Big Chief Drive-In
134 Old Highway 70,
Lordsburg,
NM
88045
134 Old Highway 70,
Lordsburg,
NM
88045
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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
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Recent comments (view all 8 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
James Edgar Allen and his mother, Valeria, opened the Chief along with Interstate Theatres Enterprises (ITE) on April 17, 1954.
A closer address is 134 Old Hwy 70, Lordsburg, NM.
Google Maps has updated their addresses and this places it just to the west of the drive-in. It is actually quite close to where the old entrance road for the drive-in once existed. Although Google Maps also wants to use Red Forks, which is to the west of Lordsburg for whatever reason.
A 1957 aerial shows the drive-in operational. By 1978 it was closed and falling apart. By 1982 it had been demolished.
Today, only the ramps and foundation for the projector booth/concession stand remain.
https://tinyurl.com/59kfadtb