Here is an item from Boxoffice magazine, May 1950:
ELK CITY, OKLA-Winfred Wilcoxon, formerly at the Elk Theater here, now is manager of the 66 Drive-In on Route 66 west of here. Dale Brister, who managed the drive-in last season, has been shifted to the Elk.
HOUSTON, TEX-The 1,000 car Trail Drive-In on Old Spanish Trail here recently was opened by the Farr Amusement Co. The 50x60 foot screen is one of the largest in this area, according to Jack Farr, manager.
From Boxoffice magazine, May 1950. Perhaps Thomas should be removed as the aka.
KINGFISHER, OKLA-The Thomas Theater here has been purchased by Don Abernathy, a partner in Marcy, Inc. Possession was to be taken by the new owner April 30. Another local theater, known as the 89er, was bought last July by Marcy, Inc.
STAMFORD, TEX-The Grand Theater here, recently purchased by H&H Theaters from Robert Brown of Abilene, has been closed for remodeling which is expected to be completed in about two months. The building will be lengthened 25 feet and converted into a stadium-type structure. Changes at the front of the house will include shifting of the box office and installation of a refreshment bar. Refinements in the auditorium will include new carpeting, indirect lighting and wall murals. A larger screen will be installed. Sandy Hodges is co-owner of the house.
“The Red Menace” is funny now, almost sixty years later, due to its Red-baiting melodramatics, but it was taken quite seriously in its day. This is from Boxoffice magazine, May 1950:
According to Mrs. Clyde Marshall, co-owner of the Columbian, Columbia, “The Red Menace” in its two-day run at the theater played to far better than average grosses. Responsible for the large attendance at the showings in large part was the local VFW post, which sponsored the program and shared in the receipts.
FORT THOMAS, KY-The Hiland Theater, only local motion picture house, was to close its doors April 30. Manager Ray Piccola said patronage at the theater had declined 65 percent in the last four months. He believes the chief factor is the increasing number of television sets in homes. The theater was opened in 1926.
Interesting item from Boxoffice magazine, May 1950:
Winner in the Warner circuit’s amateur contest at the Enright was Frank Gorshin, a part-time usher at the Sheridan Square, who was an entry from the Belmar.
Here is an item dated 11/9/04 from the Valley Independent:
Theater Named for Veteran to be Razed
GREENVILLE (AP) â€" A movie theater named for the first Greenville resident killed in World War II will be rubble by Veterans Day. Crews began preparing the Jordan Theater for demolition on Monday, and workers were to demolish the building today and Wednesday.
Opened in 1946, the theater was named for Cpl. James Jordan. Greenville’s Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3374 is also named for Jordan. The 1,200-seat theater has been vacant since the 1980s.
GREENVILLE, PA-The Jordan Theater will offer no further films here on Sunday. Earlier, representatives of the Greenville Ministerial Association petitioned Blatt Brothers, operator of the theater, asking that Sunday shows be discontinued. The Jordan had been operating each Sunday in violation of the Sunday referendum. Manager Gilbert Cooke had paid a $50 fine each week for six weeks. The petition to theater owners was signed by nine local churches, and seven from surrounding areas.
ROCK RAPIDS, IOWA-Gerald J. Smith of Sioux Falls has purchased the Rapids Theater building and business from the Berger Amusement Company of Minneapolis. Purchase price was said to exceed $70,000.
The Rapids was taken over in 1936 by the Pioneer Theater Corp. of Minneapolis. Later it was owned at different times by Sam Karatz of Minneapolis and by Gordon Green, also of Minneapolis. The Berger company purchased the house in 1945. Since 1948, Bernie Pretz and Stan Moyle have managed the theater for the Minneapolis firm. Moyle may stay on awhile for the new owner.
KANSAS CITY, KAS-The 500-car open air theater being erected on a site at 18th Street and Southwest Boulevard here by Charles Potter, Arthur Burke, Dr. Paul Gatzoulis and associates will be known as the Boulevard Drive-In. Seats for walk-in patrons may be installed if there is a demand for them. The new drive-in is expected to be ready for opening about June 15.
An extensive program of improvement and beautification is underway at the Sheldon Drive-In, Iowa, for Gib Sessler, proprietor. A new glass block box office is being constructed. The entrance is being redesigned and new lighting provided. Lombardy poplars and Colorado green spruce are being planted along the south fence and screen. A honeysuckle hedge will be planted as well, and the screen tower will be repainted.
EFFINGHAM, ILL.-The 750-car drive-in being constructed for Frisina Amusement Co. of Springfield, Ill. on Highway 40 about one mile east of the city limits will be opened early in June.
ALTON,ILL.-Rains on April 27 and 28 forced the postponement of the grand opening of the Starlight Drive-In here, owned by the Alton Starlight Corp., in which Joe Goldfarb and Harry Beck of Alton and Charley Goldman of St. Louis are the principal stockholders. New opening date was May 6. It will have accommodations for between 750 and 1,000 cars.
The St. Louis Theater Supply Co. recently sold about 500 International seats to Dean Davis for his new Avenue Theater, now under construction in West Plains, Mo.
/theaters/1037/
This is the only one I know about in that area:
/theaters/3610/
Here is an item from Boxoffice magazine, May 1950:
ELK CITY, OKLA-Winfred Wilcoxon, formerly at the Elk Theater here, now is manager of the 66 Drive-In on Route 66 west of here. Dale Brister, who managed the drive-in last season, has been shifted to the Elk.
From Boxoffice magazine, May 1950:
HOUSTON, TEX-The 1,000 car Trail Drive-In on Old Spanish Trail here recently was opened by the Farr Amusement Co. The 50x60 foot screen is one of the largest in this area, according to Jack Farr, manager.
From Boxoffice magazine, May 1950. Perhaps Thomas should be removed as the aka.
KINGFISHER, OKLA-The Thomas Theater here has been purchased by Don Abernathy, a partner in Marcy, Inc. Possession was to be taken by the new owner April 30. Another local theater, known as the 89er, was bought last July by Marcy, Inc.
From Boxoffice magazine, May 1950:
STAMFORD, TEX-The Grand Theater here, recently purchased by H&H Theaters from Robert Brown of Abilene, has been closed for remodeling which is expected to be completed in about two months. The building will be lengthened 25 feet and converted into a stadium-type structure. Changes at the front of the house will include shifting of the box office and installation of a refreshment bar. Refinements in the auditorium will include new carpeting, indirect lighting and wall murals. A larger screen will be installed. Sandy Hodges is co-owner of the house.
“The Red Menace” is funny now, almost sixty years later, due to its Red-baiting melodramatics, but it was taken quite seriously in its day. This is from Boxoffice magazine, May 1950:
According to Mrs. Clyde Marshall, co-owner of the Columbian, Columbia, “The Red Menace” in its two-day run at the theater played to far better than average grosses. Responsible for the large attendance at the showings in large part was the local VFW post, which sponsored the program and shared in the receipts.
From Boxoffice magazine, May 1950:
FORT THOMAS, KY-The Hiland Theater, only local motion picture house, was to close its doors April 30. Manager Ray Piccola said patronage at the theater had declined 65 percent in the last four months. He believes the chief factor is the increasing number of television sets in homes. The theater was opened in 1926.
Not to Mr. Hunke. I hope he cut down on the fatty foods.
Interesting item from Boxoffice magazine, May 1950:
Winner in the Warner circuit’s amateur contest at the Enright was Frank Gorshin, a part-time usher at the Sheridan Square, who was an entry from the Belmar.
Here is an item dated 11/9/04 from the Valley Independent:
Theater Named for Veteran to be Razed
GREENVILLE (AP) â€" A movie theater named for the first Greenville resident killed in World War II will be rubble by Veterans Day. Crews began preparing the Jordan Theater for demolition on Monday, and workers were to demolish the building today and Wednesday.
Opened in 1946, the theater was named for Cpl. James Jordan. Greenville’s Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3374 is also named for Jordan. The 1,200-seat theater has been vacant since the 1980s.
From Boxoffice magazine, May 1950:
GREENVILLE, PA-The Jordan Theater will offer no further films here on Sunday. Earlier, representatives of the Greenville Ministerial Association petitioned Blatt Brothers, operator of the theater, asking that Sunday shows be discontinued. The Jordan had been operating each Sunday in violation of the Sunday referendum. Manager Gilbert Cooke had paid a $50 fine each week for six weeks. The petition to theater owners was signed by nine local churches, and seven from surrounding areas.
From Boxoffice magazine, May 1950:
ROCK RAPIDS, IOWA-Gerald J. Smith of Sioux Falls has purchased the Rapids Theater building and business from the Berger Amusement Company of Minneapolis. Purchase price was said to exceed $70,000.
The Rapids was taken over in 1936 by the Pioneer Theater Corp. of Minneapolis. Later it was owned at different times by Sam Karatz of Minneapolis and by Gordon Green, also of Minneapolis. The Berger company purchased the house in 1945. Since 1948, Bernie Pretz and Stan Moyle have managed the theater for the Minneapolis firm. Moyle may stay on awhile for the new owner.
From Boxoffice magazine, May 1950:
KANSAS CITY, KAS-The 500-car open air theater being erected on a site at 18th Street and Southwest Boulevard here by Charles Potter, Arthur Burke, Dr. Paul Gatzoulis and associates will be known as the Boulevard Drive-In. Seats for walk-in patrons may be installed if there is a demand for them. The new drive-in is expected to be ready for opening about June 15.
From Boxoffice magazine, May 1950:
Elmer Hunke, Minne Lusa Theater owner who has been down due to high blood pressure, is again putting in a few hours a day at the theater.
From Boxoffice magazine, May 1950:
An extensive program of improvement and beautification is underway at the Sheldon Drive-In, Iowa, for Gib Sessler, proprietor. A new glass block box office is being constructed. The entrance is being redesigned and new lighting provided. Lombardy poplars and Colorado green spruce are being planted along the south fence and screen. A honeysuckle hedge will be planted as well, and the screen tower will be repainted.
From Boxoffice magazine, May 1950:
EFFINGHAM, ILL.-The 750-car drive-in being constructed for Frisina Amusement Co. of Springfield, Ill. on Highway 40 about one mile east of the city limits will be opened early in June.
From Boxoffice magazine, May 1950:
ALTON,ILL.-Rains on April 27 and 28 forced the postponement of the grand opening of the Starlight Drive-In here, owned by the Alton Starlight Corp., in which Joe Goldfarb and Harry Beck of Alton and Charley Goldman of St. Louis are the principal stockholders. New opening date was May 6. It will have accommodations for between 750 and 1,000 cars.
From Boxoffice magazine, May 1950:
The St. Louis Theater Supply Co. recently sold about 500 International seats to Dean Davis for his new Avenue Theater, now under construction in West Plains, Mo.
From Boxoffice magazine, May 1950:
Abbott Theater Equipment Co. has installed new Ideal seats at Vincent Quarte’s Bartlett Theater in Highwood, Ill.
From Boxoffice magazine, May 1950:
Art Belasco, manager of the Lane Court Theater, ia now using dishes as giveaways three times a week to boost attendance.
Sorry, it was B&K, not R&K. My mistake.
From Boxoffice magazine, May 1950:
Sears, Roebuck & Co. will use R&K’s Portage Theater for Saturday morning shows for children. The program was arranged by manager Nate Ruttenberg.
From Boxoffice magazine, May 1950:
“The Titan” in its third week at the Larkin Theater, San Francisco, is being exploited by Quinten Lacey, exploiteer from United Artists.
From Boxoffice magazine, May 1950:
J.H. Boyd, who recently purchased the California Theater in Kerman, announced plans to remodel the front.