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”.
First opened as the Airdome Theatre in 1908, and was converted into an indoor movie theater in 1913 and was renamed the Lyric Theatre. It was demolished in 1945.
The Cort Theatre first opened its doors as the New Theatre for only its first ten days of operation because of the theater not having a name yet. It first opened on July 29, 1922 with Hoot Gibson in “Trimmed” and Ernest Truex in “Little, But Oh My!”, and was renamed the Cort Theatre after a theater-naming contest on August 8, 1922.
The Decatur Drive-In opened its gates on June 10, 1950 with a one-day showing of Randolph Scott in “Canadian Pacific” (unknown if extras added). Some original installations include a 60ft screen tower with a 40x50ft screen, RCA sound, RCA in-car speakers, and Simplex projection with high-powered lamps. It was first co-owned by Carl Gatteschall.
The Big Rapids Drive-In became national headlines on the early morning hours of October 12, 1964 when unexpected auto fumes, related to carbon monoxide, killed seven people across Northern Michigan, including an entire family of five from 90 miles away in St. Charles, Michigan.
The other two non-family victims, identified as a young Western Michigan couple from both Sears and Hersey, were found at the traces of the Big Rapids Drive-In. Manager James Chipman told officers from the Reed City Police Department that he discovered the bodies in their vehicle while it was still running at 1:02 AM ET that morning. Chipman did shut off their vehicle but arouse the pair before calling the police. He attempted to revive them with a resuscitator but failed. They were pronounced dead after arrival at the Big Rapids Community Hospital.
Its very strange that its grand opening attraction doesn’t display its first attraction, but does say that it comes along with an unnamed cartoon and a newsreel.
The Sunset Drive-In most likely opened during the week of June 30, 1955, but its grand opening date and advertisement wasn’t found at all. The Sunset Drive-In was briefly renamed the Beattyville Drive-In at the start of the 1981 season, and closed later that same year.
Closed as a full-time movie theater on June 23, 1957 with John Wayne in “The Wings Of Eagles” (unknown if extras added). The Lee Theatre did reopen as a special events theater a short time later and does screen a very few amount of movies at rare occasions.
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.
Then there must be a similar theater like this elsewhere in Fayetteville. I’ll add the Lyric into its own page soon.
First opened as the Airdome Theatre in 1908, and was converted into an indoor movie theater in 1913 and was renamed the Lyric Theatre. It was demolished in 1945.
There are two Pic Theatres in Bagley. There is another Pic Theatre that operated before the newer Pic Theatre opened.
Opened on June 27, 1924, still open in the mid-1960s.
The Cort Theatre first opened its doors as the New Theatre for only its first ten days of operation because of the theater not having a name yet. It first opened on July 29, 1922 with Hoot Gibson in “Trimmed” and Ernest Truex in “Little, But Oh My!”, and was renamed the Cort Theatre after a theater-naming contest on August 8, 1922.
1922 newspaper articles confirmed that it could either be the Crystal Theatre or the Mecca Theatre, both operated into that year.
The Decatur Drive-In opened its gates on June 10, 1950 with a one-day showing of Randolph Scott in “Canadian Pacific” (unknown if extras added). Some original installations include a 60ft screen tower with a 40x50ft screen, RCA sound, RCA in-car speakers, and Simplex projection with high-powered lamps. It was first co-owned by Carl Gatteschall.
Opened as early as 1919, still open in 1982.
The Big Rapids Drive-In became national headlines on the early morning hours of October 12, 1964 when unexpected auto fumes, related to carbon monoxide, killed seven people across Northern Michigan, including an entire family of five from 90 miles away in St. Charles, Michigan.
The other two non-family victims, identified as a young Western Michigan couple from both Sears and Hersey, were found at the traces of the Big Rapids Drive-In. Manager James Chipman told officers from the Reed City Police Department that he discovered the bodies in their vehicle while it was still running at 1:02 AM ET that morning. Chipman did shut off their vehicle but arouse the pair before calling the police. He attempted to revive them with a resuscitator but failed. They were pronounced dead after arrival at the Big Rapids Community Hospital.
Opened with John Wayne in “Tall In The Saddle” and Lum and Abner in “Goin' To Town” (unknown if extras added).
Opened with Humphrey Bogart in “The African Queen” (unknown if extras added).
Opened with Veronica Lake in “Miss Susie Slagle’s” along with the Merrie Melodies cartoon “Quentin Quail” and Paramount News.
Its very strange that its grand opening attraction doesn’t display its first attraction, but does say that it comes along with an unnamed cartoon and a newsreel.
The Sunset Drive-In most likely opened during the week of June 30, 1955, but its grand opening date and advertisement wasn’t found at all. The Sunset Drive-In was briefly renamed the Beattyville Drive-In at the start of the 1981 season, and closed later that same year.
Closed as a full-time movie theater on June 23, 1957 with John Wayne in “The Wings Of Eagles” (unknown if extras added). The Lee Theatre did reopen as a special events theater a short time later and does screen a very few amount of movies at rare occasions.