The State Theatre actually did NOT become an adult movie house in the early-1970s, they chose to run it for only area purposes. United Artists operated the State Theatre in the early-1970s, and was running normal movies at the time such as “American Graffiti”, “The Poseidon Adventure” and “The Exorcist”, sometimes double features as well. And yes, it did housed as a venue for Top 40 and rock acts at the time but was still operating as a movie theater.
The State Theatre closed as a first-run movie theater on August 9, 1981 with Walt Disney’s “The Fox And The Hound”, and was last operated by Angstadt and Wolfe Theatres.
This first operated with three screens and was operated by Budco in the 1970s and 1980s. A fourth screen was added in 1986 and was taken over by AMC the following year.
AMC operated the 25th Street Cinema 4 until closing on July 30, 2000. It reopened independently under the name “Cinema Buffet” the following month, and was reverted back to its 25th Street Cinema name in 2001.
Its very tough to find the closing date to this theater though. It was still operating in 2005 but most likely it continued operating without advertising. It was already closed in July 2007.
Found it! The Moonlit Drive-In was built on a site of a racing track and has very long entrance and exit paths. The entirety of its screen, projection and concession booths, and traces were directly located on 398-360 Seminole Rd, Radcliff, KY 40160, which are now occupied by dozens of houses and trailer homes. Its entrance to the drive-in would’ve been located on 458-440 Hill St, Radcliff, KY 40160.
This likely operated as early as 1952. There was detail stating that the theater might be located 3 miles west of Vine Grove on then-State Route 64, but I could be completely wrong.
Actual opening date is May 17, 1950, yes with the same movie (unknown if extras added). It was first owned by Ralph Cundiff and John W. Weddle, and managed by W. Leon Hisle.
The 569-seat Columbian Theatre opened its doors by Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Marshall on February 20, 1947 with Rita Hayworth in “Gilda” (unknown if extras added).
The New Drive-In opened its gates on July 31, 1948 with Eddie Bracken on “Fun On A Weekend” and Hopalong Cassidy in “Fools Gold” along with a few unnamed short subjects.
Opened as the Twilite Drive-In on March 5, 1954 with Gregory Peck in “Captain Horatio Hornblower” and Roy Acuff in “Smoky Mountain Melody” along with the Three Stooges short “Three Dark Horses” and an unnamed Tom And Jerry cartoon. It was renamed the Webster Drive-In in 1959.
At approximately 9:30 PM ET on May 6, 1967, during a showing of Clint Walker in “Maya” as part of a double feature with Doris Day’s “The Glass Bottom Boat” beforehand, the whole audience witnessed a confirmed tornado crashing through the drive-in, toppling the severely-damaged screen down and destroying the entirety of its concession stand. This likely happened during the beginning of the movie and not during intermission. No serious injuries were reported, and the drive-in never reopened afterward.
This started life as a twin under the name “Cinema I & II” in September 1978. A third screen was added in April 1983 as the “Cinema 1-2-3”, and four more screens were added after renovation in June 1995 as the “Highland 7 Cinema”. Marquee Cinemas took over the theater on October 3, 1997.
The Marion Drive-In opened its gates on July 17, 1953 with John Lund in “Bronco Buster” along with an unnamed cartoon. Unfortunately, the Marion Drive-In was left abandoned for a whole year after Harry Gass left the theater business following its closure after the 1986 season.
The original screen suffered damage from high wind gusts in December 1987 or January 1988, but repairmen managed to work on the screen. The concession building was remodeled and the speakers were rerouted. It was renamed the Holiday Drive-In and reopened on April 4, 1988 with “Fatal Attraction” and “The Untouchables” along with an unnamed cartoon before both movies. Then-21-year-old Scott Zimmerman of Denver, Colorado became the new owner but his dream nearly turned into a devastating disaster because on how slow his business was.
In August 1992, Zimmerman and the Holiday became one of six rural drive-ins statewide to be featured in “Dusk ‘Til Dawn: Kentucky’s Rural Drive-In Theaters”, filmed in July 1991, and produced by Kentucky Educational Television (KET), the statewide PBS Network for Kentucky.
It was still open in July 1991, but was demolished in April 1995.
Opened on March 28, 1953 with John Payne in “Cross Winds” along with two unnamed cartoons. A piggy bank was also given to the first 1,000 children on opening night. The Broadview closed for the final time on September 7, 1986 with “The Manhattan Project” and “Commando”.
The actual opening date is June 1, 1949 with Howard Duff in “Red Canyon” along with the Tom And Jerry cartoon “The Little Orphan”, the Joe McDoakes comedy “So You Want To Be A Babysitter”, a soundie on the Kings Men Quartette singing “My Darling Clementine”, and the sports reel “Racing Greyhounds”.
Once operated by Angstadt and Wolfe Theatres.
Once operated by Angstadt and Wolfe Theatres.
The State Theatre actually did NOT become an adult movie house in the early-1970s, they chose to run it for only area purposes. United Artists operated the State Theatre in the early-1970s, and was running normal movies at the time such as “American Graffiti”, “The Poseidon Adventure” and “The Exorcist”, sometimes double features as well. And yes, it did housed as a venue for Top 40 and rock acts at the time but was still operating as a movie theater.
The State Theatre closed as a first-run movie theater on August 9, 1981 with Walt Disney’s “The Fox And The Hound”, and was last operated by Angstadt and Wolfe Theatres.
This first operated with three screens and was operated by Budco in the 1970s and 1980s. A fourth screen was added in 1986 and was taken over by AMC the following year.
AMC operated the 25th Street Cinema 4 until closing on July 30, 2000. It reopened independently under the name “Cinema Buffet” the following month, and was reverted back to its 25th Street Cinema name in 2001.
Its very tough to find the closing date to this theater though. It was still operating in 2005 but most likely it continued operating without advertising. It was already closed in July 2007.
Found it! The Moonlit Drive-In was built on a site of a racing track and has very long entrance and exit paths. The entirety of its screen, projection and concession booths, and traces were directly located on 398-360 Seminole Rd, Radcliff, KY 40160, which are now occupied by dozens of houses and trailer homes. Its entrance to the drive-in would’ve been located on 458-440 Hill St, Radcliff, KY 40160.
This likely operated as early as 1952. There was detail stating that the theater might be located 3 miles west of Vine Grove on then-State Route 64, but I could be completely wrong.
The Roxy Theater closed as a movie theater on June 30, 1959 because of its loss of lease according to manager G.D. Gills.
Closed on October 11, 1987.
Closed on October 8, 1977 with “A Bridge Too Far” and “Vigilante Force”. It never reopened the following season.
Closed after the 1986 season.
Opened in June 1920, still open in 1965.
Opened as a single-screener with Jack Lemmon in “How To Murder Your Wife”.
Actual opening date is May 17, 1950, yes with the same movie (unknown if extras added). It was first owned by Ralph Cundiff and John W. Weddle, and managed by W. Leon Hisle.
This operated as early as 1986.
The 569-seat Columbian Theatre opened its doors by Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Marshall on February 20, 1947 with Rita Hayworth in “Gilda” (unknown if extras added).
The New Drive-In opened its gates on July 31, 1948 with Eddie Bracken on “Fun On A Weekend” and Hopalong Cassidy in “Fools Gold” along with a few unnamed short subjects.
The top-left shows the entirety of the theater.
I’m very sure it could be either its first or second attraction.
Opened as the Twilite Drive-In on March 5, 1954 with Gregory Peck in “Captain Horatio Hornblower” and Roy Acuff in “Smoky Mountain Melody” along with the Three Stooges short “Three Dark Horses” and an unnamed Tom And Jerry cartoon. It was renamed the Webster Drive-In in 1959.
At approximately 9:30 PM ET on May 6, 1967, during a showing of Clint Walker in “Maya” as part of a double feature with Doris Day’s “The Glass Bottom Boat” beforehand, the whole audience witnessed a confirmed tornado crashing through the drive-in, toppling the severely-damaged screen down and destroying the entirety of its concession stand. This likely happened during the beginning of the movie and not during intermission. No serious injuries were reported, and the drive-in never reopened afterward.
This started life as a twin under the name “Cinema I & II” in September 1978. A third screen was added in April 1983 as the “Cinema 1-2-3”, and four more screens were added after renovation in June 1995 as the “Highland 7 Cinema”. Marquee Cinemas took over the theater on October 3, 1997.
Edited from my February 12, 2022 (2:46 PM) comment:
The Star Drive-In opened on July 13, 1949 and closed on October 6, 1985. The traces became a John Deere dealership the following year.
The Marion Drive-In opened its gates on July 17, 1953 with John Lund in “Bronco Buster” along with an unnamed cartoon. Unfortunately, the Marion Drive-In was left abandoned for a whole year after Harry Gass left the theater business following its closure after the 1986 season.
The original screen suffered damage from high wind gusts in December 1987 or January 1988, but repairmen managed to work on the screen. The concession building was remodeled and the speakers were rerouted. It was renamed the Holiday Drive-In and reopened on April 4, 1988 with “Fatal Attraction” and “The Untouchables” along with an unnamed cartoon before both movies. Then-21-year-old Scott Zimmerman of Denver, Colorado became the new owner but his dream nearly turned into a devastating disaster because on how slow his business was.
In August 1992, Zimmerman and the Holiday became one of six rural drive-ins statewide to be featured in “Dusk ‘Til Dawn: Kentucky’s Rural Drive-In Theaters”, filmed in July 1991, and produced by Kentucky Educational Television (KET), the statewide PBS Network for Kentucky.
It was still open in July 1991, but was demolished in April 1995.
Opened on March 28, 1953 with John Payne in “Cross Winds” along with two unnamed cartoons. A piggy bank was also given to the first 1,000 children on opening night. The Broadview closed for the final time on September 7, 1986 with “The Manhattan Project” and “Commando”.
The actual opening date is June 1, 1949 with Howard Duff in “Red Canyon” along with the Tom And Jerry cartoon “The Little Orphan”, the Joe McDoakes comedy “So You Want To Be A Babysitter”, a soundie on the Kings Men Quartette singing “My Darling Clementine”, and the sports reel “Racing Greyhounds”.
Closed as a movie theater in 1985.