Big Chief Drive-In
Business Highway 10,
Lordsburg,
NM
88045
Business Highway 10,
Lordsburg,
NM
88045
No one has favorited this theater yet
Additional Info
Previous Names: Chief Drive-In
Nearby Theaters
The Chief Drive-In, once located on the original Highway 10, now sits almost totally gone. Only the foundation to the snack bar, projection booth remain, along with some of the fencing that was used to fence off the area in front of the projectors beam. This was a single screen drive-in. Opened on April 19, 1954 with William Holden in “Stalag 17”. It had a 300-car capacity. The Big Chief Drive-In was closed on August 30, 1964 with Audie Murphy in “Seven Ways from Sundown”.
Contributed by
Randy A Carlisle
Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater.
Recent comments (view all 6 comments)
This drive-in was east of town on hwy 70 (now Old US 70). The ramps are still visible.
Listed in the FDY of 1956, 1964 &1968
From the Jan. 2, 1954 Motion Picture Herald:
Mrs. S. E. Allen expects to open her new 300-car drive-in at Lordsburg, N. M., in the early spring, and about the same opening date has been set for J. C. West’s 300-car drive-in, Grants, N. M.
The April 16, 1954 issue of the Lordsburg Liberal said the Chief Drive-In would open on April 17 with “Stalag 17” starring William Holden. “The Chief Drive-In has been under construction for several months now and is located about three miles east of town on Highways 70 and 80.”
The last Chief ad I could find in the Lordsburg Liberal was Aug. 28, 1964. “Seven Ways From Sundown” was going to play until Sunday, Aug. 30, then “Drive-in closes after Sunday show for winter months.” Spot checks of summer 1965 issues showed ads for the indoor Coronado but nothing for the Chief.
Still can be seen (ramps) from the Googlemaps Aerial view.. 32.335700, -108.655226 . The Cement foundation for the projection booth and snack bar still shows up also..
RAC Photography