This was one of the photos of the Q-Twin published in the 1962 Theatre Catalog (AKA the April 4, 1962 issue of Motion Picture Exhibitor), which I understand to be in the public domain.
Billboard’s 1952 notes indicate that the Tower opened a few months before the Rietta, but otherwise, this story checks out. Motion Picture Exhibitor, Jan. 30, 1963: “Soon after opening his Rietta Drive-In at Henrietta, Tex., several years ago, an opposition drive-in was opened on the other side of town, but this one didn’t do so well; Claude Thorp bought the property. Now Thorp is constructing a building on the drive-in land for a garage and used car lot. Thorp has the Rietta and Dorothy, an indoor house in Henrietta, the Gem in Ryan, the Empress in Waurika, and a theatre in Burkburnett.”
Motion Picture Exhibitor, Dec. 19, 1962: “Mrs. Virgil Harris, exhibitor from Malden, Mo., died Nov. 29. She and her husband operated the Liberty, Malden, and the All-Star Drive-In, Holcomb.”
Pawnshop, apparently that was related. Motion Picture Exhibitor, Nov. 7, 1962: “Lloyd Stone opened his new Pam, Madisonville, Tex., which was named after his seeing eye dog.”
Motion Picture Exhibitor, Oct. 31, 1962: “The Trail Drive-In, El Paso, has been sold by Richard Roland to a partnership of Dallas, Tex., businessmen, Wooley, Kreiger and Hager.”
Motion Picture Exhibitor, Oct. 24, 1962: “The Twin Drive-In, Amarillo, Tex., has constructed a well lighted fence separating the two screen areas with a two lane exit. With different programs now showing on each screen, another marquee has been constructed above the box office, denoting the choice the patron must make on entering the drive-in, according to Kenneth Lane, manager.”
It lasted through at least 1962. Motion Picture Exhibitor, Oct. 24, 1962: “The Route 4 Drive-In, Thayer, Ill., closed (for the season) Sept. 30. It is owned by Bill Smith.”
Motion Picture Exhibitor, Sept. 19, 1962: “Don Gilbert and his partner Ross Erlow have reported that they have closed the LaRita, Delhart, Tex., and the building has been sold. They operate the Mission, an indoor house, and the El Rancho Drive-In, Dalhart.”
Motion Picture Exhibitor, Sept. 19, 1962: “Don Gilbert and his partner Ross Erlow have reported that they have closed the LaRita, Delhart, Tex., and the building has been sold.”
Motion Picture Exhibitor, Sept. 19, 1962: “The Tascosa Drive-In, Amarillo, Tex., is now free of the detour maze as the expressway construction has extended beyond the drive-in. Alex Gilbert, manager, has opened the back exit to relieve the traffic snarl.”
Motion Picture Exhibitor, Aug. 15, 1962: “Crossroads Theatres has reopened the Skyway Drive-In, Amarillo, Tex., with Mexican made pictures on a double bill at $1 a carload.”
Motion Picture Exhibitor, Aug. 1, 1962: “Services were held for Mary Worley Oliver, 84, at Shamrock, Tex. … Mr. and Mrs. Oliver in 1921 opened the Liberty at Shamrock and later the new Liberty and Texas.”
Motion Picture Exhibitor, July 25, 1962: “Amos Page, who operates the Avalon and Derby, McLean, Tex., and who recently took over the operation of the Capada Drive-In, Floydada, Tex., is moving his family from McLean to Floydada.”
Motion Picture Exhibitor, July 4, 1962: “The south tower of the Midway Drive-In, Benton, Ill., blew down recently but the theatre was able to continue operating despite the occurrence. The Midway is owned by Bob Strauss.”
Motion Picture Exhibitor, July 4, 1962: “Hilltop Drive-In, Joliet, Ill., reopened this spring after installing a new fence and completely renovating all installations.”
More details. Motion Picture Exhibitor, June 20, 1962: “The Parker Square in Wichita Falls, Tex., opened in 1958 as the largest and only suburban house in the city, has been converted into a department store. It has been closed since last year after a three year operation by its original owners and later by Phil Isley Theatres of Dallas.”
Motion Picture Exhibitor, June 20, 1962: “Esther Ruenes has announced that construction has started at San Benito, Tex., on a new drive-in which will be named the Juarez.”
Please add a “96 Drive-In” to the previous names here.
Motion Picture Exhibitor, Oct. 15, 1969: “Highland Theatres, headed by Carlin Smith and Russ Berry, has acquired the 96 Drive-In, Pueblo, Colo., formerly operated by Homer Hibbits. Highland has closed the operation for extensive remodeling and will reopen it in the spring under a new policy under the management of Joe Davis, who also operates two other drive-ins in that city for Highland.”
Huh! I’m pretty sure of that Motion Picture Daily date, matching when Fox Intermountain had to divest a bunch of theaters. So did Piazza lose the Fox for a while, or is the following magazine note screwy?
Motion Picture Exhibitor, Oct. 15, 1969: “Upon reopening the Fox, Walsenburg, Colo., which he recently acquired, Frank Piazza will close the Trails Drive-In for the winter.”
Motion Picture Exhibitor, July 20, 1966: “(J. S. Worley’s) remodeling of the Texas has been completed and the reopening held on July 1, followed by an open house on July 3 and the formal opening on Independence Day.”
This was one of the photos of the Q-Twin published in the 1962 Theatre Catalog (AKA the April 4, 1962 issue of Motion Picture Exhibitor), which I understand to be in the public domain.
Motion Picture Exhibitor, March 28, 1962: “The Fairview Drive-In, Newton, Ill., has been sold by C. B. Simmons to Joe Hasler and Lamar Kinder.”
Billboard’s 1952 notes indicate that the Tower opened a few months before the Rietta, but otherwise, this story checks out. Motion Picture Exhibitor, Jan. 30, 1963: “Soon after opening his Rietta Drive-In at Henrietta, Tex., several years ago, an opposition drive-in was opened on the other side of town, but this one didn’t do so well; Claude Thorp bought the property. Now Thorp is constructing a building on the drive-in land for a garage and used car lot. Thorp has the Rietta and Dorothy, an indoor house in Henrietta, the Gem in Ryan, the Empress in Waurika, and a theatre in Burkburnett.”
Motion Picture Exhibitor, Jan. 9, 1963: “Sam Kellog has taken over operation of the Surf Drive-In and the Palm Drive-In, Corpus Christi, Tex.”
Motion Picture Exhibitor, Jan. 9, 1963: “Sam Kellog has taken over operation of the Surf Drive-In and the Palm Drive-In, Corpus Christi, Tex.”
Motion Picture Exhibitor, Dec. 19, 1962: “Mrs. Virgil Harris, exhibitor from Malden, Mo., died Nov. 29. She and her husband operated the Liberty, Malden, and the All-Star Drive-In, Holcomb.”
Pawnshop, apparently that was related. Motion Picture Exhibitor, Nov. 7, 1962: “Lloyd Stone opened his new Pam, Madisonville, Tex., which was named after his seeing eye dog.”
Motion Picture Exhibitor, Oct. 31, 1962: “The Trail Drive-In, El Paso, has been sold by Richard Roland to a partnership of Dallas, Tex., businessmen, Wooley, Kreiger and Hager.”
Motion Picture Exhibitor, Oct. 24, 1962: “The Twin Drive-In, Amarillo, Tex., has constructed a well lighted fence separating the two screen areas with a two lane exit. With different programs now showing on each screen, another marquee has been constructed above the box office, denoting the choice the patron must make on entering the drive-in, according to Kenneth Lane, manager.”
It lasted through at least 1962. Motion Picture Exhibitor, Oct. 24, 1962: “The Route 4 Drive-In, Thayer, Ill., closed (for the season) Sept. 30. It is owned by Bill Smith.”
Motion Picture Exhibitor, Sept. 19, 1962: “Don Gilbert and his partner Ross Erlow have reported that they have closed the LaRita, Delhart, Tex., and the building has been sold. They operate the Mission, an indoor house, and the El Rancho Drive-In, Dalhart.”
Motion Picture Exhibitor, Sept. 19, 1962: “Don Gilbert and his partner Ross Erlow have reported that they have closed the LaRita, Delhart, Tex., and the building has been sold.”
Motion Picture Exhibitor, Sept. 19, 1962: “The Tascosa Drive-In, Amarillo, Tex., is now free of the detour maze as the expressway construction has extended beyond the drive-in. Alex Gilbert, manager, has opened the back exit to relieve the traffic snarl.”
Motion Picture Exhibitor, Aug. 15, 1962: “Crossroads Theatres has reopened the Skyway Drive-In, Amarillo, Tex., with Mexican made pictures on a double bill at $1 a carload.”
Motion Picture Exhibitor, Aug. 1, 1962: “Services were held for Mary Worley Oliver, 84, at Shamrock, Tex. … Mr. and Mrs. Oliver in 1921 opened the Liberty at Shamrock and later the new Liberty and Texas.”
Motion Picture Exhibitor, July 25, 1962: “Amos Page, who operates the Avalon and Derby, McLean, Tex., and who recently took over the operation of the Capada Drive-In, Floydada, Tex., is moving his family from McLean to Floydada.”
Motion Picture Exhibitor, July 4, 1962: “The Royal Theatre, Licking, Mo., is being closed indefinitely. Its owner is Howard Pettit.”
Motion Picture Exhibitor, July 4, 1962: “The south tower of the Midway Drive-In, Benton, Ill., blew down recently but the theatre was able to continue operating despite the occurrence. The Midway is owned by Bob Strauss.”
Motion Picture Exhibitor, July 4, 1962: “Hilltop Drive-In, Joliet, Ill., reopened this spring after installing a new fence and completely renovating all installations.”
More details. Motion Picture Exhibitor, June 20, 1962: “The Parker Square in Wichita Falls, Tex., opened in 1958 as the largest and only suburban house in the city, has been converted into a department store. It has been closed since last year after a three year operation by its original owners and later by Phil Isley Theatres of Dallas.”
Motion Picture Exhibitor, June 20, 1962: “Esther Ruenes has announced that construction has started at San Benito, Tex., on a new drive-in which will be named the Juarez.”
Please add a “96 Drive-In” to the previous names here.
Motion Picture Exhibitor, Oct. 15, 1969: “Highland Theatres, headed by Carlin Smith and Russ Berry, has acquired the 96 Drive-In, Pueblo, Colo., formerly operated by Homer Hibbits. Highland has closed the operation for extensive remodeling and will reopen it in the spring under a new policy under the management of Joe Davis, who also operates two other drive-ins in that city for Highland.”
Huh! I’m pretty sure of that Motion Picture Daily date, matching when Fox Intermountain had to divest a bunch of theaters. So did Piazza lose the Fox for a while, or is the following magazine note screwy?
Motion Picture Exhibitor, Oct. 15, 1969: “Upon reopening the Fox, Walsenburg, Colo., which he recently acquired, Frank Piazza will close the Trails Drive-In for the winter.”
Motion Picture Exhibitor, July 20, 1966: “(J. S. Worley’s) remodeling of the Texas has been completed and the reopening held on July 1, followed by an open house on July 3 and the formal opening on Independence Day.”
I’m guessing this was the same drive-in, since the 1977 Motion Picture Almanac listed only the “Rebel Twin” for Carrollton.
Motion Picture Exhibitor, July 20, 1966: “The employes of the Rebel D-I which recently opened at Carrollton wear rebel uniforms while on duty.”