Verne Drive-In
1607 1/2 S. Kniss Avenue,
Luverne,
MN
56156
1607 1/2 S. Kniss Avenue,
Luverne,
MN
56156
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The Verne Drive-In actually opened on June 19, 1953. Indeed, K.C. Sergant of Clarkfield was the one who first operated the Verne.
A great 2014 Pioneer Public Broadcasting video fills in a few more gaps. (And has some lovely old photos, you should go watch it.)
Ken Sargent built the Verne. Walter Deutsch bought the place in 1966 and built a house next to the ticket booth. Deutsch sold the Verne in 1983, but he still sells tickets on movie nights “when they need help” since he lives next door.
(Maybe I didn’t hear that sale date right, since the City of Luverne site claims Deutsch operated the Verne until 1988.)
Glenn Burmeister bought the Verne in 2000. (Luverne said the drive-in “reopened” that date.) He built new ticket and concession buildings and probably was the one to remove the old speaker poles.
Not sure about Mike Rogers' source, but the 1955-56 Theatre Catalog shows the Verne, capacity 300, under K. C. Sargent.
1963 IMPA showed “Owner or Booker” as K. C. Sargent, who wasn’t listed anywhere else in MN.
Gotta love the IMPA typos. The 1959-76 editions called it “Vern”, (no E) capacity 300. 1982 IMPA called it the “Berne”, capacity 265. Finally got it right by 1984. The 1982-88 versions showed Circuit/Owner: W. Deutsch
The 1988 IMPA, the last with a drive-in list, still included the Verne.
The Verne Drive-In initially opened in 1954. Car Capacity is 265 Cars. Was closed for a while and reopened in 2000. It is owned by Mr. G. Burmeister. the drive-in has made the conversion to digital projection.
It was owned by J.M. Rohr in 1956. He had Drive-ins in Cross Lakes and Hackensack Minnesota.