Knight's Drive-In
1055 S. Federal Boulevard,
Riverton,
WY
82501
1055 S. Federal Boulevard,
Riverton,
WY
82501
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According to an Abilene KS Tourism site, Tom Knight bought a C. W. Parker carousel in 1959 and installed it at the drive-in. A 1975 AP wire story about Abilene’s fund-raising drive to buy it said that it had been used at the drive-in “until about three years ago”, so I guess Commonwealth put the carousel in storage soon after it bought the drive-in.
According to a small article in the Casper Star-Tribune on May 8, 1949 a drive-in was opened by Clinton D. Paul in the same area, could this be the same drive-in?
“RIVERTON: Clinton D. Paul will open his new Drive-In Sunday. The establishment is located at Seventh and Main and is housed in a modern, new building with complete new features and facilities. The parking space includes 11,500 feet.”
Boxoffice, Jan. 18, 1971: “Commonwealth Theatres has taken over the operation of the Acme and Gem theatres and the Knight Drive-In in Riverton, Wyo. The theatres had been operated by veteran exhibitor Tom Knight, who died recently.”
Was possibly still operating in the early 1980’s, it was still fully intact in a 1982 aerial photo.
Boxoffice, May 9, 1953: “The Knight Drive-In, with enlarged snack bar and 135 more car spaces, has been opened (for the season), with owner Tom Knight in charge.”
An aside from the Oct. 15, 1949 issue of BoxOffice: “Tom Knight has opened a drive-in at Riverton, Wyo., where he already owns a theatre.”
An article in the Fremont County Daily Ranger says that the photo above shows the project that expanded the wooden screen in May 1955 to accommodate wider movies.
http://dailyranger.com/story.php?story_id=1609
Found it! The drive-in was located south of Riverton very near the river at 1055 S Federal Blvd, Riverton, WY.
Today, a business sits on the property, but you can still see the ramps. http://tinyurl.com/zzas6or