Jewel Drive-In
1410 E. Colombia Street,
Okemah,
OK
74859
1410 E. Colombia Street,
Okemah,
OK
74859
1 person
favorited this theater
The Jewel Drive-In was opened on July 25, 1957 with Bob Hope in “Beau James”. It was open into the 1980’s, but had closed by the 1990’s. Most of this theatre is long gone, but the concession stand/projection booth remains. The site is now a highway maintenance facility and the concession stand is used as storage. Car capacity was 400.
Contributed by
Dice McAlester
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Recent comments (view all 14 comments)
The Jewel Drive-In Theatre looked over those lovely hills that famed songwriter Woody Guthrie made famous,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QJyWdXMP_A
My guess is that the Jewel sign on the drive-in marquee came from the Jewel THEATRE?
The name Okemah came from Chief Okemah.
Famed folk-singer Woody Guthrie (THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND) and father of Arlo Guthrie (RIDING ON THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS) was born in Okemah on July 14, 1912, 100 years ago.
What’s the location of the “highway maintance facility', CT could use an address, photos, both old and new, and more info.
Chief Bob Jensen
Manteno, Illinois
Approx. location for this drive-in wasOklahoma 56 & N3780 Rd.
jwmovies is correct, the address is Oklahoma 56 and N3780 Road, Okemah, OK.
https://tinyurl.com/y73vjryb
Season-opener note from the April 18, 1960 issue of Boxoffice: “Bill Slepka … was busy getting his Jewel Drive-In in shape for his opening on the 15th.”
Okfuskee County News, March 7, 1957: “Construction will begin immediately on a 400-car capacity drive-in theater east of Okemah on U.S. highway 62 north of the airport, Bill Slepka, owner of the Jewel and Crystal theaters here, announced today … Plans call for the theater to open on Friday, May 3.”
The Jewel Drive-In Theatre launched July 25, 1957 with “Beau James.” It was still operating in 1975.
My mom grew up in Okemah, and I have many happy memories of visiting my grandparents there. In 1964, my grandmother took us to see THE UNSINKABLE MOLLY BROWN at the Jewel Drive-in. My grandfather was the superintendent of schools for many years in Okemah, and when he retired, they built a new elementary school and named it after him. It’s still there.
A closer address is 1410 E Columbia St, Okemah, OK.
Google Maps has updated their addresses and this puts it right in the middle of the property.
The concession stand/projection booth is still there.
https://tinyurl.com/yc7w9mdv
Still open in the 1980s but was closed by the 1990s.