Creston Auto Theatre
10265 Wooster Pike,
Creston,
OH
44217
10265 Wooster Pike,
Creston,
OH
44217
2 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previous Names: BMP Auto Theatre, Auto Theatre
Nearby Theaters
On July 24, 1940, the BMP Auto Theatre opened screening the 1940 drama “Café Hostess” with Preston Foster and Ann Dvorak. I believe that this is the correct date for the opening. The 250 car capacity drive-in was opened by BMP Auto Theatre Inc. from Akron, Ohio. BMP was incorporated in September 12, 1939, with S. E. McFarren, as President. The board of directors included S. E. McFarren, C. A. Pierce and Irene M. Striver. The agent for incorporation is L. M. Buckingham. M. C. Brooks was the operator when it opened. One thing to note is from an article in Box Office from September 30, 1939, that M. C. Brooks opened a drive-in theatre in July of 1939 in Farmdale, Ohio. Later in the same year Brooks moved the drive-in theatre to Creston, Ohio, where it was reopened with accommodations for 250 cars. It had outside blast speakers for the sound system. Maybe Brooks formed a partnership with S. E. McFarren and Pierce?
On December 13, 1946, the BMP Auto Theatre Inc. was dissolved and the drive-in was sold to Ralph Martin and Edward Cain from Akron, Ohio. On May 9, 1947, the drive-in reopened as the Auto Theatre. In 1950 it was opened as the Creston Auto Theatre. It is listed in 1955 has being operated by T. McKnight in the 1955-56 Theatre Catalog. I could not find any movie advertisements/information past 1953 so apparently it closed at the end of 1953. Any additional information would be appreciated.
Contributed by
Randy Studer
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Recent comments (view all 2 comments)
One thing to add is the BMP Auto Theatre was one of the first auto theatres to open in Ohio.
New pictures are courtesy of FB – and Eldon Young and the Creston Historical Society.
Kate Slater’s book “Creston Past: Almost forgotten. She writes "In the early 1940’s, Creston had one of the few auto theaters in the area. There were no speakers in the cars. You had to roll down your car windows to hear the sound…Many parents did not permit their daughters to go to the drive-in on a date, but it was a popular thing for the entire family to do.