The Holiday D-I opened June 1, 1956 by Burntex Theatre operator and former mayor Tommy “T.J.” White and his wife. It opened with widescreen tower of 40' by 87' to present CinemaScope titles with space for 325 cars. Jack Corgan was the architect of the layout and screen tower with local architect Byron Jenkins designing the concession stand. Southwest Theater Equipment of Houston equipped the venue.
The $75,000 Dickinson Drive-In Theatre was built to the plans of Minneapolis architect Al Svensson. It launched with a sneak preview including the mayor and other dignitaries on August 9, 1950 and a grand opening on August 10, 1950 with Yvonne DeCarlo in “Buccaneer’s Girl” both nights. Operator Frank G. Hallowell nicknamed the concession stand “The Breezeway.”
(For those interested, it was never called the Sunset Outdoor Movies - which was another location about a mile away that opened in July of 1950.)
The Dickinson Drive-In closed for the season on October 2, 1966 with “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance.” It opened on April 16, 1967 as the Hillcrest Drive-In Theater with “Apache Gold.” As noted above, the venue went out in style with a Labor Day weekend dusk to dawn extravaganza with “Uncommon Valor”, “First Blood”, “Fast Times At Ridgemont High”, and “Psycho II”. (“48 Hours” was supposed to have been in the marathon but was not shown.) All cars making it to the end of “Psycho II” got a free continental breakfast.
The City demolished the theater on February 21, 1991.
The Lake View Drive-In launched on April 27, 1973 with “The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid” and “Friends.” It went by Lake-View and, finally, Lakeview as it closed on Labor Day, September 1, 1986 with “SpaceCamp.”
The $75,000 Dickinson Drive-In Theatre was built to the plans of Minneapolis architect Al Svensson (at right). It launched with a sneak preview including the mayor and other dignitaries on August 9, 1950 and a grand opening on August 10, 1950 with Yvonne DeCarlo in “Buccaneer’s Girl” both nights. Operator Frank G. Hallowell nicknamed the concession stand “The Breezeway.”
The Grand Theatre opened in the existing McArthur Block by C.L. Blades and E.J. Erickson on October 23, 1912 with 210 patrons - a sell-out. Manager Billy Trout was in charge. It closed July 19, 1915 for larger digs.
The 400-seat grander New Grand opened in the existing Greengard’s retail store building on July 23, 1915. Four fans improved ventilation over the previous venue. It added sound to remain viable. Carter S. Troyer took on the venue closing it for the summer of 1931. It re-emerged to the plans of E.A. Engebretson as the State Theatre now with sound on September 15, 1931. Troyer gave it a streamline moderne refresh in 1937 reducing seat count to 275. He gave the lobby and front a refresh in 1950 with seat count at 305. He was accused of underreporting box office totals from 1941 to 1952 by the major studios. Not long after Quad-States Theatre Services was handling the booking likely indicating a settlement.
William and Valerie Nostdahl bought it as a project n 1992 as the Botno Theatre. It was still operating in the 2020s under different operators.
Arvid Wiklund and Arnold O. Lona took over Guss Freed’s Grand and Philip B Pietz’s Rialto theaters, locally, and merged them into the State Theatre in the existing W.L. Gardner Block at 740 Main Street. It opened December 30, 1927 with Richard Dix in “Knockout Reilly.” On February 27, 1930 the venue was equipped with sound with “The Rainbow Man.”
The operators announced an August 16, 1981 closure with “Cannonball Run” selling out. But the theatre reopened one more time by Gottschalk Theatres before closing permanently November 4, 1984 with “Flash Point.” The theatre was offered for sale in the classifieds thereafter. It was demolished on March 21-29, 2001.
The Orpheum opened October 14, 1912. It was converted to sound to remain commercially viable. The Snyders - William “Billy” Snyder" and family - launched the Synder Theatre on November 29, 1949 closing the Orpheum on November 27, 1949 with “Hellfire.”
The Orpheum became the VFW fraternal hall and it was demolished at the end of its 20-year term in September of 1970.
Opened Sept. 12, 1952 with “Lydia Bailey.” It closed on September 4, 2011 with Jason Momoa as “Conan, The Barbarian.” The Lake Park was demolished at the end of its second 30-year leasing term on July 31, 2012.
The Orpheum opened October 14, 1912. It was converted to sound to remain commercially viable. The Snyders - William “Billy” Snyder" and family - launched the Synder Theatre on November 29, 1949 closing the Orpheum on November 27, 1949 with “Hellfire.”
Virgil Gould and Art Kuhlman launched this 420-car venue on August 25, 1949 with “Homestretch.” It appears to have closed on September 25, 1961 with “The Gazebo.” In 1967, the venue was reportedly removed for a planned motel which does not appear to have been built.
The small-town Floodwood Theatre with Finnish- and Swedish-language film programming that reflects the enduring Scandinavian immigrant traditions of Minnesota… Siistiä!
At the end of the 1964 season, Bob Rosen took on the venue renaming it as the Star-Lite Outdoor Theatre beginning on April 29, 1965. During the season it was sold again to R&D Amusements of Bismarck. It was reacquired by Rosen who operated until closure in 1986 (twinned in 1981 as the Star Lite Outdoor Theatre 1 & 2).
Grand opening ad of the Texas Theatre on May 21, 1948 with “Unconquered” in photos. Jack Corgan was its architect.
The Holiday D-I opened June 1, 1956 by Burntex Theatre operator and former mayor Tommy “T.J.” White and his wife. It opened with widescreen tower of 40' by 87' to present CinemaScope titles with space for 325 cars. Jack Corgan was the architect of the layout and screen tower with local architect Byron Jenkins designing the concession stand. Southwest Theater Equipment of Houston equipped the venue.
Restoring as a country music / dance hall in August 2026
(August 23, 1906 shot btw)
The $75,000 Dickinson Drive-In Theatre was built to the plans of Minneapolis architect Al Svensson. It launched with a sneak preview including the mayor and other dignitaries on August 9, 1950 and a grand opening on August 10, 1950 with Yvonne DeCarlo in “Buccaneer’s Girl” both nights. Operator Frank G. Hallowell nicknamed the concession stand “The Breezeway.”
(For those interested, it was never called the Sunset Outdoor Movies - which was another location about a mile away that opened in July of 1950.)
The Dickinson Drive-In closed for the season on October 2, 1966 with “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance.” It opened on April 16, 1967 as the Hillcrest Drive-In Theater with “Apache Gold.” As noted above, the venue went out in style with a Labor Day weekend dusk to dawn extravaganza with “Uncommon Valor”, “First Blood”, “Fast Times At Ridgemont High”, and “Psycho II”. (“48 Hours” was supposed to have been in the marathon but was not shown.) All cars making it to the end of “Psycho II” got a free continental breakfast.
The City demolished the theater on February 21, 1991.
(Strand to the right)
Closed - yet a last ditch renovating project is taking place.
It is currently named the Dickinson 3 Movie Theater operated by Golden Ticket Cinemas.
The Lake View Drive-In launched on April 27, 1973 with “The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid” and “Friends.” It went by Lake-View and, finally, Lakeview as it closed on Labor Day, September 1, 1986 with “SpaceCamp.”
The Lake View Drive-In launches on April 27, 1973 with “The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid” and “Friends.”
The $75,000 Dickinson Drive-In Theatre was built to the plans of Minneapolis architect Al Svensson (at right). It launched with a sneak preview including the mayor and other dignitaries on August 9, 1950 and a grand opening on August 10, 1950 with Yvonne DeCarlo in “Buccaneer’s Girl” both nights. Operator Frank G. Hallowell nicknamed the concession stand “The Breezeway.”
Trivia note: The Sherwood Theatre sold on eBay for $4,000 on August 29, 2026.
The Grand Theatre opened in the existing McArthur Block by C.L. Blades and E.J. Erickson on October 23, 1912 with 210 patrons - a sell-out. Manager Billy Trout was in charge. It closed July 19, 1915 for larger digs.
The 400-seat grander New Grand opened in the existing Greengard’s retail store building on July 23, 1915. Four fans improved ventilation over the previous venue. It added sound to remain viable. Carter S. Troyer took on the venue closing it for the summer of 1931. It re-emerged to the plans of E.A. Engebretson as the State Theatre now with sound on September 15, 1931. Troyer gave it a streamline moderne refresh in 1937 reducing seat count to 275. He gave the lobby and front a refresh in 1950 with seat count at 305. He was accused of underreporting box office totals from 1941 to 1952 by the major studios. Not long after Quad-States Theatre Services was handling the booking likely indicating a settlement.
William and Valerie Nostdahl bought it as a project n 1992 as the Botno Theatre. It was still operating in the 2020s under different operators.
Arvid Wiklund and Arnold O. Lona took over Guss Freed’s Grand and Philip B Pietz’s Rialto theaters, locally, and merged them into the State Theatre in the existing W.L. Gardner Block at 740 Main Street. It opened December 30, 1927 with Richard Dix in “Knockout Reilly.” On February 27, 1930 the venue was equipped with sound with “The Rainbow Man.”
The operators announced an August 16, 1981 closure with “Cannonball Run” selling out. But the theatre reopened one more time by Gottschalk Theatres before closing permanently November 4, 1984 with “Flash Point.” The theatre was offered for sale in the classifieds thereafter. It was demolished on March 21-29, 2001.
Cecil Hamers opened the Midway Drive-In and definitely was still its operator in 1971 for what may be its final season.
The Orpheum opened October 14, 1912. It was converted to sound to remain commercially viable. The Snyders - William “Billy” Snyder" and family - launched the Synder Theatre on November 29, 1949 closing the Orpheum on November 27, 1949 with “Hellfire.”
The Orpheum became the VFW fraternal hall and it was demolished at the end of its 20-year term in September of 1970.
Opened Sept. 12, 1952 with “Lydia Bailey.” It closed on September 4, 2011 with Jason Momoa as “Conan, The Barbarian.” The Lake Park was demolished at the end of its second 30-year leasing term on July 31, 2012.
The Orpheum opened October 14, 1912. It was converted to sound to remain commercially viable. The Snyders - William “Billy” Snyder" and family - launched the Synder Theatre on November 29, 1949 closing the Orpheum on November 27, 1949 with “Hellfire.”
A new sound system in 1934
Virgil Gould and Art Kuhlman launched this 420-car venue on August 25, 1949 with “Homestretch.” It appears to have closed on September 25, 1961 with “The Gazebo.” In 1967, the venue was reportedly removed for a planned motel which does not appear to have been built.
Closed on January 1, 1956 with “Conflict” and “Russian Holiday.”
The small-town Floodwood Theatre with Finnish- and Swedish-language film programming that reflects the enduring Scandinavian immigrant traditions of Minnesota… Siistiä!
The Lakeview Drive-In Theatre was opened by auto dealer Neale Starks on July 7, 1952.
A Christmas gift as the Cheri Theatre is added to the Capri Theatre in 1968.
At the end of the 1964 season, Bob Rosen took on the venue renaming it as the Star-Lite Outdoor Theatre beginning on April 29, 1965. During the season it was sold again to R&D Amusements of Bismarck. It was reacquired by Rosen who operated until closure in 1986 (twinned in 1981 as the Star Lite Outdoor Theatre 1 & 2).