The Aug. 18, 1954 issue of Canadian Film Weekly included under Ten New Theatres: “Cold Lake, Alberta: Mr. & Mrs. Cecil Wolver’s 300-car Cold Lake Drive-in.”
It was still listed that way in the Canadian Film Weekly 1963-64 Year Book. The Canadian Film Digest 1976 Year Book had the 298-car Cold Lake owned by Dave Krause. By the 1982 edition, the owner had changed to Harb Drechsel.
A 1987 letter to the editor in the Houston Chronicle claimed the Epsom was built on the site of a former, possibly illegal horse or dog race track.
The earliest mention I could find for the Epsom was a humble 1-inch ad in the Nov. 29, 1945 issue of the Chronicle; it said nothing about any grand opening. The last ad I could find was from March 14, 1962. But that may have been when the Epsom switched to Spanish-language films, which may not have been advertised in the Chronicle.
A legal notice on April 16, 1964 from the IRS said it had seized lots of the Epsom’s equipment from W. V. Ratcliff due to tax delinquency.
An article in the April 28, 1975 issue of Boxoffice said that Spanish-language theaters such as the Epsom were seeing a surge of business, quoting from a Denver Post article. Ray Hugger owned three of them, including the Epsom Drive-In.
No present-day address is perfect for the Waco site is perfect, but I think 2221 S. Slocumb is a bit closer.
The Raleigh News and Observer noted on Jan. 16, 1952 that Goldsboro’s Waco Drive-In Theatre had suffered a break-in, with a loss of about $135 in candy, cigarettes, and cigars.
Later that year, manager Starkey Howard distributed copies of “A Driver’s Prayer,” published by the North Carolina department of motor vehicles, to all Waco patrons, according to the Aug. 9, 1952 issue of Boxoffice.
The drive-in was included in a 1958 topo map. Aerial photos show that someone added three or four rows to the narrow viewing field between 1959 and 1977. Photos show it intact in 1983, overgrown but with the screen still up in 1993, and the entire site razed by 1997.
Boxoffice, April 27, 1970: “An agreement on leasing between Bridgham Theatres of Dover, N. H., and Mrs. Joena Seward of Rutland assures the Rutland Drive-In of one more year of operation, according to manager Edwin Morgan. The lease was terminated by Mrs. Seward in 1968 and the ruling was upheld in February 1969 by the state supreme court. The land upon which the drive-in is situated has become much more valuable since the theatre was built in 1947.”
Boxoffice, March 9, 1970: “Harry Mohney, Durand theatre circuit operator, has purchased the Laney Drive-Ins in Michigan from Mrs. Margaret Laney, wife of the late founder. The theatres involved are: Alpena and Thunder Bay drive-ins, Alpena, and Sunset Drive-In, Lapeer. Buying and booking of films will be handled by Clark Theatre Service, Oak Park.”
Boxoffice, April 27, 1970: “Sheriff’s deputies censored movies at the Sunset Drive-In as they were being shown, under orders from the circuit court judge, on a recent Friday night. An injunction was issued at the request of the Lapeer County prosecutor, which banned the showing of "obscene” portions of the picture. Deputies and the prosecutor stood by where the film was being run and the prosecutor placed his hand in front of the projector lens to edit the film. The parts found to be objectionable were deleted for Saturday and Sunday evening showings."
The Red Bluff was raided for its choice of films as early as February 1970.
Boxoffice, April 27, 1970: “PASADENA, TEX. - An ordinance regulating drive-in theatres was passed on final reading by the city council Tuesday night, March 31. The ordinance was the latest step by the city in its running fight with the management of the Red Bluff Drive-In over the showing of nudie movies … Drafting of the ordinance followed police raids on the Red Bluff Drive-In February 17 and 18, resulting in confiscation of two films and arrest of three employees.”
Boxoffice, April 27, 1970: “Acquisition of … the Beltline 67 Drive-In … was announced by B. R. McLendon and Robert Hartgrove, chairman of the board and president, respectively, of McLendon Theatres … The Beltline-67 was purchased from a syndicate of owners headed by Leon Theatres of Santa Fe, James McQuaid of Garland, Dollen Russell of Dallas, and G. S. Hill of Santa Fe. McLendon expressed pleasure at the acquisition of the 900-car Beltline, which has a distinctive frontier-style architecture”
Boxoffice, April 27, 1970: “Acquisition of the Bronco Drive-In of El Paso … was announced by B. R. McLendon and Robert Hartgrove, chairman of the board and president, respectively, of McLendon Theatres … The Bronco joins the triple-screen Cinema Park Drive-In at El Paso as a McLendon operation.”
Boxoffice, Feb. 16, 1970: “LAKE WALES, FLA. - A 350-car drive-in west of town, closed for several years, is being renovated for a spring opening by Floyd Enterprises, which purchased the property from Talgar Theatres. Named the Wales when it was last in operation, the airer is being resurfaced, a new snack bar and restrooms facilities installed and the screen widened to accommodate a 70x35-foot picture. Completely new equipment is being installed in the projection booth.”
Boxoffice, April 27, 1970: “LAKE WALES, FLA. - The long-shuttered Wales Drive-In, one mile from town off Highway 60, has been rebuilt and reopened by Floyd Enterprises. Featuring a spacious concessions building, the Wales now has capacity for 375 cars in front of its new 35x70-foot screen.”
Boxoffice, April 27, 1970: “R. H. Tricker, manager of the downtown Princess Theatre as well as the drive-in being constructed to replace the old Cascades Drive-In, has started a contest to name the new airer.”
Boxoffice, April 27, 1970: “Harold Goldstein of Goldstein Drive-Ins, Schenectady, has purchased the Bennington, Vt., airer from Willard & Alonzo. It’s a 15-year-old drive-in the the neighboring Green Mountain state. Bridgham Theatres of New Hampshire had been recent lessees, with David Bridgham, son of the circuit president, as supervisor.”
I wonder whether this note is related to the Woodstock.
Boxoffice, April 20, 1970: “EDMOND, OKLA. - A request for rezoning to allow construction of a drive-in theatre was denied here by members of the city planning commission last month.”
Boxoffice, April 20, 1970: “Final papers for the lease of the Twilight Drive-In in Livingston have been signed between Theatre Operators, Ind., and Mr. and Mrs. Boehm of Livingston, it was announced recently by TOI district manager Dan Grudziadz.”
A young couple died of carbon monoxide poisoning at the Stony Brook on the night of March 21, 1970, according to a report in Boxoffice a month later. A heavy fog obscured the viewing field, so attendants didn’t notice their car in a distant area by a fence until the following morning.
Boxoffice, April 20, 1970: “The record heavy winter snows reportedly caved in the roof of the concession building at Vail Mills Drive-In outside Amsterdam. The mishap is expected to delay reopening.”
Boxoffice, April 20, 1970: “Fabian Theatres notified exchanges and service people the circuit would assume operation of Tri-City Twin Drive-Ins, Albany-Troy Road, effective Wednesday (1), it was reported. Esquire Theatres of Boston had conducted the local exchange’s first outdoor dualer since its opening in August 1966 … Tri-Cities has been a year-round movie spot - weekends only during the winter.”
Boxoffice, March 30, 1970: “With the opening of the Hillcrest Drive-In, Langley, as an Odeon theatre, Frank (Marshall) is now supervising the house along with the Odeon Westminster Drive-In and the Clova Cloverdale”
Boxoffice, March 30, 1970: “With the opening of the Hillcrest Drive-In, Langley, as an Odeon theatre, Frank (Marshall) is now supervising the house along with the Odeon Westminster Drive-In and the Clova Cloverdale”
Boxoffice, Feb. 23, 1970: “Highway 90 Drive-In at nearby Baldwin was relinquished Wednesday (18) by its long-time owner and operator Robert R. Totman. The airer was acquired by Harry Clark and Dave Roper, both of Jacksonville”
Boxoffice, March 30, 1970: “Harry C. Clark and David E. Roper of Jacksonville purchased the Baldwin 90 Drive-In from R. E. Totman, effective February 17. Totman had operated the drive-in for 21 years. The new owners have had many years experience in exhibition as well as in other businesses in the film industry.”
Boxoffice, March 30, 1970: “The Dude Ranch Drive-In, one of the finest outdoor entertainment centers in the nation, will reopen soon, beginning its 20th (anniversary?) season. The airer, which boasts a western motif, was constructed along U.S. 71 south of Maryville in the fall of 1949 and was designed by the late C. E. "Doc” Cook … James E. Cook, son of the late showman, now operated both the Tivoli (Theatre) and Dude Ranch as Cook Enterprises."
Boxoffice, March 30, 1970: “Until last year (Elias "Louis”) Sutter and (Chris) Ellis operated the 63rd Drive-In before selling out to Mid-America (Cinema Drive-In Theatres). The circuit also operates the I-70, Twin and State Twins in the Kansas City area."
Boxoffice, March 30, 1970: “Two noted outdoor theatres on Route 30 seem to have their months and years of activity limited … The Maple Drive-In at Circleville seems to be doomed via a highway relocation. Both are Associated Theatres operations.”
Boxoffice, March 30, 1970: “Two noted outdoor theatres on Route 30 seem to have their months and years of activity limited. Super 30, the Mideast area’s first de luxe drive-in, near Irwin, financed by Theodore Grance, has a season or two to go. This property then will be the eventual site of another shopping center. The Maple Drive-In at Circleville seems to be doomed via a highway relocation. Both are Associated Theatres operations.”
Boxoffice ran a two-page story (with photos) about the Grand Bay on Nov. 1, 1952. It said the drive-in had in-car speakers for 650 vehicles, and had drinking fountains and telephine booths “spotted throughout the grounds”. Some patrons arrived on “all kinds of craft using the St. John river on which the property is located.”
The entire Franklin and Herschorn circuit, including the Grand Bay, was sold to Famous Players Canadian Corp., according to a note in the March 23, 1970 Boxoffice.
The Aug. 18, 1954 issue of Canadian Film Weekly included under Ten New Theatres: “Cold Lake, Alberta: Mr. & Mrs. Cecil Wolver’s 300-car Cold Lake Drive-in.”
It was still listed that way in the Canadian Film Weekly 1963-64 Year Book. The Canadian Film Digest 1976 Year Book had the 298-car Cold Lake owned by Dave Krause. By the 1982 edition, the owner had changed to Harb Drechsel.
A 1987 letter to the editor in the Houston Chronicle claimed the Epsom was built on the site of a former, possibly illegal horse or dog race track.
The earliest mention I could find for the Epsom was a humble 1-inch ad in the Nov. 29, 1945 issue of the Chronicle; it said nothing about any grand opening. The last ad I could find was from March 14, 1962. But that may have been when the Epsom switched to Spanish-language films, which may not have been advertised in the Chronicle.
A legal notice on April 16, 1964 from the IRS said it had seized lots of the Epsom’s equipment from W. V. Ratcliff due to tax delinquency.
An article in the April 28, 1975 issue of Boxoffice said that Spanish-language theaters such as the Epsom were seeing a surge of business, quoting from a Denver Post article. Ray Hugger owned three of them, including the Epsom Drive-In.
No present-day address is perfect for the Waco site is perfect, but I think 2221 S. Slocumb is a bit closer.
The Raleigh News and Observer noted on Jan. 16, 1952 that Goldsboro’s Waco Drive-In Theatre had suffered a break-in, with a loss of about $135 in candy, cigarettes, and cigars.
Later that year, manager Starkey Howard distributed copies of “A Driver’s Prayer,” published by the North Carolina department of motor vehicles, to all Waco patrons, according to the Aug. 9, 1952 issue of Boxoffice.
The drive-in was included in a 1958 topo map. Aerial photos show that someone added three or four rows to the narrow viewing field between 1959 and 1977. Photos show it intact in 1983, overgrown but with the screen still up in 1993, and the entire site razed by 1997.
Boxoffice, April 27, 1970: “An agreement on leasing between Bridgham Theatres of Dover, N. H., and Mrs. Joena Seward of Rutland assures the Rutland Drive-In of one more year of operation, according to manager Edwin Morgan. The lease was terminated by Mrs. Seward in 1968 and the ruling was upheld in February 1969 by the state supreme court. The land upon which the drive-in is situated has become much more valuable since the theatre was built in 1947.”
Boxoffice, March 9, 1970: “Harry Mohney, Durand theatre circuit operator, has purchased the Laney Drive-Ins in Michigan from Mrs. Margaret Laney, wife of the late founder. The theatres involved are: Alpena and Thunder Bay drive-ins, Alpena, and Sunset Drive-In, Lapeer. Buying and booking of films will be handled by Clark Theatre Service, Oak Park.”
Boxoffice, April 27, 1970: “Sheriff’s deputies censored movies at the Sunset Drive-In as they were being shown, under orders from the circuit court judge, on a recent Friday night. An injunction was issued at the request of the Lapeer County prosecutor, which banned the showing of "obscene” portions of the picture. Deputies and the prosecutor stood by where the film was being run and the prosecutor placed his hand in front of the projector lens to edit the film. The parts found to be objectionable were deleted for Saturday and Sunday evening showings."
The Red Bluff was raided for its choice of films as early as February 1970.
Boxoffice, April 27, 1970: “PASADENA, TEX. - An ordinance regulating drive-in theatres was passed on final reading by the city council Tuesday night, March 31. The ordinance was the latest step by the city in its running fight with the management of the Red Bluff Drive-In over the showing of nudie movies … Drafting of the ordinance followed police raids on the Red Bluff Drive-In February 17 and 18, resulting in confiscation of two films and arrest of three employees.”
Boxoffice, April 27, 1970: “Acquisition of … the Beltline 67 Drive-In … was announced by B. R. McLendon and Robert Hartgrove, chairman of the board and president, respectively, of McLendon Theatres … The Beltline-67 was purchased from a syndicate of owners headed by Leon Theatres of Santa Fe, James McQuaid of Garland, Dollen Russell of Dallas, and G. S. Hill of Santa Fe. McLendon expressed pleasure at the acquisition of the 900-car Beltline, which has a distinctive frontier-style architecture”
Boxoffice, April 27, 1970: “Acquisition of the Bronco Drive-In of El Paso … was announced by B. R. McLendon and Robert Hartgrove, chairman of the board and president, respectively, of McLendon Theatres … The Bronco joins the triple-screen Cinema Park Drive-In at El Paso as a McLendon operation.”
Boxoffice, Feb. 16, 1970: “LAKE WALES, FLA. - A 350-car drive-in west of town, closed for several years, is being renovated for a spring opening by Floyd Enterprises, which purchased the property from Talgar Theatres. Named the Wales when it was last in operation, the airer is being resurfaced, a new snack bar and restrooms facilities installed and the screen widened to accommodate a 70x35-foot picture. Completely new equipment is being installed in the projection booth.”
Boxoffice, April 27, 1970: “LAKE WALES, FLA. - The long-shuttered Wales Drive-In, one mile from town off Highway 60, has been rebuilt and reopened by Floyd Enterprises. Featuring a spacious concessions building, the Wales now has capacity for 375 cars in front of its new 35x70-foot screen.”
Looks like it was closed by 1970.
Boxoffice, April 27, 1970: “R. H. Tricker, manager of the downtown Princess Theatre as well as the drive-in being constructed to replace the old Cascades Drive-In, has started a contest to name the new airer.”
Boxoffice, April 27, 1970: “Harold Goldstein of Goldstein Drive-Ins, Schenectady, has purchased the Bennington, Vt., airer from Willard & Alonzo. It’s a 15-year-old drive-in the the neighboring Green Mountain state. Bridgham Theatres of New Hampshire had been recent lessees, with David Bridgham, son of the circuit president, as supervisor.”
I wonder whether this note is related to the Woodstock.
Boxoffice, April 20, 1970: “EDMOND, OKLA. - A request for rezoning to allow construction of a drive-in theatre was denied here by members of the city planning commission last month.”
Boxoffice, April 20, 1970: “Final papers for the lease of the Twilight Drive-In in Livingston have been signed between Theatre Operators, Ind., and Mr. and Mrs. Boehm of Livingston, it was announced recently by TOI district manager Dan Grudziadz.”
A young couple died of carbon monoxide poisoning at the Stony Brook on the night of March 21, 1970, according to a report in Boxoffice a month later. A heavy fog obscured the viewing field, so attendants didn’t notice their car in a distant area by a fence until the following morning.
Boxoffice, April 20, 1970: “The record heavy winter snows reportedly caved in the roof of the concession building at Vail Mills Drive-In outside Amsterdam. The mishap is expected to delay reopening.”
Boxoffice, April 20, 1970: “Fabian Theatres notified exchanges and service people the circuit would assume operation of Tri-City Twin Drive-Ins, Albany-Troy Road, effective Wednesday (1), it was reported. Esquire Theatres of Boston had conducted the local exchange’s first outdoor dualer since its opening in August 1966 … Tri-Cities has been a year-round movie spot - weekends only during the winter.”
Boxoffice, March 30, 1970: “With the opening of the Hillcrest Drive-In, Langley, as an Odeon theatre, Frank (Marshall) is now supervising the house along with the Odeon Westminster Drive-In and the Clova Cloverdale”
Boxoffice, March 30, 1970: “With the opening of the Hillcrest Drive-In, Langley, as an Odeon theatre, Frank (Marshall) is now supervising the house along with the Odeon Westminster Drive-In and the Clova Cloverdale”
Boxoffice, Feb. 23, 1970: “Highway 90 Drive-In at nearby Baldwin was relinquished Wednesday (18) by its long-time owner and operator Robert R. Totman. The airer was acquired by Harry Clark and Dave Roper, both of Jacksonville”
Boxoffice, March 30, 1970: “Harry C. Clark and David E. Roper of Jacksonville purchased the Baldwin 90 Drive-In from R. E. Totman, effective February 17. Totman had operated the drive-in for 21 years. The new owners have had many years experience in exhibition as well as in other businesses in the film industry.”
Boxoffice, March 30, 1970: “Ernie Block has sold his Nemaha Drive-In to Ernest Petry of Sabetha. Petry is in the insurance business.”
Boxoffice, March 30, 1970: “The Dude Ranch Drive-In, one of the finest outdoor entertainment centers in the nation, will reopen soon, beginning its 20th (anniversary?) season. The airer, which boasts a western motif, was constructed along U.S. 71 south of Maryville in the fall of 1949 and was designed by the late C. E. "Doc” Cook … James E. Cook, son of the late showman, now operated both the Tivoli (Theatre) and Dude Ranch as Cook Enterprises."
Boxoffice, March 30, 1970: “Until last year (Elias "Louis”) Sutter and (Chris) Ellis operated the 63rd Drive-In before selling out to Mid-America (Cinema Drive-In Theatres). The circuit also operates the I-70, Twin and State Twins in the Kansas City area."
I guess this highway rerouting never happened.
Boxoffice, March 30, 1970: “Two noted outdoor theatres on Route 30 seem to have their months and years of activity limited … The Maple Drive-In at Circleville seems to be doomed via a highway relocation. Both are Associated Theatres operations.”
Boxoffice, March 30, 1970: “Two noted outdoor theatres on Route 30 seem to have their months and years of activity limited. Super 30, the Mideast area’s first de luxe drive-in, near Irwin, financed by Theodore Grance, has a season or two to go. This property then will be the eventual site of another shopping center. The Maple Drive-In at Circleville seems to be doomed via a highway relocation. Both are Associated Theatres operations.”
Boxoffice ran a two-page story (with photos) about the Grand Bay on Nov. 1, 1952. It said the drive-in had in-car speakers for 650 vehicles, and had drinking fountains and telephine booths “spotted throughout the grounds”. Some patrons arrived on “all kinds of craft using the St. John river on which the property is located.”
The entire Franklin and Herschorn circuit, including the Grand Bay, was sold to Famous Players Canadian Corp., according to a note in the March 23, 1970 Boxoffice.