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Admiral Twin Drive-In Consumed by Fire
posted by
Ross Melnick
on
September 4, 2010 at 6:56 pm
TULSA, OK – The Admiral Twin Drive-In was destroyed by fire on Thursday, September 2. The 1951 drive-in was a complete loss and the future of the site is unknown. More information at the Tulsa World website.
Comments (11)
Sad Video, maybe they can rebuilt the screen tower, but with no insurance?
Grass roots efforts are being reported by the local media as already being launched by fans of the theater to help the owner rebuild, including T-shirt sales. A Facebook group has reportedly has attracted hundreds of supporters, and the owner, according to the drive-in’s website, is establishing a PayPal account for donations. I hope the efforts succeed.
Apparently only the screen tower is what burned. Projection booths and snack bar are fine. They should be able to have Selby Screen Towers come build them new screens.
Was this a set up of one screen tower with two sides, one for one lot the backside for the other lot? If you have the space this seems like a great way to have two large screens on the same property.If they rebuild they can make the two new screens larger then the old ones.
I’ll bet there’s a good chance it was arson. What’s in a screen tower to burn except maybe 110v for light bulbs.
Some drive-ins store groundskeeping equipment in the screen tower like gasoline powred lawnmowers and weedeaters. It’s possible there may have even been cans of gasoline store in there too.
It was one HUGE screen tower with two sides. Very large drive in complex… held at least 1000 cars. Did great business too… The Outsiders was filmed here in the 80’s. They play it every once in a while and it normally sells out.
They have made a statement that there was nothing in the screen tower.
I hope the owner can rebuild. I wonder how a prefab two-sided screen tower can be constructed?
If the owner would get ahold of Shelby screens I am sure that they would be eager to take on this challenge. Shelby has probably on more than one occasion built screens that are larger than the one used at the Admiral and even though it is tough to find insurance coverage for a drive in screen having one constructed by Shelby makes it a little easier.
Perhaps there are SCRAP YARDS containing suitable used steel girders to frame the replacement screens. I hope so and good luck!
When I saw a movie there in April the projectors were so dim that it pretty much just seemed like we were sitting in a field with a bunch of other cars listening to the radio… couldn’t see anything. Hopefully they can get some new bulbs if/when they rebuild.