The Exhibitor, Nov. 18, 1953: “The Pat, Lafayette, La., will observe its fifth anniversary on Dec. 8. Mathews Guidry and Percy Duplissey, owners, have plans for a celebration.”
The Tampa Bay Times ran an article about Ted Freiwald, who owns the Ruskin Family Drive-In with his wife Karen. According to the Times, the drive-in opened on April 16, 1952, Freiwald’s 19th birthday.
Looking at the 1951 newspaper ads for the drive-in, I was reminded of the regional usage of “Twin” - it’s a way of including the twin cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. (For example, the name of the baseball team there.) That would explain the name that would otherwise be misleading until 1958, when the drive-in switched to a two-sided screen.
Boxoffice, April 28, 1980: “Don Dorsey, owner of the Dorseyland Drive-In in Caribou, Me., has purchased the Polaris Drive-In in that city from Reginald Bernard. Stan Davis' Cinema Booking Service will serve the new owner.”
Dorseyland owner Don Dorsey wrote, co-produced, and directed the 1971 movie, “Love and Kisses.” That movie was described at the time as X-rated, but IMDb gives it an R. (Maybe after more editing?) A few weeks after the movie’s release, somebody sawed through the wooden posts that supported the drive-in’s screen, allowing it to be toppled by wind.
Boxoffice, Oct. 18, 1965: “Pacific Drive-In Theatres announced personnel changes … Hans Korten, Orange County swing manager, moved into the Paulo Drive-In, Santa Ana, and Bill Spurlin was transferred from the Paulo to the Lakewood Drive-In, Long Beach.”
To be picky, the drive-in site is well east of Erie and slightly east of present-day Lawrence Park. It’s within Northwest Harborcreek, a census-designated place, although the Erie post office delivers its mail. And it probably opened in early 1949, possibly late 1948.
Boxoffice, Aug. 7, 1948: “ERIE, PA. — Star Drive-In, Inc., will open its new outdoor theatre in Lawrence Park at Iroquis avenue and Nagle road in September. The owners, William Coleman and Joseph Gold, entered the drive-in field several years ago, operating the Star at West 12th and Pittsburgh avenue.”
The Exhibitor, March 9, 1949: “William Coleman, coowner. Star Drive-In, as well as the newly constructed Lawrence Park Drive-In, which he operates with his partner, Joe Gold, recently returned from a vacation trip to Florida.”
The Exhibitor, April 13, 1949: “Joseph Gold, co-owner with William Coleman, Star Drive-In, arrived in Pittsburgh following a vacation of several months in Florida, and transacted a lot of business prior to the opening of the new Lawrence Park Drive-In, Wesleyville, Pa.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 1, 1951: “Erie, Pa. - Blatt Bros. Theatres has acquired two outdoor theatres here - the Star and the Lawrence Park - from William Coleman and Joseph Gold.”
Motion Picture Exhibitor, May 11, 1955: “Blatt Brothers opened their Lawrence Park Drive-In, Erie, Pa., after widening their screen to present CinemaScope productions.”
Boxoffice, July 9, 1949: (under Theatre Openings) Whitesburg, Ky. - Elinda Ann Drive-In, 300 cars, 360 walk-in seats, opened by Dr. B. F. Wright June 15.
Boxoffice, July 23, 1949: “Our (The Exhibitor Has His Say) contributor, Art V. Phillips, … is very proud of his employer’s new Elinda Ann Theatre (Drive-In) on State Highway 15 within the city limits of Whitesburg, Ky. This opened June 15, to quote Phillips, "with a bang!” He proudly details its capacity of 332 cars, with RCA in-car speakers, but mentions that the most unique thing is the special enclosed, roofed and well ventilated “seat-in section.” This seats 360 patrons and has newly installed International leather-cushioned seats."
This 1980 photo by John Margolies is part of the Library of Congress’s John Margolies Roadside America photograph archive. It’s effectively in the public domain.
I found this 1967 photo on an excellent 2013 blog post, full of San Antonio drive-in theater photos, by Tom Shelton. It’s from the Zintgraff Studio Photograph Collection of the UTSA Libraries. UTSA is the copyright holder for photos in that collection, and has licensed it via the Creative Commons license attribution-no derivatives license, version 4.0.
Boxoffice, Aug. 2, 1976: “Clyde Bolt, operator of the Viking and Fox Drive-In, Anderson, S.C., opened two new theatres here July 15. The duplex is called the Village 1 and 2 and is located in the shopping center by that name.”
Boxoffice, April 20, 1964: “J. M. Pruitt, who operates the Fox Drive-In, Anderson, S.C., has taken over the operation of the Hi-Way 29 Drive-In in the same town from Wilby-Kincey Theatres”
Boxoffice, May 16, 1953: (under Theatre Openings) “Anderson, S.C. - The Fox Drive-In was opened recently by Preston Temple and Bill Sanders.”
Boxoffice, April 20, 1964: “J. M. Pruitt, who operates the Fox Drive-In, Anderson, S.C., has taken over the operation of the Hi-Way 29 Drive-In in the same town from Wilby-Kincey Theatres”
Boxoffice, Aug. 2, 1976: “Clyde Bolt, operator of the Viking and Fox Drive-In, Anderson, S.C., opened two new theatres here July 15. The duplex is called the Village 1 and 2 and is located in the shopping center by that name.”
Boxoffice, May 2, 1960: “The Fox Drive-In, Aiken, S. C., reopened under the new ownership of Charles Utley”
Boxoffice, June 8, 1964: “AIKEN, S.C. - Charles Utley, longtime exhibitor in the Carolinas, has purchased the Fox Drive-In which he had operated for the last five years on lease from the Consolidated Theatres of Charlotte.”
Columbia Daily Tribune, Aug. 14, 1948 (quoted 50 years later): “Work on a new Columbia drive-in theater, to be called the "Broadway Drive-In,” is expected to get under way next month, Rex P. Barrett, Columbia representative for the Commonwealth Theaters Corp. of Kansas City, announced today. The theater corporation yesterday completed the purchase of 14 acres of land on West Broadway from Dr. Lloyd Simpson for construction of the $75,000 theater. The site which is part of the old Sneed farm, was purchased by Dr. Simpson from the Boone County Fair board. Located about one mile from town, the new theater will be located on a lot 1320 feet deep with a 400 foot frontage on West Broadway. It is situated south of the Boone County Fair grounds."
Boxoffice, March 30, 1940: “Colton, Cal. - M. A. Rogers and Thomas Burgess have been sued by Park-In Theatres, Inc., of Camden, N. J., on charges of patent infringement in connection with a Drive-In Theatre they operate here.”
Boxoffice, March 30, 1940: “Tucson, Ariz. - This community now lays claim to having the only woman manager of a drive-in theatre in the United States. Nelle Brock, formerly of Cincinnati, has replaced A. W. Bartlett as manager of the Drive-In Theatre here.”
The Fremont Tribune ran a story in May 2022 noting that Quasar builders Jeff and Jenny Karls are in the documentary “Going Attractions: Back to the Drive-In”. It was shot in the summer of 2021 as a sequel to the 2013 original “Going Attractions”.
The article called the Quasar a “540-car, single 85-foot screen” drive-in, so maybe CT could use that as the capacity figure.
The Manlius Art Cinema will have new operators next week, according to a story at Syracuse.com. Nat Tobin and Eileen Lowell are selling the place to Dan Chapman and Joe Ori, owners of A.W. Wander, a nearby restaurant. The article said the theater holds 200 seats and is the oldest cinema in Onondaga County.
The Hartford Courant wrote on June 1, 1949 that the Waterford Drive-In, capacity 750 cars, had opened. Corporation officers included president Michael Radin, vice-president William Rabinowitz, and treasurer Lorraine Forcier, all of Hartford. Sherwood Gloth was the drive-in’s manager.
Kenmore, you’re much better at reading these maps than I am. Looking at the elevation maps and seeing Coal Creek to its west and the Neosho River to its north and east, I can’t see any indication that the original Sooner site wouldn’t be flood prone. (Then again, my experience is tainted by my visit to Miami OK in 2019 during a serious flood.) What are you seeing?
The Exhibitor, Nov. 18, 1953: “The Pat, Lafayette, La., will observe its fifth anniversary on Dec. 8. Mathews Guidry and Percy Duplissey, owners, have plans for a celebration.”
The Exhibitor, Feb. 13, 1952: “Milton Guidry advised that his Loit, Lafayette, La., has been converted to a clothing establishment.”
The Tampa Bay Times ran an article about Ted Freiwald, who owns the Ruskin Family Drive-In with his wife Karen. According to the Times, the drive-in opened on April 16, 1952, Freiwald’s 19th birthday.
Looking at the 1951 newspaper ads for the drive-in, I was reminded of the regional usage of “Twin” - it’s a way of including the twin cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. (For example, the name of the baseball team there.) That would explain the name that would otherwise be misleading until 1958, when the drive-in switched to a two-sided screen.
Boxoffice, April 28, 1980: “Don Dorsey, owner of the Dorseyland Drive-In in Caribou, Me., has purchased the Polaris Drive-In in that city from Reginald Bernard. Stan Davis' Cinema Booking Service will serve the new owner.”
Dorseyland owner Don Dorsey wrote, co-produced, and directed the 1971 movie, “Love and Kisses.” That movie was described at the time as X-rated, but IMDb gives it an R. (Maybe after more editing?) A few weeks after the movie’s release, somebody sawed through the wooden posts that supported the drive-in’s screen, allowing it to be toppled by wind.
Here you go, Hires2U.
Boxoffice, Oct. 18, 1965: “Pacific Drive-In Theatres announced personnel changes … Hans Korten, Orange County swing manager, moved into the Paulo Drive-In, Santa Ana, and Bill Spurlin was transferred from the Paulo to the Lakewood Drive-In, Long Beach.”
To be picky, the drive-in site is well east of Erie and slightly east of present-day Lawrence Park. It’s within Northwest Harborcreek, a census-designated place, although the Erie post office delivers its mail. And it probably opened in early 1949, possibly late 1948.
Boxoffice, Aug. 7, 1948: “ERIE, PA. — Star Drive-In, Inc., will open its new outdoor theatre in Lawrence Park at Iroquis avenue and Nagle road in September. The owners, William Coleman and Joseph Gold, entered the drive-in field several years ago, operating the Star at West 12th and Pittsburgh avenue.”
The Exhibitor, March 9, 1949: “William Coleman, coowner. Star Drive-In, as well as the newly constructed Lawrence Park Drive-In, which he operates with his partner, Joe Gold, recently returned from a vacation trip to Florida.”
The Exhibitor, April 13, 1949: “Joseph Gold, co-owner with William Coleman, Star Drive-In, arrived in Pittsburgh following a vacation of several months in Florida, and transacted a lot of business prior to the opening of the new Lawrence Park Drive-In, Wesleyville, Pa.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 1, 1951: “Erie, Pa. - Blatt Bros. Theatres has acquired two outdoor theatres here - the Star and the Lawrence Park - from William Coleman and Joseph Gold.”
Motion Picture Exhibitor, May 11, 1955: “Blatt Brothers opened their Lawrence Park Drive-In, Erie, Pa., after widening their screen to present CinemaScope productions.”
Boxoffice, July 9, 1949: (under Theatre Openings) Whitesburg, Ky. - Elinda Ann Drive-In, 300 cars, 360 walk-in seats, opened by Dr. B. F. Wright June 15.
Boxoffice, July 23, 1949: “Our (The Exhibitor Has His Say) contributor, Art V. Phillips, … is very proud of his employer’s new Elinda Ann Theatre (Drive-In) on State Highway 15 within the city limits of Whitesburg, Ky. This opened June 15, to quote Phillips, "with a bang!” He proudly details its capacity of 332 cars, with RCA in-car speakers, but mentions that the most unique thing is the special enclosed, roofed and well ventilated “seat-in section.” This seats 360 patrons and has newly installed International leather-cushioned seats."
This 1980 photo by John Margolies is part of the Library of Congress’s John Margolies Roadside America photograph archive. It’s effectively in the public domain.
I found this 1967 photo on an excellent 2013 blog post, full of San Antonio drive-in theater photos, by Tom Shelton. It’s from the Zintgraff Studio Photograph Collection of the UTSA Libraries. UTSA is the copyright holder for photos in that collection, and has licensed it via the Creative Commons license attribution-no derivatives license, version 4.0.
Boxoffice, Aug. 2, 1976: “Clyde Bolt, operator of the Viking and Fox Drive-In, Anderson, S.C., opened two new theatres here July 15. The duplex is called the Village 1 and 2 and is located in the shopping center by that name.”
Boxoffice, April 20, 1964: “J. M. Pruitt, who operates the Fox Drive-In, Anderson, S.C., has taken over the operation of the Hi-Way 29 Drive-In in the same town from Wilby-Kincey Theatres”
Boxoffice, May 16, 1953: (under Theatre Openings) “Anderson, S.C. - The Fox Drive-In was opened recently by Preston Temple and Bill Sanders.”
Boxoffice, April 20, 1964: “J. M. Pruitt, who operates the Fox Drive-In, Anderson, S.C., has taken over the operation of the Hi-Way 29 Drive-In in the same town from Wilby-Kincey Theatres”
Boxoffice, Aug. 2, 1976: “Clyde Bolt, operator of the Viking and Fox Drive-In, Anderson, S.C., opened two new theatres here July 15. The duplex is called the Village 1 and 2 and is located in the shopping center by that name.”
Boxoffice, May 2, 1960: “The Fox Drive-In, Aiken, S. C., reopened under the new ownership of Charles Utley”
Boxoffice, June 8, 1964: “AIKEN, S.C. - Charles Utley, longtime exhibitor in the Carolinas, has purchased the Fox Drive-In which he had operated for the last five years on lease from the Consolidated Theatres of Charlotte.”
Columbia Daily Tribune, Aug. 14, 1948 (quoted 50 years later): “Work on a new Columbia drive-in theater, to be called the "Broadway Drive-In,” is expected to get under way next month, Rex P. Barrett, Columbia representative for the Commonwealth Theaters Corp. of Kansas City, announced today. The theater corporation yesterday completed the purchase of 14 acres of land on West Broadway from Dr. Lloyd Simpson for construction of the $75,000 theater. The site which is part of the old Sneed farm, was purchased by Dr. Simpson from the Boone County Fair board. Located about one mile from town, the new theater will be located on a lot 1320 feet deep with a 400 foot frontage on West Broadway. It is situated south of the Boone County Fair grounds."
Boxoffice, Oct. 19, 1940: “Piedmont - A. B. Jefferis is now operating his new 400-seater.”
Boxoffice, Jan. 6, 1940: “Dick Lemucchi has opened the Arvin, a 650-seat house, on the site of a theatre burned to the ground some time ago.”
Boxoffice, May 4, 1940: “Johnstown - The Pix, a 200 seater, and the only theatre here, was opened recently by R. E. Heald.”
As another poster mentioned, before it changed to the 99, this place had its grand opening as simply Drive-In Theatre.
Boxoffice, March 30, 1940: “Colton, Cal. - M. A. Rogers and Thomas Burgess have been sued by Park-In Theatres, Inc., of Camden, N. J., on charges of patent infringement in connection with a Drive-In Theatre they operate here.”
Boxoffice, March 30, 1940: “Tucson, Ariz. - This community now lays claim to having the only woman manager of a drive-in theatre in the United States. Nelle Brock, formerly of Cincinnati, has replaced A. W. Bartlett as manager of the Drive-In Theatre here.”
The Fremont Tribune ran a story in May 2022 noting that Quasar builders Jeff and Jenny Karls are in the documentary “Going Attractions: Back to the Drive-In”. It was shot in the summer of 2021 as a sequel to the 2013 original “Going Attractions”.
The article called the Quasar a “540-car, single 85-foot screen” drive-in, so maybe CT could use that as the capacity figure.
The Manlius Art Cinema will have new operators next week, according to a story at Syracuse.com. Nat Tobin and Eileen Lowell are selling the place to Dan Chapman and Joe Ori, owners of A.W. Wander, a nearby restaurant. The article said the theater holds 200 seats and is the oldest cinema in Onondaga County.
The Hartford Courant wrote on June 1, 1949 that the Waterford Drive-In, capacity 750 cars, had opened. Corporation officers included president Michael Radin, vice-president William Rabinowitz, and treasurer Lorraine Forcier, all of Hartford. Sherwood Gloth was the drive-in’s manager.
Kenmore, you’re much better at reading these maps than I am. Looking at the elevation maps and seeing Coal Creek to its west and the Neosho River to its north and east, I can’t see any indication that the original Sooner site wouldn’t be flood prone. (Then again, my experience is tainted by my visit to Miami OK in 2019 during a serious flood.) What are you seeing?