Circus Drive-In
1515 S. 9th Street,
Slaton,
TX
79364
1515 S. 9th Street,
Slaton,
TX
79364
1 person
favorited this theater
On September 15, 1951, Billboard reported, “The Circus Drive-In has been opened at Slaton, Tex., featuring a circus motif and a 300 car-capacity. Bill McDavid is manager”.
The 1955 Motion Picture Almanac listed both the Caprock Drive-In and Circus Drive-In for “Slayton.” It had the Circus Drive-In with a capacity of 397-cars, owner Frontier Theatres.
The 1960 Film Daily Year Book, under Slaton TX, listed both the Caprock Drive-In and the Circus Drive-In.
Contributed by
Michael Kilgore
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Recent comments (view all 5 comments)
I’m having doubts that this lasted into the 1960’s and might’ve only lasted a few years after it opened. The August 4th 1951 issue of Box Office claims it was located on South 9th St, a 1957 aerial shows nothing along that street. All I can see is the Caprock located in the northern part of Slaton.
I’m wondering if it existed in the town at all. Even a temporary drive-in with a car capacity of 300 vehicles is going to leave a recognizable mark a few years after it shut down.
The exception would be a large building constructed on the property, but there is no such structure along South 9th that would wipe out the existence of a drive-in. At least in the 1957 aerial.
I’ve yet to run across an aerial that was not dated correctly. So, assuming the aerial is accurate, then I’m not buying a drive-in along South 9th unless an earlier aerial is produced that shows it.
The Circus Drive-In opened June 30, 1951 with “When the Redskins Rode” picking that date simply to annoy the opening of the Caprock Drive-In that opening the same night. “Construction” had only started on June 1, 1951 and was “completed” at month’s end.
Advertisements continue through the end of its first (only) season with “Brave Bulls” on November 7, 1951. The theater has no more ads and no more mentions following that. The reason it’s not seeable on the 1957 aerial is that it was, like a circus, long gone after it’s season (first) ended.
Found It!
The address is 1515 S 9th St, Slaton, TX.
In looking back at the 1957 aerial, I could see the faint outline of the drive-in, the ramps, and the projection booth or its foundation. By 1962, all remaining traces of the drive-in had been razed.
Today, a small hair salon sits at the entrance and while most of the property is still undeveloped there are no traces of the drive-in remaining.
https://tinyurl.com/4v9uc4wh
According to the trade press of the era, the entire cost of the ozoner was a microscopic $6,500.