I’d like to hear more details about who ran the 66 Twin in the late 2000s. The last reference that I’ve seen so far was a mention in the Okmulgee Daily Times in June 2007 as an active drive-in in the state. And then there was a reported arrest in August 2007. (I have no idea how that case came out, and any arrestee should be considered innocent until proven guilty.) Co-owner Cecil George, who retired in 2006, passed away in his home in 2011, per this obituary.
In December 1944, Motion Picture Herald included two movie reviews from Blanche Gibson, owner of the Max in Cherokee. “The Impatient Years” was exceptionally good, “but did not draw as it should. Jean Arthur is never very strong here.” About “The Hitler Gang,” she wrote, “it is not entertainment. Business terrible.”
Harper County Journal, June 14, 1945: “V. E. Jackson, Buffalo, became manager of the New Buffalo theater Friday (8), replacing Miss Blanche Gibson, who returned to Cherokee to be associated with theaters there. Jackson will also operate the projector … Mrs. Jackson will be cashier and supervise the ushers. The theater is owned by W. (Walter) P. Shuttee, Cherokee, and W. F. McDowell, Caldwell, Kan.”
This photo appeared in the April 2, 1950 edition of the Florence Morning News. It might be copyrighted, but it’s more likely to be in the public domain.
The Palmetto Drive-In was north of Florence on US 52, aka the “Florence-Darlington highway” per a 1953 ad in the Florence Morning News. I’d guess that it was the drive-in at 1711 W Lucas St., where a car dealer sits today.
The Bright Leaf Drive-In was on “US 76 - West” per the Morning News. So that must be the one that was at 3360 W Palmetto St.
I was going to ask how we knew the King Avenue drive-in was the Circle, but thanks to these bits of newspaper ad description, I think we’ve got it worked out by elimination. Confirmation comes from hints in this “story” in the April 2, 1950 Morning News:
“The Circle Drive-In Theatre, located at Five Points, will celebrate its first birthday this week … On an eight-acre uncultivated area of broom sage and weeds at the West Evans Street extension, the Circle Drive-In Theatre was built. It is locally owned and operated with T. S. Roe at the head … Space had been provided for over three hundred cars … If you do not care to leave your car, the roving Snack Cart will serve you where you are parked … The grounds area spacious and most apt for many daytime outdoor sports … During the winter, auto owners were given a gallon of gas that the might keep motors running when the thermometer neared the freezing point. This happened but three times during the entire winter.”
Let’s see, if 1950 was the first birthday, then the Grand Opening must have been …
Martin Theatres acquired Video Independent Theatres in May 1983. The Motion Picture Almanac circuit listings, typically more reliable that its drive-in list, showed that Martin included the Squaw in its holdings in its entry in the 1984 and 1985 editions.
By the 1986 edition, Martin had completed its name change to Carmike Cinemas. The circuit listing that year showed Carmike with several old Video drive-ins in Oklahoma, but not the Squaw.
My guess is that El Reno’s drive-in closed after the 1984 season. I wish I could get someone to check that.
Boxoffice, March 21, 1966: “WACO, TEX. - Interstate Theatres, through its Texas Consolidated division, has purchased the local Lake Air Drive-In from J. C. Mitchell of Waco, Leroy Mitchell of Ennis and Roy Nelson of Kaufman. Interstate assumed operation of the theatre in February.”
In the first edition of “Drive-Ins of Route 66,” I wrote that Video Independent Theatres renamed the drive-in when it took it over. I was wrong.
El Reno Daily Tribune, Feb. 18, 1952: “Mrs. Opal Gray, theater operator at Chickasha for the past 11 years, today purchased the El Reno Drive-In theater from Walter B. Shuttee. Mrs. Gray said she plans to reopen the theater here about April 1, after completion of remodeling work at the site west of the city.”
The drive-in was running teaser ads as the Squaw by March 2, and opened for the 1952 season on April 11. Looking for a justification for the name change, I saw that the El Reno High School had a decades-old pep club called the Squaws. That doesn’t make it much better.
The Exhibitor, March 25, 1953: “Mrs. Opal Gray, Esquire, Chickasha, Okla., is no longer associated with the Squaw Drive-In, El Reno, Okla., which has been taken over by Video Independent Theatres.”
Local guy E. R. “Red” Slocum was a partner with Video, and he retained a share of the El Reno theaters until he passed away in 1965. Then Video assumed full control, and presumably ownership.
Boxoffice, May 1, 1948: “The neighborhood Cove Theatre in western Tulsa has been purchased from Joe B. Noble by John and Opal Gray, operators of the Pix in Chickasha and Star in Sand Springs. The change in management took place April 1. Operations at the Cove and the Star are being handled by John Gray. Mrs. Gray is managing the Pix and other business interests in Chickasha.”
Showmen’s Trade Review, Aug. 7, 1948: (under New Theatres) “Recently opened were drive-ins on Highway 18 at Cherokee, Okla., and on U. S. 60 just west of Bartlesville, Okla.”
Motion Picture Herald, April 29, 1950: “The city’s newest drive-in theatre, Lake-Air, at the old Lakeside golf course, opened last Tuesday with “Francis” on the screen. Built and to be operated by R. E. and C. B. McFarland, it is one of the three drive-ins to have its projection booth at the rear of a 600-car lot instead of in the center of the parking area.”
Motion Picture Herald, April 29, 1950: “The 64 drive-in theatre south of Muskogee on U. S. Highway 64 is operating under new management, but will continue to operate on its usual schedule “rain or shine.” C. C. Noecker, formerly of Michigan, and his daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Robert A. Miller, have purchased the theatre from O. E. (sic) Sullivan, who will devote his full time to management of his theatres in Wichita, Kans."
Boxoffice, April 30, 1962: “Refurbishing of the Coronado Theatre in suburban Warr Acres, which was struck by fire February 20, is under way and the theatre should be back in business around the last of June. The building is owned by Bob McFarland, and is leased to the R. Lewis Barton circuit.”
Boxoffice, July 23, 1962: “Your correspondent had the privilege of attending … "The Spiral Road,” Saturday evening (14) at the newly completed War Acres. This theatre was formerly the Coronado, which was destroyed by fire several months ago … The theatre seats 646"
I’m a little surprised that nobody here has asked what circle this drive-in was originally named after. The answer is that it was named for its builder, Harry Circle, who also owned a couple of Circle Grocery stores.
Although I haven’t found proof, my guess is that the Circle opened in 1949. It was in the 1949-50 Theatre Catalog, which would have been published in late 49 or early 50.
The April 15, 1950 Motion Picture Herald had one sentence referencing the ad that rivest266 uploaded: “The Circle drive-in theatre opened Sunday, April 2, for the 1950 season.” That’s how a magazine would present a season opener, not a grand opening. And look at the ad itself - nothing about it suggests that the Circle is new.
Anyway, the owner listed in the 1952 Theatre Catalog was W. J. Nethery, a former public school teacher who apparently dabbled in real estate. That’s probably who sold it to Barton in 1954.
In April 1955, an 80-mile-per-hour windstorm knocked down the Circle’s tower. Barton took the occasion to replace it with a wide screen, reopening in May.
The Exhibitor, April 9, 1952: “The Circle Drive-In, Manchester, Ga., has been opened by Martin Theatres… . The following drive-ins also opened for the season. Palms Drive-In, Atmore, Ala., and Melody, Thomson, Ga.”
The Exhibitor, Feb. 13, 1952: “New lessees of the Circle Drive-In, on U. S. 80 near the Traffic Circle, are Harris Robinson, R. A. Edmondson, Jr., Horace Denning, and Hudson Edwards. The spot will be operated by Dixie Drive-In Theatres under the management of Edwards, who is also manager, Hi-Way 80. A 10-year lease was taken on the site and theatre from P. Fred Woods and J. Lee Woods, owners of the 250-car spot. Certain equipment was also acquired from A. T. Livingston, operator of the Circle since it opened in October, 1949. The Circle will open after extensive repairs and improvements.”
Motion Picture Herald, Dec. 17, 1955: “The Dixie Drive-in Theatres, Atlanta, have taken over the Palm drive-in, Savannah, which has been closed for the past few months. They also have closed the Circle drive-in there.”
Same drive-in? Ada Weekly News, Dec. 30, 1954: “Frank Little, manager of the McSwain, Ritz, Kiva and Tower Drive-In Theatres in Ada announced today that the Circle 12 Drive-In Theatre on Highway 12 east of the city will open in the spring.”
The article that rivest266 found said that the Twilight Gardens would open on Sept. 15, 1950. I don’t think that happened, at least not then.
There’s no other evidence that the drive-in opened that weekend. On the contrary, the Twilight Gardens ran teaser ads such as “What is Twilight Gardens and Cartoonville” after the 15th and before its grand opening.
Depending on how you classify a soft opening (does invited-guests-only count?), the drive-in had a preview on Sept. 28, 1950, according to this note in Boxoffice about a week later: “Video Independent Theatres held a rehearsal run for its new super de luxe Twilight Gardens Drive-In in Oklahoma City’s exclusive Nichols Hills residential area at May avenue and Britton Road. This preview, held the night before the formal opening, was by invitation. A complete program of Technicolor feature and cartoons was given for the rehearsal run. In operation was the mirror pool and color fountain, the playground, Cartoonville, and its clowns, calliope music, pony rides, merry-go-round, auto racer, miniature train, other rides, slides and swings, all free to the kiddies. The playground opened at 5:30 p. m. for the preview. The drive-in managed by Otis Mooney, has two entrances, wide and spacious ramps, a wishing well, an open-air patio equipped with garden seats and streamlined concession stand. More than 600 cars drove in for the rehearsal run.”
Otherwise, the Twilight Gardens opened on Sept. 29, 1950, which was quoted in its final ad on Sept. 5, 1972. “Last Times Tonite! / Thank you Oklahoma City for your valued patronage over the last 22 years. Twilight Gardens closes after the final showing tonight, a victim of progress, to make room for a new development. … we opened our gates on September 29, 1950, and have operated continuously since, with the exception of several winter nights when blizzards struck their blow.” Actually, the drive-in closed for at least the first two winter seasons, but that was mostly accurate.
One last note - the only time I ever saw the drive-in’s name with a hyphen was on its neon sign. Every other mention, editorially or in ads, had Twilight as one word. That’s the way I’m going to write it from now on.
This drive-in’s ownership got complicated in its final decade or so. By 1968, Gulf States Theatres had taken over all of Barton’s Oklahoma drive-ins on a lease-purchase agreement. The NW Hi-Way appears to have been closed in 1973, then Galaxy Theatres ran it in 1974. Caporal Theatres, which also had the Riviera, bought it and reopened in spring 1975. For some reason, Boxoffice then (May 12, 1975) referred to the drive-in as “the long-shuttered Northwest Highway”.
The Aug. 28, 1983 issue of the Daily Oklahoman had a long article on drive-ins, quoting Volney Hamm, another Lawton drive-in owner:
“The first one in the state was right here in Lawton,” he says. “It was built by the Austin brothers and the whole thing was concrete - the fence, the tower (screen), everything. The Austin Drive-In. They were concrete boys and they used the stuff like a carpenter uses wood.”
The Austin also had the old-fashioned central speaker, Hamm says. He remembers that “when the wind was out of the northwest I could hear it a mile away.”
The Aug. 28, 1983 issue of the Daily Oklahoman had a long article on drive-ins, beginning with the story of Volney Hamm, who “got into the drive-in business in Lawton in the late 1940s, opening the Mount Scott Drive-In, which is still in business today.” Unlike some others of the period, Hamm’s drive-in opened with in-car speakers.
What year did the Zuni close? A list of Commonwealth managers in the July 28, 1980 issue of Boxoffice included Clinton McKinley at the Zuni, and a 1981 aerial photo showed the drive-in intact.
Commonwealth continued to include it in its Motion Picture Almanac circuit list entry (more reliable than the drive-in list) through the 1985 edition, dropping it in 1986. Since the MPA was published around the beginning of the stated year, that suggests that the Zuni may have been active in 1984.
I’d like to hear more details about who ran the 66 Twin in the late 2000s. The last reference that I’ve seen so far was a mention in the Okmulgee Daily Times in June 2007 as an active drive-in in the state. And then there was a reported arrest in August 2007. (I have no idea how that case came out, and any arrestee should be considered innocent until proven guilty.) Co-owner Cecil George, who retired in 2006, passed away in his home in 2011, per this obituary.
In December 1944, Motion Picture Herald included two movie reviews from Blanche Gibson, owner of the Max in Cherokee. “The Impatient Years” was exceptionally good, “but did not draw as it should. Jean Arthur is never very strong here.” About “The Hitler Gang,” she wrote, “it is not entertainment. Business terrible.”
Harper County Journal, June 14, 1945: “V. E. Jackson, Buffalo, became manager of the New Buffalo theater Friday (8), replacing Miss Blanche Gibson, who returned to Cherokee to be associated with theaters there. Jackson will also operate the projector … Mrs. Jackson will be cashier and supervise the ushers. The theater is owned by W. (Walter) P. Shuttee, Cherokee, and W. F. McDowell, Caldwell, Kan.”
This photo appeared in the April 2, 1950 edition of the Florence Morning News. It might be copyrighted, but it’s more likely to be in the public domain.
This photo appeared in the April 2, 1950 edition of the Florence Morning News. It may be copyrighted, but it’s more likely to be in the public domain.
The Palmetto Drive-In was north of Florence on US 52, aka the “Florence-Darlington highway” per a 1953 ad in the Florence Morning News. I’d guess that it was the drive-in at 1711 W Lucas St., where a car dealer sits today.
The Bright Leaf Drive-In was on “US 76 - West” per the Morning News. So that must be the one that was at 3360 W Palmetto St.
I was going to ask how we knew the King Avenue drive-in was the Circle, but thanks to these bits of newspaper ad description, I think we’ve got it worked out by elimination. Confirmation comes from hints in this “story” in the April 2, 1950 Morning News:
“The Circle Drive-In Theatre, located at Five Points, will celebrate its first birthday this week … On an eight-acre uncultivated area of broom sage and weeds at the West Evans Street extension, the Circle Drive-In Theatre was built. It is locally owned and operated with T. S. Roe at the head … Space had been provided for over three hundred cars … If you do not care to leave your car, the roving Snack Cart will serve you where you are parked … The grounds area spacious and most apt for many daytime outdoor sports … During the winter, auto owners were given a gallon of gas that the might keep motors running when the thermometer neared the freezing point. This happened but three times during the entire winter.”
Let’s see, if 1950 was the first birthday, then the Grand Opening must have been …
Martin Theatres acquired Video Independent Theatres in May 1983. The Motion Picture Almanac circuit listings, typically more reliable that its drive-in list, showed that Martin included the Squaw in its holdings in its entry in the 1984 and 1985 editions.
By the 1986 edition, Martin had completed its name change to Carmike Cinemas. The circuit listing that year showed Carmike with several old Video drive-ins in Oklahoma, but not the Squaw.
My guess is that El Reno’s drive-in closed after the 1984 season. I wish I could get someone to check that.
Boxoffice, March 21, 1966: “WACO, TEX. - Interstate Theatres, through its Texas Consolidated division, has purchased the local Lake Air Drive-In from J. C. Mitchell of Waco, Leroy Mitchell of Ennis and Roy Nelson of Kaufman. Interstate assumed operation of the theatre in February.”
In the first edition of “Drive-Ins of Route 66,” I wrote that Video Independent Theatres renamed the drive-in when it took it over. I was wrong.
El Reno Daily Tribune, Feb. 18, 1952: “Mrs. Opal Gray, theater operator at Chickasha for the past 11 years, today purchased the El Reno Drive-In theater from Walter B. Shuttee. Mrs. Gray said she plans to reopen the theater here about April 1, after completion of remodeling work at the site west of the city.”
The drive-in was running teaser ads as the Squaw by March 2, and opened for the 1952 season on April 11. Looking for a justification for the name change, I saw that the El Reno High School had a decades-old pep club called the Squaws. That doesn’t make it much better.
The Exhibitor, March 25, 1953: “Mrs. Opal Gray, Esquire, Chickasha, Okla., is no longer associated with the Squaw Drive-In, El Reno, Okla., which has been taken over by Video Independent Theatres.”
Local guy E. R. “Red” Slocum was a partner with Video, and he retained a share of the El Reno theaters until he passed away in 1965. Then Video assumed full control, and presumably ownership.
Boxoffice, May 1, 1948: “The neighborhood Cove Theatre in western Tulsa has been purchased from Joe B. Noble by John and Opal Gray, operators of the Pix in Chickasha and Star in Sand Springs. The change in management took place April 1. Operations at the Cove and the Star are being handled by John Gray. Mrs. Gray is managing the Pix and other business interests in Chickasha.”
Showmen’s Trade Review, Aug. 7, 1948: (under New Theatres) “Recently opened were drive-ins on Highway 18 at Cherokee, Okla., and on U. S. 60 just west of Bartlesville, Okla.”
Motion Picture Herald, April 29, 1950: “The city’s newest drive-in theatre, Lake-Air, at the old Lakeside golf course, opened last Tuesday with “Francis” on the screen. Built and to be operated by R. E. and C. B. McFarland, it is one of the three drive-ins to have its projection booth at the rear of a 600-car lot instead of in the center of the parking area.”
By “last Tuesday,” the MPH meant April 18, 1950:
Motion Picture Herald, April 29, 1950: “The 64 drive-in theatre south of Muskogee on U. S. Highway 64 is operating under new management, but will continue to operate on its usual schedule “rain or shine.” C. C. Noecker, formerly of Michigan, and his daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Robert A. Miller, have purchased the theatre from O. E. (sic) Sullivan, who will devote his full time to management of his theatres in Wichita, Kans."
Boxoffice, April 30, 1962: “Refurbishing of the Coronado Theatre in suburban Warr Acres, which was struck by fire February 20, is under way and the theatre should be back in business around the last of June. The building is owned by Bob McFarland, and is leased to the R. Lewis Barton circuit.”
Boxoffice, July 23, 1962: “Your correspondent had the privilege of attending … "The Spiral Road,” Saturday evening (14) at the newly completed War Acres. This theatre was formerly the Coronado, which was destroyed by fire several months ago … The theatre seats 646"
I’m a little surprised that nobody here has asked what circle this drive-in was originally named after. The answer is that it was named for its builder, Harry Circle, who also owned a couple of Circle Grocery stores.
Although I haven’t found proof, my guess is that the Circle opened in 1949. It was in the 1949-50 Theatre Catalog, which would have been published in late 49 or early 50.
The April 15, 1950 Motion Picture Herald had one sentence referencing the ad that rivest266 uploaded: “The Circle drive-in theatre opened Sunday, April 2, for the 1950 season.” That’s how a magazine would present a season opener, not a grand opening. And look at the ad itself - nothing about it suggests that the Circle is new.
Anyway, the owner listed in the 1952 Theatre Catalog was W. J. Nethery, a former public school teacher who apparently dabbled in real estate. That’s probably who sold it to Barton in 1954.
In April 1955, an 80-mile-per-hour windstorm knocked down the Circle’s tower. Barton took the occasion to replace it with a wide screen, reopening in May.
The Exhibitor, April 9, 1952: “The Circle Drive-In, Manchester, Ga., has been opened by Martin Theatres… . The following drive-ins also opened for the season. Palms Drive-In, Atmore, Ala., and Melody, Thomson, Ga.”
The Exhibitor, Feb. 13, 1952: “New lessees of the Circle Drive-In, on U. S. 80 near the Traffic Circle, are Harris Robinson, R. A. Edmondson, Jr., Horace Denning, and Hudson Edwards. The spot will be operated by Dixie Drive-In Theatres under the management of Edwards, who is also manager, Hi-Way 80. A 10-year lease was taken on the site and theatre from P. Fred Woods and J. Lee Woods, owners of the 250-car spot. Certain equipment was also acquired from A. T. Livingston, operator of the Circle since it opened in October, 1949. The Circle will open after extensive repairs and improvements.”
Motion Picture Herald, Dec. 17, 1955: “The Dixie Drive-in Theatres, Atlanta, have taken over the Palm drive-in, Savannah, which has been closed for the past few months. They also have closed the Circle drive-in there.”
Same drive-in? Ada Weekly News, Dec. 30, 1954: “Frank Little, manager of the McSwain, Ritz, Kiva and Tower Drive-In Theatres in Ada announced today that the Circle 12 Drive-In Theatre on Highway 12 east of the city will open in the spring.”
Motion Picture Herald wrote on Jan. 9, 1954 that the new (wider) screen had been installed at the Twilight Gardens, so this must have been earlier.
The article that rivest266 found said that the Twilight Gardens would open on Sept. 15, 1950. I don’t think that happened, at least not then.
There’s no other evidence that the drive-in opened that weekend. On the contrary, the Twilight Gardens ran teaser ads such as “What is Twilight Gardens and Cartoonville” after the 15th and before its grand opening.
Depending on how you classify a soft opening (does invited-guests-only count?), the drive-in had a preview on Sept. 28, 1950, according to this note in Boxoffice about a week later: “Video Independent Theatres held a rehearsal run for its new super de luxe Twilight Gardens Drive-In in Oklahoma City’s exclusive Nichols Hills residential area at May avenue and Britton Road. This preview, held the night before the formal opening, was by invitation. A complete program of Technicolor feature and cartoons was given for the rehearsal run. In operation was the mirror pool and color fountain, the playground, Cartoonville, and its clowns, calliope music, pony rides, merry-go-round, auto racer, miniature train, other rides, slides and swings, all free to the kiddies. The playground opened at 5:30 p. m. for the preview. The drive-in managed by Otis Mooney, has two entrances, wide and spacious ramps, a wishing well, an open-air patio equipped with garden seats and streamlined concession stand. More than 600 cars drove in for the rehearsal run.”
Otherwise, the Twilight Gardens opened on Sept. 29, 1950, which was quoted in its final ad on Sept. 5, 1972. “Last Times Tonite! / Thank you Oklahoma City for your valued patronage over the last 22 years. Twilight Gardens closes after the final showing tonight, a victim of progress, to make room for a new development. … we opened our gates on September 29, 1950, and have operated continuously since, with the exception of several winter nights when blizzards struck their blow.” Actually, the drive-in closed for at least the first two winter seasons, but that was mostly accurate.
One last note - the only time I ever saw the drive-in’s name with a hyphen was on its neon sign. Every other mention, editorially or in ads, had Twilight as one word. That’s the way I’m going to write it from now on.
This drive-in’s ownership got complicated in its final decade or so. By 1968, Gulf States Theatres had taken over all of Barton’s Oklahoma drive-ins on a lease-purchase agreement. The NW Hi-Way appears to have been closed in 1973, then Galaxy Theatres ran it in 1974. Caporal Theatres, which also had the Riviera, bought it and reopened in spring 1975. For some reason, Boxoffice then (May 12, 1975) referred to the drive-in as “the long-shuttered Northwest Highway”.
The Aug. 28, 1983 issue of the Daily Oklahoman had a long article on drive-ins, quoting Volney Hamm, another Lawton drive-in owner:
“The first one in the state was right here in Lawton,” he says. “It was built by the Austin brothers and the whole thing was concrete - the fence, the tower (screen), everything. The Austin Drive-In. They were concrete boys and they used the stuff like a carpenter uses wood.”
The Austin also had the old-fashioned central speaker, Hamm says. He remembers that “when the wind was out of the northwest I could hear it a mile away.”
The Aug. 28, 1983 issue of the Daily Oklahoman had a long article on drive-ins, beginning with the story of Volney Hamm, who “got into the drive-in business in Lawton in the late 1940s, opening the Mount Scott Drive-In, which is still in business today.” Unlike some others of the period, Hamm’s drive-in opened with in-car speakers.
What year did the Zuni close? A list of Commonwealth managers in the July 28, 1980 issue of Boxoffice included Clinton McKinley at the Zuni, and a 1981 aerial photo showed the drive-in intact.
Commonwealth continued to include it in its Motion Picture Almanac circuit list entry (more reliable than the drive-in list) through the 1985 edition, dropping it in 1986. Since the MPA was published around the beginning of the stated year, that suggests that the Zuni may have been active in 1984.