Boxoffice, May 7, 1962: “Westates Amusements Corp. is taking over the Santa Paula Drive-In from the Milt Smiths. June Poynter will do the booking and buying”
In the 1956 Motion Picture Almanac, the drive-in’s name changed to the Wyo; it’s likely that it opened that way for the 1955 season. Seven years later…
Boxoffice, April 30, 1962: “Black Hills Amusement Co. has acquired the Wyo Drive-In at Newcastle, Wyo., from Wally O'Neill”
Boxoffice, Feb. 19, 1962: “Pacific Drive-In Theatres took over operation of the Warner Drive-In in Huntington Beach and the Lincoln Drive-In at Cypress, effective the 14th”
Boxoffice, Feb. 19, 1962: “Pacific Drive-In Theatres took over operation of the Warner Drive-In in Huntington Beach and the Lincoln Drive-In at Cypress, effective the 14th”
Boxoffice, Jan. 1, 1962: “Commonwealth Theatres, with headquarters in Kansas City, has taken over the operation of the Midwest, Bluffs and Oto theatres in Scottsbluff, Neb., as well as Biggers Drive-In and Terry’s Drive-In theatres.”
Boxoffice, Jan. 1, 1962: “Commonwealth Theatres, with headquarters in Kansas City, has taken over the operation of the Midwest, Bluffs and Oto theatres in Scottsbluff, Neb., as well as Biggers Drive-In and Terry’s Drive-In theatres.”
Boxoffice, Jan. 1, 1962: “Commonwealth Theatres, with headquarters in Kansas City, has taken over the operation of the Midwest, Bluffs and Oto theatres in Scottsbluff, Neb., as well as Biggers Drive-In and Terry’s Drive-In theatres.”
Boxoffice, Jan. 1, 1962: “Commonwealth Theatres, with headquarters in Kansas City, has taken over the operation of the Midwest, Bluffs and Oto theatres in Scottsbluff, Neb., as well as Biggers Drive-In and Terry’s Drive-In theatres.”
A few more details from Boxoffice, Jan. 1, 1962: “This is the first outdoor theatre to be built from the ground up by (Fox West Coast Theatres). The theatre has a 114x55-foot screen, transitorized (sic) sound, illuminated speaker posts, and a children’s playground. … Two days before the formal opening, Fox held an open house offering a free screen program, free Pepsi-Cola, popcorn and pizza.”
According to an article in the Sept. 22, 1996 edition of the Rocky Mountain News, the Tru-Vu “opened on Friday, March 11, 1955, with Randolph Scott in Canadian Pacific and Abbott and Costello in The Naughty Nineties.”
Adding detail to the reported 1960 fire, 1996-owner Jeannie Dewsnup told the News that she had heard that a then-juvenile related to “the owner of the Big Sky once piled bales of hay in the projection room of the Tru Vu, and set them afire. When they (the Dewsnups) purchased the Tru Vu in 1967, the walls of the projection room were still black – lending credence to at least part of the story.”
Boxoffice, April 19, 1976: “COUNCIL GROVE, KAS. – Mr. and Mrs. Cle Bratton, who have operated theatre here the past 42 years, announce the recent sale of the Chief Drive-In to Mr. and Mrs. Davy Picolet who plan some remodeling work for the theatre before its early May opening.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 12, 1968: Marlin Butler has sold the Sunset Drive-In at Albuquerque, N.M., to Commonwealth-Frontier Theatres, headquartered in Kansas City.
Boxoffice, Feb. 25, 1963: “Also changing hands was John Murray’s Capitol Theatre at Springfield, which is now being operated by Ike Ross and Bernie Newman”. Newman would also buy the local drive-in a year later.
Boxoffice, June 23, 1969: “The Windsor Theatre, Windsor, Mo. has been sold by Mr. and Mrs. Harold Porta to Cecil Kessinger and Mrs. James Marshall, effective Friday (20).”
The Morning Call of Allentown PA reported yesterday that “Bill Reese, owner of the longstanding Gap Theatre in Wind Gap, announced that the theater would be closing in a Friday (Jan. 24) post on the business’ Facebook page.” The article said that the Gap’s phone number had been disconnected.
Although Frank Piazza later continued to own the Fox, reopening it after a short closure in 1980, per a Boxoffice note, he put it up for sale in a classified ad in the Jan. 26, 1976 edition.
“A-1 580 SEAT downtown conventional and 300 car, 40 x 80' screen drive-in in non-competitive area with 7,000 population. New modern three bedroom home included and all properties guaranteed in tip-top condition. City located in middle of one of the greatest coal reserves in U.S. and the big boom is just starting. $350,000.00 takes it all. Frank Piazza, Fox Theatre, Walsenburg, Colorado. (303) 738-1962.”
Billboard, December 1981: “Mrs. Ted Jones, president and general manager, recently announced the opening of the new Balsam Drive In Theatres I & II in Victorville, California. … Each theatre will handle 255 cars, thereby making a total capacity of 510 cars. The theatre will be under the management of Jack Baldock and his assistant manager, Pat Stump. … The Balsam Drive-In Theatres are fully automated and feature the new Polecat Radio Sound plus regular drive-in theatre speakers … alternated every other pole"
The Yale closed on Feb. 22, 1975, according to a March 24 Boxoffice article. “The Yale Theatre was originally a livery stable built by Clem Rogers, and later owned by his son Will. In 1922, Will decided to sell the building. When no owner could be found immediately, the building was leased and turned into a theatre. The Yale Theatre was sold in 1926 to the Robb and Riley interests. … At another time in its long and colorful history, the Yale was purchased by the mysterious Howard Hughes, who kept the property for a few months before selling it to the L. C. Griffith Amusement Co. of Oklahoma City.”
A roundup in the Aug. 8, 1953 issue included: “Bristow, Okla. – The new 300-car Pirate Drive-In here has opened. It is owned by Henry Simpson, who operates the Walmur and Princess theatres.”
Jan. 21, 1963: “Mrs. Willie Wilkinson, co-owner of the Princess Theatre and Pirate Drive-In, … was found dead at her home Saturday (12). … Mrs. Wilkinson … (earlier) moved to Bristow where she was interest in the theatres there with Henry Simpson and wife. Mrs. Simpson is a niece of Mrs. Wilkinson.”
Dec. 6, 1963: “Henry Simpson (has) closed his Pirate Drive-In and did not reopen his Princess Theatre”
March 2, 1964: “The Princess Theatre has been reopened by Bill Wilkinson, manager of the Pirate Drive-In, for weekend bookings. … He also plans to operate the Pirate Drive-In again this summer.”
June 8, 1964: “Bill Wilkinson, who operates the Princess Theatre and Pirate Drive-In in Bristow, … is the son of the late Speck and Mrs. Wilkinson who operated the theatres in Rush Springs and Comanche for many years.”
Dec. 7, 1964: “Bill Wilkinson … borrowed a hay trailer from a friend and built an 8x16-foot plywood frame on it, just the right size for a 24-sheet featuring Liz Taylor and Dick Burton in "Cleopatra.” … His pickup truck pulled the mobile 24-sheet, with loudspeakers and 24x82-inch banners, all over the country. … “I’m happy to say we set new records for any show playing the same length at the Pirate Drive-In.”"
July 8, 1968: “Henry Simpson (who) was operating the Pirate … did not like the theatre business. He became a Creek County deputy sheriff … and the Wilkinsons took over the Princess and the Pirate” The article quoted liberally from a Tulsa World article, which said, “After his mother’s death, young Wilkinson bought out the other partner and has been the sole operator. … The young theatre owner will receive his law degree from the Tulsa University next December … He has stated that he would like to sell his drive-in theatre and spend all his time in the practice of law.”
March 24, 1969: “Freeman Holmes and O. D. Holt are new operators of the Pirate Drive-In, Bristow.”
Feb. 11, 1974: “Freeman Holmes, becoming so involved in selling mobile homes and cattle ranching that he decided to get out of exhibition, has sold the Pirate Drive-In at Bristow to Richard Stromme.”
A Cinema Radio ad in the Aug. 6, 1979 issue included Stromme of the Pirate as one of its delighted customers, and that was the last mention I could find of Bristow’s drive-in.
A roundup in the July 26, 1952 issue of Boxoffice mentioned: “The new Bearcat Drive-In has been opened by Lamar Guthrie.”
July 29, 1963: “Mr. and Mrs. Garland Dobson will close their Bearcat Drive-In (for the season?) in Erick October 31 with a Halloween show.”
And the final note, on Nov. 2, 1964: “Lamar Guthrie, who operated the Rogue Theatre and the Bearcat Drive-In for many years, has announced the dismantling of the drive-in. … For the last few years, Garland Dobson and his wife have been operating the drive-in, but they closed it a few months ago and Guthrie was unsuccessful in getting another operator to take it over … The land has been purchased by a nearby farmer.”
Boxoffice, May 14, 1962: “Holly Chambers is now operating the Center Theatre and Frontier Drive-In at Center”
Boxoffice, May 7, 1962: “Westates Amusements Corp. is taking over the Santa Paula Drive-In from the Milt Smiths. June Poynter will do the booking and buying”
In the 1956 Motion Picture Almanac, the drive-in’s name changed to the Wyo; it’s likely that it opened that way for the 1955 season. Seven years later…
Boxoffice, April 30, 1962: “Black Hills Amusement Co. has acquired the Wyo Drive-In at Newcastle, Wyo., from Wally O'Neill”
Boxoffice, April 30, 1962: “C. W. Curran has taken over the operation of the Ramona in Kremmling from Paul Heeney”
Boxoffice, March 19, 1962: “Mat Appleman & Associates has taken over the Covina Drive-In from J. E. Poynter and partners”
Boxoffice, Feb. 19, 1962: “Pacific Drive-In Theatres took over operation of the Warner Drive-In in Huntington Beach and the Lincoln Drive-In at Cypress, effective the 14th”
Boxoffice, Feb. 19, 1962: “Pacific Drive-In Theatres took over operation of the Warner Drive-In in Huntington Beach and the Lincoln Drive-In at Cypress, effective the 14th”
Boxoffice, Jan. 8, 1962: “The Bel Aire Drive-In, Fontana, has been taken over by Pacific Drive-In Theatres, including booking and buying”
Boxoffice, Jan. 1, 1962: “Commonwealth Theatres, with headquarters in Kansas City, has taken over the operation of the Midwest, Bluffs and Oto theatres in Scottsbluff, Neb., as well as Biggers Drive-In and Terry’s Drive-In theatres.”
Boxoffice, Jan. 1, 1962: “Commonwealth Theatres, with headquarters in Kansas City, has taken over the operation of the Midwest, Bluffs and Oto theatres in Scottsbluff, Neb., as well as Biggers Drive-In and Terry’s Drive-In theatres.”
Boxoffice, Jan. 1, 1962: “Commonwealth Theatres, with headquarters in Kansas City, has taken over the operation of the Midwest, Bluffs and Oto theatres in Scottsbluff, Neb., as well as Biggers Drive-In and Terry’s Drive-In theatres.”
Boxoffice, Jan. 1, 1962: “Commonwealth Theatres, with headquarters in Kansas City, has taken over the operation of the Midwest, Bluffs and Oto theatres in Scottsbluff, Neb., as well as Biggers Drive-In and Terry’s Drive-In theatres.”
A few more details from Boxoffice, Jan. 1, 1962: “This is the first outdoor theatre to be built from the ground up by (Fox West Coast Theatres). The theatre has a 114x55-foot screen, transitorized (sic) sound, illuminated speaker posts, and a children’s playground. … Two days before the formal opening, Fox held an open house offering a free screen program, free Pepsi-Cola, popcorn and pizza.”
According to an article in the Sept. 22, 1996 edition of the Rocky Mountain News, the Tru-Vu “opened on Friday, March 11, 1955, with Randolph Scott in Canadian Pacific and Abbott and Costello in The Naughty Nineties.”
Adding detail to the reported 1960 fire, 1996-owner Jeannie Dewsnup told the News that she had heard that a then-juvenile related to “the owner of the Big Sky once piled bales of hay in the projection room of the Tru Vu, and set them afire. When they (the Dewsnups) purchased the Tru Vu in 1967, the walls of the projection room were still black – lending credence to at least part of the story.”
Boxoffice, April 19, 1976: “COUNCIL GROVE, KAS. – Mr. and Mrs. Cle Bratton, who have operated theatre here the past 42 years, announce the recent sale of the Chief Drive-In to Mr. and Mrs. Davy Picolet who plan some remodeling work for the theatre before its early May opening.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 12, 1968: Marlin Butler has sold the Sunset Drive-In at Albuquerque, N.M., to Commonwealth-Frontier Theatres, headquartered in Kansas City.
Boxoffice, Feb. 25, 1963: “Also changing hands was John Murray’s Capitol Theatre at Springfield, which is now being operated by Ike Ross and Bernie Newman”. Newman would also buy the local drive-in a year later.
Since this doubles as the Valley Drive-In thread, here’s proof of its lack of screen:
Boxoffice, June 23, 1969: “The Windsor Theatre, Windsor, Mo. has been sold by Mr. and Mrs. Harold Porta to Cecil Kessinger and Mrs. James Marshall, effective Friday (20).”
The Morning Call of Allentown PA reported yesterday that “Bill Reese, owner of the longstanding Gap Theatre in Wind Gap, announced that the theater would be closing in a Friday (Jan. 24) post on the business’ Facebook page.” The article said that the Gap’s phone number had been disconnected.
Although Frank Piazza later continued to own the Fox, reopening it after a short closure in 1980, per a Boxoffice note, he put it up for sale in a classified ad in the Jan. 26, 1976 edition.
“A-1 580 SEAT downtown conventional and 300 car, 40 x 80' screen drive-in in non-competitive area with 7,000 population. New modern three bedroom home included and all properties guaranteed in tip-top condition. City located in middle of one of the greatest coal reserves in U.S. and the big boom is just starting. $350,000.00 takes it all. Frank Piazza, Fox Theatre, Walsenburg, Colorado. (303) 738-1962.”
Billboard, December 1981: “Mrs. Ted Jones, president and general manager, recently announced the opening of the new Balsam Drive In Theatres I & II in Victorville, California. … Each theatre will handle 255 cars, thereby making a total capacity of 510 cars. The theatre will be under the management of Jack Baldock and his assistant manager, Pat Stump. … The Balsam Drive-In Theatres are fully automated and feature the new Polecat Radio Sound plus regular drive-in theatre speakers … alternated every other pole"
The Yale closed on Feb. 22, 1975, according to a March 24 Boxoffice article. “The Yale Theatre was originally a livery stable built by Clem Rogers, and later owned by his son Will. In 1922, Will decided to sell the building. When no owner could be found immediately, the building was leased and turned into a theatre. The Yale Theatre was sold in 1926 to the Robb and Riley interests. … At another time in its long and colorful history, the Yale was purchased by the mysterious Howard Hughes, who kept the property for a few months before selling it to the L. C. Griffith Amusement Co. of Oklahoma City.”
So many Boxoffice notes …
A roundup in the Aug. 8, 1953 issue included: “Bristow, Okla. – The new 300-car Pirate Drive-In here has opened. It is owned by Henry Simpson, who operates the Walmur and Princess theatres.”
Jan. 21, 1963: “Mrs. Willie Wilkinson, co-owner of the Princess Theatre and Pirate Drive-In, … was found dead at her home Saturday (12). … Mrs. Wilkinson … (earlier) moved to Bristow where she was interest in the theatres there with Henry Simpson and wife. Mrs. Simpson is a niece of Mrs. Wilkinson.”
Dec. 6, 1963: “Henry Simpson (has) closed his Pirate Drive-In and did not reopen his Princess Theatre”
March 2, 1964: “The Princess Theatre has been reopened by Bill Wilkinson, manager of the Pirate Drive-In, for weekend bookings. … He also plans to operate the Pirate Drive-In again this summer.”
June 8, 1964: “Bill Wilkinson, who operates the Princess Theatre and Pirate Drive-In in Bristow, … is the son of the late Speck and Mrs. Wilkinson who operated the theatres in Rush Springs and Comanche for many years.”
Dec. 7, 1964: “Bill Wilkinson … borrowed a hay trailer from a friend and built an 8x16-foot plywood frame on it, just the right size for a 24-sheet featuring Liz Taylor and Dick Burton in "Cleopatra.” … His pickup truck pulled the mobile 24-sheet, with loudspeakers and 24x82-inch banners, all over the country. … “I’m happy to say we set new records for any show playing the same length at the Pirate Drive-In.”"
July 8, 1968: “Henry Simpson (who) was operating the Pirate … did not like the theatre business. He became a Creek County deputy sheriff … and the Wilkinsons took over the Princess and the Pirate” The article quoted liberally from a Tulsa World article, which said, “After his mother’s death, young Wilkinson bought out the other partner and has been the sole operator. … The young theatre owner will receive his law degree from the Tulsa University next December … He has stated that he would like to sell his drive-in theatre and spend all his time in the practice of law.”
March 24, 1969: “Freeman Holmes and O. D. Holt are new operators of the Pirate Drive-In, Bristow.”
Feb. 11, 1974: “Freeman Holmes, becoming so involved in selling mobile homes and cattle ranching that he decided to get out of exhibition, has sold the Pirate Drive-In at Bristow to Richard Stromme.”
A Cinema Radio ad in the Aug. 6, 1979 issue included Stromme of the Pirate as one of its delighted customers, and that was the last mention I could find of Bristow’s drive-in.
A roundup in the July 26, 1952 issue of Boxoffice mentioned: “The new Bearcat Drive-In has been opened by Lamar Guthrie.”
July 29, 1963: “Mr. and Mrs. Garland Dobson will close their Bearcat Drive-In (for the season?) in Erick October 31 with a Halloween show.”
And the final note, on Nov. 2, 1964: “Lamar Guthrie, who operated the Rogue Theatre and the Bearcat Drive-In for many years, has announced the dismantling of the drive-in. … For the last few years, Garland Dobson and his wife have been operating the drive-in, but they closed it a few months ago and Guthrie was unsuccessful in getting another operator to take it over … The land has been purchased by a nearby farmer.”