Tower Drive-In
2214 N. Broadway,
Poteau,
OK
74953
2214 N. Broadway,
Poteau,
OK
74953
2 people
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For its first couple of decades of operation, both the drive-in and the screen tower were located right next to North Broadway Street. It wasn’t until the late-1970s when both the drive-in and the screen were relocated several feet behind from its original location when the triplex Poteau Theatre was built on its original site.
O.K. Kemp opened the Tower Drive-In on June 10, 1950 with John Wayne in “The Fighting Kentuckian” along with an unnamed cartoon and an unknown amount of unnamed shorts, chosen by Ray Hughes who traveled to Oklahoma City for selection. The theater originally had a playground in front of the screen, and its original capacity sits 250 cars.
The June 10, 1950 issue of BoxOffice included the Tower “250 cars, owned by Ray Hughes, O. K. and W. O. Kemp” in a list of drive-ins scheduled to open later that month.
Nothing in the 1948-49 Theatre Catalog, but the Y is listed in the 1949-50 Catalog, Exec: M. A. Harris, M9-C300-D7. (In the 1952 Catalog, the Tower is listed as C208, but no Y.)
Both theaters are listed in the 1959 IMPA, the Y still with M.A. Harris but with capacity 200. Ditto 1963 IMPA. Both are also listed in the 1964 Film Daily Year Book. The 1969 IMPA lists only the Tower.
To Lauren Durbin, I just noticed your question about the “Y” drive-in of Poteau. I can assure you that, yes there was a “Y” drive-in, It opened in 1949. If I knew how to get in touch with you, I could share the information.
Wesley Horton
Their website gives this address: 2214 N. Broadway, Poteau, OK 74953 with the telephone number 918-647-3606. This address maps right to the drive-in.
From the AIDA database:
POTEAU (Le Flore County)
Tower Drive-in Theatre
Found ad in July 1952
Location given as 1 Mile North
Location: N 35° 4.50',W 94° 37.66'
Satellite photo shows little remains
1955 Theatre Catalog lists Ray Hughes an O.K. Kemp as Exec C300
1965 IMPA lists Hughes & Kemp as owners
1965 IMPA lists Capacity as 208
1984 IMPA lists P. Zearley as owner
Wesley Horton AIDA
The Drive Ins' website shows them to be closed for the season. They are to re-open this coming Spring…
View link ..
RAC Photography
We can thank roadsideok for these nice pictures,
View link
On a recent trip to Poteau I stopped at the library and looked for information on this theater. I couldn’t find any information. Long-time locals told me that there was only one drive-in theater in town – the Tower.
The name leads me to believe that if this existed, it was probably at or near one of the highway splits that resemble a “Y.” Either the 59/112 split on the north side of town or the 59/271 split on the south side of town. Of course this is just speculation as I was unable to find any evidence.
There was also “Y” Drive-In in Poteau in the early sixties. I’m not sure if the name is supposed to be a rhetorical question.