Circle B Drive-In
3706 W. Main Street,
Artesia,
NM
88210
3706 W. Main Street,
Artesia,
NM
88210
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An exact date! Boxoffice, April 15, 1950: “ARTESIA, N. M. – Ray Bartlett and his son Bill opened the new 350-car drive-in here on Easter Sunday (April 9 that year). The project includes a concessions stand, playground, in-car speakers and hard-surfaced ramps. It cost an approximate $75,000.”
Did the B stand for anything? Was there a Circle A Drive-in too?
More details in this planning announcement in the June 4, 1949 issue of BoxOffice:
ARTESIA, N. M. – A 16-acre tract one mile west of here has been purchased by Ray Bartlett and his son Bill, Carlsbad, as the site for a 400-car drive-in which they will build at a cost of approximately $75,000. Features of the new open air theatre, construction of which is expected to be started soon, will include a playground with slides, sand piles and other equipment. A contest now is being sponsored to select a name for the ozoner, with a $10 book of tickets as the prize for the one judged best.
From the May 13, 1950 issue of BoxOffice:
ARTESIA, N. M. – The Circle B Drive-In, one mile west of Artesia on the Hope highway, opened recently. “The Trail of the Lonesome Pine” was the opening feature.
The Circle B was shown on 1955 and 1978 topo maps.
A housing edition now sits on the property. But you can still see the faint remains of the entrance and exit roads.