Motion Picture Herald, May 17, 1952: “The Tascosa drive-in theatre, on North Fillmore, Amarillo, Texas, opened.”
And now NewspaperArchive.com filled in the Amarillo gap that kept me from knowing the date. I uploaded the grand opening ad from May 2, 1952. The first double feature was “The Highwayman” with Charles Coburn, “The Longhorn” with Bill Elliott, and a couple of unnamed color cartoons.
Lester Dollison, who owned the Rex and Star theaters in Amarillo and others in Sherman, Denton, Wichita Falls and San Angelo, moved to Amarillo in May 1950 to establish his company headquarters there, per a note in the July 23, 1950 Amarillo Sunday News-Globe.
The 1953-54 Theatre Catalog still listed Dollison as the Skyway’s owner, but the 1955-56 edition changed that to H. Wilson and J. Fagan. The 1960 Motion Picture Almanac mentioned three owners - Weisenberg, Fagan & Wilson.
Amarillo Globe-Times, Dec. 6, 1967: “Amarillo has lost an ozoner … the Palo Duro … is being razed. The Palo Duro closed its gates permanently Nov. 26 after showing a triple feature which included "El Dorado,” “Your Cheatin' Heart” and “The Rounders.” The closing resulted from a loss of the lease on the property, an official said. The Palo Duro opened May 13, 1948 as the second drive-in theater in the city … Charles Weisenberg, Harold Wilson and Johnny Fagan were the original owners of the theater, and Wilson was the first manager. In 1954 Wilson and Fagan sold their interests in the theater. Fagan, however, did not completely sever his connection with the Palo Duro. For the past year, he has managed both the Palo Duro and Twin Drive-In. Fagan also owns the Buena Vista Drive-In in Borger … Built to hold 400 cars, the drive-in was enlarged in 1952 to accommodate 553 vehicles. A year later the screen was enlarged to allow showings of Cinemascope movies."
I guess this didn’t pan out. Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, July 6, 1972: “W. O. Bearden is seeking zoning changes that would … make the Golden Horseshoe Drive-In Theater conform to the zoning for the first time since it was brought into the city limits. Two requests to install a third screen backing up to 66th Street have been denied by the Zoning Board of Adjustment … The theater is a legal non-conforming use since it was there when the area was annexed and automatically zoned for single family residences.”
The Dixie had a near miss just a month before it burned down.
The Exhibitor, Aug. 19, 1953: “John Christianson averted possible fire at the Dixie, Athens, Tex., when he discovered smoke and flames coming from the wiring in the neon sign above the entrance. Damage was slight.”
BTW, the Trail was different from the Athens / Star Vue. A 1954 aerial photo of the future Trail site (TX-31 BUS & Slagle St) showed empty land. South of town along then-Texas 19, a 1955 aerial photo showed another drive-in, presumably the Star Vue. A good address is 1220 S Palestine St, where Fresenius Kidney Care is today. The office building had replaced the drive-in by a 1983 aerial photo.
BoxwellBrothers.com obituary, Oct. 25, 2016: “Lucille Turner was born on July 29, 1920 in Hunt County, Texas … in Dawson, Texas … she met her future husband, Clifton C. Turner Jr. … In 1957, they moved to Athens, Texas where they built and operated the Trail Drive-In Theater."
Boxoffice, July 20, 1964: “Bob Nicholas, who recently took over the Rialto Theatre in Higgins, Tex., from a group of businessmen who had operated the place several years as a civic activity, died.”
DavidZornig, that’s very helpful, unique information! The Motion Picture Almanac dropped the Trail in 1977, perhaps because it was X-rated by then, and that’s all I could find. Where did you get that date?
The reason they called this drive-in the Derby was revealed in a March 6, 1952 “explanation” on the front page of the McLean News. Howard Horne convinced the McLean Jaycees that the town needed a memorable (he didn’t use the word) gimmick.
“(I)f everyone in McLean, or at least a large number of local citizens, wore derbies - not for just a short-timie fad, but from now on - the derby would become the identification mark for someone from McLean, regardless of where that person might be.” The idea was that tourists would stop in town, “ask questions (and) spend a little money.”
I don’t believe McLean became “the Derby City” for long; a search in the McLean News found that phrase used only in that edition. But it stayed a topic just long enough for the civic-minded theater owner to adopt it as the name of his new little drive-in.
Missing a few words, but still interesting to me - part of the Lone Star became part of the Derby Drive-In.
McLean News, June 26, 1952: “For the past couple of weeks, there’s been a big brick-cleaning project going on in McLean. Amos and Joe Page have been clearing away the rubbish from the old Lone Star Theatre, which burned two or three years ago. The bricks are being cleaned by boys, and will be used in the construction of the drive-in theater planned xxx. The old wall on the west xxx, part of which is still standing, will be torn down, Amos Page said. The front part of the building will be left intact.”
McLean (TX) News, May 8, 1952: “Mr. and Mrs. Amos Page and their two children have been making their home in Matador for the past several months and have been operating the Rogue Theater there. However, the Rogue has been sold to Clayton Ham of Quitaque, and the Pages plan to return to McLean at the close of school.”
Another date hint. Variety, Nov. 3, 1954: “Pioneer Drive-In opened between Cross Plains and Rising Star by Bob Vaught and Hugh Millingion. The ozoner is C’Scope-equipped.”
Variety, June 24, 1964: “Richard L. Davis … manages the Pioneer Drive-In Theater … (which) is being remodeled at this time, with 200 speakers being added.”
Variety, Aug. 1, 1951: “F. L. Anderson sold his Pioneer Drive-In at Denver City to J. C. Capps. New owner expects to modernize the ozoner and build a snack bar.”
Billboard, Aug. 15, 1953: “J. C. Capps, owner-operator of Mustang Drive-In, Denver City, Tex., has increased the theater’s capacity by 50 cars. He has also installed new sound and projection equipment.”
(Thanks to the work of the Oklahoma Historical Society)
Beckham County Democrat, May 29, 1952: “The new Bearcat Drive-In Theatre, which is located just north of Erick on Highway 20, will open June 16th, according to Mr. Lamar Guthrie, owner. Their opening picture will be “Carson City,” starring Randolph Scott … The new theatre’s capacity is 106 cars, with individual speakers for each car.”
After advertising regularly in early 1964, the Bearcat’s ads abruptly ceased after the June 11 issue of the Democrat. That ad included movies through Monday, June 15. That might be its final show - it matches the Boxoffice note later that said it had been closed “a few months” before being dismantled in October/November.
Boxoffice, April 9, 1973: “in Hollis, it was our pleasure to visit … Lamar Guthrie, who has retired after running the Rogue Theatre in Erick for many years.”
When did Elk City’s 66 close? We know that it was still intact in February 1984. We know that Martin Theatres bought Video Independent, then sort of changed its name to Cinemark. The Motion Picture Almanac’s circuit lists were more accurate than its drive-in lists. In the 1986 edition, Cinemark included Elk City’s 66 Drive-In in its circuit entry. In the 1987 edition, Cinemark no longer claimed the 66.
My current guess is that the drive-in lasted through the 1985 season before it was replaced by a Wal-Mart (now a Tractor Supply store). I look forward to hearing more concrete details from someone with access to the local newspapers from back then.
Clinton Daily News, Feb. 18, 1954: “Sale of the Ritz Theater equipment to Video Independent Theaters, Inc., operators of the Redland, Del Rio and Clinton Drive-In Theaters, was announced today by Mrs. Myrtle Guthrie. Mrs. Guthrie will retain ownership of the Ritz Theater building and will lease it to the Video company. Effective date of the transfer will be March 1, but Mrs. Guthrie has agreed to continue for a few weeks as manager of the theater. All employes of the Ritz will retain their positions. Mrs. Guthrie and her late husband, C. W. Guthrie, operated the Ritz between 1925 and 1937. Since the death of her husband, Mrs. Guthrie has been the sole owner and manager.”
The Clinton Herald published a long article on the Clinton Drive-In on April 11, 2014. It said that the drive-in opened June 15, 1949 and closed Sept. 1, 1991.
This 1977 photo by John Margolies is part of the Library of Congress’s John Margolies Roadside America photograph archive and is effectively in the public domain.
Years later, I found a local TV news story that confirmed that the Tascosa suffered wind damage in March 2019 and was collecting money to repair it.
The Tascosa was listed for sale in August 2020, and is still available. It showed movies through October 2021, and is closed for the season.
Years later, I found that opening clue.
Motion Picture Herald, May 17, 1952: “The Tascosa drive-in theatre, on North Fillmore, Amarillo, Texas, opened.”
And now NewspaperArchive.com filled in the Amarillo gap that kept me from knowing the date. I uploaded the grand opening ad from May 2, 1952. The first double feature was “The Highwayman” with Charles Coburn, “The Longhorn” with Bill Elliott, and a couple of unnamed color cartoons.
Lester Dollison, who owned the Rex and Star theaters in Amarillo and others in Sherman, Denton, Wichita Falls and San Angelo, moved to Amarillo in May 1950 to establish his company headquarters there, per a note in the July 23, 1950 Amarillo Sunday News-Globe.
The 1953-54 Theatre Catalog still listed Dollison as the Skyway’s owner, but the 1955-56 edition changed that to H. Wilson and J. Fagan. The 1960 Motion Picture Almanac mentioned three owners - Weisenberg, Fagan & Wilson.
Amarillo Globe-Times, Dec. 6, 1967: “Amarillo has lost an ozoner … the Palo Duro … is being razed. The Palo Duro closed its gates permanently Nov. 26 after showing a triple feature which included "El Dorado,” “Your Cheatin' Heart” and “The Rounders.” The closing resulted from a loss of the lease on the property, an official said. The Palo Duro opened May 13, 1948 as the second drive-in theater in the city … Charles Weisenberg, Harold Wilson and Johnny Fagan were the original owners of the theater, and Wilson was the first manager. In 1954 Wilson and Fagan sold their interests in the theater. Fagan, however, did not completely sever his connection with the Palo Duro. For the past year, he has managed both the Palo Duro and Twin Drive-In. Fagan also owns the Buena Vista Drive-In in Borger … Built to hold 400 cars, the drive-in was enlarged in 1952 to accommodate 553 vehicles. A year later the screen was enlarged to allow showings of Cinemascope movies."
I guess this didn’t pan out. Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, July 6, 1972: “W. O. Bearden is seeking zoning changes that would … make the Golden Horseshoe Drive-In Theater conform to the zoning for the first time since it was brought into the city limits. Two requests to install a third screen backing up to 66th Street have been denied by the Zoning Board of Adjustment … The theater is a legal non-conforming use since it was there when the area was annexed and automatically zoned for single family residences.”
The Dixie had a near miss just a month before it burned down.
The Exhibitor, Aug. 19, 1953: “John Christianson averted possible fire at the Dixie, Athens, Tex., when he discovered smoke and flames coming from the wiring in the neon sign above the entrance. Damage was slight.”
BTW, the Trail was different from the Athens / Star Vue. A 1954 aerial photo of the future Trail site (TX-31 BUS & Slagle St) showed empty land. South of town along then-Texas 19, a 1955 aerial photo showed another drive-in, presumably the Star Vue. A good address is 1220 S Palestine St, where Fresenius Kidney Care is today. The office building had replaced the drive-in by a 1983 aerial photo.
BoxwellBrothers.com obituary, Oct. 25, 2016: “Lucille Turner was born on July 29, 1920 in Hunt County, Texas … in Dawson, Texas … she met her future husband, Clifton C. Turner Jr. … In 1957, they moved to Athens, Texas where they built and operated the Trail Drive-In Theater."
Boxoffice, July 20, 1964: “Bob Nicholas, who recently took over the Rialto Theatre in Higgins, Tex., from a group of businessmen who had operated the place several years as a civic activity, died.”
CardCow was selling a copy of this undated postcard, published by Dexter Press in West Nyack NY.
DavidZornig, that’s very helpful, unique information! The Motion Picture Almanac dropped the Trail in 1977, perhaps because it was X-rated by then, and that’s all I could find. Where did you get that date?
This March 2004 photo by David Plowden is part of Yale’s Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, which says that Plowden retains its copyright.
Neat! Here’s a link to the Google Street View of the Starlight sign, still intact in 2018: https://goo.gl/maps/yFsf5dLtiqPJA8Mi8
The reason they called this drive-in the Derby was revealed in a March 6, 1952 “explanation” on the front page of the McLean News. Howard Horne convinced the McLean Jaycees that the town needed a memorable (he didn’t use the word) gimmick.
“(I)f everyone in McLean, or at least a large number of local citizens, wore derbies - not for just a short-timie fad, but from now on - the derby would become the identification mark for someone from McLean, regardless of where that person might be.” The idea was that tourists would stop in town, “ask questions (and) spend a little money.”
I don’t believe McLean became “the Derby City” for long; a search in the McLean News found that phrase used only in that edition. But it stayed a topic just long enough for the civic-minded theater owner to adopt it as the name of his new little drive-in.
Missing a few words, but still interesting to me - part of the Lone Star became part of the Derby Drive-In.
McLean News, June 26, 1952: “For the past couple of weeks, there’s been a big brick-cleaning project going on in McLean. Amos and Joe Page have been clearing away the rubbish from the old Lone Star Theatre, which burned two or three years ago. The bricks are being cleaned by boys, and will be used in the construction of the drive-in theater planned xxx. The old wall on the west xxx, part of which is still standing, will be torn down, Amos Page said. The front part of the building will be left intact.”
McLean (TX) News, May 8, 1952: “Mr. and Mrs. Amos Page and their two children have been making their home in Matador for the past several months and have been operating the Rogue Theater there. However, the Rogue has been sold to Clayton Ham of Quitaque, and the Pages plan to return to McLean at the close of school.”
Another date hint. Variety, Nov. 3, 1954: “Pioneer Drive-In opened between Cross Plains and Rising Star by Bob Vaught and Hugh Millingion. The ozoner is C’Scope-equipped.”
Variety, June 24, 1964: “Richard L. Davis … manages the Pioneer Drive-In Theater … (which) is being remodeled at this time, with 200 speakers being added.”
Variety, Aug. 1, 1951: “F. L. Anderson sold his Pioneer Drive-In at Denver City to J. C. Capps. New owner expects to modernize the ozoner and build a snack bar.”
Billboard, Aug. 15, 1953: “J. C. Capps, owner-operator of Mustang Drive-In, Denver City, Tex., has increased the theater’s capacity by 50 cars. He has also installed new sound and projection equipment.”
(Thanks to the work of the Oklahoma Historical Society)
Beckham County Democrat, May 29, 1952: “The new Bearcat Drive-In Theatre, which is located just north of Erick on Highway 20, will open June 16th, according to Mr. Lamar Guthrie, owner. Their opening picture will be “Carson City,” starring Randolph Scott … The new theatre’s capacity is 106 cars, with individual speakers for each car.”
After advertising regularly in early 1964, the Bearcat’s ads abruptly ceased after the June 11 issue of the Democrat. That ad included movies through Monday, June 15. That might be its final show - it matches the Boxoffice note later that said it had been closed “a few months” before being dismantled in October/November.
Boxoffice, April 9, 1973: “in Hollis, it was our pleasure to visit … Lamar Guthrie, who has retired after running the Rogue Theatre in Erick for many years.”
When did Elk City’s 66 close? We know that it was still intact in February 1984. We know that Martin Theatres bought Video Independent, then sort of changed its name to Cinemark. The Motion Picture Almanac’s circuit lists were more accurate than its drive-in lists. In the 1986 edition, Cinemark included Elk City’s 66 Drive-In in its circuit entry. In the 1987 edition, Cinemark no longer claimed the 66.
My current guess is that the drive-in lasted through the 1985 season before it was replaced by a Wal-Mart (now a Tractor Supply store). I look forward to hearing more concrete details from someone with access to the local newspapers from back then.
Clinton Daily News, Feb. 18, 1954: “Sale of the Ritz Theater equipment to Video Independent Theaters, Inc., operators of the Redland, Del Rio and Clinton Drive-In Theaters, was announced today by Mrs. Myrtle Guthrie. Mrs. Guthrie will retain ownership of the Ritz Theater building and will lease it to the Video company. Effective date of the transfer will be March 1, but Mrs. Guthrie has agreed to continue for a few weeks as manager of the theater. All employes of the Ritz will retain their positions. Mrs. Guthrie and her late husband, C. W. Guthrie, operated the Ritz between 1925 and 1937. Since the death of her husband, Mrs. Guthrie has been the sole owner and manager.”
That drawing ran as an “artists' conception” (plural?) in the April 10, 1949 Clinton Daily News.
The Clinton Herald published a long article on the Clinton Drive-In on April 11, 2014. It said that the drive-in opened June 15, 1949 and closed Sept. 1, 1991.