Boxoffice, June 2, 1956: “Jack Grossman has taken over and reopened the Montrose Theatre in Montrose, dark for some time past.”
Boxoffice, June 30, 1956: “After operating the house for only two weeks, Jack Grossman has sold the Montrose Theatre in Montrose to Joe Herzberg, an exhibitor from Texas”
Boxoffice, June 2, 1956: “A popular attraction for young and old is the artificial lake at Lee’s Woodland Drive-In Theatre, near Vandergrift, Pa., which is stocked annually with fish. Harold Lee, owner, charges $1 per patron for fishing privileges, and fishermen bring their own equipment. Lee also has a number of boats for hire. Last summer, during a storm, his boat house was swept off its footings, but the building was restored this spring.”
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.”
Another reason this drive-in survived (beyond the obvious) for so long? Perhaps as a working showcase. Boxoffice magazine’s Modern Theatre Buyers' Directory for Aug. 28, 1972, included a page about the Joplin-based Mini-Art Operating Company, which apparently held the rights to the old autoscope blueprints. The company’s ad in that issue offered:
“The Mini-Art Operating Company invites all theatre people interested to visit the MINI Drive-In Theatre, Joplin, Mo., on East 7th St. Nitely screenings of adult films. (Sorry, no one under 18 admitted at night.) Please present theatre identification to our Manager, Mr. Ed Kelly, at the boxoffice.”
Boxoffice, May 19, 1956: “CACTUS, ARIZ. - A drive-in will be opened this month near this small community, north of Phoenix. Located one mile north of here on Cave Creek road, the outdoor theatre will cost $85,000. Owners and operators are J. L. and Onamae Lightfoot of De Leon, Tex."
Boxoffice, Feb. 9, 1957: “O. K. Leonard, owner of the Apache, Globe, Ariz., has taken over the Joy ozoner in nearby Cactus from J. L. Lightfoot. The Joy is being renamed the Cactus, with W. G. McKinley appointed as manager.”
Boxoffice, May 19, 1956: “SODA SPRINGS, IDA. - The lights are on and the boxoffice is open at the Dawn-A-Vu outdoor theatre here. Mr. and Mrs. J. R. Mendenhall, owners and operators of the theatre, say show time is around 7:45 p.m.”
Boxoffice, May 19, 1956: “EVANSTON, WYO. - The Riverside Motor Vu is now under the management of Raymond M. Davis of Cheyenne and Russ Dauterman of Salt Lake City. A new widescreen has been installed. Dauterman and Davis, who own and operate a chain of outdoor theatres in Wyoming, Idaho and Utah, recently purchased the drive-in here from Mr. and Mrs. Wilson Dean, who formerly owned and operated the open air show house.”
Boxoffice, May 19, 1956: “SHOW LOW, ARIZ. - The new Wagon Wheel Drive-In is scheduled to open here late in May. The new 300-car plant is located four and a half miles south of Show Low on the McNary road. It is being built by Rawlings-Nace Theatres. Jerry Rawlings is manager of the Sho Lo Theatre, completed five years ago, and of the new Wagon Wheel. The drive-in is located on a 14-acre tract. It has a 41x94-foot screen and a complete snack bar.”
Same drive-in, right? Boxoffice, May 19, 1956: “Dwight Look and Bill Tomlinson announced they are building a 620 car drive-in on Guam. Bill was formerly salesman at Republic Pictures Corp. here (in San Francisco) and with Buena Vista Film Distributing Co. in Seattle and Portland”
Boxoffice, April 7, 1956: “The theatre will have individual speakers to accommodate approximately 200 cars. A screen 72x32 feet with a base of 50 feet will be installed. (J. K.) Munsell is doing his own contracting work which is being rushed, with all available equipment and help being mobilized.”
Here’s another clue that the original Ranch was moved.
Boxoffice, March 24, 1956: “The Kluth interests at Shelby … own the State Theatre at Cut Bank and are now moving the drive-in from between Shelby and Cut Bank known as the Ranch to a location near Cut Bank.”
Novato Advance, May 24, 1967: “Construction is to start this week on a new drive-in theater to be located mid-way between Novato and Petaluma. Called Midway Drive-In Theater, it will be built just north of the Sonoma County line on the Ina M. Austin ranch. Richard Mann of San Francisco, a co-owner of the theater, said it represents an investment of $350,000. He and two other owners - Robert L. Lippert and Charles J. Maestri - own some 50 drive-in theaters in California and Oregon, including two in Santa Rosa. The theater, which will accommodate 600 cars, will occupy eight or ten acres of the 17-acre parcel purchased by the trip. Mann said the theater is to be in operation by August 1. Colombini Construction Company of Santa Rosa is general contractor. Tresch Electric Company of Novato will do the electrical work. The theater will be operated by Theatre Management, Inc., of San Francisco.”
The Sundown held its grand opening on May 19, 1950 with a capacity crowd, based on stories in the Colusa Sun-Herald. Its first program was the Randolph Scott film “Coroner Creek” followed by Disney’s “Dumbo”.
Exhibitor, April 14, 1954: “Oregon-California Theatres, Inc., sold the Weed, Weed, Cal., to Jacob A. Leech, Medford, Ore., who took a 10-year lease on the building. His son-in-law, Richard F. Miller, will be in charge of booking from the Medford office. Leech and Miller formerly owned the Ocean Drive-In, Crescent City, Cal., which they sold in January to Arthur D. and Margaret L. Grenfell, Crescent City. Leech was also associated with Aubrey D. Smith in the Valley Drive-In, Medford, which was sold to Oregon-California Theatres last month.”
Boxoffice, Jan. 14, 1956: “Ernest W. Landry and Mrs. Hazel D. Landry are the new owners of the Weed, Weed, which was formerly owned by Jacob H. Leech. The sale, for an undisclosed sum, became effective January 1.”
In case you ever wondered where the Motion Picture Herald (sometimes?) got its news:
Boxoffice, Oct. 15, 1955: “C. K. Cargile, manager-owner with the Harry L. Nace circuit, has reopened the Sands drive-in near Mesa, Ariz., complete with a new screen tower. Two months ago, shortly after the drive-in opened for the first time, a freak desert whirlwind flattened the screen structure. The new one, all metal, is 46x96 feet”
Boxoffice, Sept. 24, 1955: “Purchase of the Pittsburg Automovie by Blumenfeld Theatres was announced recently by Nate Blumenfeld. The amount involved was reported as $157,500 for the 508-car drive-in. The new owner will do some remodeling and improve the sound system … The Pittsburg Automovie has been in operation since August 1947, with Sylvester Enea sr., as major stockholder.”
Boxoffice, July 16, 1955: “GRANGEVILLE, IDA. - A new drive-in one mile south of here on the Mount Idaho Road is slated to open late this month for Al Wagner, owner of the Blue Fox Theatre here. The drive-in will accommodate 300 cars and will have a screen measuring 72x32 feet.”
Boxoffice, July 30, 1955: “Ground has been broken here for a new drive-in for Al Wagner & Sons. The airer, located one-half mile south of the Grangeville-Harpster highway, will accommodate 300 cars and is expected to be opened late this summer. Footings have been poured on the 72x32-foot screen. John Wagner, Blue Fox Theatre manager, and his brother Al jr. will operate the drive-in.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 10, 1955: “Boasting a 72x32 screen, one of the largest in this part of the country, the Sunset Auto Vue has made its debut as Grangeville’s new drive-in. RCA projectors and 300 speakers, tilted screen on a tower 48 feet off the ground, and latest type concession equipment are features of the ozoner, which is just a mile from Grangeville’s business center.”
Boxoffice, April 21, 1951: TUCSON - New drive-in here, the city’s fourth, is the Cactus, recently opened by Wes Becker and Hugh Downs. The open-airer has accommodations for 600 cars and features a “snackateria.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 10, 1955: “Sero Amusement, of which Bob Benton is general manager, has acquired the Cactus and Rodeo drive-ins in the Tucson area from Wes Becker and Hugh Downs”
Boxoffice, Sept. 10, 1955: “Sero Amusement, of which Bob Benton is general manager, has acquired the Cactus and Rodeo drive-ins in the Tucson area from Wes Becker and Hugh Downs”
A few more details. Boxoffice, Sept. 3, 1955: “Late September is the target date for opening of the Skyline Drive-In, according to owner Pat Tappan. Planned for 650 cars, the Skyline is budgeted at $100,000. It will occupy 22 acres one-half mile north of the fairgrounds on the former airbase road."
The Joe Bob Report, Aug. 7, 1995: “The Foster Drive-In, on Foster Road just east of Interstate 205 in Portland, Oregon, has been bought up by the evil Norman Lear and his drive-in hating Act III Theaters, and they’ve already put up a "Drive-In Property For Sale” sign. The three-screen theater is badly in need of repairs to its AM radio sound system, but don’t count on fat cat Norman to do it. The snack bar is boring and overpriced, too."
The Joe Bob Report, Oct. 17, 1994: “Apathy Alert! / Only three cars showed up for the final night of the Espanola Drive-In in Espanola, New Mexico, which is pure-dee pitiful."
The Joe Bob Report, May 30, 1994: “The Delta Drive-In, on Highway 61 near Morley, Missouri, is being slowly ripped down by area residents who want scrap lumber. What is this, a town of zombies or something? The Delta was erected in 1949 by Earl Ferrell of Sikeston, who sometimes filled it to its 300-car capacity during his famed dusk-to-dawn shows in the sixties. It’s now the home of an auto salvage company - a graveyard, in other words. Let history record that the last movie to be seen there was Desperately Seeking Susan.”
The Joe Bob Report, Nov. 15, 1993: “The Skyview Drive-In in Belleville, Illinois, was supposed to be ripped down three years ago so somebody could build a shopping center. They even had a big closing-night party to mourn the place. But it still stands, and it’s still in business. In fact, it’s the last surviving theater of the once powerful Bloomer Amusement Company theater circuit, which was founded in vaudeville days. The Skyview opened in 1949 and was originally known as the Pink Drive-In because of the costumes worn by concession stand workers. It included pony rides, a Ferris wheel, and fire truck and train rides for children.”
Boxoffice, June 2, 1956: “Jack Grossman has taken over and reopened the Montrose Theatre in Montrose, dark for some time past.”
Boxoffice, June 30, 1956: “After operating the house for only two weeks, Jack Grossman has sold the Montrose Theatre in Montrose to Joe Herzberg, an exhibitor from Texas”
Boxoffice, June 2, 1956: “A popular attraction for young and old is the artificial lake at Lee’s Woodland Drive-In Theatre, near Vandergrift, Pa., which is stocked annually with fish. Harold Lee, owner, charges $1 per patron for fishing privileges, and fishermen bring their own equipment. Lee also has a number of boats for hire. Last summer, during a storm, his boat house was swept off its footings, but the building was restored this spring.”
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.”
Another reason this drive-in survived (beyond the obvious) for so long? Perhaps as a working showcase. Boxoffice magazine’s Modern Theatre Buyers' Directory for Aug. 28, 1972, included a page about the Joplin-based Mini-Art Operating Company, which apparently held the rights to the old autoscope blueprints. The company’s ad in that issue offered:
“The Mini-Art Operating Company invites all theatre people interested to visit the MINI Drive-In Theatre, Joplin, Mo., on East 7th St. Nitely screenings of adult films. (Sorry, no one under 18 admitted at night.) Please present theatre identification to our Manager, Mr. Ed Kelly, at the boxoffice.”
Boxoffice, May 19, 1956: “CACTUS, ARIZ. - A drive-in will be opened this month near this small community, north of Phoenix. Located one mile north of here on Cave Creek road, the outdoor theatre will cost $85,000. Owners and operators are J. L. and Onamae Lightfoot of De Leon, Tex."
Boxoffice, Feb. 9, 1957: “O. K. Leonard, owner of the Apache, Globe, Ariz., has taken over the Joy ozoner in nearby Cactus from J. L. Lightfoot. The Joy is being renamed the Cactus, with W. G. McKinley appointed as manager.”
Boxoffice, May 19, 1956: “SODA SPRINGS, IDA. - The lights are on and the boxoffice is open at the Dawn-A-Vu outdoor theatre here. Mr. and Mrs. J. R. Mendenhall, owners and operators of the theatre, say show time is around 7:45 p.m.”
Boxoffice, May 19, 1956: “EVANSTON, WYO. - The Riverside Motor Vu is now under the management of Raymond M. Davis of Cheyenne and Russ Dauterman of Salt Lake City. A new widescreen has been installed. Dauterman and Davis, who own and operate a chain of outdoor theatres in Wyoming, Idaho and Utah, recently purchased the drive-in here from Mr. and Mrs. Wilson Dean, who formerly owned and operated the open air show house.”
Boxoffice, May 19, 1956: “Jerry Rawlings is manager of the Sho Lo Theatre, completed five years ago, and of the new Wagon Wheel (Drive-In).”
Boxoffice, May 19, 1956: “SHOW LOW, ARIZ. - The new Wagon Wheel Drive-In is scheduled to open here late in May. The new 300-car plant is located four and a half miles south of Show Low on the McNary road. It is being built by Rawlings-Nace Theatres. Jerry Rawlings is manager of the Sho Lo Theatre, completed five years ago, and of the new Wagon Wheel. The drive-in is located on a 14-acre tract. It has a 41x94-foot screen and a complete snack bar.”
Same drive-in, right? Boxoffice, May 19, 1956: “Dwight Look and Bill Tomlinson announced they are building a 620 car drive-in on Guam. Bill was formerly salesman at Republic Pictures Corp. here (in San Francisco) and with Buena Vista Film Distributing Co. in Seattle and Portland”
Josh Brosious, new owner of the Point, is doing renovations and expects to reopen in a few weeks. The full story is at WNEP.com.
A few more details.
Boxoffice, April 7, 1956: “The theatre will have individual speakers to accommodate approximately 200 cars. A screen 72x32 feet with a base of 50 feet will be installed. (J. K.) Munsell is doing his own contracting work which is being rushed, with all available equipment and help being mobilized.”
Here’s another clue that the original Ranch was moved.
Boxoffice, March 24, 1956: “The Kluth interests at Shelby … own the State Theatre at Cut Bank and are now moving the drive-in from between Shelby and Cut Bank known as the Ranch to a location near Cut Bank.”
Background with some names behind the Midway.
Novato Advance, May 24, 1967: “Construction is to start this week on a new drive-in theater to be located mid-way between Novato and Petaluma. Called Midway Drive-In Theater, it will be built just north of the Sonoma County line on the Ina M. Austin ranch. Richard Mann of San Francisco, a co-owner of the theater, said it represents an investment of $350,000. He and two other owners - Robert L. Lippert and Charles J. Maestri - own some 50 drive-in theaters in California and Oregon, including two in Santa Rosa. The theater, which will accommodate 600 cars, will occupy eight or ten acres of the 17-acre parcel purchased by the trip. Mann said the theater is to be in operation by August 1. Colombini Construction Company of Santa Rosa is general contractor. Tresch Electric Company of Novato will do the electrical work. The theater will be operated by Theatre Management, Inc., of San Francisco.”
The Sundown held its grand opening on May 19, 1950 with a capacity crowd, based on stories in the Colusa Sun-Herald. Its first program was the Randolph Scott film “Coroner Creek” followed by Disney’s “Dumbo”.
Exhibitor, April 14, 1954: “Oregon-California Theatres, Inc., sold the Weed, Weed, Cal., to Jacob A. Leech, Medford, Ore., who took a 10-year lease on the building. His son-in-law, Richard F. Miller, will be in charge of booking from the Medford office. Leech and Miller formerly owned the Ocean Drive-In, Crescent City, Cal., which they sold in January to Arthur D. and Margaret L. Grenfell, Crescent City. Leech was also associated with Aubrey D. Smith in the Valley Drive-In, Medford, which was sold to Oregon-California Theatres last month.”
Boxoffice, Jan. 14, 1956: “Ernest W. Landry and Mrs. Hazel D. Landry are the new owners of the Weed, Weed, which was formerly owned by Jacob H. Leech. The sale, for an undisclosed sum, became effective January 1.”
In case you ever wondered where the Motion Picture Herald (sometimes?) got its news:
Boxoffice, Oct. 15, 1955: “C. K. Cargile, manager-owner with the Harry L. Nace circuit, has reopened the Sands drive-in near Mesa, Ariz., complete with a new screen tower. Two months ago, shortly after the drive-in opened for the first time, a freak desert whirlwind flattened the screen structure. The new one, all metal, is 46x96 feet”
Boxoffice, Sept. 24, 1955: “Purchase of the Pittsburg Automovie by Blumenfeld Theatres was announced recently by Nate Blumenfeld. The amount involved was reported as $157,500 for the 508-car drive-in. The new owner will do some remodeling and improve the sound system … The Pittsburg Automovie has been in operation since August 1947, with Sylvester Enea sr., as major stockholder.”
Boxoffice, July 16, 1955: “GRANGEVILLE, IDA. - A new drive-in one mile south of here on the Mount Idaho Road is slated to open late this month for Al Wagner, owner of the Blue Fox Theatre here. The drive-in will accommodate 300 cars and will have a screen measuring 72x32 feet.”
Boxoffice, July 30, 1955: “Ground has been broken here for a new drive-in for Al Wagner & Sons. The airer, located one-half mile south of the Grangeville-Harpster highway, will accommodate 300 cars and is expected to be opened late this summer. Footings have been poured on the 72x32-foot screen. John Wagner, Blue Fox Theatre manager, and his brother Al jr. will operate the drive-in.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 10, 1955: “Boasting a 72x32 screen, one of the largest in this part of the country, the Sunset Auto Vue has made its debut as Grangeville’s new drive-in. RCA projectors and 300 speakers, tilted screen on a tower 48 feet off the ground, and latest type concession equipment are features of the ozoner, which is just a mile from Grangeville’s business center.”
Boxoffice, April 21, 1951: TUCSON - New drive-in here, the city’s fourth, is the Cactus, recently opened by Wes Becker and Hugh Downs. The open-airer has accommodations for 600 cars and features a “snackateria.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 10, 1955: “Sero Amusement, of which Bob Benton is general manager, has acquired the Cactus and Rodeo drive-ins in the Tucson area from Wes Becker and Hugh Downs”
Boxoffice, Sept. 10, 1955: “Sero Amusement, of which Bob Benton is general manager, has acquired the Cactus and Rodeo drive-ins in the Tucson area from Wes Becker and Hugh Downs”
A few more details. Boxoffice, Sept. 3, 1955: “Late September is the target date for opening of the Skyline Drive-In, according to owner Pat Tappan. Planned for 650 cars, the Skyline is budgeted at $100,000. It will occupy 22 acres one-half mile north of the fairgrounds on the former airbase road."
The Joe Bob Report, Aug. 7, 1995: “The Foster Drive-In, on Foster Road just east of Interstate 205 in Portland, Oregon, has been bought up by the evil Norman Lear and his drive-in hating Act III Theaters, and they’ve already put up a "Drive-In Property For Sale” sign. The three-screen theater is badly in need of repairs to its AM radio sound system, but don’t count on fat cat Norman to do it. The snack bar is boring and overpriced, too."
The Joe Bob Report, Oct. 17, 1994: “Apathy Alert! / Only three cars showed up for the final night of the Espanola Drive-In in Espanola, New Mexico, which is pure-dee pitiful."
The Joe Bob Report, May 30, 1994: “The Delta Drive-In, on Highway 61 near Morley, Missouri, is being slowly ripped down by area residents who want scrap lumber. What is this, a town of zombies or something? The Delta was erected in 1949 by Earl Ferrell of Sikeston, who sometimes filled it to its 300-car capacity during his famed dusk-to-dawn shows in the sixties. It’s now the home of an auto salvage company - a graveyard, in other words. Let history record that the last movie to be seen there was Desperately Seeking Susan.”
The Joe Bob Report, Nov. 15, 1993: “The Skyview Drive-In in Belleville, Illinois, was supposed to be ripped down three years ago so somebody could build a shopping center. They even had a big closing-night party to mourn the place. But it still stands, and it’s still in business. In fact, it’s the last surviving theater of the once powerful Bloomer Amusement Company theater circuit, which was founded in vaudeville days. The Skyview opened in 1949 and was originally known as the Pink Drive-In because of the costumes worn by concession stand workers. It included pony rides, a Ferris wheel, and fire truck and train rides for children.”