Boxoffice, Aug. 25, 1958: “KINSLEY, KAS. - Mrs. Maxine Dixon, manager of the Palace Theatre here for the past four months, has purchased the theatre from the Kinsley Development Corp., which had operated the movie house since February 2. The development group was formed specifically for taking over keeping the theatre open after former owners gave up the business. The Palace had been operated since 1918 by the late Dr. C. C. Sterrett who in 1932 sold a half interest to Commonwealth Amusement Corp. Upon Dr. Sterrett’s death in 1940 his son, Huston Sterrett, became manager of the house until it closed in February 1957.”
The Modern Theatre section of the July 3, 1954 issue of Boxoffice ran a two-page story (with photos) about the Peerlex’s basement “lounge”. Since the small lobby had no room for a snack bar, the owners built one in the basement and lured patrons to join the “Peerlex Theatre Club” with free hot dogs or popcorn. The two rooms were 40x15 feet, decorated with free airline travel posters. There was a radio “playing at all times” and two pinball machines.
Looking at HistoricAerials, I’d say that the modern-day address closest to the Sunrise screen tower is 6369 Brando Loop, Fair Oaks, CA 95628, between Welles and Astaire lanes.
Google Maps says that the entire Sunrise site is within its boundaries of Orangevale, a census-designated place, not Fair Oaks, an unincorporated community on the south side of Greenback Lane. Of course, the people who live there now get their mail from the Fair Oaks post office.
The Feb. 6, 1961 Modern Theatre section of Boxoffice magazine included a lengthy article about the process of moving the Post Oak three miles north of its original location, which closed at the end of November 1959. The 96x28-foot screen tower was broken down into three sections and transported by house movers. Speaker posts were chipped out of the concrete and were spaced farther apart - 20 feet instead of 17 feet. The playground used the old equipment but in a larger area. At the concession stand, the old pink face brick was discarded for cement blocks. The full moving project cost over $150,000. The Post Oak reopened in June 1960.
Boxoffice, March 23, 1957: “The Reel Joy Theatre will close April 2, according to Alvin "Ike” Hables, owner. The theatre has been showing films to King City residents 31 years. It was started by Les Hables, Ike’s father. Ike took over the business in 1922 and has operated it since. He stated that pictures will be shown until April 2, the final date of current scheduling."
Motion Picture Herald, April 7, 1956: “WASHINGTON: National Theatres will ask the New York District Court for permission to acquire the Midway drive-in theatre near Reno, Nevada, according to Justice Department officials. No date has yet been set for the court hearing. The drive-in, about two miles southeast of Reno, has a 443-car capacity, and can be expanded to an 800-car capacity. Floyd C. Bernard is the present operator.”
Boxoffice, March 16, 1957: “Ray Syufy has taken over the Midway Drive-In in Reno from Floyd Bernard”
The Feb. 2, 1957 issue of Boxoffice ran a lengthy article about manager Porter Simmons' wife’s discovery of home-cooked pinto beans as a concession stand item. “When Mr. and Mrs. Jack Needham, owners of the Camp Bowie Drive-In, opened the Bluff Vue Drive-In, also in Brownwood, in 1955, pinto beans became a favorite item with customers at this larger airer, too.”
Boxoffice, Dec. 22, 1956: “MALTA, MONT. - Carl Veseth, owner of the Villa Theatre here, has begun moving dirt on a site here for a new drive-in. The new open-air theatre, scheduled to be ready for opening by May 1, will be Veseth’s second major project within the last two years. He built the new Villa Theatre here in 1954-55 and opened it on June 30, 1955. The new Villa replaced the old Palace, which Veseth had operated here since 1922. The new Villa Theatre has a 500-seat capacity. Located on the southern edge of Malta, the new drive-in will be large enough to accommodate 200 cars. Plans call for a 60x30-foot screen, concession and projection building and a 200-car capacity.”
Boxoffice, Dec. 8, 1956: “The Del Puerto, formerly the Patterson in Patterson, has installed CinemaScope. In addition, the front and boxoffice have been remodeled, the interior has been refurnished and the new name has gone up on the marquee. Mr. and Mrs. E. L. Fink purchased the theatre from Richard Bear in 1932.”
BTW, Vada Pink’s 1981 obituary in the Modesto Bee mentioned that the E stood for Elmer. “She began a free Christmas show and party for children in 1932 and distributed Christmas presents. The Christmas party was continued for nearly 30 years.”
Boxoffice, Dec. 1, 1956: “The new Lakewood Drive-In, located on the Old Charlestown pike just two miles from the Thomas Jefferson school off the Hamburg Pike, opened to the public early last month. Owners and managers of the outdoor theatre are Jacob Woehrle and his son, John. Mrs. Evelyn Payne of Salem is a stockholder in the firm. The theatre is equipped to handle 525 cars and the entertainment center also has a modern refreshment stand.”
Boxoffice, Oct. 13, 1956: “BROOKINGS, ORE. - Dave Irvine and Raymond Pope have opened the Terrace Drive-In here. The 300-car outdoor show place is equipped with RCA projection and sound items, and a screen by Songstead.”
Boxoffice, Dec. 1, 1956: “The Terrace Drive-In Theatre was flooded out in the recent heavy rains, and will be forced to discontinue business for the winter months, according to the two operators. The rains swept out a portion of the fence around the theatre, and washed out the drives into the parking area. The owners figured that the damage would be nearly impossible to fix during the season, and that their best bet would be to wait until spring and start from there. The drive-in had opened only a little over a month before the rainstorm.”
Boxoffice, Dec. 1, 1956: “Mr. and Mrs. E. H. Goldsberry have reopened the Simla Theatre, planning to present motion picture entertainment each weekend through the winter.”
Boxoffice, Nov. 17, 1956: “MERIDIAN, IDA. - The Matthews circuit has sold the Roxy to Joy Naylor of Boise … Naylor, the new Roxy owner, closed that theatre for a few days for the installation of new equipment, saying he plans to operate the theatre every evening in the future.”
Boxoffice, Nov. 17, 1956: “MERIDIAN, IDA. - The Matthews circuit has sold the Roxy to Joy Naylor of Boise. Naylor also has purchased the Family Drive-In here.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 29, 1956: “Paul Cody sold the Wigwam Theatre and the Cody Drive-In, Basin, Wyo., to Glen Woods.”
Boxoffice, Oct. 20, 1956: “BASIN, WYO. - Glenn Woods, who came here recently from Onida, S. D., has purchased the Cory Drive-In Theatre and has assumed management of the Wigwam Theatre. The drive-in was purchased from Paul F. Cory, who established it three years ago. During a recent Tuesday night meeting of the Basin town council, the Wigwam Theatre lease was transfetted to Woods from Cory. No other changes were made in the lease.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 29, 1956: “Paul Cody sold the Wigwam Theatre and the Cody Drive-In, Basin, Wyo., to Glen Woods.”
Boxoffice, Oct. 20, 1956: “BASIN, WYO. - Glenn Woods, who came here recently from Onida, S. D., has purchased the Cory Drive-In Theatre and has assumed management of the Wigwam Theatre. The drive-in was purchased from Paul F. Cory, who established it three years ago. During a recent Tuesday night meeting of the Basin town council, the Wigwam Theatre lease was transfetted to Woods from Cory. No other changes were made in the lease.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 29, 1956: “Recently the Prince Drive-In, Tucson, lost its screen tower in a heavy wind. However, according to manager Carl Ahlberg, the equipment has been replaced, and the Prince was due to reopen Friday (28)”
Two more notes. His wife’s obituary said Mr. Boyd’s middle name was Haig. A Fresno Bee radio listing on Dec. 7, 1958 included an appearance by Don Isabella, manager of the California Theater in Kerman.
Boxoffice, June 30, 1951: “Joe Boyd, owner of the California in Kerman, has remodeled the front and enlarged the lobby. A 16mm projector was installed to show motion pictures in the lobby. It will be operated from the regular projection booth with a screen above the main entrance.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 22, 1956: “KERMAN, CALIF. - Joseph H. Boyd has sold the California Theatre here to Robert V. Deck of Fresno.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 14, 1948: (under Charlotte) “New accounts for Queen City include … J. D. Davis' Laurens Drive-In at Laurens, S. C.”
The Motion Picture Almanac listings in Laurens SC were always just “Drive-In” owned by J. D. Davis, 200 cars. The 1955-56 Theatre Catalog listed it as the Laurens Drive-In, Jack Davis, 200 cars.
Boxoffice, July 28, 1956: “Bill Southern, manager of the Basin Theatre, announced that from now on the theatre will be known as the Cherokee. A large neon sign bearing the new name was expected to be delivered and mounted early in August.”
A humorous column in the Nov. 24, 1983 Roanoke Times, about the quirky rules restricting Russian visitors from visiting Craig County, mentioned that the Lynn was “open weekends only.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 25, 1958: “KINSLEY, KAS. - Mrs. Maxine Dixon, manager of the Palace Theatre here for the past four months, has purchased the theatre from the Kinsley Development Corp., which had operated the movie house since February 2. The development group was formed specifically for taking over keeping the theatre open after former owners gave up the business. The Palace had been operated since 1918 by the late Dr. C. C. Sterrett who in 1932 sold a half interest to Commonwealth Amusement Corp. Upon Dr. Sterrett’s death in 1940 his son, Huston Sterrett, became manager of the house until it closed in February 1957.”
The Modern Theatre section of the July 3, 1954 issue of Boxoffice ran a two-page story (with photos) about the Peerlex’s basement “lounge”. Since the small lobby had no room for a snack bar, the owners built one in the basement and lured patrons to join the “Peerlex Theatre Club” with free hot dogs or popcorn. The two rooms were 40x15 feet, decorated with free airline travel posters. There was a radio “playing at all times” and two pinball machines.
Looking at HistoricAerials, I’d say that the modern-day address closest to the Sunrise screen tower is 6369 Brando Loop, Fair Oaks, CA 95628, between Welles and Astaire lanes.
Google Maps says that the entire Sunrise site is within its boundaries of Orangevale, a census-designated place, not Fair Oaks, an unincorporated community on the south side of Greenback Lane. Of course, the people who live there now get their mail from the Fair Oaks post office.
A cropped version of this photo appeared in the Modern Theatre section of the Nov. 14, 1936 issue of Boxoffice, which is in the public domain.
From the Modern Theatre section of the Nov. 14, 1936 issue of Boxoffice, which is in the public domain.
The Feb. 6, 1961 Modern Theatre section of Boxoffice magazine included a lengthy article about the process of moving the Post Oak three miles north of its original location, which closed at the end of November 1959. The 96x28-foot screen tower was broken down into three sections and transported by house movers. Speaker posts were chipped out of the concrete and were spaced farther apart - 20 feet instead of 17 feet. The playground used the old equipment but in a larger area. At the concession stand, the old pink face brick was discarded for cement blocks. The full moving project cost over $150,000. The Post Oak reopened in June 1960.
This is from the Feb. 6, 1961 issue of Boxoffice’s Modern Theatre supplement.
Boxoffice, March 23, 1957: “The Reel Joy Theatre will close April 2, according to Alvin "Ike” Hables, owner. The theatre has been showing films to King City residents 31 years. It was started by Les Hables, Ike’s father. Ike took over the business in 1922 and has operated it since. He stated that pictures will be shown until April 2, the final date of current scheduling."
Motion Picture Herald, April 7, 1956: “WASHINGTON: National Theatres will ask the New York District Court for permission to acquire the Midway drive-in theatre near Reno, Nevada, according to Justice Department officials. No date has yet been set for the court hearing. The drive-in, about two miles southeast of Reno, has a 443-car capacity, and can be expanded to an 800-car capacity. Floyd C. Bernard is the present operator.”
Boxoffice, March 16, 1957: “Ray Syufy has taken over the Midway Drive-In in Reno from Floyd Bernard”
The Feb. 2, 1957 issue of Boxoffice ran a lengthy article about manager Porter Simmons' wife’s discovery of home-cooked pinto beans as a concession stand item. “When Mr. and Mrs. Jack Needham, owners of the Camp Bowie Drive-In, opened the Bluff Vue Drive-In, also in Brownwood, in 1955, pinto beans became a favorite item with customers at this larger airer, too.”
Boxoffice, Dec. 22, 1956: “MALTA, MONT. - Carl Veseth, owner of the Villa Theatre here, has begun moving dirt on a site here for a new drive-in. The new open-air theatre, scheduled to be ready for opening by May 1, will be Veseth’s second major project within the last two years. He built the new Villa Theatre here in 1954-55 and opened it on June 30, 1955. The new Villa replaced the old Palace, which Veseth had operated here since 1922. The new Villa Theatre has a 500-seat capacity. Located on the southern edge of Malta, the new drive-in will be large enough to accommodate 200 cars. Plans call for a 60x30-foot screen, concession and projection building and a 200-car capacity.”
Boxoffice, Dec. 8, 1956: “The Del Puerto, formerly the Patterson in Patterson, has installed CinemaScope. In addition, the front and boxoffice have been remodeled, the interior has been refurnished and the new name has gone up on the marquee. Mr. and Mrs. E. L. Fink purchased the theatre from Richard Bear in 1932.”
BTW, Vada Pink’s 1981 obituary in the Modesto Bee mentioned that the E stood for Elmer. “She began a free Christmas show and party for children in 1932 and distributed Christmas presents. The Christmas party was continued for nearly 30 years.”
Boxoffice, Dec. 1, 1956: “The new Lakewood Drive-In, located on the Old Charlestown pike just two miles from the Thomas Jefferson school off the Hamburg Pike, opened to the public early last month. Owners and managers of the outdoor theatre are Jacob Woehrle and his son, John. Mrs. Evelyn Payne of Salem is a stockholder in the firm. The theatre is equipped to handle 525 cars and the entertainment center also has a modern refreshment stand.”
Sounds like this opened as the Terrace Drive-In.
Boxoffice, Oct. 13, 1956: “BROOKINGS, ORE. - Dave Irvine and Raymond Pope have opened the Terrace Drive-In here. The 300-car outdoor show place is equipped with RCA projection and sound items, and a screen by Songstead.”
Boxoffice, Dec. 1, 1956: “The Terrace Drive-In Theatre was flooded out in the recent heavy rains, and will be forced to discontinue business for the winter months, according to the two operators. The rains swept out a portion of the fence around the theatre, and washed out the drives into the parking area. The owners figured that the damage would be nearly impossible to fix during the season, and that their best bet would be to wait until spring and start from there. The drive-in had opened only a little over a month before the rainstorm.”
Boxoffice, Dec. 1, 1956: “Mr. and Mrs. E. H. Goldsberry have reopened the Simla Theatre, planning to present motion picture entertainment each weekend through the winter.”
Boxoffice, Nov. 17, 1956: “MERIDIAN, IDA. - The Matthews circuit has sold the Roxy to Joy Naylor of Boise … Naylor, the new Roxy owner, closed that theatre for a few days for the installation of new equipment, saying he plans to operate the theatre every evening in the future.”
Boxoffice, Nov. 17, 1956: “MERIDIAN, IDA. - The Matthews circuit has sold the Roxy to Joy Naylor of Boise. Naylor also has purchased the Family Drive-In here.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 29, 1956: “Paul Cody sold the Wigwam Theatre and the Cody Drive-In, Basin, Wyo., to Glen Woods.”
Boxoffice, Oct. 20, 1956: “BASIN, WYO. - Glenn Woods, who came here recently from Onida, S. D., has purchased the Cory Drive-In Theatre and has assumed management of the Wigwam Theatre. The drive-in was purchased from Paul F. Cory, who established it three years ago. During a recent Tuesday night meeting of the Basin town council, the Wigwam Theatre lease was transfetted to Woods from Cory. No other changes were made in the lease.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 29, 1956: “Paul Cody sold the Wigwam Theatre and the Cody Drive-In, Basin, Wyo., to Glen Woods.”
Boxoffice, Oct. 20, 1956: “BASIN, WYO. - Glenn Woods, who came here recently from Onida, S. D., has purchased the Cory Drive-In Theatre and has assumed management of the Wigwam Theatre. The drive-in was purchased from Paul F. Cory, who established it three years ago. During a recent Tuesday night meeting of the Basin town council, the Wigwam Theatre lease was transfetted to Woods from Cory. No other changes were made in the lease.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 29, 1956: “Recently the Prince Drive-In, Tucson, lost its screen tower in a heavy wind. However, according to manager Carl Ahlberg, the equipment has been replaced, and the Prince was due to reopen Friday (28)”
Two more notes. His wife’s obituary said Mr. Boyd’s middle name was Haig. A Fresno Bee radio listing on Dec. 7, 1958 included an appearance by Don Isabella, manager of the California Theater in Kerman.
Boxoffice, June 30, 1951: “Joe Boyd, owner of the California in Kerman, has remodeled the front and enlarged the lobby. A 16mm projector was installed to show motion pictures in the lobby. It will be operated from the regular projection booth with a screen above the main entrance.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 22, 1956: “KERMAN, CALIF. - Joseph H. Boyd has sold the California Theatre here to Robert V. Deck of Fresno.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 14, 1948: (under Charlotte) “New accounts for Queen City include … J. D. Davis' Laurens Drive-In at Laurens, S. C.”
The Motion Picture Almanac listings in Laurens SC were always just “Drive-In” owned by J. D. Davis, 200 cars. The 1955-56 Theatre Catalog listed it as the Laurens Drive-In, Jack Davis, 200 cars.
Boxoffice, July 28, 1956: “Bill Southern, manager of the Basin Theatre, announced that from now on the theatre will be known as the Cherokee. A large neon sign bearing the new name was expected to be delivered and mounted early in August.”
A humorous column in the Nov. 24, 1983 Roanoke Times, about the quirky rules restricting Russian visitors from visiting Craig County, mentioned that the Lynn was “open weekends only.”