More info suggesting the rough condition of the Skyway in its final years, from Boxoffice, June 4, 1962: “There is no report as yet that the Skyway Drive-In will reopen this year. But judging from stories told by previous employes of this out-of-the-way ozoner concerning its nature wildlife, it is their belief it would have been an ideal site for "Cleopatra” to have gone on location. 20th-Fox would have had little difficulty casting the part of the asp"
Boxoffice, June 5, 1961: “Fred Curtis, owner of the Tepee Theatre and the Rio Drive-In at Thermopolis, Wyo., died at the age of 55 after a lengthy illness.”
Boxoffice, May 28, 1962: “Paul Cory is taking over operation of the Rio Drive-In and the Tepee Theatre in Thermopolis, Wyo., from the estate of the late Fred Curtis. He will continue to operate the West Drive-In at Riverton”
Boxoffice, May 21, 1962: “Paul Cory has opened a new drive-in restaurant, "The Dash Inn,” on the grounds of his new West Drive-In Theatre at Torrington, Wyo."
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.”
More info suggesting the rough condition of the Skyway in its final years, from Boxoffice, June 4, 1962: “There is no report as yet that the Skyway Drive-In will reopen this year. But judging from stories told by previous employes of this out-of-the-way ozoner concerning its nature wildlife, it is their belief it would have been an ideal site for "Cleopatra” to have gone on location. 20th-Fox would have had little difficulty casting the part of the asp"
Boxoffice, June 5, 1961: “Fred Curtis, owner of the Tepee Theatre and the Rio Drive-In at Thermopolis, Wyo., died at the age of 55 after a lengthy illness.”
Boxoffice, May 28, 1962: “Paul Cory is taking over operation of the Rio Drive-In and the Tepee Theatre in Thermopolis, Wyo., from the estate of the late Fred Curtis. He will continue to operate the West Drive-In at Riverton”
Boxoffice, May 28, 1962: “Oscar Tellefson has taken over the operation of the Motor Vu Drive-In at Rock Springs, Wyo.”
Boxoffice, May 21, 1962: “Paul Cory has opened a new drive-in restaurant, "The Dash Inn,” on the grounds of his new West Drive-In Theatre at Torrington, Wyo."
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.”