Actually, the drive-in opened BEFORE 1955. The original owners were William and Mildred Cole. They had 5 children, who all worked at the theatre and at the two A&W root beer resturants owned by the Cole’s. One of the resturants was located next to the Theatre. Cole’s Theatre was the “local Hang-out” of Loudon and had a Saturday night Bingo game that was a real “drawing card” and loved by all in Loudon. One year, for the 4th of July, the grand prize for Bingo was a car. It was a “packed house”. Popcorn was 10 cents. Try getting that at your local movies. AND….the people in the concession stand could add up your order in their heads…without a calculator and without a pencil and a piece of paper or a digital adding machine. Just my using their brain. Now THAT was the day. Hot dogs were 25 cents. You could bring your kids in their p.j.s and lay on the hood of your car, under the stars and watch the “show”. Or hey, you could spread a blanket on the ground and bring a pic-nic and enjoy supper with your family. There were beautiful fireworks on the 4th of July. It was the best place in the world…it was all we had….and all we knew.
Actually, the drive-in opened BEFORE 1955. The original owners were William and Mildred Cole. They had 5 children, who all worked at the theatre and at the two A&W root beer resturants owned by the Cole’s. One of the resturants was located next to the Theatre. Cole’s Theatre was the “local Hang-out” of Loudon and had a Saturday night Bingo game that was a real “drawing card” and loved by all in Loudon. One year, for the 4th of July, the grand prize for Bingo was a car. It was a “packed house”. Popcorn was 10 cents. Try getting that at your local movies. AND….the people in the concession stand could add up your order in their heads…without a calculator and without a pencil and a piece of paper or a digital adding machine. Just my using their brain. Now THAT was the day. Hot dogs were 25 cents. You could bring your kids in their p.j.s and lay on the hood of your car, under the stars and watch the “show”. Or hey, you could spread a blanket on the ground and bring a pic-nic and enjoy supper with your family. There were beautiful fireworks on the 4th of July. It was the best place in the world…it was all we had….and all we knew.