85 Drive-In
1421 S. 2nd Street,
Raton,
NM
87740
1421 S. 2nd Street,
Raton,
NM
87740
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The final movie played there was home on the range
Digging through some notes, I noticed that Floyd Davis was from Springfield, so that explains why the 85 project was listed with a Springfield, Colorado dateline.
And I found a mention of the exact opening date. Boxoffice, Dec. 3, 1949: “RATON, N. M. - J. E. Oliver, owner of the Plaza Food store, has purchased the 85 Drive-In here from Floyd W. Davis of Springfield, Colo., and Nat Jones of Abernathy, Tex. The theatre opened last June 15.”
One more Boxoffice mention, accurate in everything except the dateline city.
Boxoffice, April 16, 1949: “SPRINGFIELD, COLO. – Work has begun on a 400-car drive-in on a ten-acre plot of ground three blocks east of Highway 85, just north of Eagle Tail airport. The theatre will be operated by Floyd Davis and Nat Jones, local business men. Plans are for a 50x60 foot screen at the north end of the grounds and a two-story combination refreshment center and projection booth. Facilities for expansion to 500 cars will be allowed, the owners said.”
Boxoffice, May 7, 1949: “Floyd Davis sr. and Nat Jones will open their new 85 Drive-In, at Raton, N. M., about June 1. The airer will accommodate 340 cars”
Boxoffice, June 25, 1949: “Floyd Davis and Nat Jones have opened their new No. 85 Drive-In at Raton, N. M., a 350-car $60,000 job.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 23, 1950: “RATON, N. M. – The 85 Drive-In here has been purchased by Hubbard & Murphy, Inc., from J. E. Oliver who built the house more than one year ago.”
It appears that the projection booth/concession stand no longer exists and only the concrete foundation remains. A 2012 Google street view from US HWY 85 which runs along the east side of the property shows nothing is standing.
Ramps aren’t near the KOA, they are behind the abandoned gas station and junkyard to the south, on the other side of the street. It’s odd they listed a 2nd St address, since the theater was well off of that street, with the entrance off Kearney. At least in the satellite view, the projection/concession building is still there.
Display ads list the address at 1391 2nd Street, if you map it at this address you can still see the ramps next to the KOA Campground.
The above address is incorrect.
The address for this drive-in was 1421 S 2nd St.
The drive-in was located at the east end of what is now Kearney Ave.
Please update.