Boxoffice, Aug. 2, 1952: “MARYSVILLE, KAS. - Freak winds recently toppled the screen of the Hilltop Drive-In near here.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 9, 1952: “The Hilltop ozoner recently reopened after completing extensive repair work on damage done by a twister several weeks ago. Owner Eddie Henderson said the storm did $14,000 damage. In addition, Henderson has added a $4,000 snack bar.”
Boxoffice, July 5, 1952: “Missouri Theatre Supply Co. here has sold complete drive-in equipment to … Frank Northrup and his son-in-law Marvin Ellis for the new drive-in they are building at Syracuse, Kas. The Syracuse situation, according to L. J. Kilbriel, will be ready for opening in a few weeks. The drive-in is being built by Tom Griffith, nationally known drive-in contractor”
Boxoffice, Aug. 9, 1952: “The new Rancho 50 Drive-In has been opened by Frank Northrup.”
Boxoffice, Feb. 16, 1952: Arizona’s first 1952 theatre casualty is the Twin Screen Drive-In, which closed recently after a year of operation. The outdoorer, a McCormack-Nace enterprise, was the largest in this area."
Boxoffice, April 26, 1952: “The Twin Screen Drive-In, which closed early last January, has been reopened by Fred Crockett and Harry L. Nace as the Acres of Fun. Only one screen is being utilized, reducing the capacity of the airer, formerly a McCormack-Nace enterprise, to around 625 cars. The dual screen outdoorer was the largest drive-in in the state under its original operation. The current manager is Otto Silvester.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 2, 1952: “Harry Nace has reopened his Twin-Vue Drive-In, which has been shuttered for the last several months, on a new operational policy. The two-screen installation has been split into two separate operations, the north screen being named the Peso, the south screen the Acres. Each has an 800-car capacity.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 2, 1952: “Plans were recently announced by Bill Thrall, owner-operator of the Valley Theatre, to build a 300-car ozoner. It is to be located on the south end of the Bailey property south of here and just west of Highway 99. Thrall indicated that the airer would be in operation this season.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 2, 1952: “Judicious use of passes goes a long way to create goodwill and make new friends for the Wagon Wheel Drive-in and Fly-In Theatre at Speakman, Tex. Owner-manager J. D. Wilbanks distributes courtesy tickets regularly to neighboring doctors, pastors and the sheriff. These people usually show up accompanied by others who pay regular admission. Cafe owners in the area are on the free ticket list for displaying theatre advertising. When a new family moves into the theatre’s drawing radius, Wilbanks send the bread-winner an admission ticket and a circular listing the items available at the theatre concession stand.”
Boxoffice, July 26, 1952: “SANDPOINT, IDA. - The Frank C. Weskil interests, owners of the Panida and Lake theatres here, opened Sandpoint’s first drive-in, three miles north of the city on Highway 95, with formal ceremonies July 11, according to Dale Lee, manager of the Weskil situations here. L. H. Weskil, son of the founder, and his family have been staying in Sandpoint supervising the construction of the theatre. Mr. and Mrs. Frank C. Weskil were also here a few days before opening.
“The ozoner is different in that a natural backdrop of mountains and evergreens surrounds the area, making it unnecessary to fence the parking are except between the entrance and exit. The mountains allow the shows to start much earlier than would be possible in Sandpoint because the sun sinks behind them earlier in the evening. There is a present car capacity of 360 which may later be expanded to accommodate 600.”
Boxoffice, July 5, 1952: “fire struck at another Midcentral situation, demolishing the screen tower of the Osawatomie Drive-In. Rebuilding work was started immediately and the Osawatomie airer will open soon.”
Boxoffice, July 26, 1952: “The Midway Drive-In between Paola and Osawatomie has reopened. It was closed for several weeks while the tower and screen were replaced after being destroyed by fire.”
Boxoffice, July 26, 1952: “JUNCTION CITY, ORE. - R. E. Douglas, Harrisburg, plans to open his free film airer soon. The only charge is for parking cars in the area.”
Boxoffice, July 26, 1952: “There will be no more Spanish-speaking films at the Fort Cochise Drive-In. The admission charge at the outdoorer is $1 a car. (Tri-Delta manager Tony) Bustamante said many of the Mexican population were unable to go to the Fort Cochise because they lacked transportation.”
Boxoffice, July 19, 1952: “Phillipsburg’s new drive-in has opened. Bud Brown and Ralph Winship are the operators. The owners have used earthen mounds for fencing.”
Boxoffice, July 19, 1952: “COFFEYVILLE, KAS. - The Skyliner Drive-In has opened, according to Tal Richardson, owner. Richardson also operates another airer.”
Boxoffice, July 19, 1952: “Commonwealth Theatres has begun work on a new drive-in in Monett, Mo. The 300-car airer is expected to be open in about seven weeks.”
Boxoffice, July 19, 1952: “BELOIT, KAS. - Construction of Midcentral’s Beloit Drive-In will be completed soon, according to Manager Chett Posey. The airer is located east of here on Highway 24.”
Boxoffice, July 12, 1952: “ROCKPORT, TEX. - The new Tarpon Drive-In, located on the Aransas Pass-Ingleside highway, opened July 3. It is owned and operated by C. L. Walker and E. F. Falgout, and has capacity for 350 cars.”
Even earlier. Boxoffice, July 12, 1952: “HENRIETTA, TEX. - This city’s first drive-in, the Tower, has been opened by Jim Bailey, formerly of Odessa. It accommodates 200 cars and is located one-half mile east of town.”
Boxoffice, July 12, 1952: “MONTGOMERY, ALA. - John R. Moffitt of Moffitt Theatres has announced plans to build his second drive-in exclusively for Negroes. Moffitt said that he hoped to have the $75,000, 500-car airer which will be located on the Mobile Highway near here, open in 90 days. The first Moffitt drive-in for Negroes is located in Tuskegee.”
Boxoffice, July 5, 1952: “Cecil Ward of Bassett, Va., named his new drive-in at Madison, N.C., the Lakeside. This situation even has a stage and is a good example of what can be done under federal building restrictions.”
Boxoffice, July 5, 1952: “POTOSI, MO. - Harry Blount opened his 350-car drive-in near here Wednesday (2). He also operates the 500-seat Plaza here and is part owner of the Rolla Drive-In on U.S. 66 near Rolla, Mo.”
Boxoffice, July 5, 1952: “LOUISIANA, MO. - The Clark Drive-In was opened Wednesday (2) by the Armentrout circuit, headed by Russell Armentrout of this city, on U.S. 54 across the Mississippi river south of Pittsfield. It is named after Clark Armentrout, founder of the circuit.”
According to a Dec. 17, 1973 note in the Kansas City Star, a district court judge banned the drive-in in Fort Scott and its owner, George Techlenburg, from showing X-rated movies if they could be seen from public streets. “There will be no big fence to hide the screen from under-age viewers,” Techlenburg said. “I’ll just wait until next year when the theater reopens to decide what to do.”
Boxoffice, July 5, 1952: “The Valuskis in Willowbrook, recently purchased from Lorraine Valuskis by Mrs. J. Clark, is undergoing a facelifting job and will henceforth by known as the Clark”
Despite that note, the 1956 Film Daily Year Book continued to call this theater the “Valuskkis”.
Boxoffice, Aug. 2, 1952: “MARYSVILLE, KAS. - Freak winds recently toppled the screen of the Hilltop Drive-In near here.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 9, 1952: “The Hilltop ozoner recently reopened after completing extensive repair work on damage done by a twister several weeks ago. Owner Eddie Henderson said the storm did $14,000 damage. In addition, Henderson has added a $4,000 snack bar.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 9, 1952: “Complete RCA equipment has been installed at the Utterback Drive-In, Wellington, Kas., which will open soon”
Boxoffice, July 5, 1952: “Missouri Theatre Supply Co. here has sold complete drive-in equipment to … Frank Northrup and his son-in-law Marvin Ellis for the new drive-in they are building at Syracuse, Kas. The Syracuse situation, according to L. J. Kilbriel, will be ready for opening in a few weeks. The drive-in is being built by Tom Griffith, nationally known drive-in contractor”
Boxoffice, Aug. 9, 1952: “The new Rancho 50 Drive-In has been opened by Frank Northrup.”
Boxoffice, Feb. 16, 1952: Arizona’s first 1952 theatre casualty is the Twin Screen Drive-In, which closed recently after a year of operation. The outdoorer, a McCormack-Nace enterprise, was the largest in this area."
Boxoffice, April 26, 1952: “The Twin Screen Drive-In, which closed early last January, has been reopened by Fred Crockett and Harry L. Nace as the Acres of Fun. Only one screen is being utilized, reducing the capacity of the airer, formerly a McCormack-Nace enterprise, to around 625 cars. The dual screen outdoorer was the largest drive-in in the state under its original operation. The current manager is Otto Silvester.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 2, 1952: “Harry Nace has reopened his Twin-Vue Drive-In, which has been shuttered for the last several months, on a new operational policy. The two-screen installation has been split into two separate operations, the north screen being named the Peso, the south screen the Acres. Each has an 800-car capacity.”
A few more details about the Vista’s origins.
Boxoffice, Aug. 2, 1952: “Plans were recently announced by Bill Thrall, owner-operator of the Valley Theatre, to build a 300-car ozoner. It is to be located on the south end of the Bailey property south of here and just west of Highway 99. Thrall indicated that the airer would be in operation this season.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 2, 1952: “Judicious use of passes goes a long way to create goodwill and make new friends for the Wagon Wheel Drive-in and Fly-In Theatre at Speakman, Tex. Owner-manager J. D. Wilbanks distributes courtesy tickets regularly to neighboring doctors, pastors and the sheriff. These people usually show up accompanied by others who pay regular admission. Cafe owners in the area are on the free ticket list for displaying theatre advertising. When a new family moves into the theatre’s drawing radius, Wilbanks send the bread-winner an admission ticket and a circular listing the items available at the theatre concession stand.”
Boxoffice, July 26, 1952: “SANDPOINT, IDA. - The Frank C. Weskil interests, owners of the Panida and Lake theatres here, opened Sandpoint’s first drive-in, three miles north of the city on Highway 95, with formal ceremonies July 11, according to Dale Lee, manager of the Weskil situations here. L. H. Weskil, son of the founder, and his family have been staying in Sandpoint supervising the construction of the theatre. Mr. and Mrs. Frank C. Weskil were also here a few days before opening.
“The ozoner is different in that a natural backdrop of mountains and evergreens surrounds the area, making it unnecessary to fence the parking are except between the entrance and exit. The mountains allow the shows to start much earlier than would be possible in Sandpoint because the sun sinks behind them earlier in the evening. There is a present car capacity of 360 which may later be expanded to accommodate 600.”
Boxoffice, July 5, 1952: “fire struck at another Midcentral situation, demolishing the screen tower of the Osawatomie Drive-In. Rebuilding work was started immediately and the Osawatomie airer will open soon.”
Boxoffice, July 26, 1952: “The Midway Drive-In between Paola and Osawatomie has reopened. It was closed for several weeks while the tower and screen were replaced after being destroyed by fire.”
Same drive-in?
Boxoffice, July 26, 1952: “JUNCTION CITY, ORE. - R. E. Douglas, Harrisburg, plans to open his free film airer soon. The only charge is for parking cars in the area.”
Boxoffice, July 26, 1952: “There will be no more Spanish-speaking films at the Fort Cochise Drive-In. The admission charge at the outdoorer is $1 a car. (Tri-Delta manager Tony) Bustamante said many of the Mexican population were unable to go to the Fort Cochise because they lacked transportation.”
Boxoffice, July 19, 1952: “Dean Davis has opened his new 280-car drive-in on Highway 63.”
Boxoffice, July 19, 1952: “Phillipsburg’s new drive-in has opened. Bud Brown and Ralph Winship are the operators. The owners have used earthen mounds for fencing.”
Boxoffice, July 19, 1952: “Mrs. Edith Major has opened her Major Drive-In on Route 24 near Paris, Mo.”
Boxoffice, July 19, 1952: “COFFEYVILLE, KAS. - The Skyliner Drive-In has opened, according to Tal Richardson, owner. Richardson also operates another airer.”
Boxoffice, July 19, 1952: “Commonwealth Theatres has begun work on a new drive-in in Monett, Mo. The 300-car airer is expected to be open in about seven weeks.”
Boxoffice, July 19, 1952: “BELOIT, KAS. - Construction of Midcentral’s Beloit Drive-In will be completed soon, according to Manager Chett Posey. The airer is located east of here on Highway 24.”
Boxoffice, July 19, 1952: “Ed Johnson … owns the Garland Theatre in Spokane and also the new drive-in, the West End, which opened Wednesday (16)”
Same drive-in?
Boxoffice, July 12, 1952: “ROCKPORT, TEX. - The new Tarpon Drive-In, located on the Aransas Pass-Ingleside highway, opened July 3. It is owned and operated by C. L. Walker and E. F. Falgout, and has capacity for 350 cars.”
Even earlier. Boxoffice, July 12, 1952: “HENRIETTA, TEX. - This city’s first drive-in, the Tower, has been opened by Jim Bailey, formerly of Odessa. It accommodates 200 cars and is located one-half mile east of town.”
Boxoffice, July 12, 1952: “MONTGOMERY, ALA. - John R. Moffitt of Moffitt Theatres has announced plans to build his second drive-in exclusively for Negroes. Moffitt said that he hoped to have the $75,000, 500-car airer which will be located on the Mobile Highway near here, open in 90 days. The first Moffitt drive-in for Negroes is located in Tuskegee.”
Boxoffice, July 5, 1952: “Cecil Ward of Bassett, Va., named his new drive-in at Madison, N.C., the Lakeside. This situation even has a stage and is a good example of what can be done under federal building restrictions.”
A date!
Boxoffice, July 5, 1952: “POTOSI, MO. - Harry Blount opened his 350-car drive-in near here Wednesday (2). He also operates the 500-seat Plaza here and is part owner of the Rolla Drive-In on U.S. 66 near Rolla, Mo.”
A date! A reason for the name!
Boxoffice, July 5, 1952: “LOUISIANA, MO. - The Clark Drive-In was opened Wednesday (2) by the Armentrout circuit, headed by Russell Armentrout of this city, on U.S. 54 across the Mississippi river south of Pittsfield. It is named after Clark Armentrout, founder of the circuit.”
According to a Dec. 17, 1973 note in the Kansas City Star, a district court judge banned the drive-in in Fort Scott and its owner, George Techlenburg, from showing X-rated movies if they could be seen from public streets. “There will be no big fence to hide the screen from under-age viewers,” Techlenburg said. “I’ll just wait until next year when the theater reopens to decide what to do.”
Boxoffice, July 5, 1952: “The Valuskis in Willowbrook, recently purchased from Lorraine Valuskis by Mrs. J. Clark, is undergoing a facelifting job and will henceforth by known as the Clark”
Despite that note, the 1956 Film Daily Year Book continued to call this theater the “Valuskkis”.