Hill Top Drive-In
28900 Dewey Bartlett Road,
Henryetta,
OK
74437
28900 Dewey Bartlett Road,
Henryetta,
OK
74437
1 person
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Griffith Amusement Company, Video Independent Theaters Inc.
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The Hill Top Drive-In was opened by the Griffith Amusement Company on June 8, 1949 with Yvonne DeCarlo in River Lady". Pretty pastel colors disguised the fact that the Hill Top Drive-In was a typical "cookie cutter" drive-in theatre: screen tower, boxoffice, concession stand, and confining fences were all constructed of cheap, corrugated zinc metal. After dark dramatic lighting effects also helped dress up the facility.
The Hill Top Drive-In was operated by (RKO subsidiary) Video Independent Theaters Inc. It was destroyed by fire in August 1968.
Contributed by
Cactus Jack
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Recent comments (view all 7 comments)
During Spring & Summer Eastern Oklahoma has an abundance of lightning bugs. I commented (on another drive-in) just how lovely this must have been after nightfall. Serveral persons have informed that in this region of Oklahoma theatre operators resented these fire flies because their flashing glow was so thick it often caused a distraction for outdoor movie viewing.
Here is an aerial view of the Drive-In from 1959. http://tinyurl.com/mpqkzrm
Based on that, here is a Google Photo of the current location. http://tinyurl.com/lym33sz
My mistake! A more accurate address for this theater is 28900 Dewey Bartlett Rd, Henryetta, OK 74437. This points directly to the drive in itself. Next to Hillcrest Hospital, the concession stand foundation is still on the lot.
Please update.
Same drive-in? A 1972 aerial photo showed the same site as intact, so maybe?
Boxoffice, Sept. 16, 1974: “In to buy and book at Oklahoma City film exchanges were … Mr. and Mrs. Eddie Kelly, Mini-Car Drive-In, Henryetta, who also have the Kelly’s Monuments business in the same Oklahoma community”
Boxoffice, Oct. 28, 1974: “Georgia Kelly advised that they are closing the Henryetta Mini-Car Drive-In the last of the month.” (for the season?)
MichaelKilgore - You might want to look at the 1972 aerial photo again. The very large screen present in the 1959 photo is clearly gone.
The concession stand/projector booth still seems to be intact in a 1980 aerial photo, but is gone by 1995.
This venue was the Hill Top Drive-In Theatre. It launched June 8, 1949 for Griffith Amusement Circuit with “River Lady” starring Yvonne DeCarlo. In December of 1949, Video Independent took over the Griffith Circuit.
Also opened with two unnamed cartoons and the half-hour intermission track “The Twilight Serenade".