Boxoffice, Nov. 10, 1956: “A weekend fire gutted the newly redecorated Centenary Theatre here Sunday (4), just 12 hours before the 700-seat house was scheduled to reopen as an art film showplace. The theatre, operated by the McElroy chain, was demolished from stage to lobby before firemen reached the scene … According to Tom Dunn of McElroy Theatres, there are no immediate plans for reopening of the gutted theatre.”
Boxoffice, Oct. 27, 1956: “The marquee and office building of the Dixie Drive-In on the Jeffersonville road were destroyed by fire during a driving rain. Loss was estimated at from $4,000 to $5,000. The frame office structure, located between the two neon signs advertising the attraction at the theatre, as well as the signs, were almost consumed before the deputies could reach the scene. The flames cut power lines into the drive-in disrupting the picture and blacking out the theatre. The theatre manager was quoted as saying the fire evidently started from faulty wiring in the attic of the building. The building had been remodeled only recently at a cost of $2,000.”
Same drive-in? Boxoffice, Oct. 27, 1956: “A new drive-in, the 25 Drive-In Theatre, opened for fulltime operation October 19 at Fulton, Miss., operated by W. N. Jamerson and Grover Platt.”
Boxoffice, Oct. 27, 1956: “Louis Sutter and Alex Shniderman, who operate the 63rd Street Drive-In, announced an expansion program will start the last week in October with the building of a new entrance on Highway 50. New Electricmode in-car heaters are already being installed and the drive-in will operate all winter.”
Boxoffice, Oct. 27, 1956: “Bob Fellers, manager of Mid-Central Theatres, reports negotiations are under way for the circuit to dispost of some of its fringe theatres. Allied Theatres, Inc., of Perry, Okla., will take over on November 9 … the Mid-Way Drive-In between (Paola and Osawatomie). James McKenna, the son of B. J. McKenna at Manley, Inc., will have charge of the operation.”
Boxoffice, Oct. 27, 1956: “Thirteen acres of prime industrial land, formerly the Starlight (sic) Drive-In Theatre in South San Francisco have been purchased for industrial subdivisions by builders Hart and Hyding, Inc., and Edward Rosemont”
Boxoffice, Oct. 27, 1956: “The Tab, newest drive-in theatre (in Phoenix), will show movies from dusk to dawn as long as patrons are on hand, according to Manager Wayne Arnold”
Boxoffice, Feb. 3, 1951: “Lawrence McKinney and Chester Copeland, Somerset business men, and Albert Sailing recently bought the Moonlit Drive-In, two miles outside the city. It was built last year on a 13-acre tract and will accommodate 508 cars. The location is near Camp Breckenridge, a permanent army camp. McKinney will manage the theatre.”
More names in Boxoffice, June 27, 1953: “A large contingent from (Seattle) Filmrow attended the opening of the new Kitsap Lake Drive-In at Bremerton Monday (22). It is owned by Dwight Spracher, George Blair and Rex Thompson.”
Boxoffice, Oct. 19, 1959: “Ramon Lence (is) the new owner of the Arapaho Drive-In … His parents are assisting him with the operation of the drive-in. Free prizes were offered every night during his first week at the airer.”
Boxoffice, Oct. 12, 1959: “Murray & Fink Theatres … has purchased the Trail Drive-In at Naples, the purchase including all real estate at the site, with ample room for expansion of the airer. The circuit plans to build a trailer park on part of the site. Erich Gompertz will own one-third interest in the Trail Drive-In.”
Boxoffice, June 25, 1955: “MONTGOMERY, ALA. - Felix Lacy, operator of the Fairview Drive-In here, is collecting Confederate money. Lacy, who likes to bill himself as "Crazy,” offers free admission for a carload on presentation of any Confederate bill."
Boxoffice, June 25, 1955: “Paul Pless of the Dreamland Drive-In, Asheville, N. C., has an amusement park with miniature golf and other attractions, including a concession stand, open in front of the theatre all day.”
The June 25, 1955 issue of Boxoffice mentioned that the new drive-in about to open in Marshall was “the only theatre in town. The old uptown house is now a furniture store.”
Boxoffice, June 25, 1955: “The new 275-car Swan Drive-In at Blue Ridge, Ga., is scheduled to open next weekend and is owned by W. H. Tilley and Jack Jones, who also operate the Rialto in Blue Ridge … It is a very neat and attractive drive-in with graveled ramps … the drive-in has a curved 40x72-foot screen. It has a nice attraction board at the highway, since the drive-in sits back from the highway a short distance on a side road on a very attractive site atop a knoll.”
Boxoffice, June 25, 1955: “The Oxford Eagle recently devoted page one of its second section to a history of the motion picutre industry in this city … In 1914, (Frank L.) Toole bought the lot on which the Lyric theatre now stands and erected a three-story building, with offices on the second and third floors. A 12x14 foot screen was used. R. X. Williams, who still operates the theatre, took over the Lyric in 1917 when he was 17 years old … Tragedy struck the Lyric in 1923, when … (t)he theatre was burned to the ground. Six days after the fire, Williams rented the Opera House and held shows there while rebuilding the Lyric. Construction was started in 1924, and on Jan. 1, 1925, the new Lyric reopened.”
Boxoffice, June 25, 1955: “MILTON, FLA. - The Joy Drive-In, which has been closed for some time, is being opened under the management of Harold Authenreith.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 14, 1954: “WATERLOO, IOWA - The Central States Theatre Corp. of Des Moines, headed by Myron Blank, recently purchased the controlling interest in two local drive-ins, the SkyVue and the Starlite, from Philip E. Winslow. The other owner, S. A. Oellerich, will keep his minority interest and continue as manager of the two airers.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 14, 1954: “High winds wrecked the 70-foot screen at the Rapid Drive-In, lifting it from its foundation and tossing it 150 feet into an adjoining corn field. Richard Klein, general manager of the Black Hills Amusement Co., operator of the airer, estimated damages at $10,000.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 8, 1956: “The new owners of the Kissimmee Drive-In, Dewey P. Clayton and Neal C. Nesbit, are making a number of improvements to the 400-car theatre. Additional playground equipment and CinemaScope equipment will be installed. The new owners were formerly with the Hercules Power Co. in Cumberland, Md., and decided to bring their families to Florida and settle here.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 8, 1956: “George Baker of Baker Enterprises took over the operation of the Claco Drive-In on September 1. Built and operated by Consolidated Theatres, the drive-in on Highway 10 off U. S. 69 north of town has been promoted by a neon sign of Claco, the clown, which shows up for miles.”
Boxoffice, May 8, 1948: “SPRINGFIELD, MO.— The Gillioz Theatre
here has been sold by Mr. and Mrs. M. E.
Gillioz of Monett to the Missouri-Fox Realty
Corp. of Kansas City, a subsidiary of Fox
Midwest Theatres. Purchase price was $105,000. Equipment was sold in a separate transaction. Built in 1924, the house has been
leased for some years by the new owners.”
Boxoffice, Nov. 10, 1956: “A weekend fire gutted the newly redecorated Centenary Theatre here Sunday (4), just 12 hours before the 700-seat house was scheduled to reopen as an art film showplace. The theatre, operated by the McElroy chain, was demolished from stage to lobby before firemen reached the scene … According to Tom Dunn of McElroy Theatres, there are no immediate plans for reopening of the gutted theatre.”
That photo ran in the Oct. 27, 1956 issue of Boxoffice, which is now in the public domain.
Boxoffice, Oct. 27, 1956: “The marquee and office building of the Dixie Drive-In on the Jeffersonville road were destroyed by fire during a driving rain. Loss was estimated at from $4,000 to $5,000. The frame office structure, located between the two neon signs advertising the attraction at the theatre, as well as the signs, were almost consumed before the deputies could reach the scene. The flames cut power lines into the drive-in disrupting the picture and blacking out the theatre. The theatre manager was quoted as saying the fire evidently started from faulty wiring in the attic of the building. The building had been remodeled only recently at a cost of $2,000.”
Same drive-in? Boxoffice, Oct. 27, 1956: “A new drive-in, the 25 Drive-In Theatre, opened for fulltime operation October 19 at Fulton, Miss., operated by W. N. Jamerson and Grover Platt.”
Boxoffice, Oct. 27, 1956: “Louis Sutter and Alex Shniderman, who operate the 63rd Street Drive-In, announced an expansion program will start the last week in October with the building of a new entrance on Highway 50. New Electricmode in-car heaters are already being installed and the drive-in will operate all winter.”
Boxoffice, Oct. 27, 1956: “Bob Fellers, manager of Mid-Central Theatres, reports negotiations are under way for the circuit to dispost of some of its fringe theatres. Allied Theatres, Inc., of Perry, Okla., will take over on November 9 … the Mid-Way Drive-In between (Paola and Osawatomie). James McKenna, the son of B. J. McKenna at Manley, Inc., will have charge of the operation.”
Boxoffice, Oct. 27, 1956: “Thirteen acres of prime industrial land, formerly the Starlight (sic) Drive-In Theatre in South San Francisco have been purchased for industrial subdivisions by builders Hart and Hyding, Inc., and Edward Rosemont”
Boxoffice, Oct. 27, 1956: “The Tab, newest drive-in theatre (in Phoenix), will show movies from dusk to dawn as long as patrons are on hand, according to Manager Wayne Arnold”
Boxoffice, Feb. 3, 1951: “Lawrence McKinney and Chester Copeland, Somerset business men, and Albert Sailing recently bought the Moonlit Drive-In, two miles outside the city. It was built last year on a 13-acre tract and will accommodate 508 cars. The location is near Camp Breckenridge, a permanent army camp. McKinney will manage the theatre.”
Boxoffice, May 23, 1953: “Mr. and Mrs. Milan G. Steele, owners, set May 19 as opening date for their new Lakeside Drive-In Theatre at Pawnee.”
More names in Boxoffice, June 27, 1953: “A large contingent from (Seattle) Filmrow attended the opening of the new Kitsap Lake Drive-In at Bremerton Monday (22). It is owned by Dwight Spracher, George Blair and Rex Thompson.”
Boxoffice, Oct. 19, 1959: “Ramon Lence (is) the new owner of the Arapaho Drive-In … His parents are assisting him with the operation of the drive-in. Free prizes were offered every night during his first week at the airer.”
Boxoffice, Oct. 12, 1959: “Murray & Fink Theatres … has purchased the Trail Drive-In at Naples, the purchase including all real estate at the site, with ample room for expansion of the airer. The circuit plans to build a trailer park on part of the site. Erich Gompertz will own one-third interest in the Trail Drive-In.”
Boxoffice, June 25, 1955: “MONTGOMERY, ALA. - Felix Lacy, operator of the Fairview Drive-In here, is collecting Confederate money. Lacy, who likes to bill himself as "Crazy,” offers free admission for a carload on presentation of any Confederate bill."
Boxoffice, June 25, 1955: “Paul Pless of the Dreamland Drive-In, Asheville, N. C., has an amusement park with miniature golf and other attractions, including a concession stand, open in front of the theatre all day.”
The June 25, 1955 issue of Boxoffice mentioned that the new drive-in about to open in Marshall was “the only theatre in town. The old uptown house is now a furniture store.”
Boxoffice, June 25, 1955: “The new 275-car Swan Drive-In at Blue Ridge, Ga., is scheduled to open next weekend and is owned by W. H. Tilley and Jack Jones, who also operate the Rialto in Blue Ridge … It is a very neat and attractive drive-in with graveled ramps … the drive-in has a curved 40x72-foot screen. It has a nice attraction board at the highway, since the drive-in sits back from the highway a short distance on a side road on a very attractive site atop a knoll.”
Boxoffice, June 25, 1955: “The Oxford Eagle recently devoted page one of its second section to a history of the motion picutre industry in this city … In 1914, (Frank L.) Toole bought the lot on which the Lyric theatre now stands and erected a three-story building, with offices on the second and third floors. A 12x14 foot screen was used. R. X. Williams, who still operates the theatre, took over the Lyric in 1917 when he was 17 years old … Tragedy struck the Lyric in 1923, when … (t)he theatre was burned to the ground. Six days after the fire, Williams rented the Opera House and held shows there while rebuilding the Lyric. Construction was started in 1924, and on Jan. 1, 1925, the new Lyric reopened.”
According to an article in the Oxford Eagle, quoted in the June 25, 1955 issue of Boxoffice, the Ritz opened in 1936.
Boxoffice, June 25, 1955: “MILTON, FLA. - The Joy Drive-In, which has been closed for some time, is being opened under the management of Harold Authenreith.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 14, 1954: “WATERLOO, IOWA - The Central States Theatre Corp. of Des Moines, headed by Myron Blank, recently purchased the controlling interest in two local drive-ins, the SkyVue and the Starlite, from Philip E. Winslow. The other owner, S. A. Oellerich, will keep his minority interest and continue as manager of the two airers.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 14, 1954: “High winds wrecked the 70-foot screen at the Rapid Drive-In, lifting it from its foundation and tossing it 150 feet into an adjoining corn field. Richard Klein, general manager of the Black Hills Amusement Co., operator of the airer, estimated damages at $10,000.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 8, 1956: “The new owners of the Kissimmee Drive-In, Dewey P. Clayton and Neal C. Nesbit, are making a number of improvements to the 400-car theatre. Additional playground equipment and CinemaScope equipment will be installed. The new owners were formerly with the Hercules Power Co. in Cumberland, Md., and decided to bring their families to Florida and settle here.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 8, 1956: “George Baker of Baker Enterprises took over the operation of the Claco Drive-In on September 1. Built and operated by Consolidated Theatres, the drive-in on Highway 10 off U. S. 69 north of town has been promoted by a neon sign of Claco, the clown, which shows up for miles.”
Boxoffice, May 8, 1948: “SPRINGFIELD, MO.— The Gillioz Theatre here has been sold by Mr. and Mrs. M. E. Gillioz of Monett to the Missouri-Fox Realty Corp. of Kansas City, a subsidiary of Fox Midwest Theatres. Purchase price was $105,000. Equipment was sold in a separate transaction. Built in 1924, the house has been leased for some years by the new owners.”