81 Drive-In
7320 N. 2820 Road,
Duncan,
OK
73533
7320 N. 2820 Road,
Duncan,
OK
73533
2 people
favorited this theater
Located on Route 81 between Comanche & Duncan. The 81 Drive-In was opened by George M. Jennings on November 1, 1952 with John Payne in “Passage West” & Mona Freeman in “Dear Brat”. Though closed for a long while, a little elbow grease could have the old 81 Drive-In ready for business in no time. This theatre was small, with a somewhat small screen, but obviously it served as a pleasant setting in which one could watch a double feature under the stars. It was still open in 1961. It was destroyed by a tornado in February 1975.
Contributed by
Jeff Chapman
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Recent comments (view all 10 comments)
Picture’s all wrong. The theater is located between Duncan and Comanche….. Fixed it. :D
Good old carbon arc,good old 35mm ,progress stinks,great picture,and I MEAN IT.
GREAT pics. Love it.
Some of the best photos I’ve seen on here!
Boxoffice, March 10, 1975: (Oklahoma City notes) “The 81 Drive-In in Comanche was practically leveled by a tornado last month”
Boxoffice, Oct. 23, 1961: “George M. Jennings recently won a district court judgment for $9,015 against the D-X Sunray Oil Co. for loss of business suffered by Jennings' 81 Drive-In south of Duncan from Dec. 15, 1958, through May 1, 1961, during which time the DX refinery near the airer neglected to replace a stack muffler. The resulting loud noise discouraged patronage at the drive-in, Jennings alleged.”
It was the screen tower that was leveled, and it was replaced. Last I saw, it was still in good condition. Yes, Grandad not only took Sunray to court, but if they got loud, he would call over there and ask them if they wanted to go another round, LOL.
A closer address is 7320 N 2820 Rd, Duncan, Oklahoma.
That address puts it right at the entrance.
As of October 2021, the screen and concession stand/projector booth (minus the roof) are still standing. The marquee was torn down sometime after 2013.
There is some type of smaller structure south of the entrance that looks like a big dumpster. However, it appears in a 1960 aerial and continues to occupy that spot to the present day.
https://tinyurl.com/2tcrp2a2
Well someone has done some mowing and painting of the screen tower. I believe they signed off as Jason Brown, but I am not onsite and was only told about it. Whoever it was has left me with a really good feeling for the kindness. You see my grandparents who built and operated the place, well their home healthcare aids stole so many things, so many sentimental things, precious memories, that I carry a terrible bitter feeling, and someone doing this has really touched my soul and help heal the anger in my heart.
George M. Jennings opened the 81 Drive-In’s gates on November 1, 1952 with a one-day double feature of John Payne in “Passage West” and Mona Freeman in “Dear Brat” along with a few unnamed short subjects.