Parkview Drive-In
1206 Alabama Street,
St. Joseph,
MO
64504
1206 Alabama Street,
St. Joseph,
MO
64504
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Reopened by Mid-America theatres on April 21st, 1973 as the Parkview Drive-In. Grand opening ad posted.
This opened on May 30th, 1952.
Cow Town Drive-In opening Fri, May 30, 1952 – 18 · St. Joseph Gazette (St. Joseph, Missouri) · Newspapers.com
The Feb. 6, 1954 issue of Boxoffice ran a full-page profile about the rustic look of the Cow Town. It included several photos, most of which have already been uploaded here.
I have solved the address debate the actual address was 1206 Alabama. The street Parkview was a street that ran along side of Alabama with about only 8-10 ft separation between the 2 streets. The Mailbox for mail delivery was located on Parkview Street this address of 1526 Parkview was only used for Mail delivery and Newspaper Adds.
I was with the understanding that we were to list the address of the drive-in/theatre and not what google maps. (Google maps are horrendously wrong a great number of times.) I am new at this so correct me if I am wrong.
I think you ment Parkview not Parkwood the urrent address is 1206 Alabama it became this in 1990. Before 1990 it was 1526 parkview at least from 1952-1989
Tp…..you are correct about the address. It was 1526 Parkwood. But to use the goggle maps feature of CT to map to the correct location we need to use the current address of the property.
Update on finding the add for the very last movie shown at the Parkview Drive-IN. I have finished checking the St Joseph Mo Newspress papers for 1980,81,82 which at the time was the evening newspaper did not find anything. I now believe it was posted in the St Joseph Mo Gazette which was at the time the morning newspaper at the time which only ran Monday-Friday. When I talked with Clifford Brighmans Widow she does not remember this so I’M thinking the person MUST of been the Assistant Manager of the Drive-In of who she don’t remember the person’s name. I do remember there was 2 different adds one that was about a week before and then the day of the event and the last movie was The Attack of the Killer Tomatoes and the Wet Teeshirt contest. So Im still looking.
I now have more proof that the correct address was in deed 1526 Parkview I have uploaded 10 pictures of City Directory located at Downtown Library in St Joseph Mo. Starting with 1972 City Directory when it was first know as the Cowtown. 1979 City Directory when it was last opened and known as Parkview Drive-In also 1981,82,83,84 when it was called Cycle X Motor Cycle Track. Just don’t ever remember this one. From 1985,86,87,88,89 it was shown as being vacant. I’m sorry to say my camera was needed a recharge and was unable to take the 1990 City Directory but I did look at it. That was the year it was listed as Barnard’s Auto Salvage with a address of 1206 Alabama. I don’t know why it changed to 1206 Alabama in 1990. But during the time period it was a Drive-In 1526 Parkview was the correct address. It did not become 1206 Alabama until 11 years after it closed as a Drive-In
I have written documentation from Clifford Brigman widow Fran that he was not the Head or Chief Projectionest that job already belonged to someone else who was already with the Drive-In When he took over as the Head Manager. Clifford Brigman was also the Head Manager of 2 other Drive-Ins the Skylark Drive-In located in Leavenworth Kansas and another Drive-In LOCATED Jefferson City Mo. Due to his busy schedule of being Head Manager for 3 Drive-Ins at one time Clifford Brigman hired an assistant to run Parkview. Years Later after the Parkview Drive In Closed he became the Head Manager of a Twin Screen Drive-In located Springfield Illinois. The Drive-in was not loosing money at the time it closed, i was told it just wasnt making big enough profit.
When I researched this DI it is listed as 1526 Parkview. But, if you look at the maps it is located at 1206 Alabama St… Parkview is Side Street that runs parallel north of Alabama St. I was thinking the street name was changed years ago. I called the St Joe City street deptment about the addresses. I talked to a gentleman that used to go to the drive-in in the late 1950’s. He said the Parkview address might have been a mailing address? Maybe it is a misprint on advertising and nobody bother to change it. He said 1206 Alabama is the correct address for the drive-in. Also, he said there is other address’s in St. Joe that are off also like that.
neat stories…
The address of 1526 Parkview is CORRECT if you click on the photo then newspaper adds you will see it says 1526 Parkview sometime from when it closed barnards auto the address changed to 1206 alabama. When i have sometime i will check with the city directory at the library to find out when.
Address anove is incorrect. Barnard’s Auto Salvage is at 1206 Alabama Street.
I forgot to mention when i was there on Monday 28November2011 a nearby train with the horn blaring. This instantly brought bck memories when this would happen when the movies would be playing and drowning out all sounds of the movies. I use to think during the movies the train engineers would do this on purpose. But there is a major railroad crossing about a block a way from where the Drive-In Theater was.
On Monday 28November2011 i went to the Auto Salvage yard called Barnards Auto Salvage this is where the Old Drive-In Theater use to be called Cowtown/Parkview. As it turned out the owner was a old class mate of mine. The only thing still standing from the Drive-In days was the concession stand, bathroom and Projection booth room all in the same building. This building looks like it could fall down at anytime. The next time im in St Joseph i plan on taking some pictures of it.This is still amazing since this was one of the 3 drive-Ins that were here in the 50,60,70s
The address is 1526 Parkview I TRIED from the Rialto picture of getting a shot of this which is about 4 blocks from each other i was only able to get to the entrance the camera wouldnt go down the dirt road about 20 yards from the street.
Sorry i did not put the year of the fire was Friday 20October1972. The last regular schedule daily date for the Parkview Drive-In Theater was Tuesday 7August1979 last movie shown was Invasion of the Body Snatchers + Coma. On Wednesday 8August1979 the add in the newspaper said Parkview is now closed for the season this add ran for 2 days. The manager of the Theater did reopen for a one night special anywhere from 1-3years later after this closing of 1979. I have been trying to find the add in the newspaper. The movie that night was Attack of the Killer Tomatoes, i dont remember if there was another movie that night or not but they did have a wet teeshirt contest for the women that night. Yes i was there. The thing i remember the most besides the contest and movie was the manager was the only one working. The concession stand was closed. The car speakers and poles were all removed, the sound came from large stero type speaker boxes just right outside concession stand.
Opened on Friday 30May1952 last movie shown was on Sunday 15October1972 the movies were The Cowboys with John Wayne and Skin Game With James Garner on Friday 20October Firemen responded to a fire in the concession stand at 12.08AM and did not return to there station until 2.43AM. On Saturday 21April1973 It reopened under a new name called the Parkview Drive-In Theater the movies were Big Jake and RIO LOBO with John Wayne PLUS Lee Marvin in Monte Welch the add says ALL NEW SNACK BAR- YOU WILL LOVE IT
So many Drive-ins I noticed were running those R-rated CROWN INTERNATIONAL flicks like “THE TEACHER” or “STUDENT NURSES”.Probably had alot to do with driving away the Family.