Pioneer Drive-In

240 E. Chrysler Avenue,
Blackwell, OK 74631

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Video Independent Theaters Inc.

Styles: Rustic

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Pioneer Drive-In

The Pioneer Drive-In was opened on June 2, 1950 with Susan Hayward, in “Tulsa”. It was operated by Video Independent Theaters Inc. It was taken over by an independent operator in December 1978. It was still open in 1981. It has been demolished, leaving no historical data behind.

Contributed by Seymour Cox

Recent comments (view all 9 comments)

seymourcox
seymourcox on June 1, 2009 at 10:32 am

This web site has some detail on the Pioneer Drive-In -
View link

raybradley
raybradley on July 23, 2010 at 11:38 am

This link leads directly to modern photos and a history of the old Pioneer Drive-In,
http://www.roadsideoklahoma.com/node/28

jwmovies
jwmovies on November 9, 2012 at 10:00 pm

Approx. address for this drive-in was 200 East Chrysler Avenue.

GNL_Collectibles
GNL_Collectibles on October 24, 2016 at 11:03 am

I came across some old ticket stubs from this theater, while restoring a set of Reed Speakers labled “Video Theaters”. So it appears that it was once called Video Theater. I have a couple pictures I can share. Thx

Kenmore
Kenmore on October 24, 2016 at 4:51 pm

A more accurate address (at least for Google) is 240 East Chrysler Avenue, Blackwell, OK 74631, which is dead center of the property.

Today, it is an empty field, but you can still see the outline, ramps, and remnants of the entrance/exit roads. http://tinyurl.com/hzgquyf

MichaelKilgore
MichaelKilgore on July 18, 2021 at 3:18 pm

Boxoffice, Dec. 18, 1978: “William B. Boren, son of Bill Boren, will take over the operation of the newly purchased Blackwell’s Video Theatre and the Pioneer Drive-In. Both situations were bought from Video Independent Theatres.”

Kenmore
Kenmore on June 13, 2022 at 6:17 am

A 1981 aerial shows the drive-in intact and perhaps operational. By 1995 the screen had come down.

Today, it is an open field. Even the foundations of the screen and projector booth/concession stand are no longer visible. But the general outline and remnants of the entrance/exit road remains.

Kenmore
Kenmore on July 21, 2024 at 12:11 pm

The property is now owned by the city and is a dump for rocks and dirt. There is no trace of the drive-in remaining save for the entrance/exit road.

50sSNIPES
50sSNIPES on October 17, 2024 at 4:35 pm

The Pioneer Drive-In opened its gates on June 2, 1950 with Susan Hayward in “Tulsa” along with an unnamed cartoon and the half-hour intermission track “Twilight Serenade”.

  • Exactly ten days later on the evening of June 12, 1950, Harry Millard, one of the employees at the Pioneer, was changing lettering on the show’s marquee when he lost his footing around the marquee and slipped. He fell several feet to the ground, suffering a broken wrist, bruises, and a slight concussion. Millard replied that the show’s title was fairly long and he was concentrating on getting all the lettering in place when he slipped and fell to the ground.

It was still open in 1981.

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