Boxoffice, March 14, 1953: “Gainesville, Mo. - A new drive-in is being constructed near here by local businessmen. Harry Irvine made a trip to St. Louis last week to arrange bookings.”
Boxoffice, March 14, 1953: “Kerasotes Theatres has purchased equipment from St. Louis Theatre Supply and is prepared to start erection of a screen tower for the Havana (Ill.) Drive-In soon. Kerasotes operates the Lawford and Kaye theatres in Havana.”
Boxoffice, Feb. 4, 1950: “E. J. Stutz and Robert Snyder have received phenomenal attendance figures for the premiere engagement of their Grand Opera week at Warners' 900-seat subsequent run Columbia in Erie, Pa. … the smallest of the downtown theatres.”
The Berkshire had that name for all of its life. Its final ads in the Berkshire Eagle were on Labor Day weekend, 1978.
Berkshire Eagle, Aug. 3, 1981: “The Berkshire Drive-In opened in 1948 on 15 acres in West Pittsfield next to what is now the Coach Lite restaurant. It closed in September 1978, and by November of that year its giant outdoor screen had been removed. The property on outer West Housatonic Street was sold then to Paul Bock, co-owner of the restaurant.”
Two spellings in one news item, in the May 12, 1958 issue of Boxoffice:
Tony Morocco’s Bel-Aire Drive-In, newest of the ozoners on the Route 30 stretch east of Wilkinsburg, has a second “balcony.” After completion and opening last year, a hillside in the rear of the outdoor theatre was graded, fenced and equipped for additional cars. This is identified as “Stardust Terrace,” being located near Morocco’s beautiful Blue Dell swimming pool the Bel-Air Drive-In boxoffice entrance, off the highway. The second terrace now is opened in the rear of the first “shelf” and this gives the ozoner an additional 40-car capacity space.
Boxoffice, May 12, 1958: “Flying the Shea banner once again, the Teck Theatre reopened Thursday (1) with a new stage, a new 30x40-foot screen, a new lighting arrangement, a new Altec sound system, a battery of new projectors and a new manager, Charles A. McLeary … (who said) "The Cinerama people subtracted 100 seats or so. We are leaving them out for the sake of roominess and perfect sight lines.” "
Boxoffice, Jan. 8, 1979: “William and Marjorie Baumgartner of Dalton, Mass., have purchased complete properties in Lanesboro on which are located the Pittsfield and Sunset drive-ins. The underskyers were previously owned by Cates Enterprises of Cambridge. The Sunset will be renamed the Lanesboro Drive-In and will be devoted to family entertainment.”
The Berkshire and Lanesboro drive-ins were separate.
Boxoffice, May 12, 1958: “Sylvan Leff’s beautiful and modern 750-car Pittsfield Drive-In at Pittsfield, Mass., is being operated this season on lease by Al Daytz of Boston. Daytz, whose brother Mickey, onetime Warner salesman here (in Albany), is associated with him in a buying-booking service and in drive-in projects, has also taken over the Berkshire Drive-In on the other side of Pittsfield and another at nearby Lanesboro.”
Boxoffice, April 18, 1966: “Al Daytz, president of Esquire Theatres of America, … also operates three drive-ins around Pittsfield, Mass. These are the Pittsfield, the Berkshire and the Lanesboro.”
Boxoffice, May 12, 1958: “Sylvan Leff’s beautiful and modern 750-car Pittsfield Drive-In at Pittsfield, Mass., is being operated this season on lease by Al Daytz of Boston. Daytz, whose brother Mickey, onetime Warner salesman here (in Albany), is associated with him in a buying-booking service and in drive-in projects, has also taken over the Berkshire Drive-In on the other side of Pittsfield and another a nearby Lanesboro.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 18, 1958: “Bob Case, former Kingston city manager … now is at the Pittsfield (Mass.) Drive-In … The Daytz brothers are operating the Pittsfield this season on lease from Sylvan Leff”
Former owners Melvin and Alice Slater wrote a lengthy letter published in the May 12, 1958 issue of Boxoffice. “We (my husband and I) bought this theatre and building, putting our life’s savings plus everything we made in show business back into it in remodeling and buying the best of new modern theatre equipment, determined to build a fine business from a rundown and outmoded one. After five years of strident effort and hard work, we did. Then TV hit our community. That was a year and a half ago. Need I say more? … we closed our doors April 30.”
Boxoffice, July 28, 1958: “Two bus loads of handicapped children attending Variety’s Camp O'Connell are taken each Thursday to the Starlite Drive-In at Wexford. James H. Nash, one of the ozoner owners, counted 54 kiddies and 14 staff members last week enjoying the recreational facilities of its $25,000 playground”
Looks like Carlin’s, with the apostrophe, should also be an alternate name. ;)
Boxoffice, July 28, 1958: “Purchase of an admission ticket for Carlin’s Drive-In between 6 and 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday admits the patron to a swim in the adjacent Olympic Pool until 8 o'clock show time, according to Manager Stanley Stern. The swimming pool happens to be handy since it is the one remaining attraction that was part of the original Carlin’s Amusement Park, the site of which has been converted to the 1,800-car drive-in.”
Boxoffice, July 28, 1958: “Joe Miller, onetime Columbia manager, said he was still passing up "fast buck” pictures at the Menands Drive-In on the Albany-Troy road. “I have not played them since I opened the theatre, and I plan to continue this policy,” he said."
Boxoffice, July 28, 1958: “Alan V. Iselin’s Auto-Vision in East Greenbush wound up its 19th anniversary week with an "All Request Show,” consisting of three science-fiction shockers - “Satellite in the Sky,” “Killers From Space” and “Phantom From Space”."
That’s just wrong. Surely no one who had previously viewed the last two movies would request an encore. And that “19th anniversary” is bogus, since it would put the Auto-Vision’s opening date at 1939. Sometimes drive-ins would talk about their 19th year as a 19th anniversary, and this is a good example.
Variety, July 3, 1940: “William F. Murray, booker for Grand National in Albany and Buffalo until company folded, managing new Auto-vision theatre in East Greenbush. Owen Holmes, a former Springfield (Mass.) projectionist, operates the drive-in.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 4, 1958: “Harold V. Lee of Lee’s Woodland Drive-In Theatre on the Apollo-Leechburg Road, Route 66, is one of the hardest workers in the area. A Keppel Hill resident, he owns in excess of 200 acres of farm land in the general Vandergrift section. Here he operates sheep and turkey ranches, also he has a number of gas wells; he hold additional gas interests elsewhere; members of his family operate Lee’s long established general store. His motorized farm equipment are modern and "in use.” Harold drives a handsome ranch wagon on his visits to (Pittsburgh) Filmrow. His Woodland Drive-In is “up to date” in appointment and attractions and he operates his own concession business to the satisfaction of his good customers. An artificial lake on his property is “home” for area fishermen, and he operates a boat-rental service."
Boxoffice, Aug. 4, 1958: “Lightning struck the projection booth and screen at Lamont’s Vail Mills Drive-In, between Amsterdam and Gloversville, during a recent Saturday evening show … Harry Witzke, projectionist, was unharmed and continued the showing.”
The Lisbon’s first appearance in the Theatre Catalog was in the 1952 edition. No capacity figure, owners Royal and John Boldue, Colebrook, N. H.
Boxoffice, Aug. 11, 1958: “Manager Joe Donahue of the Lisbon Drive-In at Lewiston, Me., passed out cigars to all female customers who would light them immediately as an on-the-premises promotion for "The Bonnie Parker Story.” (They were permitted to hand the cigars to their escorts after a few puffs.)"
Boxoffice, Aug. 11, 1958: “Salisbury, Md. - The Ulman Theatre Corp. is planning to build a drive-in theatre near here. Bernard Ulman, Baltimore, circuit president, who was here to look over the proposed site, said that the drive-in possibly will be located on Route 13. The airer will accommodate 500-700 cars.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 11, 1958: “Roanoke, Va. - Mr. and Mrs. Atkins, formerly owners and operators of the Lee Drive-In in Lexington, have purchased the Riverside Drive-In here from Mr. and Mrs. J. R. Pence for $25,000. The new owners will install new sound equipment and improve concessions equipment at the theatre located at 1942 Bennington St., S.E.”
Now that I know which Roanoke drive-in was the Riverside (it was the one by the river), I can check the aerial photos. They indicate that the Riverside was still intact in 1969, but long gone in 1982. It was still in the 1973 topo map but replaced by housing in the 1978 map.
Boxoffice, March 14, 1953: “Gainesville, Mo. - A new drive-in is being constructed near here by local businessmen. Harry Irvine made a trip to St. Louis last week to arrange bookings.”
Boxoffice, March 14, 1953: “Kerasotes Theatres has purchased equipment from St. Louis Theatre Supply and is prepared to start erection of a screen tower for the Havana (Ill.) Drive-In soon. Kerasotes operates the Lawford and Kaye theatres in Havana.”
This photo appeared in the Feb. 4, 1956 issue of Boxoffice, which is in the public domain.
A black and white version of this photo, dated Aug. 31, 1954, by Andy Cummings Studio, is available in the Whittier Public Library Historical Photograph Collection, which says that its copyright status is unknown.
This appeared in the Wagner Sign Service ad in the Feb. 4, 1956 issue of Boxoffice (and probably elsewhere), which is in the public domain.
This appeared in the Modern Theatre Section of the Feb. 4, 1956 issue of Boxoffice.
The Columbia’s seating number kept shrinking.
Boxoffice, Feb. 4, 1950: “E. J. Stutz and Robert Snyder have received phenomenal attendance figures for the premiere engagement of their Grand Opera week at Warners' 900-seat subsequent run Columbia in Erie, Pa. … the smallest of the downtown theatres.”
Another project that apparently never finished, I’ll leave this note here.
Boxoffice, Feb. 4, 1950: “A new drive-in is to be built on Highway 25 one mile south of Dexter. The ozoner will be named Weeks' Modern Drive-In.”
The Berkshire had that name for all of its life. Its final ads in the Berkshire Eagle were on Labor Day weekend, 1978.
Berkshire Eagle, Aug. 3, 1981: “The Berkshire Drive-In opened in 1948 on 15 acres in West Pittsfield next to what is now the Coach Lite restaurant. It closed in September 1978, and by November of that year its giant outdoor screen had been removed. The property on outer West Housatonic Street was sold then to Paul Bock, co-owner of the restaurant.”
Boxoffice, May 12, 1958: “The 1,400-car South City Drive-In has been purchased by Redstone Drive-In Theatres of Boston.”
Two spellings in one news item, in the May 12, 1958 issue of Boxoffice:
Tony Morocco’s Bel-Aire Drive-In, newest of the ozoners on the Route 30 stretch east of Wilkinsburg, has a second “balcony.” After completion and opening last year, a hillside in the rear of the outdoor theatre was graded, fenced and equipped for additional cars. This is identified as “Stardust Terrace,” being located near Morocco’s beautiful Blue Dell swimming pool the Bel-Air Drive-In boxoffice entrance, off the highway. The second terrace now is opened in the rear of the first “shelf” and this gives the ozoner an additional 40-car capacity space.
Boxoffice, May 12, 1958: “Flying the Shea banner once again, the Teck Theatre reopened Thursday (1) with a new stage, a new 30x40-foot screen, a new lighting arrangement, a new Altec sound system, a battery of new projectors and a new manager, Charles A. McLeary … (who said) "The Cinerama people subtracted 100 seats or so. We are leaving them out for the sake of roominess and perfect sight lines.” "
Boxoffice, Jan. 8, 1979: “William and Marjorie Baumgartner of Dalton, Mass., have purchased complete properties in Lanesboro on which are located the Pittsfield and Sunset drive-ins. The underskyers were previously owned by Cates Enterprises of Cambridge. The Sunset will be renamed the Lanesboro Drive-In and will be devoted to family entertainment.”
The Berkshire and Lanesboro drive-ins were separate.
Boxoffice, May 12, 1958: “Sylvan Leff’s beautiful and modern 750-car Pittsfield Drive-In at Pittsfield, Mass., is being operated this season on lease by Al Daytz of Boston. Daytz, whose brother Mickey, onetime Warner salesman here (in Albany), is associated with him in a buying-booking service and in drive-in projects, has also taken over the Berkshire Drive-In on the other side of Pittsfield and another at nearby Lanesboro.”
Boxoffice, April 18, 1966: “Al Daytz, president of Esquire Theatres of America, … also operates three drive-ins around Pittsfield, Mass. These are the Pittsfield, the Berkshire and the Lanesboro.”
Boxoffice, May 12, 1958: “Sylvan Leff’s beautiful and modern 750-car Pittsfield Drive-In at Pittsfield, Mass., is being operated this season on lease by Al Daytz of Boston. Daytz, whose brother Mickey, onetime Warner salesman here (in Albany), is associated with him in a buying-booking service and in drive-in projects, has also taken over the Berkshire Drive-In on the other side of Pittsfield and another a nearby Lanesboro.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 18, 1958: “Bob Case, former Kingston city manager … now is at the Pittsfield (Mass.) Drive-In … The Daytz brothers are operating the Pittsfield this season on lease from Sylvan Leff”
Former owners Melvin and Alice Slater wrote a lengthy letter published in the May 12, 1958 issue of Boxoffice. “We (my husband and I) bought this theatre and building, putting our life’s savings plus everything we made in show business back into it in remodeling and buying the best of new modern theatre equipment, determined to build a fine business from a rundown and outmoded one. After five years of strident effort and hard work, we did. Then TV hit our community. That was a year and a half ago. Need I say more? … we closed our doors April 30.”
Boxoffice, July 28, 1958: “Two bus loads of handicapped children attending Variety’s Camp O'Connell are taken each Thursday to the Starlite Drive-In at Wexford. James H. Nash, one of the ozoner owners, counted 54 kiddies and 14 staff members last week enjoying the recreational facilities of its $25,000 playground”
Looks like Carlin’s, with the apostrophe, should also be an alternate name. ;)
Boxoffice, July 28, 1958: “Purchase of an admission ticket for Carlin’s Drive-In between 6 and 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday admits the patron to a swim in the adjacent Olympic Pool until 8 o'clock show time, according to Manager Stanley Stern. The swimming pool happens to be handy since it is the one remaining attraction that was part of the original Carlin’s Amusement Park, the site of which has been converted to the 1,800-car drive-in.”
Boxoffice, July 28, 1958: “Joe Miller, onetime Columbia manager, said he was still passing up "fast buck” pictures at the Menands Drive-In on the Albany-Troy road. “I have not played them since I opened the theatre, and I plan to continue this policy,” he said."
Boxoffice, July 28, 1958: “Alan V. Iselin’s Auto-Vision in East Greenbush wound up its 19th anniversary week with an "All Request Show,” consisting of three science-fiction shockers - “Satellite in the Sky,” “Killers From Space” and “Phantom From Space”."
That’s just wrong. Surely no one who had previously viewed the last two movies would request an encore. And that “19th anniversary” is bogus, since it would put the Auto-Vision’s opening date at 1939. Sometimes drive-ins would talk about their 19th year as a 19th anniversary, and this is a good example.
Variety, July 3, 1940: “William F. Murray, booker for Grand National in Albany and Buffalo until company folded, managing new Auto-vision theatre in East Greenbush. Owen Holmes, a former Springfield (Mass.) projectionist, operates the drive-in.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 4, 1958: “Harold V. Lee of Lee’s Woodland Drive-In Theatre on the Apollo-Leechburg Road, Route 66, is one of the hardest workers in the area. A Keppel Hill resident, he owns in excess of 200 acres of farm land in the general Vandergrift section. Here he operates sheep and turkey ranches, also he has a number of gas wells; he hold additional gas interests elsewhere; members of his family operate Lee’s long established general store. His motorized farm equipment are modern and "in use.” Harold drives a handsome ranch wagon on his visits to (Pittsburgh) Filmrow. His Woodland Drive-In is “up to date” in appointment and attractions and he operates his own concession business to the satisfaction of his good customers. An artificial lake on his property is “home” for area fishermen, and he operates a boat-rental service."
Boxoffice, Aug. 4, 1958: “Lightning struck the projection booth and screen at Lamont’s Vail Mills Drive-In, between Amsterdam and Gloversville, during a recent Saturday evening show … Harry Witzke, projectionist, was unharmed and continued the showing.”
The Lisbon’s first appearance in the Theatre Catalog was in the 1952 edition. No capacity figure, owners Royal and John Boldue, Colebrook, N. H.
Boxoffice, Aug. 11, 1958: “Manager Joe Donahue of the Lisbon Drive-In at Lewiston, Me., passed out cigars to all female customers who would light them immediately as an on-the-premises promotion for "The Bonnie Parker Story.” (They were permitted to hand the cigars to their escorts after a few puffs.)"
I’ll just store this here.
Boxoffice, Aug. 11, 1958: “Salisbury, Md. - The Ulman Theatre Corp. is planning to build a drive-in theatre near here. Bernard Ulman, Baltimore, circuit president, who was here to look over the proposed site, said that the drive-in possibly will be located on Route 13. The airer will accommodate 500-700 cars.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 11, 1958: “Roanoke, Va. - Mr. and Mrs. Atkins, formerly owners and operators of the Lee Drive-In in Lexington, have purchased the Riverside Drive-In here from Mr. and Mrs. J. R. Pence for $25,000. The new owners will install new sound equipment and improve concessions equipment at the theatre located at 1942 Bennington St., S.E.”
Now that I know which Roanoke drive-in was the Riverside (it was the one by the river), I can check the aerial photos. They indicate that the Riverside was still intact in 1969, but long gone in 1982. It was still in the 1973 topo map but replaced by housing in the 1978 map.