Comments about Pioneer Drive-In in Blackwell, OK

50sSNIPES on October 18, 2024 at 12:35 am

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.

Kenmore on July 21, 2024 at 8:11 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.

Kenmore on June 13, 2022 at 2:17 pm

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.

MichaelKilgore on July 18, 2021 at 11:18 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 on October 25, 2016 at 12:51 am

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

GNL_Collectibles on October 24, 2016 at 7:03 pm

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

jwmovies on November 10, 2012 at 6:00 am

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

raybradley on July 23, 2010 at 7:38 pm

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

seymourcox on June 1, 2009 at 6:32 pm

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

Pioneer Drive-In

240 E. Chrysler Avenue, Blackwell, OK 74631

240 E. Chrysler Avenue,
Blackwell, OK 74631