While topo maps are known for displaying old information, I’ve yet to run into an aerial photo that was dated wrong. Certainly not several years off like it would have to be assuming the Forum Drive-In opened at that location in 1956.
The same 1962 aerial shows the Spaulding Drive-In, but the area where the Forum is suppose to be is clearly still forest. So, I’m inclined to believe that the Forum was not built until the mid-1960s at least at that location unless it can be shown that the aerial photo is dated wrong.
A 2008 Google Street view shows the screen still standing and in decent shape. Apart from the outline and ramps, there is nothing else left of the drive-in.
The drive-in seems to have closed by 1968. By the following year, an aerial photo shows the concession stand/projector booth had been demolished.
There seems to be virtually nothing of the drive-in remaining, save perhaps for the concession stand, projection booth. That may still be in place, although it appears to be quite ragged.
A closer address is 506 Old Kirbyville Hwy, Jasper, TX. Google doesn’t map it exactly, but you’ll find the location on the west side of the highway about a quarter-mile south of the intersection of Old Kirbyville Hwy and HWY 96 south of Jasper.
The drive-in appears on a 1952 aerial and 1956 topo map. By 1982, the drive-in had been demolished. Today, a private business occupies the site and virtually nothing of the drive-in remains.
Topo maps that date back to 1935 show no indication of an airstrip paved or otherwise at that location. Plus, the area itself is not only hilly, but seems to have been developed with a school, cemetery, and some housing from at least the 1930s.
Most grass airstrips tend to be isolated, but I recognize that is not always the case.
It’s always possible that topo maps are mistaken, but it’s also possible that Wikipedia is mistaken as well. In any event, I suggest further investigation to ensure that the address is accurate because there is evidence that it is not.
The location maps better with 889 PA-66, Ford City, PA. Using “main street”, despite it being in the description, does not map properly for whatever reason.
Plus, as the name of the drive-in indicates, that section of the road was called “route 66” or “PA-66” as it is known today.
A closer address is 2603 N Main Street, Las Cruces, NM. This address lines up with the old entrance which is now the entrance to a shopping plaza.
The drive-in was gone by 1972 and nothing remains today. About the only indication that a drive-in was at that location is the fence behind Century 21 which runs in the same direction as the northern fence of the drive-in.
A January 2017 Google Street view along with the overhead view shows no screen. Only a foundation remains in place along with many of the ramps, concession stand/projection booth foundation, and vestiges of the entrance and exit roads.
The quote you used has at least two mistakes, the wrong town and wrong direction. It’s actually closer to say the Y Drive-In was south of Poteau, not west of it.
Based on a 1955 aerial, I’m rather dubious that the drive-in could’ve held 200 vehicles, much less 300. But then again the information provided was probably provided by those who wanted the drive-in to sound more impressive than it was.
It is the empty grass field that sits on the NE corner of Midway Avenue and Speedway Avenue. Traces of the outline and ramps remained until 2005, but by 2009 the field had been plowed over, so no trace of the drive-in remains.
The closest address I can get (at least on Google) is
2906 US-41, Manchester, TN. This is across the street from the drive-in. The drive-in appears intact in a 1981 aerial, but by 1997 it was demolished.
Today, it is private property with a house and a couple of buildings. But you can easily see the outline and ramps.
It lasted less than two months. Being next to an ammonia plant may explain why.
Unfortunately, I cannot find any evidence of a drive-in south of Henderson along HWY 60 on a 1950 aerial. So, it was probably totally demolished quickly and perhaps a building added to the property.
If you are talking about the rectangular property just north of what appears to be a house and barn in the 1958 photo, it doesn’t look nearly big enough even for a 130 car drive-in. But then again I’ve seen so-called “official” information be wrong before, so it could have been smaller.
At least my guess about it being totally demolished before 1958 seems to be right. Which means that information should be added to the description.
I think I’m going blind looking at the 1958 aerial photo of Lennox. Even a 130 car drive-in should stand out if it was anywhere in or near that small town.
Is it possible that it closed well before 1958 and was demolished or someone built something over it? Cause I’m thinking that is possible.
While topo maps are known for displaying old information, I’ve yet to run into an aerial photo that was dated wrong. Certainly not several years off like it would have to be assuming the Forum Drive-In opened at that location in 1956.
The same 1962 aerial shows the Spaulding Drive-In, but the area where the Forum is suppose to be is clearly still forest. So, I’m inclined to believe that the Forum was not built until the mid-1960s at least at that location unless it can be shown that the aerial photo is dated wrong.
I believe I found it.
747 UT-55, Price, UT.
The drive-in sits on the east side of Price and was intact and seemingly in operation until at least 1972. By 1979, it had been demolished.
https://tinyurl.com/y5ezwja3
A 2008 Google Street view shows the screen still standing and in decent shape. Apart from the outline and ramps, there is nothing else left of the drive-in.
The drive-in seems to have closed by 1968. By the following year, an aerial photo shows the concession stand/projector booth had been demolished.
The marquee has been removed.
A Google street view from 2018 shows no indication of a screen remaining.
It does appear that the outline of part of the back fence and ramp remain from the drive-in.
There seems to be virtually nothing of the drive-in remaining, save perhaps for the concession stand, projection booth. That may still be in place, although it appears to be quite ragged.
Found It!
A closer address is 506 Old Kirbyville Hwy, Jasper, TX. Google doesn’t map it exactly, but you’ll find the location on the west side of the highway about a quarter-mile south of the intersection of Old Kirbyville Hwy and HWY 96 south of Jasper.
The drive-in appears on a 1952 aerial and 1956 topo map. By 1982, the drive-in had been demolished. Today, a private business occupies the site and virtually nothing of the drive-in remains.
https://tinyurl.com/y2j45fby
Topo maps that date back to 1935 show no indication of an airstrip paved or otherwise at that location. Plus, the area itself is not only hilly, but seems to have been developed with a school, cemetery, and some housing from at least the 1930s.
Most grass airstrips tend to be isolated, but I recognize that is not always the case.
It’s always possible that topo maps are mistaken, but it’s also possible that Wikipedia is mistaken as well. In any event, I suggest further investigation to ensure that the address is accurate because there is evidence that it is not.
It should be W County Road 118, not 18.
A 1963 aerial shows the drive-in intact. By 1996, it had been demolished. Today, there is no trace of the drive-in.
The location maps better with 889 PA-66, Ford City, PA. Using “main street”, despite it being in the description, does not map properly for whatever reason.
Plus, as the name of the drive-in indicates, that section of the road was called “route 66” or “PA-66” as it is known today.
The Boulevard Drive-In does have a CT page. http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/58721
A closer address is 2603 N Main Street, Las Cruces, NM. This address lines up with the old entrance which is now the entrance to a shopping plaza.
The drive-in was gone by 1972 and nothing remains today. About the only indication that a drive-in was at that location is the fence behind Century 21 which runs in the same direction as the northern fence of the drive-in.
https://tinyurl.com/y4unmvlm
A January 2017 Google Street view along with the overhead view shows no screen. Only a foundation remains in place along with many of the ramps, concession stand/projection booth foundation, and vestiges of the entrance and exit roads.
Living in Oklahoma like I do, you see scissor-tail flycatchers all the time.
Fixing the bridge will take considerably more.
The 1964 aerial photograph shows the screen is gone. No trace of the drive-in remains today.
The 1966 aerial shows the screen is gone, so it appears to have closed well before 1966.
The quote you used has at least two mistakes, the wrong town and wrong direction. It’s actually closer to say the Y Drive-In was south of Poteau, not west of it.
Based on a 1955 aerial, I’m rather dubious that the drive-in could’ve held 200 vehicles, much less 300. But then again the information provided was probably provided by those who wanted the drive-in to sound more impressive than it was.
It is the empty grass field that sits on the NE corner of Midway Avenue and Speedway Avenue. Traces of the outline and ramps remained until 2005, but by 2009 the field had been plowed over, so no trace of the drive-in remains.
MichaelKilgore, do you mean Pryor, Oklahoma? That is about 100 miles from Poteau.
Found It!
The closest address I can get (at least on Google) is 2906 US-41, Manchester, TN. This is across the street from the drive-in. The drive-in appears intact in a 1981 aerial, but by 1997 it was demolished.
Today, it is private property with a house and a couple of buildings. But you can easily see the outline and ramps.
https://tinyurl.com/yxtbe9oz
It lasted less than two months. Being next to an ammonia plant may explain why.
Unfortunately, I cannot find any evidence of a drive-in south of Henderson along HWY 60 on a 1950 aerial. So, it was probably totally demolished quickly and perhaps a building added to the property.
If you are talking about the rectangular property just north of what appears to be a house and barn in the 1958 photo, it doesn’t look nearly big enough even for a 130 car drive-in. But then again I’ve seen so-called “official” information be wrong before, so it could have been smaller.
At least my guess about it being totally demolished before 1958 seems to be right. Which means that information should be added to the description.
I think I’m going blind looking at the 1958 aerial photo of Lennox. Even a 130 car drive-in should stand out if it was anywhere in or near that small town.
Is it possible that it closed well before 1958 and was demolished or someone built something over it? Cause I’m thinking that is possible.