The Bel-Air’s owner ran a classified ad in Boxoffice in 1981 trying to sell it. “Absentee owner retired after twenty seasons. Fully equipped but screen needs rebuilding. $10,000 down with good terms.”
As of April 1964, the Bel-Air was owned by Raymond J. Marks and Martin G. Rosenfeld, operating as M & R Amusement Companies, per a Boxoffice story about their acquisition of the Skyhi and Dundale drive-ins. A July 1966 note about plans for the Wheeling Twin added Richard Rosenfield to the previous two names. By June 1978, the company spokesman was Louis Marks.
Boxoffice, April 30, 1979: “In announcing that a third screen will add to the Bel-Air activity June 8, Louis Marks of M & R Amusement Co. said, “With the good product coming along for the summer, there should be enough to support three screens in each of our properties.” M & R had some months ago had third screens added to the Twin and Double outdoor theatres.”
Boxoffice, June 9, 1980: “Owners of Chicago’s main-line hardtop theaters "were not enthusiastic about having live pigs in their theaters,” so Avco Embassy pictures staged what is believed to be the first major world premiere in a drive-in May 30, taking over the Bel-Air Drive-In to launch its release of ‘Hog Wild.’"
Boxoffice, Nov. 24, 1969: “L&M president Mrs. D. R. Berman announced that electric heaters have been installed in the company’s Bel-Air Drive-In, Joliet. She said also that the concession building and ladies' room are being enlarged.”
Boxoffice, Nov. 20, 1972: “In Oklahoma City to book product through Theatre Booking Service was Ron Turner of the Sunset Drive-In, Muskogee, and the Woodstock Drive-In, Edmond”
Boxoffice, June 14, 1976: “Edward Roupe is the new owner of the Woodstock Drive-In, Edmond. He purchased the ozoner from Jim O'Donnell and Ron Turner.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 2, 1976: “Ed Roupe, Woodstock Drive-In, Edmond, was in town (Oklahoma City) to consult with his booker, Jim O'Donnell, TBS, and visit UA’s exchange.”
Boxoffice, May 9, 1977: “James Barnet has leased the Woodstock Drive-In, Edmond, and is in the process of leasing the Hollis Drive-In in Hollis.”
Same drive-in? Billboard, Nov. 22, 1952: “The Red River Drive-In has been opened by Engelbrecht & Wolfe and Theater Enterprises at Clarksville, Tex. The drive-in has a 300-car capacity.”
Billboard, Nov. 22, 1952: “O. O. Cummings has sold the 500-car-capacity Don Drive-In Theater at Port Arthur, Tex., to Jefferson Amusement Company, with headquarters at Beaumont, Tex.”
Odd phrasing in Billboard, Nov. 22, 1952: “The Garden Drive-In at Hunlock Creek, Pa., has been completed by N. Cragle. Altho the owner opened the new open-airer for business, regular operations will be started with the new season next spring.”
Billboard, Nov. 1, 1952: “Kenneth McFarland Jr. and A. M. Riley are new owners-operators of Pines Drive-In, Nacogdoches, Tex. They plan a renovating program, which includes a new glass block ticket office, changable letter sign, a patio which will seat about 50 persons, new all-metal fence and resurfacing of the parking area.”
On maybe the Rietta was a second drive-in at a different location? Billboard, Oct. 25, 1952: “Claude Thorpe is schedule to open a new drive-in at Henrietta, Tex. He is conducting a contest to name the drive-in.”
Billboard, Oct. 25, 1962: “G. A. Lockwood has purchased the Riverside Drive-In at Smithville, Tex., from Joe D. Blinka. He also operates the Texas Theater there.”
Billboard, Oct. 25, 1952: “S. H. Easling has been named manager of Seymour Drive-In Theater, Wichita Falls, Tex. … A new, hard-surfaced balcony has been added and the spot’s capacity has been increased to 800 cars.”
Billboard, Sept. 27, 1952: “L. Lipscomb, manager of Jacksboro Drive-In, Fort Worth, estimated damage to the theater at between $35,000 and $50,000 as the result of a freak windstorm. The top of the screen, made of concrete blocks, was whisked away like straw. The corrugated iron fence surrounding the drive-in was found scattered over about a three-square-mile area. Some parts of the fence were found wrapped around the loud-speaker posts on the ramps. Lipscomb also reported that the walls and roof of the concession stand also were demolished.”
Billboard, Sept. 20, 1952: “Norman T. Hodge has added several improvements to his Pioneer Drive-In at Merkle, Tex.” (But the note didn’t mention what they were.)
Billboard, Sept. 13, 1952: “Bill Chester has announced the opening of the XIT Drive-In at Littlefield, Tex. The theater bears the name of a well-known cattle brand in that area.”
Billboard, Sept. 13, 1952: “L. W. Ellis, of Summerside, P. E. I., is owner-manager of the Starlite Drive-In near Summerside. Spot was started by R. Pope and Ellis.”
Adding some names, Billboard, Feb. 16, 1952: “Sun Drive-In has been opened at Comanche, Tex., by Sherman L. and Charles L. Root, James F. Kelley and George Witten.”
Billboard, Sept. 6, 1952: “Harold Flemins and Jack Arthur have purchased the 250-car capacity Sun Drive-In at Comanche, Tex.”
Billboard, Sept. 6, 1952: “The Twin Drive-In, said the be the largest in the State, has been opened by Charles Weisenberg, Harold B. Wilson and John L. Fagan at Amarillo. Located on a 17-acre tract, it has a capacity of 1,008 cars.”
Billboard, Aug. 16, 1952: “A. W. (Jack) Lilly plans to open a 300-car capacity theater at Commerce, Tex., soon. It will have four program changes each week.”
Billboard, Sept. 6, 1952: “A. W. (Jack) Lilly has opened the new 330-car capacity drive-in at Commerce, Tex.”
Billboard, Aug. 30, 1952: “The Park Drive-In at Abilene, Tex., is undergoing extensive improvements, according to James Tharp, manager. Three new ramps are being installed to increase the parking space from 456 to 670 cars. New sound equipment also will be added.”
Billboard, Aug. 23, 1952: “Green Acres Drive-In Theater at Lethbridge, Alta., has been sold by Green Acres Drive-In Theater, Ltd., Calgary, to Majestic Theaters, Ltd., Lethbridge. Majestic is jointly owned by Lethbridge Theaters, Ltd., and Famous Players Canadian Corporation.”
Maybe the Rietta started with another name? Billboard, July 26, 1952: “The Tower Drive-In, the town’s first, has been opened at Henrietta, Tex., by Jim Bailey. The drive-in has a 200-car capacity.”
The only drive-in for Henrietta in the 1955 Motion Picture Almanac was the Tower, capacity 184, owner Joe Bailey. The 1956 MPA listed both the Tower, same details, and the Rietta, no details. The 1957-59 editions still listed both and added a 300-car capacity for the Rietta. The Tower dropped off in 1960.
The first drive-in to appear in the Theatre Catalog was the Rietta, capacity 316, in the 1955-56 edition.
The only drive-in near Henrietta that I could find on a 1957 topo map was the one Kenmore found, west of town. That drive-in appeared to be active in a 1953 aerial photo.
Same drive-in? Billboard, July 26, 1952: “Al Cook has announced that construction has been started on a new 600-car capacity drive in at Pecos, Tex.”
The 1953-54 Theatre Catalog listed three drive-ins for Pecos. The largest, capacity 461, was the Eagle. That drive-in and the 300-car Sunset were owned by R. I. Payne, Theatre Entrs., Inc.
Some names from Billboard, July 26, 1952: “Cedar Rapids' second drive-in theater, with a capacity of 625 cars, opened July 11. It is located between Cedar Rapids and Marion and will be known as the Twixt Town. It occupies a 14-acre tract on First Avenue E. Owned by the Twixt Town Drive-In Theater Corporation, H. N. Schrodt is president. E. M. Garbett, R. G. Faulds and Arthur Thiele, Des Moines, are the other partners.”
The Bel-Air’s owner ran a classified ad in Boxoffice in 1981 trying to sell it. “Absentee owner retired after twenty seasons. Fully equipped but screen needs rebuilding. $10,000 down with good terms.”
As of April 1964, the Bel-Air was owned by Raymond J. Marks and Martin G. Rosenfeld, operating as M & R Amusement Companies, per a Boxoffice story about their acquisition of the Skyhi and Dundale drive-ins. A July 1966 note about plans for the Wheeling Twin added Richard Rosenfield to the previous two names. By June 1978, the company spokesman was Louis Marks.
Boxoffice, April 30, 1979: “In announcing that a third screen will add to the Bel-Air activity June 8, Louis Marks of M & R Amusement Co. said, “With the good product coming along for the summer, there should be enough to support three screens in each of our properties.” M & R had some months ago had third screens added to the Twin and Double outdoor theatres.”
Boxoffice, June 9, 1980: “Owners of Chicago’s main-line hardtop theaters "were not enthusiastic about having live pigs in their theaters,” so Avco Embassy pictures staged what is believed to be the first major world premiere in a drive-in May 30, taking over the Bel-Air Drive-In to launch its release of ‘Hog Wild.’"
Boxoffice, Nov. 24, 1969: “L&M president Mrs. D. R. Berman announced that electric heaters have been installed in the company’s Bel-Air Drive-In, Joliet. She said also that the concession building and ladies' room are being enlarged.”
Boxoffice, Nov. 20, 1972: “In Oklahoma City to book product through Theatre Booking Service was Ron Turner of the Sunset Drive-In, Muskogee, and the Woodstock Drive-In, Edmond”
Boxoffice, June 14, 1976: “Edward Roupe is the new owner of the Woodstock Drive-In, Edmond. He purchased the ozoner from Jim O'Donnell and Ron Turner.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 2, 1976: “Ed Roupe, Woodstock Drive-In, Edmond, was in town (Oklahoma City) to consult with his booker, Jim O'Donnell, TBS, and visit UA’s exchange.”
Boxoffice, May 9, 1977: “James Barnet has leased the Woodstock Drive-In, Edmond, and is in the process of leasing the Hollis Drive-In in Hollis.”
Same drive-in? Billboard, Nov. 22, 1952: “The Red River Drive-In has been opened by Engelbrecht & Wolfe and Theater Enterprises at Clarksville, Tex. The drive-in has a 300-car capacity.”
Billboard, Nov. 22, 1952: “C. C. Hamm, owner, announces that a second screen has been added to the Cactus Drive-In at Vernon, Tex.”
Billboard, Nov. 22, 1952: “O. O. Cummings has sold the 500-car-capacity Don Drive-In Theater at Port Arthur, Tex., to Jefferson Amusement Company, with headquarters at Beaumont, Tex.”
Odd phrasing in Billboard, Nov. 22, 1952: “The Garden Drive-In at Hunlock Creek, Pa., has been completed by N. Cragle. Altho the owner opened the new open-airer for business, regular operations will be started with the new season next spring.”
Billboard, Nov. 1, 1952: “Kenneth McFarland Jr. and A. M. Riley are new owners-operators of Pines Drive-In, Nacogdoches, Tex. They plan a renovating program, which includes a new glass block ticket office, changable letter sign, a patio which will seat about 50 persons, new all-metal fence and resurfacing of the parking area.”
On maybe the Rietta was a second drive-in at a different location? Billboard, Oct. 25, 1952: “Claude Thorpe is schedule to open a new drive-in at Henrietta, Tex. He is conducting a contest to name the drive-in.”
Billboard, Oct. 25, 1962: “G. A. Lockwood has purchased the Riverside Drive-In at Smithville, Tex., from Joe D. Blinka. He also operates the Texas Theater there.”
Billboard, Oct. 25, 1952: “S. H. Easling has been named manager of Seymour Drive-In Theater, Wichita Falls, Tex. … A new, hard-surfaced balcony has been added and the spot’s capacity has been increased to 800 cars.”
Billboard, Sept. 27, 1952: “L. Lipscomb, manager of Jacksboro Drive-In, Fort Worth, estimated damage to the theater at between $35,000 and $50,000 as the result of a freak windstorm. The top of the screen, made of concrete blocks, was whisked away like straw. The corrugated iron fence surrounding the drive-in was found scattered over about a three-square-mile area. Some parts of the fence were found wrapped around the loud-speaker posts on the ramps. Lipscomb also reported that the walls and roof of the concession stand also were demolished.”
Billboard, Sept. 20, 1952: “Norman T. Hodge has added several improvements to his Pioneer Drive-In at Merkle, Tex.” (But the note didn’t mention what they were.)
Billboard, Sept. 13, 1952: “Bill Chester has announced the opening of the XIT Drive-In at Littlefield, Tex. The theater bears the name of a well-known cattle brand in that area.”
Billboard, Sept. 13, 1952: “L. W. Ellis, of Summerside, P. E. I., is owner-manager of the Starlite Drive-In near Summerside. Spot was started by R. Pope and Ellis.”
Adding some names, Billboard, Feb. 16, 1952: “Sun Drive-In has been opened at Comanche, Tex., by Sherman L. and Charles L. Root, James F. Kelley and George Witten.”
Billboard, Sept. 6, 1952: “Harold Flemins and Jack Arthur have purchased the 250-car capacity Sun Drive-In at Comanche, Tex.”
Billboard, Sept. 6, 1952: “The Twin Drive-In, said the be the largest in the State, has been opened by Charles Weisenberg, Harold B. Wilson and John L. Fagan at Amarillo. Located on a 17-acre tract, it has a capacity of 1,008 cars.”
Billboard, Aug. 16, 1952: “A. W. (Jack) Lilly plans to open a 300-car capacity theater at Commerce, Tex., soon. It will have four program changes each week.”
Billboard, Sept. 6, 1952: “A. W. (Jack) Lilly has opened the new 330-car capacity drive-in at Commerce, Tex.”
Billboard, Aug. 30, 1952: “The Sunset Drive-In has been opened at Earth, Tex., by E. Ted Borum. The theater has a 252-car capacity.”
Billboard, Aug. 30, 1952: “The Park Drive-In at Abilene, Tex., is undergoing extensive improvements, according to James Tharp, manager. Three new ramps are being installed to increase the parking space from 456 to 670 cars. New sound equipment also will be added.”
Billboard, Aug. 23, 1952: “Green Acres Drive-In Theater at Lethbridge, Alta., has been sold by Green Acres Drive-In Theater, Ltd., Calgary, to Majestic Theaters, Ltd., Lethbridge. Majestic is jointly owned by Lethbridge Theaters, Ltd., and Famous Players Canadian Corporation.”
Maybe the Rietta started with another name? Billboard, July 26, 1952: “The Tower Drive-In, the town’s first, has been opened at Henrietta, Tex., by Jim Bailey. The drive-in has a 200-car capacity.”
The only drive-in for Henrietta in the 1955 Motion Picture Almanac was the Tower, capacity 184, owner Joe Bailey. The 1956 MPA listed both the Tower, same details, and the Rietta, no details. The 1957-59 editions still listed both and added a 300-car capacity for the Rietta. The Tower dropped off in 1960.
The first drive-in to appear in the Theatre Catalog was the Rietta, capacity 316, in the 1955-56 edition.
The only drive-in near Henrietta that I could find on a 1957 topo map was the one Kenmore found, west of town. That drive-in appeared to be active in a 1953 aerial photo.
Same drive-in? Billboard, July 26, 1952: “Al Cook has announced that construction has been started on a new 600-car capacity drive in at Pecos, Tex.”
The 1953-54 Theatre Catalog listed three drive-ins for Pecos. The largest, capacity 461, was the Eagle. That drive-in and the 300-car Sunset were owned by R. I. Payne, Theatre Entrs., Inc.
Some names from Billboard, July 26, 1952: “Cedar Rapids' second drive-in theater, with a capacity of 625 cars, opened July 11. It is located between Cedar Rapids and Marion and will be known as the Twixt Town. It occupies a 14-acre tract on First Avenue E. Owned by the Twixt Town Drive-In Theater Corporation, H. N. Schrodt is president. E. M. Garbett, R. G. Faulds and Arthur Thiele, Des Moines, are the other partners.”