Sky Vue Drive-In
275 Vinita Road,
Nowata,
OK
74048
275 Vinita Road,
Nowata,
OK
74048
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The Sky-Vue Drive-In opened its gates on August 11, 1952 with Mark Stevens in “Munity” (unknown if extras added), featuring a 36x46ft screen and 265 individual speakers. It was first owned by J.J. Bowden and C.D. Hicks.
Odd there is no address for the Parkvu when there is one for the Sky-Vu.
Nowata is a pretty small town, although there are three larger towns to the west, north, and east respectively. If you can find an address, that would make the confirmation a lot easier.
Aha! There were two drive-ins in Nowata.
Motion Picture Herald, Aug. 23, 1952: “Official opening of Nowata’s first drive-in theatre, the Sky-Vu, took place August 11. C. D. Hicks and J. J. Bowden are the owners.”
Motion Picture Herald, Sept. 20, 1952: “The Parkvu, Nowata, opened this week. Owner is Chester Fleming.”
The 1953-54 Theatre Catalog included both. The Park Vu held 300, owned by C. V. Fleming, and the Sky-Vu on “Rt. 60” held 265, owners Bud Hicks and J. J. Bowden. US 60 is the east-west highway through Nowata.
A 1980 aerial shows the screen has been removed. By 1995, the concession stand was removed as well.
Boxoffice, Nov. 5, 1973: “Charles Townsend … in now in Nowata, Okla., operating the Rex Theatre and the Sky-Vue Drive-In, which he recently bought.”
right on jw movies!!
A more accurate address for this theater is 275 Vinita Rd, Nowata, OK 74048. This points directly to the entrance road. Some ramps are still visible.
Please update.
Grand opening was on Sept 1, 1952, as the Park Vu Drive-In. Ownership changed in 1955, and drive-in was renamed to Sky Vue.
My suggestion is the change the name of this listing to Sky Vue Drive-in, also known as Park Vu Drive-In, as the drive-in spent most of its 30+ year lifetime known as the Sky Vue, while going by Park Vu for only 3 years.
The location of the drive-in is on US 60, east of Nowata.
U.S. 60 & N4160 Rd, Nowata, OK 74048
The above address will map to the nearest intersection, with the drive-in being on the north side of US 60, roughly .2 miles west of the intersection.
The drive-in is clearly visible on Google Earth using 2003 or earlier imagery.
Maybe these two drive-ins were one and the same. This web site has info on both the Park Vue and Sky Vue.
View link