65 Drive-In

The 65 Drive-In was my first job as a theatre manager. I went to work for United Artists Theatre Circuit in May of 1969. Worked there as a relief doorman, relief projectionist, concessionaire, Boxoffice cashier, janitor and changed the marquee. After Clarence Hobbs became manager in early 1970 (taking over for Joe Brown, who retired), I was made the relief of “swing” manager, working nights off for the two managers of the Conway Theatre and the 65 Drive-In. When the UA Cinema 1 & 2 opened in February of 1973, I became a full-time manager of the 65 Drive-In Theatre. When Alton Robertson left to manage the UA theatre (the UA Minitek) in Fort Smith, Arkansas, I became the manager of the UA Cinema. When Clarence Hobbs (UA’s city manager) was promoted to the position of District Manager, I became city manager of the UA theatres in Conway. The 65 Drive-In was a cool property to manage. Like many drive-ins, it lost popularity and the property as worth more for other purposes than as a theatre operation. The Conway Corporation bought it and so now the 65 Drive-In is just a memory for us.

Actual closing date is September 1, 1985 with a one-day sexploitation show (which is a very stupid decision to close a drive-in), but its final normal show was one day prior on August 31, 1985 with “Beverly Hills Cop” and “48 Hours”.

Closed after the 1985 season.

Boxoffice, Dec. 17, 1955: “W. B. Sockwell of United Theatres, new owners of the 65 Drive-In, Conway, Ark., will book and buy in Memphis”