the Drive-In Theatre since it was built here 22 years ago”.
The June 29, 1970 issue of Boxoffice reported that Gulf States Theatres planned to expand the Don to two screens, but later aerial photos say that never happened.
When the Muncie Star Press published this photo in 2023, it gave credit as “Courtesy Of Ball State University’s Bracken Archive And Special Collections”.
Just a bump to note that there is no contemporary evidence that the Del Mar existed before 1970, but plenty of photographic proof that there was no drive-in at that site before then. Kudos to anyone who can figure out what was confusing those drive-in historians.
Boxoffice, March 22, 1971: “Bill Padget, BLB Drive-In, Clayton, is mayor of that Oklahoma city. His BLB Drive-In is named for daughter Brenda, his wife Laverne and himself”
A 1955 aerial photo showed a drive-in just southeast of the intersection of US 22 and Highway 987. It was still intact in 1962 but razed by 1972.
Although part of the viewing field is now covered by the expanded highway intersection, a small cluster of motels and restaurants occupies another part. A decent address is 1881 Catasauqua Rd, Allentown, PA 18109.
On June 1, 1970, Boxoffice wrote that W. W. Fincher of Chatsworth GA sold the Jet and the Montgomery to the Atlanta-based Wilby-Kincey circuit. The article added that the circuit flipped the Jet to R. M. Kennedy, Birmingham exhibitor.
Turns out there that this part of Tennessee had both a Starlite AND a Midway.
Boxoffice, June 1, 1970: “W. W. Fincher of Chatsworth … sold his Starlite Drive-In at Athens, Tenn., to Jack Jones … (who) also owns and operated the Midway Drive-In at Etowah, Tenn.”
Boxoffice, June 1, 1970: “Billy Bowen, owner of the Europa (sic) Drive-In at Europa, Miss., has had to close the airer temporarily after fire destroyed his home. Bowen said that while he was trying to get his residential problems solved he didn’t have time to operate the drive-in. He hopes to relight it soon.”
Boxoffice, June 1, 1970: “Sidney J. Cohen announces excellent business at his new Sheridan II Drive-In at Sheridan Drive and Ensminger Road. The 850-car ozoner is equipped with a 100-foot screen and the last word in projection and sound equipment. "Loving” was the opening film"
Boxoffice, May 25, 1970: “Texas Cinema Corp. of Ennis has purchased a half-interest in the local King’s Theatre and Rancho Drive-In from L. D. Sipes of Kingsville and has assumed operation of both situations. Sipes will concentrate on management of his Parkway Foods Store, 1906 East Kennedy.”
Boxoffice, May 25, 1970: “Motion Picture Booking Agency announced taking over the booking and buying for the Regent and Chisholm Trail drive-ins in Wellington, Kas., effective Saturday (2). The theatre, formerly operated by James Brakeall, is now under the ownership of Paul Corey.”
Looks like Screen #3 didn’t arrive until 1970.
Boxoffice, Feb. 16, 1970: “CAMPBELL, CALIF. - The city planning commission was slated to consider the deferred request of Syufy Enterprises for a zone change and use permit to allow a third screen for the Winchester Drive-In to be installed on property adjacent to the present airer at its mid-January meeting.”
Boxoffice, July 27, 1970: “The city council, by a 4-1 vote, has overruled the planning commission recommendation which had denied the zone change request of Syufy Enterprises to permit the erection of a third screen at the Winchester Drive-In.”
Boxoffice, July 27, 1970: “William Gearing of the Silver Spring-based B&B circuit has taken over the booking of … the Buckeye Drive-In, Buckeye, W. Va., and the Blue Star Drive-In, Petersburg, Va. These theatres were booked by the late Joe Walsh, Baltimore booker.”
Boxoffice, July 27, 1970: “William Gearing of the Silver Spring-based B&B circuit has taken over the booking of … the Buckeye Drive-In, Buckeye, W. Va., and the Blue Star Drive-In, Petersburg, Va. These theatres were booked by the late Joe Walsh, Baltimore booker.”
Boxoffice, July 20, 1970: “Jerry Bullard has opened his new 120-car drive-in at Sundance, Wyo. The theatre will be on a two-change-a-week basis, with bookings being on a circuit with Bullard’s Drive-In located in nearby Upton, Wyo.”
A note in the July 13, 1970 issue of Boxoffice implied that the Marshalltown was built in 1948, though that might not be accurate. Manager Walter Gary spent $2000 on refurbishment, some of it repainting the 20x70-foot screen, “the first major improvements made at the Drive-In Theatre since it was built here 22 years ago”.
The June 29, 1970 issue of Boxoffice reported that Gulf States Theatres planned to expand the Don to two screens, but later aerial photos say that never happened.
The June 29, 1970 issue of Boxoffice reported that the Beach was becoming a twin screen drive-in as it rebuild from Hurrican Camille.
When the Muncie Star Press published this photo in 2023, it gave credit as “Courtesy Of Ball State University’s Bracken Archive And Special Collections”.
Just a bump to note that there is no contemporary evidence that the Del Mar existed before 1970, but plenty of photographic proof that there was no drive-in at that site before then. Kudos to anyone who can figure out what was confusing those drive-in historians.
Boxoffice, March 22, 1971: “Bill Crosby, Little River Drive-In, Wright City, has installed a one-way exit treadle which he built himself.”
Verifying kennerado’s note…
Boxoffice, March 22, 1971: “Bill Padget, BLB Drive-In, Clayton, is mayor of that Oklahoma city. His BLB Drive-In is named for daughter Brenda, his wife Laverne and himself”
This 2006 photo is by JoshBerglund19 on Flickr.
A 1955 aerial photo showed a drive-in just southeast of the intersection of US 22 and Highway 987. It was still intact in 1962 but razed by 1972.
Although part of the viewing field is now covered by the expanded highway intersection, a small cluster of motels and restaurants occupies another part. A decent address is 1881 Catasauqua Rd, Allentown, PA 18109.
On June 1, 1970, Boxoffice wrote that W. W. Fincher of Chatsworth GA sold the Jet and the Montgomery to the Atlanta-based Wilby-Kincey circuit.
On June 1, 1970, Boxoffice wrote that W. W. Fincher of Chatsworth GA sold the Jet and the Montgomery to the Atlanta-based Wilby-Kincey circuit. The article added that the circuit flipped the Jet to R. M. Kennedy, Birmingham exhibitor.
Boxoffice, June 1, 1970: “W. W. Fincher of Chatsworth … purchased the Blue Sky Drive-In at LaFayette in this state from Jim Maffett."
Turns out there that this part of Tennessee had both a Starlite AND a Midway.
Boxoffice, June 1, 1970: “W. W. Fincher of Chatsworth … sold his Starlite Drive-In at Athens, Tenn., to Jack Jones … (who) also owns and operated the Midway Drive-In at Etowah, Tenn.”
Boxoffice, June 1, 1970: “Billy Bowen, owner of the Europa (sic) Drive-In at Europa, Miss., has had to close the airer temporarily after fire destroyed his home. Bowen said that while he was trying to get his residential problems solved he didn’t have time to operate the drive-in. He hopes to relight it soon.”
Boxoffice, June 1, 1970: “Sidney J. Cohen announces excellent business at his new Sheridan II Drive-In at Sheridan Drive and Ensminger Road. The 850-car ozoner is equipped with a 100-foot screen and the last word in projection and sound equipment. "Loving” was the opening film"
Boxoffice, May 25, 1970: “Jim Travis again is operating the Strand Theatre and Lakeland Drive-In at Milford, Iowa.”
Boxoffice, May 25, 1970: “Texas Cinema Corp. of Ennis has purchased a half-interest in the local King’s Theatre and Rancho Drive-In from L. D. Sipes of Kingsville and has assumed operation of both situations. Sipes will concentrate on management of his Parkway Foods Store, 1906 East Kennedy.”
Boxoffice, May 25, 1970: “The name of the Joey Drive-In at Monroe has been changed to Showtown USA Drive-In”
Boxoffice, May 25, 1970: “Storm damage to the screen has brought about the temporary closing of the Trace Drive-In at Amory, Miss.”
Boxoffice, May 25, 1970: “Don Davison has changed the name of his Dragon Drive-In at High Springs to the Art Theatre Drive-In”
Boxoffice, May 25, 1970: “Motion Picture Booking Agency announced taking over the booking and buying for the Regent and Chisholm Trail drive-ins in Wellington, Kas., effective Saturday (2). The theatre, formerly operated by James Brakeall, is now under the ownership of Paul Corey.”