Soldier Creek Drive-In
1621 S. Douglas Boulevard,
Midwest City,
OK
73130
1621 S. Douglas Boulevard,
Midwest City,
OK
73130
1 person
favorited this theater
Showing 10 comments
From the thread about the NE 66 drive in theatres…
This is WHAT HAPPENED TO THE BARTON DRIVE-IN THEATRES:
“MichealKilgore asks about the relationship of the Thomases and R.L. Barton. . they were related, but the Thomas family BUILT and sold the 66 to the Barton’s in the period where R.L. Barton was acquiring all the drive-in theatres in the greater OKC area.
And save for Charlie Shadid’s efforts at the Hillcrest and Cinema 70, as well as Roy Stanton (owner of Springlake park) / George Grube’s efforts with the 14 flags in the late 60’s he would have.
But then, R.L. Barton sold/leased all of his theatre interests in 1966 to Greater Oklahoma City Amusement (headed by Lewis Ingram). After R.L. Bartons death in 75 the properties went to his eldest son, Gerald (who had recently bought into the United Founders life insurance company).
All the drive-in properties were mortagaged to the hilt, and sold to United Founders Life company. Gerald Barton was investigated by the state, and moved to California.
So ENDED all of the Barton Drive in theatres:
-The Airline
-The Bomber/Soldier Creek (Midwest City)
-The Circle (Bethany)
-The Del (Del city)
-The Lakeside DI (OKC)
-The North Penn Twin
-The NW Hiway DI (OKC)
-The Sooner Twin (Midwest City)
-The 66 Drive-in (The old N.E. 66 THIS THEATRE)
-The 77 Drive-in
-The old Tinker DI property (Midwest City)
The only theatre to survive into the 70’s was the Sooner Twin and 77. The Sooner Twin survived into the early 80’s while the 77 showed porn until about ‘74 and closed for good. All the others were closed."
-Wesely Horton
Razed by the late-1970s, and a convience store was built on the site in 1988.
This was actually renamed the Soldier Creek Drive-In on July 29, 1964. Prior to that theater’s renaming, the screen was moved from the north end to the south end of the lot early that same year because of many reports of vehicle accidents caused by people driving down Douglas Boulevard and watching the movie at the same time.
The drive-in was still called the Bomber in a December 1962 Daily Oklahoman article. OTOH, I found it listed in an ad in July 1966 as the Soldier Creek, and it was included in a merger with Gulf States in June 1968, so I’m not sure how long it stayed open.
This opened as the Bomber Drive-In on May 23rd, 1952. Grand opening ad in the photo section for this theatre.
Drive-in 54,
Just wanted to let you know, your picture is actually of the “BOMBER” drive in. Same location, but the Barton Family rebuilt it with a different orientation and larger capacity in the early 60’s, renaming it the Soldier creek Drive-in.
Here is a aerial view
Thanks, Hi!
Check this out
Approx. address for this drive-in was 1621 South Douglas Boulevard.