H and H Drive-In

The H & H Drive-In Theatre launched September 29, 1949 with Henry Fonda in “Trail of the Lonesome Pine.” AKA the S & S Drive-In Theatre. It closed during the 1984 season with an adult double-feature. The theatre showed mainstream films on the weekend and adult films Tuesday-Thursday.

H & H Theatres was a Texas-based motion picture circuit dating back in the silent era and Homer T. Hodge was a founder with another member of the Hodge family. Hodge built an airdrome in 1912 in Abilene and opened the Gem Theatre there – his first hardtop – in 1913 involving his family. They became H & H Theatres Circuit and the Gem was the first of twenty H & H Thatres in Texas. H & H had five theaters in Odessa, four theaters in Midland with four more in Ballinger, three each in Winters, Merkel, and Stamford. But H.T.’s wife died in 1948 and he retired in 1949 as this ozoner was in the latter stages of development. It was named in honor of his company. The H & H tagline was “Always Friendly” as they believed in family friendly venues and content.

Hodge’s departure from the industry in 1949 led to H & H’s placement of the circuit dividing the portfolio into six of his seven children’s hands. The “always friendly” moniker was not carried over to the operation post-Hodge. Acrimony led to a public lawsuit in 1952. H & H actually disbanded prior to H.T. Hodge’s death in September of 1954 but reformed under the same H & H Theatres banner operating until at least 1987. If that’s when it ended, H & H had a nice 75-year legacy. As for the Stamford H & H drive-in location, the long-running operation got new ownership and spent a short period of time as the renamed S & S Drive-In.

Likely more information than anyone really needed.