Santa Fe New Mexican, April 22, 1962: “‘Starlighter’ is the new name for the Espanola Drive-In Theater, formerly known as the Chico, however, it is still operated by the Dollison Theatre chain which has headquarters in Santa Fe.”
Daily Journal (Park Hills, MO), Aug. 17, 2013: “Fifty years ago a Washington County man by the name of Harry Blunt recognized America’s infatuation with the automobile and, in a time of prosperity, its eagerness for entertainment under the stars. His Starlite Drive-in Theater on Highway 21 in Old Mines was not the first in the area, but it is the last … Terry Mercille has owned the Starlite Drive-in since 1968, but his ties with it go back even further. He first worked in the concession stand for Blunt when he was only 14 … Though there is not a lot of hoopla about it, Mercille points out this is actually the 50th season for the theater that opened in 1952. It was a single-screen theater then, the second screen having been added about 15 years ago … There are about 225 parking slots for each screen at the Starlite … Of course, Mercille also admits, the Starlite is not his only means of income. He has an amusement game route that is his primary work and the theater is also used as a flea market during daylight hours on Saturdays and Sundays.”
The Exhibitor, July 23, 1952: “The Ellington Drive-In, Ellington, Mo., had its grand opening. It is owned by Harold Larkin and his business associate as Larkin and Davis. They also own and operate the Strand, Ellington.”
Variety, July 30, 1952: “Harold Larkin and Claud Davis, owner of Strand, Ellington, Mo., lighted new 300-car ozoner near there."
The Current Local (Van Buren MO), Nov. 9, 1961: (classified ad) “REWARD - $500 leading to the arrest and conviction of any person or persons stealing 64 speakers from the 21 Drive In. Notify Harold Larkin or Claude Davis, Ellington, Mo.”
Showmen’s Trade Review, Sept. 22, 1945: “R. E. Carney Theatres, Rolla, Mo., has taken over the Cuba Theatre, Cuba, Mo., formerly operated by A. P. Meier.”
Boxoffice, Dec. 10, 1949: (theatre sales) “Cuba, Mo. - 255-seat Cuba sold to A. P. Meyer (sic) by R. E. Carney.”
In August 1949, Rowe E. Carney had bought out a competing drive-in project in Rolla, so he might have needed the cash or the time to concentrate on building his own Rolla Drive-In. In 1955, Adolph P. Meier built the 19 Drive-In in Cuba. During at least some summers after that, Meier would close the indoor Cuba while operating the 19.
Based on aerial photos, the Highway 59 expanded by three ramps between 1962 and 1964. They also added a house behind the back ramp, but the house was gone by 1973, even though the screen was still up. The screen was gone by 1981.
Not that the MPA was super-accurate, but I don’t know why it always had the I-44’s capacity at just 200 cars. Aerial photos show at least a dozen ramps, and this Boxoffice article from June 18, 1973 mentioned 850 in-car speakers:
“The I-44 Drive-In Theatre, the newest open-air facility in the St. Louis metropolitan area, began its second year of operation March 31. The de luxe 850-speaker ozoner, a Wehrenberg Theatres operation, is located in suburban Peerless Park in St. Louis County at the intersection of Highway 141 and the recently completed super-highway, Interstate 44 … Gordon & Wilson Architects, Clayton, Mo., designed the facility, with Steve Kovac of Kovac Construction Co. handling the construction. The 850 Koropp speakers are located on 16 curved ramps. Each ramp has been specially elevated to provide quality viewing of the 100-foot screen. Three hundred Circle R Simplex in-car heaters have been provided for cold weather use during the year-round operation of the theatre. … The concessions building, featuring modern design and broad expanses of windows on two sides, is done in charcoal gray brightly accented in tangerine on the exterior. The interior design features a white acoustical tile ceiling, spatter-pattern beige asphalt tile floor covering, and avocado green Formica counter tops … The split-level building, with the concessions and storage areas, manager’s office and restrooms on the ground level, rises to a full second story at the extreme end above the restrooms to accommodate the well-placed and superbly equipped booth.”
Not sure what to make of this tidbit. The Holiday’s newspaper ads from Dec. 31, 1955 and Jan. 1, 1956 mentioned that it was “Now open under new management”. Then the Jan. 11, 1956 issue of Motion Picture Daily wrote, “Dick Fitzmaurice, former manager of the Rivoli Theatre in downtown St. Louis, has leased the Holiday Drive-in in Overland, St. Louis County, and has reopened it.”
By 1963, Fitzmaurice was working for Mid-America. Why would the company have leased the Holiday to him so soon after opening it?
Motion Picture Exhibitor, June 15, 1955: “In Highland, Ill., the Air Park Drive-In, 300 cars, will be taken over by R. L. Costilow, a teacher in the Highland High School. Prior to his teaching job here, Costilow had experience in theatre operations in the middle west. Adolph P. List had operated the drive-in since July 30, 1953.”
Boxoffice, April 21, 1969: “Joe Hendren, operator of the Holiday Drive-In, was cited by the Unicoi County resident hardest hit during a windstorm which disrupted power, uprooted trees and caused many broken windows. Hendren, who was at the drive-in when the storm struck, did his best to hold the fence tin, which had enclosed the airer, in place. Despite his valiant efforts tin was torn from many posts and airborne to resting places throughout the drive-in’s neighborhood.”
Boxoffice, May 10, 1965: “Mr. and Mrs. Al Spargur, owners of the Grand Theatre (in Du Quoin IL), have reopened the former Melody Drive-In under the name of Holiday Drive-In. Located several miles south of Tamaroa, it has been closed since February for repairs and renovation. The concession stand and projection room have been remodeled and some new equipment added. Repairs have been made to the 45x80-foot screen. New lighting has been added to the entrance and speakers have been tuned and repaired.”
Motion Picture Exhibitor, Sept. 7, 1955: “The first reports of the storm and flood damage to drive-ins in southern New England fortunately were not as serious as anticipated. The Quaker Drive-In, Uxbridge, Mass., reported out of commission for at least a year, opened again on Sept. 2. Some of the equipment was salvaged and after the mud had dried out it was advisable to reopen.”
Motion Picture Exhibitor, Sept. 14, 1955: “The aftermath of the worst flood In the history of New England finds theatres in Massachusetts not as badly damaged as first reported … The Quaker Drive-In, Uxbridge, owned by Ned Eisner and Bob Atamian, required $20,000 to be put back in order. It reopened for the Labor Day weekend.”
Showmen’s Trade Review, Jan. 19, 1946: “L. M. Boney is building a new 250-seat theatre at San Jon, N. M. This opens up a new town and according to theatre equipment dealers, he is buying only the best equipment.”
Showmen’s Trade Review, April 27, 1946: “Elmer Boney, recently discharged from the Army, is opening a new 350-seat theatre at San Jon, N. M. It is named the Ute.”
1948 reports in STR referred to Archie A. Boney as the Ute’s owner.
Boxoffice, June 25, 1949: “Exhibitors seen on (Denver) Filmrow included … Fred Mallin, San Jon, N. M.”
Boxoffice, July 9, 1949: “Exhibitors and other attending the (New Mexico Theatre Owners Association) convention included: … San Jon - D. L. Wallace.”
Boxoffice, April 21, 1951: (Approved for exemption to the National Production Authority’s construction owner) “San Jon, N. M. - Theatre building, $6,900. R. A. Fickel.”
Boxoffice, July 5, 1952: “R. A. Fickel, who recently bought the Ute, San Jon, N. M., from D. L. Wallin, has rebuilt the theatre and renamed it the State”
Boxoffice, Sept. 30, 1963: “Marvin Terry is reopening his State at San Jon, N.M.” (The State was later included in a list of theaters remodeled in 1963.)
“Delta Drive-In Theater, the first outdoor theater of its kind in the Sikeston district, will open for business Monday night, July 4, it was announced today … An initial capacity of approximately 250 automobiles has been provided. Owners of the new enterprise are Earl Ferrell, of Charleston, and Mrs. Geraldine Twitty and Miss Geneva Alliston, of Sikeston.” That was on the front page of the July 1 Sikeston Daily Standard.
“Approximately 300 to 350 cars were admitted to the new Delta Drive-In Theatre, Highway 61, seven miles north of Sikeston, opening night Monday July 4.” That was page-4 news in the Sikeston Herald three days later. The Delta apparently didn’t advertise in the Herald.
We often (rightfully) blame the Motion Picture Almanac for failing to notice drive-in closures over the years. How about the Film Daily Year Book, which continued to list East Prairie’s Drive-In as active through its 1948 edition.
Not sure where this goes, since it’s probably not the Belt Drive-In, but it suggests that St. Joseph had some kind of drive-in in 1942.
Jefferson City Post-Tribune, Sept. 19, 1942: “ST. JOSEPH, Mo., Sept. 19 - (AP) - Policeman John Hartnett, 49, was injured critically last night when struck by a motor car as he was directing traffic near a drive-in theater on the Belt highway. He suffered seven leg fractures and a severe scalp laceration.”
The 40 Hiway was literally across US 40 from the Independence city limits on what was then unincorporated land.
Kansas City Star, April 12, 1942: “This area’s first drive-in theater - the type in which you see and hear the movies in your motor car - now is under construction on U.S. highway No. 40 about 200 feet east of U.S. highway No. 71 cutoff. Completion is scheduled about May 1. The enterprise, to be operated by the Open Air Theater corporation of Kansas City, subsidiary of Mid-West Drive-in Theatres, Inc., will occupy a 15-acre tract, leased several months ago. The site is three miles south of Independence. The main structure will be the 100-foot high screen building. The lower part will house the office. The screen will be 50 by 60 feet. … There will be a capacity of 500 motor cars. Sound amplifiers, individually controlled (?!) from the projection booth, will be provided for each motor car … Philip Smith of Boston is the president of the Kansas City organization and Mike Roth is the manager.”
The East Prairie opened on March 25, 1954, based on articles in Sikeston MO’s Daily Standard. It was owned by Earl Ferrell and Geraldine Twitty, and its playground included “rides, hobby horses, swings, pony ride and other features.” The opening program was a Bugs Bunny cartoon review and the film “Jivaro,” starring Fernando Lamas.
Boxoffice, Sept. 30, 1968: “STILLWATER, OKLA. - Video Independent Theatres opened its new 177 North Drive-In on Highway 177 north of town on September 5. The ozoner has a 428-car capacity and the very latest in equipment. Video also operates three conventional theatres here, the Leachman, Aggie and Campus, and another drive-in, the East 6th Street. Paul Gay is city manager for the circuit. There was another drive-in, the Moonlite, also operated by Video and located within the city limits, but which has been dismantled.”
The Iowa City Drive-In, “located west of Coralville on Highway 6,” opened on May 15, 1949, according to the previous day’s Iowa City Press-Citizen. “Work on the theater, the first to be constructed in this area, has been underway all spring.” The drive-in featured individual speakers for each car and held two shows nightly. The opening day feature was “Suddenly It’s Spring” with Fred McMurray, plus varied short subjects.
Santa Fe New Mexican, April 22, 1962: “‘Starlighter’ is the new name for the Espanola Drive-In Theater, formerly known as the Chico, however, it is still operated by the Dollison Theatre chain which has headquarters in Santa Fe.”
Daily Journal (Park Hills, MO), Aug. 17, 2013: “Fifty years ago a Washington County man by the name of Harry Blunt recognized America’s infatuation with the automobile and, in a time of prosperity, its eagerness for entertainment under the stars. His Starlite Drive-in Theater on Highway 21 in Old Mines was not the first in the area, but it is the last … Terry Mercille has owned the Starlite Drive-in since 1968, but his ties with it go back even further. He first worked in the concession stand for Blunt when he was only 14 … Though there is not a lot of hoopla about it, Mercille points out this is actually the 50th season for the theater that opened in 1952. It was a single-screen theater then, the second screen having been added about 15 years ago … There are about 225 parking slots for each screen at the Starlite … Of course, Mercille also admits, the Starlite is not his only means of income. He has an amusement game route that is his primary work and the theater is also used as a flea market during daylight hours on Saturdays and Sundays.”
The Exhibitor, July 23, 1952: “The Ellington Drive-In, Ellington, Mo., had its grand opening. It is owned by Harold Larkin and his business associate as Larkin and Davis. They also own and operate the Strand, Ellington.”
Variety, July 30, 1952: “Harold Larkin and Claud Davis, owner of Strand, Ellington, Mo., lighted new 300-car ozoner near there."
The Current Local (Van Buren MO), Nov. 9, 1961: (classified ad) “REWARD - $500 leading to the arrest and conviction of any person or persons stealing 64 speakers from the 21 Drive In. Notify Harold Larkin or Claude Davis, Ellington, Mo.”
Showmen’s Trade Review, Sept. 22, 1945: “R. E. Carney Theatres, Rolla, Mo., has taken over the Cuba Theatre, Cuba, Mo., formerly operated by A. P. Meier.”
Boxoffice, Dec. 10, 1949: (theatre sales) “Cuba, Mo. - 255-seat Cuba sold to A. P. Meyer (sic) by R. E. Carney.”
In August 1949, Rowe E. Carney had bought out a competing drive-in project in Rolla, so he might have needed the cash or the time to concentrate on building his own Rolla Drive-In. In 1955, Adolph P. Meier built the 19 Drive-In in Cuba. During at least some summers after that, Meier would close the indoor Cuba while operating the 19.
Boxoffice, Nov. 13, 1948: “ELGIN, ILL. - The Star View Drive-In, located four miles east of Elgin on route 20, opened recently.”
Based on aerial photos, the Highway 59 expanded by three ramps between 1962 and 1964. They also added a house behind the back ramp, but the house was gone by 1973, even though the screen was still up. The screen was gone by 1981.
Not that the MPA was super-accurate, but I don’t know why it always had the I-44’s capacity at just 200 cars. Aerial photos show at least a dozen ramps, and this Boxoffice article from June 18, 1973 mentioned 850 in-car speakers:
“The I-44 Drive-In Theatre, the newest open-air facility in the St. Louis metropolitan area, began its second year of operation March 31. The de luxe 850-speaker ozoner, a Wehrenberg Theatres operation, is located in suburban Peerless Park in St. Louis County at the intersection of Highway 141 and the recently completed super-highway, Interstate 44 … Gordon & Wilson Architects, Clayton, Mo., designed the facility, with Steve Kovac of Kovac Construction Co. handling the construction. The 850 Koropp speakers are located on 16 curved ramps. Each ramp has been specially elevated to provide quality viewing of the 100-foot screen. Three hundred Circle R Simplex in-car heaters have been provided for cold weather use during the year-round operation of the theatre. … The concessions building, featuring modern design and broad expanses of windows on two sides, is done in charcoal gray brightly accented in tangerine on the exterior. The interior design features a white acoustical tile ceiling, spatter-pattern beige asphalt tile floor covering, and avocado green Formica counter tops … The split-level building, with the concessions and storage areas, manager’s office and restrooms on the ground level, rises to a full second story at the extreme end above the restrooms to accommodate the well-placed and superbly equipped booth.”
Not sure what to make of this tidbit. The Holiday’s newspaper ads from Dec. 31, 1955 and Jan. 1, 1956 mentioned that it was “Now open under new management”. Then the Jan. 11, 1956 issue of Motion Picture Daily wrote, “Dick Fitzmaurice, former manager of the Rivoli Theatre in downtown St. Louis, has leased the Holiday Drive-in in Overland, St. Louis County, and has reopened it.”
By 1963, Fitzmaurice was working for Mid-America. Why would the company have leased the Holiday to him so soon after opening it?
Motion Picture Exhibitor, June 15, 1955: “In Kevil, Ky., the Park Drive-In, 225 cars, opened in 1949, has been closed indefinitely.”
Motion Picture Exhibitor, June 15, 1955: “In Highland, Ill., the Air Park Drive-In, 300 cars, will be taken over by R. L. Costilow, a teacher in the Highland High School. Prior to his teaching job here, Costilow had experience in theatre operations in the middle west. Adolph P. List had operated the drive-in since July 30, 1953.”
Boxoffice, April 21, 1969: “Joe Hendren, operator of the Holiday Drive-In, was cited by the Unicoi County resident hardest hit during a windstorm which disrupted power, uprooted trees and caused many broken windows. Hendren, who was at the drive-in when the storm struck, did his best to hold the fence tin, which had enclosed the airer, in place. Despite his valiant efforts tin was torn from many posts and airborne to resting places throughout the drive-in’s neighborhood.”
Boxoffice, May 10, 1965: “Mr. and Mrs. Al Spargur, owners of the Grand Theatre (in Du Quoin IL), have reopened the former Melody Drive-In under the name of Holiday Drive-In. Located several miles south of Tamaroa, it has been closed since February for repairs and renovation. The concession stand and projection room have been remodeled and some new equipment added. Repairs have been made to the 45x80-foot screen. New lighting has been added to the entrance and speakers have been tuned and repaired.”
Motion Picture Exhibitor, Sept. 7, 1955: “The first reports of the storm and flood damage to drive-ins in southern New England fortunately were not as serious as anticipated. The Quaker Drive-In, Uxbridge, Mass., reported out of commission for at least a year, opened again on Sept. 2. Some of the equipment was salvaged and after the mud had dried out it was advisable to reopen.”
Motion Picture Exhibitor, Sept. 14, 1955: “The aftermath of the worst flood In the history of New England finds theatres in Massachusetts not as badly damaged as first reported … The Quaker Drive-In, Uxbridge, owned by Ned Eisner and Bob Atamian, required $20,000 to be put back in order. It reopened for the Labor Day weekend.”
So many names!
Showmen’s Trade Review, Jan. 19, 1946: “L. M. Boney is building a new 250-seat theatre at San Jon, N. M. This opens up a new town and according to theatre equipment dealers, he is buying only the best equipment.”
Showmen’s Trade Review, April 27, 1946: “Elmer Boney, recently discharged from the Army, is opening a new 350-seat theatre at San Jon, N. M. It is named the Ute.”
1948 reports in STR referred to Archie A. Boney as the Ute’s owner.
Boxoffice, June 25, 1949: “Exhibitors seen on (Denver) Filmrow included … Fred Mallin, San Jon, N. M.”
Boxoffice, July 9, 1949: “Exhibitors and other attending the (New Mexico Theatre Owners Association) convention included: … San Jon - D. L. Wallace.”
Boxoffice, April 21, 1951: (Approved for exemption to the National Production Authority’s construction owner) “San Jon, N. M. - Theatre building, $6,900. R. A. Fickel.”
Boxoffice, July 5, 1952: “R. A. Fickel, who recently bought the Ute, San Jon, N. M., from D. L. Wallin, has rebuilt the theatre and renamed it the State”
Boxoffice, Sept. 30, 1963: “Marvin Terry is reopening his State at San Jon, N.M.” (The State was later included in a list of theaters remodeled in 1963.)
“Delta Drive-In Theater, the first outdoor theater of its kind in the Sikeston district, will open for business Monday night, July 4, it was announced today … An initial capacity of approximately 250 automobiles has been provided. Owners of the new enterprise are Earl Ferrell, of Charleston, and Mrs. Geraldine Twitty and Miss Geneva Alliston, of Sikeston.” That was on the front page of the July 1 Sikeston Daily Standard.
“Approximately 300 to 350 cars were admitted to the new Delta Drive-In Theatre, Highway 61, seven miles north of Sikeston, opening night Monday July 4.” That was page-4 news in the Sikeston Herald three days later. The Delta apparently didn’t advertise in the Herald.
We often (rightfully) blame the Motion Picture Almanac for failing to notice drive-in closures over the years. How about the Film Daily Year Book, which continued to list East Prairie’s Drive-In as active through its 1948 edition.
Not sure where this goes, since it’s probably not the Belt Drive-In, but it suggests that St. Joseph had some kind of drive-in in 1942.
Jefferson City Post-Tribune, Sept. 19, 1942: “ST. JOSEPH, Mo., Sept. 19 - (AP) - Policeman John Hartnett, 49, was injured critically last night when struck by a motor car as he was directing traffic near a drive-in theater on the Belt highway. He suffered seven leg fractures and a severe scalp laceration.”
The 40 Hiway was literally across US 40 from the Independence city limits on what was then unincorporated land.
Kansas City Star, April 12, 1942: “This area’s first drive-in theater - the type in which you see and hear the movies in your motor car - now is under construction on U.S. highway No. 40 about 200 feet east of U.S. highway No. 71 cutoff. Completion is scheduled about May 1. The enterprise, to be operated by the Open Air Theater corporation of Kansas City, subsidiary of Mid-West Drive-in Theatres, Inc., will occupy a 15-acre tract, leased several months ago. The site is three miles south of Independence. The main structure will be the 100-foot high screen building. The lower part will house the office. The screen will be 50 by 60 feet. … There will be a capacity of 500 motor cars. Sound amplifiers, individually controlled (?!) from the projection booth, will be provided for each motor car … Philip Smith of Boston is the president of the Kansas City organization and Mike Roth is the manager.”
The East Prairie opened on March 25, 1954, based on articles in Sikeston MO’s Daily Standard. It was owned by Earl Ferrell and Geraldine Twitty, and its playground included “rides, hobby horses, swings, pony ride and other features.” The opening program was a Bugs Bunny cartoon review and the film “Jivaro,” starring Fernando Lamas.
A note on Etsy said that this was taken in 1976, and was printed and sold as a postcard in the 1980s.
Photo by Lucinda Lewis. It appeared in a 1995 Route 66 calendar with her pictures.
Boxoffice, Sept. 30, 1968: “STILLWATER, OKLA. - Video Independent Theatres opened its new 177 North Drive-In on Highway 177 north of town on September 5. The ozoner has a 428-car capacity and the very latest in equipment. Video also operates three conventional theatres here, the Leachman, Aggie and Campus, and another drive-in, the East 6th Street. Paul Gay is city manager for the circuit. There was another drive-in, the Moonlite, also operated by Video and located within the city limits, but which has been dismantled.”
The Iowa City Drive-In, “located west of Coralville on Highway 6,” opened on May 15, 1949, according to the previous day’s Iowa City Press-Citizen. “Work on the theater, the first to be constructed in this area, has been underway all spring.” The drive-in featured individual speakers for each car and held two shows nightly. The opening day feature was “Suddenly It’s Spring” with Fred McMurray, plus varied short subjects.
Same theater? Boxoffice, March 10, 1975: “Video Theatres has purchased the Movies house in Claremore and have changed the name to Video Theatre.”