The marquee shown here used to be out closer to the road, Rt 25 i front of the theatre. It was moved back closer to the screen tower as shown here with the widening of Rt 25.
The marquee shown here used to be out closer to the road, Rt 25 i front of the theatre. It was moved back closer to the screen tower as shown here with the widening of Rt 25.
I used to deliver concession supplies to the Plymouth Drive in in the 60’s after delivering to Armstrongs Springmill Drive In In Mansfield, and in doing so met and befriended Ed Ramsey. You would not want to meet a nicer guy and he would offer sandwiches to me when delivering. I worked for Jack Armstrong owner of Armstrong Circuit (Theater company) of Bowling Green Ohio and he supplied the concession supplies to Ed and booked films for him and other theaters around Ohio and Michigan. The Plymouth DI was very nice top notch theater with the entire lot Black topped.
I managed the State Theater and Starlite Drive in at the corner of 224 and Rt 23 across from Flo’s Truck Stop for Jack Armstrong owner of Armstrong Circuit Inc, in the early 70’s after being assistant manager of his Portage Drive In Theater for many years. Jack operated theaters all over Northwest Ohio, Toledo, Findlay, Defiance, etal. and Southern Michigan. Later becoming Company supervisor, I enjoyed working with Ed Hushhour of the Review Times on ads for both State and Starlite. I had great employees at both theaters and they made my job much easier. Earl Sharninghouse, Fostoria, Ohio 2021 email:
Additionally to my above comment, Jack Armstrong operated Parkside, Starlite, Telegraph, Jesse James, Eastside drive Ins from the early 60’s as well as Princess, Esquire, Valentine, Maumee indoor as well as a few other theaters in the area. Parkside and Telegraph were “PT Theaters Inc” DBA “Armstrong Circuit Inc.” I used to deliver concession supplies to all our theaters along with Bill Herring who was General Manager of Concessions for Armstrong Circuit.
To MichiganDriveins.com The Starlite Drive in Marquee was moved to the Parkside (Sundance Kid Drive In) When the Starlite was closed and torn Down. Ed Searles who owned both drive ins had it moved to his Parkside Drive In and had the “Star and Lite” changed to “Park and Side”. Parkside originally had a smaller marquee located on the bottom front of the screen in front and we continued using that for coming attractions etc. for years until it was taken down later on. Also Mike Kilgore, the capacity of the drive in was 840 plus not 500 as listed in your facts book. I was company supervisor for Armstrong Theaters and managed Parkside when we added the second screen. I have pictures somewhere of the second screen and the truck body used for back projection booth before it was installed in back of theater, plus pictures of the marquee when we had Mr No Leggs (Ted Volrath) appearing in person for his movie. Stupidly I have photos of him chopping a potato off my neck with a sword…LOL
Jack Armstrong operated the Esquire Theater across the street from the Princess also. Rose Larose (Burlesque) took over the Esquire sometime around 1967 or 68.
Jack Armstrong Owner of Armstrong Circuit, sold candy and concession supplies to Rose. My fellow employee and myself would deliver the supplies to her operation and Rose would offer to let us go in and observe a live show free, which we only took her up on once.
Armstrong operated Jesse James Drive In, Starlite Drive in, Telegraph, East Side and Parkside (Now Sundance Kid) Drive Ins. Also, Maumee indoor, Valentine and others. I personally managed the Parkside and twined it adding the second screen. The late Ed Searles actual owner of Starlite and Parkside, was a good friend. Dan Searles, brother of Ed owned the Telegraph Drive In. When Mr Searles closed Starlite to build Starlite Plaza, he transferred the Marquee over to the Parkside and had it rewired and fit with the letters Parkside. It had a star burst at the top of the Marquee and like many marquees of the day, it was a magnificent piece of work.
Later on I became company supervisor of Armstrong Circuit and when the owner Carolyn Hatch,(daughter of the late Jack Armstrong) closed the company she offered me the Portage Drive in Theater in Bowling Green, Ohio for $39,000 since Portage had been both her and My Alma Matter. But owning a restaurant at the time I was strapped for cash and had to turn down the offer, a decision I could kick myself a thousand times for making.
I being a supervisor for Armstrong Circuit theaters in later years, remember the Sound of music played at the Princess for, something like over a year or more. I remember delivering candy to the theater for Jack Armstrong during matinees seemed like forever that picture played…LOL
I worked for Armstrong Circuit at Portage Drive In. I later became Supervisor for the company. I had the chance to buy The Portage Drive in for $39,000.00 when Carolyn Hatch threw the company into bankruptcy. She offered it to me, however my wife and I owned a restaurant at the time and were strapped for cash and I was also working as a Disc Jockey in Toledo, all while working for Armstrong Circuit. I could have kicked myself hundreds of times for not having the money to buy it….LOL.
Carl Schwynn built the Portage Drive in with the help of Otto Johnston who had been crippled with a leg injury in Carl’s oil fields in Cygnet. Otto would manage the theater until his death in 1965. I had worked for Otto and his wife Gladys at the theater. Jack Armstrong and his wife Dorothy and daughter Carolyn would work at the theater also in the early 60’s even as they were owners.
Jack Armstrong was General Manager for Carl Schwynn theaters and would later buy Carl out.Jack had started in Napoleon Ohio as a projectionist, using the old Nitrate film. Jack Told me once a film had got caught in the gate of the projector and went up in flames. He acted quickly grabbing the reel and throwing it out the window of the projection booth before it caused any real damage. But he said that film was very volatile, and that was why safety film is used today. He would become manager and later own the Napoleon theaters.
Carl Schwynn and Jack Armstrong both admired Otto Johnston and respected him and his expertise. I remember once a manager from one of Jacks out of town theaters told Mr. Armstrong that Otto had misspelled a word on his Marquee. Jack blew up and said I DON’T CARE IF OTTO SPELLS EVERY WORD WRONG ON HIS MARQUEE, HE CAN DO WHATEVER HE WANTS. And that was that…LOL
Frank Nickens managed the Cla-Zel theater in Bowling Green and was also a writer for the Sentinel-Tribune newspaper in BG. Frank did a cartoon called “OTTO SEZ”
in honor of Otto Johnston and it appeared in the Tribune everyday offering little witticisms. A typical print might say something like, “OTTO SEZ IF YOU EAT THE HORSE YOU’LL BE AS BIG AS THE HORSE” Of course I made that up, Franks were more witty… :–)
I told Mr. Armstrong once after Otto’s death that he should change the name of the Portage Drive IN to the OTTO JOHNSTON DRIVE IN THEATER. Jack responded with that was a good idea, however he had thought of just changing the name from PORTAGE DRIVE IN THEATRE TO THE PORTAGE DRIVE IN OTTO THEATRE. However neither of names were ever implemented obviously.
The Portage drive In had country artists perform on top of the concession stand in the 50’s. Such stars as Little Jimmie Dickins, The Browns etc. I had signed checks that were endorsed by the Artists, when we cleaned out the storeroom of the Drive In. I lost those to a fire however later on.
The company’s warehouse was located at the South end of the Drive In and still stands today. All the popcorn, candy and syrup for the Coke machines were stored and delivered to all the Armstrong theaters and even other companies that bought from Jack Armstrong’s company.
I delivered to all those theaters while being assistant manager of the Drive in and warehouse, working with the late Bill Herring, my boss who was General Manager of Concessions and Supervisor for the company. Bill was a workhorse, and I admired him greatly. As I said, later on I also became supervisor of the company replacing Bob Tilton who developed Diabetes and went blind.
Portage Drive In was sister or brother to the Cla-Zel and Stadium Cinema’s in Bowling Green.
What is left of the Armstrong Circuit is owned and operated today by Jim Walters who owns Great Eastern Theaters of Toledo. Jim is a native of North Baltimore Ohio and son of Ernie Walters, an old friend of mine also, who was partners with Jack Armstrong and owned the Virginia Theater in North Baltimore.
The marquee shown here used to be out closer to the road, Rt 25 i front of the theatre. It was moved back closer to the screen tower as shown here with the widening of Rt 25.
The marquee shown here used to be out closer to the road, Rt 25 i front of the theatre. It was moved back closer to the screen tower as shown here with the widening of Rt 25.
I used to deliver concession supplies to the Plymouth Drive in in the 60’s after delivering to Armstrongs Springmill Drive In In Mansfield, and in doing so met and befriended Ed Ramsey. You would not want to meet a nicer guy and he would offer sandwiches to me when delivering. I worked for Jack Armstrong owner of Armstrong Circuit (Theater company) of Bowling Green Ohio and he supplied the concession supplies to Ed and booked films for him and other theaters around Ohio and Michigan. The Plymouth DI was very nice top notch theater with the entire lot Black topped.
I managed the State Theater and Starlite Drive in at the corner of 224 and Rt 23 across from Flo’s Truck Stop for Jack Armstrong owner of Armstrong Circuit Inc, in the early 70’s after being assistant manager of his Portage Drive In Theater for many years. Jack operated theaters all over Northwest Ohio, Toledo, Findlay, Defiance, etal. and Southern Michigan. Later becoming Company supervisor, I enjoyed working with Ed Hushhour of the Review Times on ads for both State and Starlite. I had great employees at both theaters and they made my job much easier. Earl Sharninghouse, Fostoria, Ohio 2021 email:
Additionally to my above comment, Jack Armstrong operated Parkside, Starlite, Telegraph, Jesse James, Eastside drive Ins from the early 60’s as well as Princess, Esquire, Valentine, Maumee indoor as well as a few other theaters in the area. Parkside and Telegraph were “PT Theaters Inc” DBA “Armstrong Circuit Inc.” I used to deliver concession supplies to all our theaters along with Bill Herring who was General Manager of Concessions for Armstrong Circuit.
To MichiganDriveins.com The Starlite Drive in Marquee was moved to the Parkside (Sundance Kid Drive In) When the Starlite was closed and torn Down. Ed Searles who owned both drive ins had it moved to his Parkside Drive In and had the “Star and Lite” changed to “Park and Side”. Parkside originally had a smaller marquee located on the bottom front of the screen in front and we continued using that for coming attractions etc. for years until it was taken down later on. Also Mike Kilgore, the capacity of the drive in was 840 plus not 500 as listed in your facts book. I was company supervisor for Armstrong Theaters and managed Parkside when we added the second screen. I have pictures somewhere of the second screen and the truck body used for back projection booth before it was installed in back of theater, plus pictures of the marquee when we had Mr No Leggs (Ted Volrath) appearing in person for his movie. Stupidly I have photos of him chopping a potato off my neck with a sword…LOL
Jack Armstrong operated the Esquire Theater across the street from the Princess also. Rose Larose (Burlesque) took over the Esquire sometime around 1967 or 68.
Jack Armstrong Owner of Armstrong Circuit, sold candy and concession supplies to Rose. My fellow employee and myself would deliver the supplies to her operation and Rose would offer to let us go in and observe a live show free, which we only took her up on once.
Armstrong operated Jesse James Drive In, Starlite Drive in, Telegraph, East Side and Parkside (Now Sundance Kid) Drive Ins. Also, Maumee indoor, Valentine and others. I personally managed the Parkside and twined it adding the second screen. The late Ed Searles actual owner of Starlite and Parkside, was a good friend. Dan Searles, brother of Ed owned the Telegraph Drive In. When Mr Searles closed Starlite to build Starlite Plaza, he transferred the Marquee over to the Parkside and had it rewired and fit with the letters Parkside. It had a star burst at the top of the Marquee and like many marquees of the day, it was a magnificent piece of work.
Later on I became company supervisor of Armstrong Circuit and when the owner Carolyn Hatch,(daughter of the late Jack Armstrong) closed the company she offered me the Portage Drive in Theater in Bowling Green, Ohio for $39,000 since Portage had been both her and My Alma Matter. But owning a restaurant at the time I was strapped for cash and had to turn down the offer, a decision I could kick myself a thousand times for making.
I being a supervisor for Armstrong Circuit theaters in later years, remember the Sound of music played at the Princess for, something like over a year or more. I remember delivering candy to the theater for Jack Armstrong during matinees seemed like forever that picture played…LOL
I worked for Armstrong Circuit at Portage Drive In. I later became Supervisor for the company. I had the chance to buy The Portage Drive in for $39,000.00 when Carolyn Hatch threw the company into bankruptcy. She offered it to me, however my wife and I owned a restaurant at the time and were strapped for cash and I was also working as a Disc Jockey in Toledo, all while working for Armstrong Circuit. I could have kicked myself hundreds of times for not having the money to buy it….LOL.
Carl Schwynn built the Portage Drive in with the help of Otto Johnston who had been crippled with a leg injury in Carl’s oil fields in Cygnet. Otto would manage the theater until his death in 1965. I had worked for Otto and his wife Gladys at the theater. Jack Armstrong and his wife Dorothy and daughter Carolyn would work at the theater also in the early 60’s even as they were owners.
Jack Armstrong was General Manager for Carl Schwynn theaters and would later buy Carl out.Jack had started in Napoleon Ohio as a projectionist, using the old Nitrate film. Jack Told me once a film had got caught in the gate of the projector and went up in flames. He acted quickly grabbing the reel and throwing it out the window of the projection booth before it caused any real damage. But he said that film was very volatile, and that was why safety film is used today. He would become manager and later own the Napoleon theaters.
Carl Schwynn and Jack Armstrong both admired Otto Johnston and respected him and his expertise. I remember once a manager from one of Jacks out of town theaters told Mr. Armstrong that Otto had misspelled a word on his Marquee. Jack blew up and said I DON’T CARE IF OTTO SPELLS EVERY WORD WRONG ON HIS MARQUEE, HE CAN DO WHATEVER HE WANTS. And that was that…LOL
Frank Nickens managed the Cla-Zel theater in Bowling Green and was also a writer for the Sentinel-Tribune newspaper in BG. Frank did a cartoon called “OTTO SEZ” in honor of Otto Johnston and it appeared in the Tribune everyday offering little witticisms. A typical print might say something like, “OTTO SEZ IF YOU EAT THE HORSE YOU’LL BE AS BIG AS THE HORSE” Of course I made that up, Franks were more witty… :–)
I told Mr. Armstrong once after Otto’s death that he should change the name of the Portage Drive IN to the OTTO JOHNSTON DRIVE IN THEATER. Jack responded with that was a good idea, however he had thought of just changing the name from PORTAGE DRIVE IN THEATRE TO THE PORTAGE DRIVE IN OTTO THEATRE. However neither of names were ever implemented obviously.
The Portage drive In had country artists perform on top of the concession stand in the 50’s. Such stars as Little Jimmie Dickins, The Browns etc. I had signed checks that were endorsed by the Artists, when we cleaned out the storeroom of the Drive In. I lost those to a fire however later on.
The company’s warehouse was located at the South end of the Drive In and still stands today. All the popcorn, candy and syrup for the Coke machines were stored and delivered to all the Armstrong theaters and even other companies that bought from Jack Armstrong’s company.
I delivered to all those theaters while being assistant manager of the Drive in and warehouse, working with the late Bill Herring, my boss who was General Manager of Concessions and Supervisor for the company. Bill was a workhorse, and I admired him greatly. As I said, later on I also became supervisor of the company replacing Bob Tilton who developed Diabetes and went blind.
Portage Drive In was sister or brother to the Cla-Zel and Stadium Cinema’s in Bowling Green.
What is left of the Armstrong Circuit is owned and operated today by Jim Walters who owns Great Eastern Theaters of Toledo. Jim is a native of North Baltimore Ohio and son of Ernie Walters, an old friend of mine also, who was partners with Jack Armstrong and owned the Virginia Theater in North Baltimore.
Earl Sharninghouse
Findlay, Ohio