69 Drive-In
Old Highway 69 and E. 1090 Road,
Checotah,
OK
74426
Old Highway 69 and E. 1090 Road,
Checotah,
OK
74426
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Looks like the state has taken over the property, it contains numerous concrete street barriers. The ramps have been wiped out, so only the foundation of the projection booth/concession stand remains.
Only remains are parch marks of the outline and some ramps. There is a pile of dirt and concrete where the concession stand once stood. The foundation supports for the screen may still be present, but cannot be confirmed with current Google aerial and street views.
Opened on 23rd September 1950 with “Black gold”.
Closed in the mid-to-late 1990s.
A closer address is E 1090 Rd & Old Hwy 69, Checotah, OK. The address currently listed has E 1900 which is not correct.
Okmulgee Daily News, July 26, 1950: “Construction work on a drive-in theater to be erected one mile south of Checotah on the Harvey Griffin farm will start within the next two or three weeks, it has been announced. J. P. Jones and Jack LeMasters of the Cozy theater, Dick Crumpler of the Gentry theater and Harvy Griffin will be the owners of the new enterprise … The theater will be operated under the name of "66 (sic) Drive-In theater.” A playground for children to be located inside the theater will be a novel feature of the new movie house."
this one has long since been demolished! please update!
Dick Crumpler, J.P. Jones, and Harvey Griffith launched the 69 Drive-In on September 28, 1950 with Anthony Quinn in “Black Gold.” It was McIntosh County’s first o-zoner. The second iteration of the 69 Drive-In closed with the Nov. 1, 1974 showing of Michael Caine in “Sleuth.”
The 69 Drive-In Opened On September 23rd, 1950. In July 1960, The Theater Is Destroyed By Severe Storms But Was Later Rebuilt And Reopened. It Is Still In Operation Since 1966.
Poor Dick Crumpler. “A tornado in eastern Oklahoma demolished Dick Crumpler’s 69 Drive-In, Checotah. Dick also operates the downtown Gentry and is serving as city manager of Checotah. We have not learned whether he will be able to reopen the 69 Drive-In this season.” — Boxoffic, Aug. 8, 1960
“Busy as a cranberry merchant was Dick Crumpler at Checotah. He operates the Gentry there as was getting ready to reopen his 69 Drive-In. Several weeks ago during a high wind, his screen tower was blown back to about a 45-degree angle. He is busy getting it back in shape and has repainted the tower and the surrounding fence, as well as the concession stand in a bright pink.” — Boxoffice, April 18, 1960
Correction: The cross streets are Hwy 69B and e 1900 Rd. per Google Maps.
Please update.
The 69 has been demolished.
According to Google Maps, approx. location is now Old Highway 69 & E 1090 Rd in Texanna.
Uploaded Goggle 1995
As stated above, the 69 Drive-In has long been closed and demolished. It is now an empty field.
O.K. Mike.
THe 69 Drive in was owned by J.P. Jones in 1956.
This theater has been closed for a long time and can now be classified as demolished.
I have been informed that during planning stages of this theatre the name Honey Springs Drive-In was seriously contemplated.
Local legend claims that originally this drive-in theatre was planned to be placed atop Tiger Mountain, midway between Checotah and Henryetta. It was believed this choice location would benefit investors by attracting movie goers from both towns.
Excavation of the property commenced with the addition of a paved road that encircled the future theatre grounds, but before any structures were ever built, it was discovered that enormous swarms of lightning bugs invaded Tiger Mountain during Spring and Summer. Though fire flies are harmless to humans, and they do not fly far off the ground, their vast numbers of twinkling glow would have certainly interfered with outdoor movie watching. So, the original site was abandoned and the present day site of the 69 Drive-In was chosen instead.
During the early 1960’s the State of Oklahoma paid top dollar to acquire the original drive-in lot in order to install a rest area along I-40. Today the original drive-in theatre road is still used, and one can journey up to the North rest area on Tiger Mountain and still see the distinct outline of a drive-in theatre plan.