Motor-Vu Drive-In
5368 S. 1050 W,
Riverdale,
UT
84405
5368 S. 1050 W,
Riverdale,
UT
84405
1 person
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Mann Theatres, National General Theatres
Previous Names: Weber Motor-Vu Drive-In
Nearby Theaters
The Weber Motor-Vu Drive-In opened on June 19, 1947 with Evelyn Keyes in “A Thousand and One Nights”. It had a capacity for 1,200 cars. This four-screen drive-in had closed by 2022. Demolition is due to happen in 2023.
Contributed by
Lost Memory
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Recent comments (view all 8 comments)
Nice family run drive-in. I made my only visit back in 2002. It looks like they have remodeled the snack bar since then, gone the ‘retro’ look. I got the chance to talk to the owner, Howard Coleman. He basically worked his way up in the theater business over 30 years.
The drive-in is right off I-84, but there is enough of a buffer in between, that I didn’t really notice any distractions. The last field to added, #4, has no ramps, so the screen is higher up than normal. Each field has their own booth as well & they are going open the 2014 season with digital pictures.
1948 print ad added courtesy of Rod Nelson.
There’s a good article from 2016 in the Ogden Standard-Examiner. “The original theater had only one screen. Two more were added in the 1980s, and a fourth was added in 1996.” It said that current manager “Brent Coleman’s family has worked at the cinemas since his dad (Howard Coleman?) started as a Motor-Vu lot boy in 1952. He bought the drive(sic) in 1979.” Regarding current ownership, “(Brent) Coleman now co-owns the Motor-Vu with his two brothers, who also operate theater chains on opposite coasts of the country.”
Much more here: http://www.standard.net/Entertainment/2016/06/26/Riverdale-Colemans-Motor-Vu-drive-in-brings-movies-for-decades
And by the way, the IMPAs list the Motor Vu in Ogden and only one screen all the way to 1988, the last IMPA drive-in list. Sometimes I wonder whether the details on the IMPA lists are ever accurate.
Per a KUTV story last month, the Motor Vu has been sold to a housing developer. The drive-in’s web site says “Until Further Notice Movies are Closed”. I’d call it closed.
Boxoffice, April 17, 1967: “OGDEN, UTAH - The 800-car Motor Vu Drive-In here started operating under the banner of Fox Mountain-Midwest Theatres Wednesday (12), it is announced by William H. Thedford and Dan A. Polier, vice-presidents and co-directors of theatre operations for National General Corp. Howard Coleman will continue as manager of the drive-in which has been acquired from Sam Gillette and Bill Hazan.”
The 1955-56 Theatre Catalog listed the “Weber Motor Vu D. I.” under Ogden, owned by Associated Amuse. Co. and Clyde Blasius, capacity 726 cars.
A July 2023 Google Street View image showed the Motor Vu closed but intact.
Demolition is imminent per this May 27, 2024 KSL.com article.
https://www.ksl.com/article/51023660/end-of-an-era-motor-vu-drive-in-will-soon-be-demolished-to-make-way-for-housing?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=news&utm_content=weber&utm_id=120208308405220784&utm_term=120208308405300784&fbclid=IwAR2wNgUApsXVGNmt-vnR95Pbu5_-Ol-FX_Kfo_81woVEmw8xYkrQZduKe4g_aem_AU4582yfGQdwFQdr7lyncwCVUVrnLHUcL1_xVtmOtRCBc4LLoH8rTHM6XFRyCjAFqOn1g5AN_LxB20Yca_rAeBtn