Pay-Ont Drive-In
1119 NW. 16th Street,
Fruitland,
ID
83619
1119 NW. 16th Street,
Fruitland,
ID
83619
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The Pay-Ont Drive-In derived its name from Payette, Idaho and Ontario, Oregon and was listed in the International Motion Picture Almanac as being located in Ontario. In actuality the theater was located in Fruitland, Idaho, which borders Ontario. It was opened on April 28, 1949. In the 1950’s and 1960’s it was a Harris-Voeller theater and was mentioned in the Weiser Signal American as far back as 1953.
In 1973 Idaho newspapers reported that the then owner was arrested on a charge of violating the new ant-obscenity law. The main problem was that the movies could be seen from the highway. At one time the police seized a film in question, “The Swinging Stewardesses". Finally the X-Rated movies stopped.
The 300-car theater appeared in the Almanac up to 1988, the last year drive-ins were listed. In March 2019 a car dealership was being built on the property.
Contributed by
Ron Pierce
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Recent comments (view all 1 comments)
The first newspaper ad, or mention, that I could find for the Pay-Ont was in the April 28, 1949 edition of the (Boise) Idaho Statesman. That ad said nothing about being a grand opening.