Drive-In East
2812 E. Broadway Street,
Altus,
OK
73521
2812 E. Broadway Street,
Altus,
OK
73521
2 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Video Independent Theaters Inc.
Previous Names: Altus Drive-In
Nearby Theaters
Located to the east of town. The Altus Drive-In was opened April 22, 1949 with Yvonne DeCarlo in “River Lady”. By 1955 it was operated by Video Independent Theaters inc. Later renamed Drive-In East. It was a nice looking operation with indirect lighted block letters spelling out the name ‘Drive-In East’. The screen tower was an early example of high tech construction. The concession also carried high tech styling. After closing this property was well maintained in hopes of reopening one day. But that never happened.
Contributed by
Cactus Jack
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Recent comments (view all 4 comments)
Yesterday I phoned a NYC acquaintance who had been stationed at Altus Air Force Base during the late 1970’s. She considered the town of Altus an isolated bore, but also remembered the Drive-In-East as a fine example of High Tech design.
She thought probably this theatre dated back to the 1940’s, and had been way ahead of its time in its High Tech styling. Construction of screen tower, boxoffice, concession stand, and fencing consisted of cubes (made of slim pipe) by which sheet metal was hung to form structure.
She also stated that it was somewhat surreal to look at this drive-in because by that time RKO had given up maintenance of their property, and those stylistic drive-in pavilions were fast becoming run down, overgrown with weeds, at just the time when High Tech design was fast becoming all the rage in popularity.
Link with photos of former Drive-In East Theatre -
View link
The address would’ve been around 2632 E. Broadway.
This opened on April 22nd, 1949.