Arbuckle Drive-In
783 US-77,
Davis,
OK
73030
783 US-77,
Davis,
OK
73030
1 person
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A closer address is 783 US-77, Davis, OK.
Google Maps has updated their addresses and this puts in right in the middle of the property on the projection booth/concession stand.
The property is now the Department of Transportation for Davis, Oklahoma.
Apart from the concession stand/projection booth, which is still in excellent condition as of a June 2022 Google Street Map, there is no trace remaining of the drive-in.
https://tinyurl.com/msmn36nn
The Arbuckle Drive-In opened its gates on September 18, 1952 with Joseph Cotton in “Untamed Frontier” and Tom Ewell in “Finders Keepers” with no extras. The Arbuckle name came from a theater naming contest led by manager Walter T. Kerr. The second and third place names went with “77” and “Moonlite”.
Boxoffice, Aug. 5, 1963: “W. T. Kerr, Sulphur, who owns the Arbuckle Drive-In, Davis, reports that J. C. Drake, who had the drive-in leased for the past several months, is no longer connected with the drive-in. Kerr was on the (Oklahoma City Film) Row recently and brought along with him Clay Pitchford, Mistletow Express agent of Davis, who also owns a flower shop. Pitchford will operate the Arbuckle Drive-In for Kerr and they were setting future bookings, as this is Pitchford’s first venture in the motion picture theatre business. He did operate the drive-in for a short time while Drake had it under lease.”
“W.T. Kerr and wife Janice are operating the Arbuckle Drive-In, Davis, with one girl at the concessions stand. Kerr runs the machines; Mrs. Kerr sells tickets. Sunday-Tuesday they show the biggest and best picture they can buy from Warner and Fox. Thursday-Saturday they show a double feature, one picture of which much be western. They have tried to run without a western on this change but when they do, business drops off 50 per cent. The Kerrs close on Wednesdays and Waite takes off early in the morning for one of the numerous nearby lakes and usually comes back with a fine string of fish.” — Boxoffice, June 27, 1960
the concession stand remains!
Found it! Approx. location for this drive-in was on S. D St (US Hwy 77) just north of Swanda Rd. on the east side of the highway.