Motion Picture Herald, April 7, 1956: “WASHINGTON: National Theatres will ask the New York District Court for permission to acquire the Midway drive-in theatre near Reno, Nevada, according to Justice Department officials. No date has yet been set for the court hearing. The drive-in, about two miles southeast of Reno, has a 443-car capacity, and can be expanded to an 800-car capacity. Floyd C. Bernard is the present operator.”
Boxoffice, March 16, 1957: “Ray Syufy has taken over the Midway Drive-In in Reno from Floyd Bernard”
The Feb. 2, 1957 issue of Boxoffice ran a lengthy article about manager Porter Simmons' wife’s discovery of home-cooked pinto beans as a concession stand item. “When Mr. and Mrs. Jack Needham, owners of the Camp Bowie Drive-In, opened the Bluff Vue Drive-In, also in Brownwood, in 1955, pinto beans became a favorite item with customers at this larger airer, too.”
Boxoffice, Dec. 22, 1956: “MALTA, MONT. - Carl Veseth, owner of the Villa Theatre here, has begun moving dirt on a site here for a new drive-in. The new open-air theatre, scheduled to be ready for opening by May 1, will be Veseth’s second major project within the last two years. He built the new Villa Theatre here in 1954-55 and opened it on June 30, 1955. The new Villa replaced the old Palace, which Veseth had operated here since 1922. The new Villa Theatre has a 500-seat capacity. Located on the southern edge of Malta, the new drive-in will be large enough to accommodate 200 cars. Plans call for a 60x30-foot screen, concession and projection building and a 200-car capacity.”
Boxoffice, Dec. 8, 1956: “The Del Puerto, formerly the Patterson in Patterson, has installed CinemaScope. In addition, the front and boxoffice have been remodeled, the interior has been refurnished and the new name has gone up on the marquee. Mr. and Mrs. E. L. Fink purchased the theatre from Richard Bear in 1932.”
BTW, Vada Pink’s 1981 obituary in the Modesto Bee mentioned that the E stood for Elmer. “She began a free Christmas show and party for children in 1932 and distributed Christmas presents. The Christmas party was continued for nearly 30 years.”
Boxoffice, Dec. 1, 1956: “The new Lakewood Drive-In, located on the Old Charlestown pike just two miles from the Thomas Jefferson school off the Hamburg Pike, opened to the public early last month. Owners and managers of the outdoor theatre are Jacob Woehrle and his son, John. Mrs. Evelyn Payne of Salem is a stockholder in the firm. The theatre is equipped to handle 525 cars and the entertainment center also has a modern refreshment stand.”
Boxoffice, Oct. 13, 1956: “BROOKINGS, ORE. - Dave Irvine and Raymond Pope have opened the Terrace Drive-In here. The 300-car outdoor show place is equipped with RCA projection and sound items, and a screen by Songstead.”
Boxoffice, Dec. 1, 1956: “The Terrace Drive-In Theatre was flooded out in the recent heavy rains, and will be forced to discontinue business for the winter months, according to the two operators. The rains swept out a portion of the fence around the theatre, and washed out the drives into the parking area. The owners figured that the damage would be nearly impossible to fix during the season, and that their best bet would be to wait until spring and start from there. The drive-in had opened only a little over a month before the rainstorm.”
Boxoffice, Dec. 1, 1956: “Mr. and Mrs. E. H. Goldsberry have reopened the Simla Theatre, planning to present motion picture entertainment each weekend through the winter.”
Boxoffice, Nov. 17, 1956: “MERIDIAN, IDA. - The Matthews circuit has sold the Roxy to Joy Naylor of Boise … Naylor, the new Roxy owner, closed that theatre for a few days for the installation of new equipment, saying he plans to operate the theatre every evening in the future.”
Boxoffice, Nov. 17, 1956: “MERIDIAN, IDA. - The Matthews circuit has sold the Roxy to Joy Naylor of Boise. Naylor also has purchased the Family Drive-In here.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 29, 1956: “Paul Cody sold the Wigwam Theatre and the Cody Drive-In, Basin, Wyo., to Glen Woods.”
Boxoffice, Oct. 20, 1956: “BASIN, WYO. - Glenn Woods, who came here recently from Onida, S. D., has purchased the Cory Drive-In Theatre and has assumed management of the Wigwam Theatre. The drive-in was purchased from Paul F. Cory, who established it three years ago. During a recent Tuesday night meeting of the Basin town council, the Wigwam Theatre lease was transfetted to Woods from Cory. No other changes were made in the lease.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 29, 1956: “Paul Cody sold the Wigwam Theatre and the Cody Drive-In, Basin, Wyo., to Glen Woods.”
Boxoffice, Oct. 20, 1956: “BASIN, WYO. - Glenn Woods, who came here recently from Onida, S. D., has purchased the Cory Drive-In Theatre and has assumed management of the Wigwam Theatre. The drive-in was purchased from Paul F. Cory, who established it three years ago. During a recent Tuesday night meeting of the Basin town council, the Wigwam Theatre lease was transfetted to Woods from Cory. No other changes were made in the lease.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 29, 1956: “Recently the Prince Drive-In, Tucson, lost its screen tower in a heavy wind. However, according to manager Carl Ahlberg, the equipment has been replaced, and the Prince was due to reopen Friday (28)”
Two more notes. His wife’s obituary said Mr. Boyd’s middle name was Haig. A Fresno Bee radio listing on Dec. 7, 1958 included an appearance by Don Isabella, manager of the California Theater in Kerman.
Boxoffice, June 30, 1951: “Joe Boyd, owner of the California in Kerman, has remodeled the front and enlarged the lobby. A 16mm projector was installed to show motion pictures in the lobby. It will be operated from the regular projection booth with a screen above the main entrance.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 22, 1956: “KERMAN, CALIF. - Joseph H. Boyd has sold the California Theatre here to Robert V. Deck of Fresno.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 14, 1948: (under Charlotte) “New accounts for Queen City include … J. D. Davis' Laurens Drive-In at Laurens, S. C.”
The Motion Picture Almanac listings in Laurens SC were always just “Drive-In” owned by J. D. Davis, 200 cars. The 1955-56 Theatre Catalog listed it as the Laurens Drive-In, Jack Davis, 200 cars.
Boxoffice, July 28, 1956: “Bill Southern, manager of the Basin Theatre, announced that from now on the theatre will be known as the Cherokee. A large neon sign bearing the new name was expected to be delivered and mounted early in August.”
A humorous column in the Nov. 24, 1983 Roanoke Times, about the quirky rules restricting Russian visitors from visiting Craig County, mentioned that the Lynn was “open weekends only.”
Boxoffice, June 2, 1956: “Jack Grossman has taken over and reopened the Montrose Theatre in Montrose, dark for some time past.”
Boxoffice, June 30, 1956: “After operating the house for only two weeks, Jack Grossman has sold the Montrose Theatre in Montrose to Joe Herzberg, an exhibitor from Texas”
Boxoffice, June 2, 1956: “A popular attraction for young and old is the artificial lake at Lee’s Woodland Drive-In Theatre, near Vandergrift, Pa., which is stocked annually with fish. Harold Lee, owner, charges $1 per patron for fishing privileges, and fishermen bring their own equipment. Lee also has a number of boats for hire. Last summer, during a storm, his boat house was swept off its footings, but the building was restored this spring.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 4, 1958: “Harold V. Lee of Lee’s Woodland Drive-In Theatre on the Apollo-Leechburg Road, Route 66, is one of the hardest workers in the area. A Keppel Hill resident, he owns in excess of 200 acres of farm land in the general Vandergrift section. Here he operates sheep and turkey ranches, also he has a number of gas wells; he hold additional gas interests elsewhere; members of his family operate Lee’s long established general store. His motorized farm equipment are modern and “in use.” Harold drives a handsome ranch wagon on his visits to (Pittsburgh) Filmrow. His Woodland Drive-In is “up to date” in appointment and attractions and he operates his own concession business to the satisfaction of his good customers. An artificial lake on his property is “home” for area fishermen, and he operates a boat-rental service.”
Another reason this drive-in survived (beyond the obvious) for so long? Perhaps as a working showcase. Boxoffice magazine’s Modern Theatre Buyers' Directory for Aug. 28, 1972, included a page about the Joplin-based Mini-Art Operating Company, which apparently held the rights to the old autoscope blueprints. The company’s ad in that issue offered:
“The Mini-Art Operating Company invites all theatre people interested to visit the MINI Drive-In Theatre, Joplin, Mo., on East 7th St. Nitely screenings of adult films. (Sorry, no one under 18 admitted at night.) Please present theatre identification to our Manager, Mr. Ed Kelly, at the boxoffice.”
Boxoffice, May 19, 1956: “CACTUS, ARIZ. - A drive-in will be opened this month near this small community, north of Phoenix. Located one mile north of here on Cave Creek road, the outdoor theatre will cost $85,000. Owners and operators are J. L. and Onamae Lightfoot of De Leon, Tex."
Boxoffice, Feb. 9, 1957: “O. K. Leonard, owner of the Apache, Globe, Ariz., has taken over the Joy ozoner in nearby Cactus from J. L. Lightfoot. The Joy is being renamed the Cactus, with W. G. McKinley appointed as manager.”
Boxoffice, May 19, 1956: “SODA SPRINGS, IDA. - The lights are on and the boxoffice is open at the Dawn-A-Vu outdoor theatre here. Mr. and Mrs. J. R. Mendenhall, owners and operators of the theatre, say show time is around 7:45 p.m.”
Boxoffice, May 19, 1956: “EVANSTON, WYO. - The Riverside Motor Vu is now under the management of Raymond M. Davis of Cheyenne and Russ Dauterman of Salt Lake City. A new widescreen has been installed. Dauterman and Davis, who own and operate a chain of outdoor theatres in Wyoming, Idaho and Utah, recently purchased the drive-in here from Mr. and Mrs. Wilson Dean, who formerly owned and operated the open air show house.”
Boxoffice, May 19, 1956: “SHOW LOW, ARIZ. - The new Wagon Wheel Drive-In is scheduled to open here late in May. The new 300-car plant is located four and a half miles south of Show Low on the McNary road. It is being built by Rawlings-Nace Theatres. Jerry Rawlings is manager of the Sho Lo Theatre, completed five years ago, and of the new Wagon Wheel. The drive-in is located on a 14-acre tract. It has a 41x94-foot screen and a complete snack bar.”
Motion Picture Herald, April 7, 1956: “WASHINGTON: National Theatres will ask the New York District Court for permission to acquire the Midway drive-in theatre near Reno, Nevada, according to Justice Department officials. No date has yet been set for the court hearing. The drive-in, about two miles southeast of Reno, has a 443-car capacity, and can be expanded to an 800-car capacity. Floyd C. Bernard is the present operator.”
Boxoffice, March 16, 1957: “Ray Syufy has taken over the Midway Drive-In in Reno from Floyd Bernard”
The Feb. 2, 1957 issue of Boxoffice ran a lengthy article about manager Porter Simmons' wife’s discovery of home-cooked pinto beans as a concession stand item. “When Mr. and Mrs. Jack Needham, owners of the Camp Bowie Drive-In, opened the Bluff Vue Drive-In, also in Brownwood, in 1955, pinto beans became a favorite item with customers at this larger airer, too.”
Boxoffice, Dec. 22, 1956: “MALTA, MONT. - Carl Veseth, owner of the Villa Theatre here, has begun moving dirt on a site here for a new drive-in. The new open-air theatre, scheduled to be ready for opening by May 1, will be Veseth’s second major project within the last two years. He built the new Villa Theatre here in 1954-55 and opened it on June 30, 1955. The new Villa replaced the old Palace, which Veseth had operated here since 1922. The new Villa Theatre has a 500-seat capacity. Located on the southern edge of Malta, the new drive-in will be large enough to accommodate 200 cars. Plans call for a 60x30-foot screen, concession and projection building and a 200-car capacity.”
Boxoffice, Dec. 8, 1956: “The Del Puerto, formerly the Patterson in Patterson, has installed CinemaScope. In addition, the front and boxoffice have been remodeled, the interior has been refurnished and the new name has gone up on the marquee. Mr. and Mrs. E. L. Fink purchased the theatre from Richard Bear in 1932.”
BTW, Vada Pink’s 1981 obituary in the Modesto Bee mentioned that the E stood for Elmer. “She began a free Christmas show and party for children in 1932 and distributed Christmas presents. The Christmas party was continued for nearly 30 years.”
Boxoffice, Dec. 1, 1956: “The new Lakewood Drive-In, located on the Old Charlestown pike just two miles from the Thomas Jefferson school off the Hamburg Pike, opened to the public early last month. Owners and managers of the outdoor theatre are Jacob Woehrle and his son, John. Mrs. Evelyn Payne of Salem is a stockholder in the firm. The theatre is equipped to handle 525 cars and the entertainment center also has a modern refreshment stand.”
Sounds like this opened as the Terrace Drive-In.
Boxoffice, Oct. 13, 1956: “BROOKINGS, ORE. - Dave Irvine and Raymond Pope have opened the Terrace Drive-In here. The 300-car outdoor show place is equipped with RCA projection and sound items, and a screen by Songstead.”
Boxoffice, Dec. 1, 1956: “The Terrace Drive-In Theatre was flooded out in the recent heavy rains, and will be forced to discontinue business for the winter months, according to the two operators. The rains swept out a portion of the fence around the theatre, and washed out the drives into the parking area. The owners figured that the damage would be nearly impossible to fix during the season, and that their best bet would be to wait until spring and start from there. The drive-in had opened only a little over a month before the rainstorm.”
Boxoffice, Dec. 1, 1956: “Mr. and Mrs. E. H. Goldsberry have reopened the Simla Theatre, planning to present motion picture entertainment each weekend through the winter.”
Boxoffice, Nov. 17, 1956: “MERIDIAN, IDA. - The Matthews circuit has sold the Roxy to Joy Naylor of Boise … Naylor, the new Roxy owner, closed that theatre for a few days for the installation of new equipment, saying he plans to operate the theatre every evening in the future.”
Boxoffice, Nov. 17, 1956: “MERIDIAN, IDA. - The Matthews circuit has sold the Roxy to Joy Naylor of Boise. Naylor also has purchased the Family Drive-In here.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 29, 1956: “Paul Cody sold the Wigwam Theatre and the Cody Drive-In, Basin, Wyo., to Glen Woods.”
Boxoffice, Oct. 20, 1956: “BASIN, WYO. - Glenn Woods, who came here recently from Onida, S. D., has purchased the Cory Drive-In Theatre and has assumed management of the Wigwam Theatre. The drive-in was purchased from Paul F. Cory, who established it three years ago. During a recent Tuesday night meeting of the Basin town council, the Wigwam Theatre lease was transfetted to Woods from Cory. No other changes were made in the lease.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 29, 1956: “Paul Cody sold the Wigwam Theatre and the Cody Drive-In, Basin, Wyo., to Glen Woods.”
Boxoffice, Oct. 20, 1956: “BASIN, WYO. - Glenn Woods, who came here recently from Onida, S. D., has purchased the Cory Drive-In Theatre and has assumed management of the Wigwam Theatre. The drive-in was purchased from Paul F. Cory, who established it three years ago. During a recent Tuesday night meeting of the Basin town council, the Wigwam Theatre lease was transfetted to Woods from Cory. No other changes were made in the lease.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 29, 1956: “Recently the Prince Drive-In, Tucson, lost its screen tower in a heavy wind. However, according to manager Carl Ahlberg, the equipment has been replaced, and the Prince was due to reopen Friday (28)”
Two more notes. His wife’s obituary said Mr. Boyd’s middle name was Haig. A Fresno Bee radio listing on Dec. 7, 1958 included an appearance by Don Isabella, manager of the California Theater in Kerman.
Boxoffice, June 30, 1951: “Joe Boyd, owner of the California in Kerman, has remodeled the front and enlarged the lobby. A 16mm projector was installed to show motion pictures in the lobby. It will be operated from the regular projection booth with a screen above the main entrance.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 22, 1956: “KERMAN, CALIF. - Joseph H. Boyd has sold the California Theatre here to Robert V. Deck of Fresno.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 14, 1948: (under Charlotte) “New accounts for Queen City include … J. D. Davis' Laurens Drive-In at Laurens, S. C.”
The Motion Picture Almanac listings in Laurens SC were always just “Drive-In” owned by J. D. Davis, 200 cars. The 1955-56 Theatre Catalog listed it as the Laurens Drive-In, Jack Davis, 200 cars.
Boxoffice, July 28, 1956: “Bill Southern, manager of the Basin Theatre, announced that from now on the theatre will be known as the Cherokee. A large neon sign bearing the new name was expected to be delivered and mounted early in August.”
A humorous column in the Nov. 24, 1983 Roanoke Times, about the quirky rules restricting Russian visitors from visiting Craig County, mentioned that the Lynn was “open weekends only.”
Boxoffice, June 2, 1956: “Jack Grossman has taken over and reopened the Montrose Theatre in Montrose, dark for some time past.”
Boxoffice, June 30, 1956: “After operating the house for only two weeks, Jack Grossman has sold the Montrose Theatre in Montrose to Joe Herzberg, an exhibitor from Texas”
Boxoffice, June 2, 1956: “A popular attraction for young and old is the artificial lake at Lee’s Woodland Drive-In Theatre, near Vandergrift, Pa., which is stocked annually with fish. Harold Lee, owner, charges $1 per patron for fishing privileges, and fishermen bring their own equipment. Lee also has a number of boats for hire. Last summer, during a storm, his boat house was swept off its footings, but the building was restored this spring.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 4, 1958: “Harold V. Lee of Lee’s Woodland Drive-In Theatre on the Apollo-Leechburg Road, Route 66, is one of the hardest workers in the area. A Keppel Hill resident, he owns in excess of 200 acres of farm land in the general Vandergrift section. Here he operates sheep and turkey ranches, also he has a number of gas wells; he hold additional gas interests elsewhere; members of his family operate Lee’s long established general store. His motorized farm equipment are modern and “in use.” Harold drives a handsome ranch wagon on his visits to (Pittsburgh) Filmrow. His Woodland Drive-In is “up to date” in appointment and attractions and he operates his own concession business to the satisfaction of his good customers. An artificial lake on his property is “home” for area fishermen, and he operates a boat-rental service.”
Another reason this drive-in survived (beyond the obvious) for so long? Perhaps as a working showcase. Boxoffice magazine’s Modern Theatre Buyers' Directory for Aug. 28, 1972, included a page about the Joplin-based Mini-Art Operating Company, which apparently held the rights to the old autoscope blueprints. The company’s ad in that issue offered:
“The Mini-Art Operating Company invites all theatre people interested to visit the MINI Drive-In Theatre, Joplin, Mo., on East 7th St. Nitely screenings of adult films. (Sorry, no one under 18 admitted at night.) Please present theatre identification to our Manager, Mr. Ed Kelly, at the boxoffice.”
Boxoffice, May 19, 1956: “CACTUS, ARIZ. - A drive-in will be opened this month near this small community, north of Phoenix. Located one mile north of here on Cave Creek road, the outdoor theatre will cost $85,000. Owners and operators are J. L. and Onamae Lightfoot of De Leon, Tex."
Boxoffice, Feb. 9, 1957: “O. K. Leonard, owner of the Apache, Globe, Ariz., has taken over the Joy ozoner in nearby Cactus from J. L. Lightfoot. The Joy is being renamed the Cactus, with W. G. McKinley appointed as manager.”
Boxoffice, May 19, 1956: “SODA SPRINGS, IDA. - The lights are on and the boxoffice is open at the Dawn-A-Vu outdoor theatre here. Mr. and Mrs. J. R. Mendenhall, owners and operators of the theatre, say show time is around 7:45 p.m.”
Boxoffice, May 19, 1956: “EVANSTON, WYO. - The Riverside Motor Vu is now under the management of Raymond M. Davis of Cheyenne and Russ Dauterman of Salt Lake City. A new widescreen has been installed. Dauterman and Davis, who own and operate a chain of outdoor theatres in Wyoming, Idaho and Utah, recently purchased the drive-in here from Mr. and Mrs. Wilson Dean, who formerly owned and operated the open air show house.”
Boxoffice, May 19, 1956: “Jerry Rawlings is manager of the Sho Lo Theatre, completed five years ago, and of the new Wagon Wheel (Drive-In).”
Boxoffice, May 19, 1956: “SHOW LOW, ARIZ. - The new Wagon Wheel Drive-In is scheduled to open here late in May. The new 300-car plant is located four and a half miles south of Show Low on the McNary road. It is being built by Rawlings-Nace Theatres. Jerry Rawlings is manager of the Sho Lo Theatre, completed five years ago, and of the new Wagon Wheel. The drive-in is located on a 14-acre tract. It has a 41x94-foot screen and a complete snack bar.”