Boxoffice, Feb. 23, 1970: “Ponco Theatres, consisting of the Skyline Drive-In in East Stroudsburg, the Grand Theatre in East Stroudsburg and the Sherman Theatre in Stroudsburg, Pa., has been sold by Jack Luckey, owner-operator for the last ten years, to Tri State Theatres of Matamoras, Pa. Tri State Theatres is owned by Irving Hulst, who now operates a circuit of theatres in Pennsylvania and New York state.”
Boxoffice, Feb. 23, 1970: “Ponco Theatres, consisting of the Skyline Drive-In in East Stroudsburg, the Grand Theatre in East Stroudsburg and the Sherman Theatre in Stroudsburg, Pa., has been sold by Jack Luckey, owner-operator for the last ten years, to Tri State Theatres of Matamoras, Pa. Tri State Theatres is owned by Irving Hulst, who now operates a circuit of theatres in Pennsylvania and New York state.”
Boxoffice, Feb. 23, 1970: “Ponco Theatres, consisting of the Skyline Drive-In in East Stroudsburg, the Grand Theatre in East Stroudsburg and the Sherman Theatre in Stroudsburg, Pa., has been sold by Jack Luckey, owner-operator for the last ten years, to Tri State Theatres of Matamoras, Pa. Tri State Theatres is owned by Irving Hulst, who now operates a circuit of theatres in Pennsylvania and New York state.”
Boxoffice, Feb. 16, 1970: “The screen at the General Cinema Corp.’s first-run Meadows Drive-In toppled in a rainstorm, causing the theatre to close for five nights. The 2,070-car capacity Meadows is largest drive-in in Connecticut”
Weird note in the Feb. 16, 1970 issue of Boxoffice. The address is real but not near the drive-in - only on Youngstown, where it’s always been just a house in a residential neighborhood. Maybe it’s the owner’s home? But AFAIK, there is only one drive-in that matches the name, and it’s in Middleburg Heights.
“YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO - The Pearl Road Drive-In, 525 Glacierview Dr., is out of business. It last was operated by A. H. Stromeier.”
Boxoffice, Feb. 16, 1970: “Mr. and Mrs. Fielding Norton of Caldwell, Kas., were in (Oklahoma City) to confer with their agent Athel Boyter about the forthcoming seaso for their Bi-State Drive-In, located just this side of the Oklahoma-Kansas line. Fielding is also negotiating for a new screen tower to replace one destroyed by a storm in September. Otherwise, he told Boyter, his drive-in is in excellent condition for the new season.”
According to the Feb. 16, 1970 issue of Boxoffice, a shopping center was planned for the old Ridge Road Drive-In site at the northeast corner of Ridge Road and Cline Avenue. Developers were going to move the drive-in north “near the Colonial Golf Center” to make room for the shopping center.
But a 1973 aerial photo showed a drive-in at the same place as in the 1951 photo, so never mind?
Boxoffice, Feb. 16, 1970: “Manuel Duarte’s Hecker Pass Drive-In reopened recently with plans to feature American movies on Fridays and Saturdays and Spanish-language films on Sundays. During the opening weekend every car received a ticket for a free car wash.”
Boxoffice, Feb. 9, 1970: “Twin-Aire West Drive-In on Clinton Highway has been opened as the companion theatre to Twin-Aire East, which has been in operation since last fall. Twin-Aire West, which has a capacity of 512 speakers and 250 in-car heaters, was unveiled Christmas night with a cartoon carnival, "True Grit” and “My Side of the Mountain.” The other section of the Twin-Aire has speakers for 600 cars and 300 in-car heaters."
Boxoffice, Feb. 9, 1970: “Richard L. Davis has sold his 50 per cent interest in four theatres to Heartland Cinema Co. of Des Moines. The houses involved are the Wakonda Arcade Theatre, Des Moines; the Twixt-Town Drive-In, Marion, and the Century Cinema I and II in Ames.”
Boxoffice, Feb. 9, 1970: “Richard L. Davis … recently leased to Robert Fridley Theatres two Des Moines indoor houses, Eastgate Cinema I and II, and the Plantation Drive-In.”
Boxoffice, Feb. 9, 1970: “Family-type films for the teen population and other newer releases are planned for Cadillac’s Drive-In this year, according to James Chipman, the new manager. The drive-in was purchased by the Robert Goodrich Corp. early in January … Remodeling the concession stand is planned and they hope to have safe, gas, in-car heaters installed soon.”
Boxoffice, July 28, 1969: “NORCO, CALIF. - National General Theatre Corp. has acquired the Crest Drive-In Theatre here effective Wednesday (16), it was announced by William Hertz, NGC southern California division manager. Former operators were June Poynter and Associates. Alan Bamossy is district manager and Larry McMilon is manager.”
Atchison Globe, Nov. 18, 1990: “The Liberty Theatre in Horton ran its last show in the early 1980s according to Forrest Keener, one of a group of citizens who purchased the theater from Eddie Landau in the 1960s to try to keep it going. The building is now condemned and has barricade blocking the entrance. LeRoy Paden, mayor of Horton, said the city plans to tear it down.”
From an article in the Leavenworth Times on Feb. 3, 1977, Crown Cinema Corp. closed the Hollywood on Feb. 8 that year and gave it to the City of Leavenworth “for staging plays and other events.”
In his well-researched 1992 book “Drive-In Theaters,” Kerry Segrave included a list of “Early Drive-ins.” The first Texas entry of the list was presumably this one in Corpus Christi. Seagrave wrote that it opened in March 1939 and was owned by Nick Katsaris, Pete Katsaris, Leon Newman, C. A. Richter, and F. D. Smith. He said he based that information on a note on Page 126 of the March 30, 1940 Boxoffice magazine, but I couldn’t find any of that in the online version of that issue.
Looks like the Alpharetta drive-in opened in 1957 and had a name matching the indoor theater at the time.
Motion Picture Exhibitor, Oct. 23, 1957: (under Atlanta notes) “The new Alpha Drive-In, Alpharetta, Ga., owned by Mel Brown, is managed by Hans Toler, former manager, Buckhead, here.”
Motion Picture Exhibitor, Dec. 25, 1957: “Ernest Watson was named manager, Alpha Drive-In, Alpharetta, Ga., replacing Hanson Tolar, who joined Wilby Kincey as treasurer.”
Boxoffice, Nov. 15, 1971: “ARTESIA, N.M. - Extensive remodeling has been completed at the Landsun Theatre, … it was announced by Creighton Gilcrist, who recently leased theatres in the Artesia area … The Hermosa Drive-In will remain open all year to permit film choice for patrons, according to Gilcrist.”
Boxoffice, Nov. 15, 1971: “George Stamm, operator of the Campanil Theatre and the Stamm Theatre, has announced that he will begin to twin the Bridgehead Drive-In, Antioch. The work is slated to start around the first of the year and should take approximately four months to complete.”
Boxoffice, March 2, 1970: “Norman Edwards, Branson exhibitor, has closed and dismantled his Branson Drive-In.”
Boxoffice, Feb. 23, 1970: “Ponco Theatres, consisting of the Skyline Drive-In in East Stroudsburg, the Grand Theatre in East Stroudsburg and the Sherman Theatre in Stroudsburg, Pa., has been sold by Jack Luckey, owner-operator for the last ten years, to Tri State Theatres of Matamoras, Pa. Tri State Theatres is owned by Irving Hulst, who now operates a circuit of theatres in Pennsylvania and New York state.”
Boxoffice, Feb. 23, 1970: “Ponco Theatres, consisting of the Skyline Drive-In in East Stroudsburg, the Grand Theatre in East Stroudsburg and the Sherman Theatre in Stroudsburg, Pa., has been sold by Jack Luckey, owner-operator for the last ten years, to Tri State Theatres of Matamoras, Pa. Tri State Theatres is owned by Irving Hulst, who now operates a circuit of theatres in Pennsylvania and New York state.”
Boxoffice, Feb. 23, 1970: “Ponco Theatres, consisting of the Skyline Drive-In in East Stroudsburg, the Grand Theatre in East Stroudsburg and the Sherman Theatre in Stroudsburg, Pa., has been sold by Jack Luckey, owner-operator for the last ten years, to Tri State Theatres of Matamoras, Pa. Tri State Theatres is owned by Irving Hulst, who now operates a circuit of theatres in Pennsylvania and New York state.”
Boxoffice, Feb. 16, 1970: “The screen at the General Cinema Corp.’s first-run Meadows Drive-In toppled in a rainstorm, causing the theatre to close for five nights. The 2,070-car capacity Meadows is largest drive-in in Connecticut”
Weird note in the Feb. 16, 1970 issue of Boxoffice. The address is real but not near the drive-in - only on Youngstown, where it’s always been just a house in a residential neighborhood. Maybe it’s the owner’s home? But AFAIK, there is only one drive-in that matches the name, and it’s in Middleburg Heights.
“YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO - The Pearl Road Drive-In, 525 Glacierview Dr., is out of business. It last was operated by A. H. Stromeier.”
Boxoffice, Feb. 16, 1970: “Mr. and Mrs. Fielding Norton of Caldwell, Kas., were in (Oklahoma City) to confer with their agent Athel Boyter about the forthcoming seaso for their Bi-State Drive-In, located just this side of the Oklahoma-Kansas line. Fielding is also negotiating for a new screen tower to replace one destroyed by a storm in September. Otherwise, he told Boyter, his drive-in is in excellent condition for the new season.”
According to the Feb. 16, 1970 issue of Boxoffice, a shopping center was planned for the old Ridge Road Drive-In site at the northeast corner of Ridge Road and Cline Avenue. Developers were going to move the drive-in north “near the Colonial Golf Center” to make room for the shopping center.
But a 1973 aerial photo showed a drive-in at the same place as in the 1951 photo, so never mind?
Boxoffice, Feb. 16, 1970: “Manuel Duarte’s Hecker Pass Drive-In reopened recently with plans to feature American movies on Fridays and Saturdays and Spanish-language films on Sundays. During the opening weekend every car received a ticket for a free car wash.”
Boxoffice, Feb. 9, 1970: “Twin-Aire West Drive-In on Clinton Highway has been opened as the companion theatre to Twin-Aire East, which has been in operation since last fall. Twin-Aire West, which has a capacity of 512 speakers and 250 in-car heaters, was unveiled Christmas night with a cartoon carnival, "True Grit” and “My Side of the Mountain.” The other section of the Twin-Aire has speakers for 600 cars and 300 in-car heaters."
Boxoffice, Feb. 9, 1970: “Richard L. Davis has sold his 50 per cent interest in four theatres to Heartland Cinema Co. of Des Moines. The houses involved are the Wakonda Arcade Theatre, Des Moines; the Twixt-Town Drive-In, Marion, and the Century Cinema I and II in Ames.”
Boxoffice, Feb. 9, 1970: “Richard L. Davis … recently leased to Robert Fridley Theatres two Des Moines indoor houses, Eastgate Cinema I and II, and the Plantation Drive-In.”
Boxoffice, Feb. 9, 1970: “Family-type films for the teen population and other newer releases are planned for Cadillac’s Drive-In this year, according to James Chipman, the new manager. The drive-in was purchased by the Robert Goodrich Corp. early in January … Remodeling the concession stand is planned and they hope to have safe, gas, in-car heaters installed soon.”
Boxoffice, Feb. 9, 1970: “The West 11th Street Twin Drive-In Theatre which opened Aug. 6, 1969, was built by Moyer Theatres”
From the Feb. 17, 1969 issue of Boxoffice.
Boxoffice, July 28, 1969: “NORCO, CALIF. - National General Theatre Corp. has acquired the Crest Drive-In Theatre here effective Wednesday (16), it was announced by William Hertz, NGC southern California division manager. Former operators were June Poynter and Associates. Alan Bamossy is district manager and Larry McMilon is manager.”
Atchison Globe, Nov. 18, 1990: “The Liberty Theatre in Horton ran its last show in the early 1980s according to Forrest Keener, one of a group of citizens who purchased the theater from Eddie Landau in the 1960s to try to keep it going. The building is now condemned and has barricade blocking the entrance. LeRoy Paden, mayor of Horton, said the city plans to tear it down.”
On Feb. 3, 1977, the Leavenworth Times noted in passing that Crown Cinema Corp. was operating the Skylark Drive-In.
From an article in the Leavenworth Times on Feb. 3, 1977, Crown Cinema Corp. closed the Hollywood on Feb. 8 that year and gave it to the City of Leavenworth “for staging plays and other events.”
In his well-researched 1992 book “Drive-In Theaters,” Kerry Segrave included a list of “Early Drive-ins.” The first Texas entry of the list was presumably this one in Corpus Christi. Seagrave wrote that it opened in March 1939 and was owned by Nick Katsaris, Pete Katsaris, Leon Newman, C. A. Richter, and F. D. Smith. He said he based that information on a note on Page 126 of the March 30, 1940 Boxoffice magazine, but I couldn’t find any of that in the online version of that issue.
Pre-mural photo by Noel Kerns, who didn’t mention anything about donating it to the public domain.
Looks like the Alpharetta drive-in opened in 1957 and had a name matching the indoor theater at the time.
Motion Picture Exhibitor, Oct. 23, 1957: (under Atlanta notes) “The new Alpha Drive-In, Alpharetta, Ga., owned by Mel Brown, is managed by Hans Toler, former manager, Buckhead, here.”
Motion Picture Exhibitor, Dec. 25, 1957: “Ernest Watson was named manager, Alpha Drive-In, Alpharetta, Ga., replacing Hanson Tolar, who joined Wilby Kincey as treasurer.”
Boxoffice, Nov. 15, 1971: “ARTESIA, N.M. - Extensive remodeling has been completed at the Landsun Theatre, … it was announced by Creighton Gilcrist, who recently leased theatres in the Artesia area … The Hermosa Drive-In will remain open all year to permit film choice for patrons, according to Gilcrist.”
Boxoffice, Nov. 15, 1971: “Dan Rundell jr. advised industry officials that he has closed permanently his Cave Theatre in Delhi.”
Boxoffice, Nov. 15, 1971: “George Stamm, operator of the Campanil Theatre and the Stamm Theatre, has announced that he will begin to twin the Bridgehead Drive-In, Antioch. The work is slated to start around the first of the year and should take approximately four months to complete.”