Atlantic Drive-In
2000 E. 7th Street,
Atlantic,
IA
50022
2000 E. 7th Street,
Atlantic,
IA
50022
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The Corral Drive-In opened its gates on August 19, 1949 with Abbott and Costello in “Keep ‘Em Flying” along with some unnamed cartoons and short subjects and a special appearance by then-Mayor Robert Wilburn, featuring a 1,300ft entrance and 5,000ft of lighting. The original screen measures 47x37ft mounted on a 70ft tower formed by five poles set on a concrete piers in a 20ft deep pit.
In 1969, the theater was renamed Atlantic Drive-In, and closed after the 1979 season.
March 4, 1964 Motion Picture Exhibitor: Don Smith has purchased the Atlantic and Corral Drive-In, Atlantic, Ia. Smith has been associated with Pioneer Theatres for more than 30 years. He and his wife have moved to Atlantic from Carroll, Ia.
From the Sept. 3, 1949 issue of BoxOffice:
ATLANTIC, IOWA—The Corral, Atlantic’s drive-in, constructed by the Pioneer Theatre Co. of Minneapolis, opened its gates recently with Mayor Robert Wilburn officiating. The mayor cut the tapes and purchased the first ticket. The Pioneer company also operates the Atlantic and Grand theatres here.
The theatre has a western motif with rustic gateway, sapling fences and buildings and furnishings of natural wood. Attendants wear jeans, boots, western shirts and hats. At the opening, the Atlantic Saddle club, guests of the theatre, paraded on horseback. After the parade, the horses were tethered at a log hitching rack. Admission charge to the Corral is 50 cents for adults: children free.
The Corral opening is the third participated in by Manager Art Farrell since he joined Pioneer in 1935. He built and managed two theatres for the company at Rock Rapids and came here as manager of the Atlantic and Grand in 1941. He started in the theatre business as an usher at the Paramount, Des Moines, in 1929. He became assistant manager of the Paramount and later managed the Strand in Des Moines and the Ottumwa in Ottumwa for Tri-States.
Truby Bell, manager of the Grand, is manager of the drive-in, under the general supervision of Farrell. Bell was employed by the Skelly Oil Co. before joining Pioneer in 1934.
The property appears to be a pumpkin patch. Other than the general outline, there is nothing left of the drive-in save for a little of the entrance/exit road on the SE side.