Tarpon Drive-In
1500 Kenney Lane,
Ingleside,
TX
78362
1500 Kenney Lane,
Ingleside,
TX
78362
1 person
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Comparing the 1956 aerial to the 1967 aerial shows that the screen was changed from the square to widescreen. That was commonly done in the late 1950s/early 1960s for many drive-ins.
The clues seem to be in the quote from the article you published. “their new Tarpon Drive-In” indicates a rebuild or renovation. Combine that with “The massive tilted screen” which indicates the widescreen and not the older, straight-up square screen and I believe that is what happened.
The rest of the description seems to be “flourishes” which is not uncommon when promoting the re-opening of any business, including drive-ins.
Given that the drive-in is just north of Corpus Christi, it was probably open most, if not the entire year. The rebuilding effort makes more sense in the spring/early summer since that avoids hurricane season which runs from late July to November.
Of course, I can’t say that’s exactly what happened, but I think it’s a pretty good guess.
Thanks. Those are excellent reasons for keeping the existing opening date, wherever it came from.
OTOH, I just double-checked my source. (My kid’s college library link to ProQuest. I don’t know what I’ll do for research after graduation, coming later this year. But I digress.) I verified that the first page of the Southwest section of the Aug. 6, 1962 Boxoffice had at its top the headline “New Tarpon Drive-In / Is Opened in Texas” and the story I typed in full above.
So something happened. It was too late in the year for this to be a misunderstood season opener. The same guys who built the drive-in 10 years earlier were lauded for this “new” Tarpon. Shifted location? Probably not; Kenmore is the best at spotting those. Recovery from disaster? Teardown and rebuild? For now, I just don’t know.
A 1956 aerial shows the Tarpon Drive-in present at the location. Add to that a 1956 topo map that actually has the “Tarpon” name listed (quite rare, as most are simply listed as “drive-in”).
So, it’s fair to say that the Tarpon Drive-In was open by 1956, not 1962.
Theatre Catalog 1952 listed the Tarpon Drive-In under construction, with the Trail Drive-In already open.
Could it be that the Tarpon opened on July 3, 1962?
Boxoffice, Aug. 6, 1962: “Aransas Pass, Tex. - E. F. Falgout, mayor of Aransas Pass, and C. L. Walker, well-known local businessman, have opened their new Tarpon Drive-In on Farm Road 632, south of town. The massive tilted screen overlooks a parking area which will accommodate 377 cars. The ramp area has been hard surfaced to permit easy access and terracing has been employed to permit full view by patrons in cars. In front of the screen is a well-equipped playground.”