Boxoffice, June 1, 1957: “A tornado which tore through (southern St. Louis County) late on the afternoon of May 22 did more than $5,000 damage to (Ronnie’s). About 1,000 feet of corrugated metal fence was blown down, some pieces being found 2½ miles away. Some small out buildings were blown down and there was some damage to the screen tower, but the drive-in has been able to continue operations.”
Boxoffice, June 1, 1957: “OTHELLO, WASH. – George and Clayton Finkbeiner have sold their Sunset Drive-In to the Cherokee Theatres, which has renamed the airer the Powwow.”
Boxoffice, May 11, 1957: “VERNAL, UTAH – A short circuit in the wiring was blamed for a fire that destroyed the screen at the Starlite Drive-in west of town. Firemen were called at 11:45 p.m. and fought the raging fire, fanned by a high wind, until 2:30 a.m. Flames leaped 100 feet into the air until the 60-foot screen toppled over. Damage was estimated in the region of $1,200, part of which was covered by insurance. The drive-in is operated by Deward and Alson Shiner. They estimated that the theatre would be back in operation about June 1.”
The May 4, 1957 issue of Boxoffice ran a three-page spread, with plenty of photos, about the Lone Tree. “From the extra-wide (120-foot) screen to the enticing kiddyland and the 12-employe concession stand with a grocery story for forgetful shoppers, the new theatre is outstanding not only in Texas, but is among the finest and largest in the nation.”
Boxoffice, March 16, 1957: “John Roberts has closed the Emerson, Brush, Colo., and will not open the drive-in there this summer. Brush is no doubt the largest city in the (Denver) territory without a theatre. The 1950 population was 2,431.”
Boxoffice, May 4, 1957: “William Ashton has reopened the Emerson, Brush, Colo. The house, owned by John Roberts, was closed some months ago. Ashton had managed the house, so made arrangements to lease the house.”
Looks like Kenmore’s guess was about perfect. Boxoffice, April 27, 1957: “HOBBS, N. M. – Two drive-in theatres – the Tradewind and the Sunset, both on North Grimes between Princess Jeanne drive and Bender boulevard – have been sold to Frontier Theatres. O. O. Knotts, former owner of the two theatres, said the transaction included a modern home occupied by Knotts between the theatres. … Mark J. Cable, city manager for Frontier Theatres, said the two drive-ins would be closed "for the time being.” … Construction on the Sunset was completed in 1954."
Boxoffice, April 27, 1957: “HOBBS, N. M. – Two drive-in theatres – the Tradewind and the Sunset, both on North Grimes between Princess Jeanne drive and Bender boulevard – have been sold to Frontier Theatres. O. O. Knotts, former owner of the two theatres, said the transaction included a modern home occupied by Knotts between the theatres. … Mark J. Cable, city manager for Frontier Theatres, said the two drive-ins would be closed "for the time being.” Knotts built the Tradewind, northernmost theatre of the two, in 1953."
Boxoffice, April 13, 1957: “An east Kingman suburb was blacked out for 30 minutes when a 60 mph wind felled a large outdoor theatre screen across a power line. The screen was at the Sage Drive-In about three miles east of Kingman.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 21, 1954: “Mr. and Mrs. L. H. Mills have bought the El Capitan and the El Rio, along with the Chico Drive-In, Espanola, N. M., from the Fidel Theatres, Inc.”
Boxoffice, April 6, 1957: “Lester Dollison has bought the Chico Drive-In and the El Rio in Espanola, N. M., from the El Fidel Theatres”
As suggested by the Motion Picture Almanac, Howard Larsen must have sold to William Bradfield, owner of Carthage MO’s 66, in 1956. Also, two notes in Boxoffice but nowhere else AFAIK indicate that the Webb City was known as the Dixie Drive-In under both owners. Spot-checking, it advertised in the July 20, 1956 and Aug. 5, 1957 Joplin News Herald as the Webb City. Maybe the Boxoffice columnist had a wire permanently crossed?
Boxoffice, July 21, 1956: “Howard Larsen closed his Civic Theatre at Webb City, Mo., for the balance of the summer. He operates the Dixie Drive-In there.”
In Joplin Globe ads, the Webb City switched to $1 carload pricing, same as the Bradfield-owned 66 Drive-In, on Aug. 10, 1956, so that might indicate when the Webb City was sold.
Boxoffice, March 30, 1957: “WEBB CITY, MO. – The Civic Theatre, closed since last December, was reopened under new management Friday (22). Bill Bradfield of Carthage is the new owner … The Dixie Drive-In, under the same management, reopened the following Friday (29).”
Boxoffice, March 30, 1957: “WEBB CITY, MO. – The Civic Theatre, closed since last December, was reopened under new management Friday (22). Bill Bradfield of Carthage is the new owner … The Civic had been refurbished before its opening.”
An article in the March 30, 1957 issue of Boxoffice liberally quoted a newspaper article written by Kelly A. Crawford, Allen Theatres manager, describing the history of theaters in the county. “The Allen remained the only theatre in the county until 1926, when J. O. Manning built and opened a theatre at Aztec.”
An article in the March 30, 1957 issue of Boxoffice liberally quoted a newspaper article written by Kelly A. Crawford, Allen Theatres manager, describing the history of theaters in the county. “The first motion picture theatre was opened in the San Juan basin at Farmington in the summer of 1912 by Frank B. Allen … Not only was it one of the first movie houses in the U. S., but today the Allen Theatre is the oldest theatre in the Rocky mountain area under the same family operation.”
Boxoffice, March 23, 1957: “Leonard Steele, owner of the Vida, Spearfish, and Wally O'Neil, owner of the Hills Drive-In there, are each building new homes in Spearfish.”
Boxoffice, March 23, 1957: “Gibralter Enterprises has sold the Sierra Drive-In, Socorro, N. M., to Lester Dollison, who now has six theatres in New Mexico”
Adding emphasis to the closing date. Boxoffice, March 16, 1957: “The Black Hills Amusement Co., which recently bought the Stockade Drive-In, Chadron, Neb., is dismantling the ozoner.”
Boxoffice, March 9, 1957: “Glen Wittstruck has sold the Rio in Meeker, as well as his home there, to Dr. Willis E. Scott, a dentist. … He still owns the Buckskin Drive-In, Ignacio, Colo, which is on the market”
Boxoffice, Feb. 9, 1957: “O. K. Leonard, owner of the Apache, Globe, Ariz., has taken over the Joy ozoner in nearby Cactus from J. L. Lightfoot. The Joy is being renamed the Cactus, with W. G. McKinley appointed as manager.”
Within Arizona but outside of Tucson, which is not near Globe, I can’t find a Cactus or Joy drive-in, or a town named Cactus for that matter. It would be interesting if Cactus was a name for what is now part of Globe, and that the Joy which became the Cactus later became the second Apache. It’s just as likely that some guy at Boxoffice got something wrong again.
Aha, here’s what happened to it. Boxoffice, Feb. 9, 1957: “AKRON, COLO. – Fred Hall, a high school teacher here, and his wife have sold the Varsity Theatre to Jack and Jim McMillion.”
Boxoffice, Jan. 19, 1957: “Marie Ortiz, seventh grade pupil, won the first prize in the contest to rename the Isis Theatre. Her winning name was the Spur.”
Boxoffice, Dec. 15, 1956: “Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell Kelloff have taken over the 800-seat Uptown in Pueblo and will operate it. The house has been operated the past 25 years by the Cooper Foundation Theatres.”
Boxoffice, Nov. 17, 1956: “Ed and John Nelson have closed the Olathe, Olathe, Colo. They were unable to show a profit even with the full cooperation of the merchants”
Boxoffice, June 8, 1957: “H. & D. Jensen have bought the Oshkosh Drive-In, Oshkosh, Neb., from Perry Petry.”
Boxoffice, June 1, 1957: “A tornado which tore through (southern St. Louis County) late on the afternoon of May 22 did more than $5,000 damage to (Ronnie’s). About 1,000 feet of corrugated metal fence was blown down, some pieces being found 2½ miles away. Some small out buildings were blown down and there was some damage to the screen tower, but the drive-in has been able to continue operations.”
Boxoffice, June 1, 1957: “OTHELLO, WASH. – George and Clayton Finkbeiner have sold their Sunset Drive-In to the Cherokee Theatres, which has renamed the airer the Powwow.”
Boxoffice, May 11, 1957: “VERNAL, UTAH – A short circuit in the wiring was blamed for a fire that destroyed the screen at the Starlite Drive-in west of town. Firemen were called at 11:45 p.m. and fought the raging fire, fanned by a high wind, until 2:30 a.m. Flames leaped 100 feet into the air until the 60-foot screen toppled over. Damage was estimated in the region of $1,200, part of which was covered by insurance. The drive-in is operated by Deward and Alson Shiner. They estimated that the theatre would be back in operation about June 1.”
The May 4, 1957 issue of Boxoffice ran a three-page spread, with plenty of photos, about the Lone Tree. “From the extra-wide (120-foot) screen to the enticing kiddyland and the 12-employe concession stand with a grocery story for forgetful shoppers, the new theatre is outstanding not only in Texas, but is among the finest and largest in the nation.”
Boxoffice, March 16, 1957: “John Roberts has closed the Emerson, Brush, Colo., and will not open the drive-in there this summer. Brush is no doubt the largest city in the (Denver) territory without a theatre. The 1950 population was 2,431.”
Boxoffice, May 4, 1957: “William Ashton has reopened the Emerson, Brush, Colo. The house, owned by John Roberts, was closed some months ago. Ashton had managed the house, so made arrangements to lease the house.”
Looks like Kenmore’s guess was about perfect. Boxoffice, April 27, 1957: “HOBBS, N. M. – Two drive-in theatres – the Tradewind and the Sunset, both on North Grimes between Princess Jeanne drive and Bender boulevard – have been sold to Frontier Theatres. O. O. Knotts, former owner of the two theatres, said the transaction included a modern home occupied by Knotts between the theatres. … Mark J. Cable, city manager for Frontier Theatres, said the two drive-ins would be closed "for the time being.” … Construction on the Sunset was completed in 1954."
Boxoffice, April 27, 1957: “HOBBS, N. M. – Two drive-in theatres – the Tradewind and the Sunset, both on North Grimes between Princess Jeanne drive and Bender boulevard – have been sold to Frontier Theatres. O. O. Knotts, former owner of the two theatres, said the transaction included a modern home occupied by Knotts between the theatres. … Mark J. Cable, city manager for Frontier Theatres, said the two drive-ins would be closed "for the time being.” Knotts built the Tradewind, northernmost theatre of the two, in 1953."
Boxoffice, April 13, 1957: “An east Kingman suburb was blacked out for 30 minutes when a 60 mph wind felled a large outdoor theatre screen across a power line. The screen was at the Sage Drive-In about three miles east of Kingman.”
How many times did Fidel sell this drive-in?
Boxoffice, Aug. 21, 1954: “Mr. and Mrs. L. H. Mills have bought the El Capitan and the El Rio, along with the Chico Drive-In, Espanola, N. M., from the Fidel Theatres, Inc.”
Boxoffice, April 6, 1957: “Lester Dollison has bought the Chico Drive-In and the El Rio in Espanola, N. M., from the El Fidel Theatres”
Boxoffice, April 6, 1957: “Bob Morley has sold the San Jose Drive-In, Albuquerque, to Carl Halberg, who has renamed it the Tri-C”
As suggested by the Motion Picture Almanac, Howard Larsen must have sold to William Bradfield, owner of Carthage MO’s 66, in 1956. Also, two notes in Boxoffice but nowhere else AFAIK indicate that the Webb City was known as the Dixie Drive-In under both owners. Spot-checking, it advertised in the July 20, 1956 and Aug. 5, 1957 Joplin News Herald as the Webb City. Maybe the Boxoffice columnist had a wire permanently crossed?
Boxoffice, July 21, 1956: “Howard Larsen closed his Civic Theatre at Webb City, Mo., for the balance of the summer. He operates the Dixie Drive-In there.”
In Joplin Globe ads, the Webb City switched to $1 carload pricing, same as the Bradfield-owned 66 Drive-In, on Aug. 10, 1956, so that might indicate when the Webb City was sold.
Boxoffice, March 30, 1957: “WEBB CITY, MO. – The Civic Theatre, closed since last December, was reopened under new management Friday (22). Bill Bradfield of Carthage is the new owner … The Dixie Drive-In, under the same management, reopened the following Friday (29).”
Boxoffice, March 30, 1957: “WEBB CITY, MO. – The Civic Theatre, closed since last December, was reopened under new management Friday (22). Bill Bradfield of Carthage is the new owner … The Civic had been refurbished before its opening.”
An article in the March 30, 1957 issue of Boxoffice liberally quoted a newspaper article written by Kelly A. Crawford, Allen Theatres manager, describing the history of theaters in the county. “The Allen remained the only theatre in the county until 1926, when J. O. Manning built and opened a theatre at Aztec.”
An article in the March 30, 1957 issue of Boxoffice liberally quoted a newspaper article written by Kelly A. Crawford, Allen Theatres manager, describing the history of theaters in the county. “The first motion picture theatre was opened in the San Juan basin at Farmington in the summer of 1912 by Frank B. Allen … Not only was it one of the first movie houses in the U. S., but today the Allen Theatre is the oldest theatre in the Rocky mountain area under the same family operation.”
Boxoffice, March 23, 1957: “Leonard Steele, owner of the Vida, Spearfish, and Wally O'Neil, owner of the Hills Drive-In there, are each building new homes in Spearfish.”
Boxoffice, March 23, 1957: “Gibralter Enterprises has sold the Sierra Drive-In, Socorro, N. M., to Lester Dollison, who now has six theatres in New Mexico”
Adding emphasis to the closing date. Boxoffice, March 16, 1957: “The Black Hills Amusement Co., which recently bought the Stockade Drive-In, Chadron, Neb., is dismantling the ozoner.”
Boxoffice, March 9, 1957: “Glen Wittstruck has sold the Rio in Meeker, as well as his home there, to Dr. Willis E. Scott, a dentist. … He still owns the Buckskin Drive-In, Ignacio, Colo, which is on the market”
Boxoffice, March 9, 1957: “Glen Wittstruck has sold the Rio in Meeker, as well as his home there, to Dr. Willis E. Scott, a dentist.”
Boxoffice, Feb. 9, 1957: “O. K. Leonard, owner of the Apache, Globe, Ariz., has taken over the Joy ozoner in nearby Cactus from J. L. Lightfoot. The Joy is being renamed the Cactus, with W. G. McKinley appointed as manager.”
Within Arizona but outside of Tucson, which is not near Globe, I can’t find a Cactus or Joy drive-in, or a town named Cactus for that matter. It would be interesting if Cactus was a name for what is now part of Globe, and that the Joy which became the Cactus later became the second Apache. It’s just as likely that some guy at Boxoffice got something wrong again.
Aha, here’s what happened to it. Boxoffice, Feb. 9, 1957: “AKRON, COLO. – Fred Hall, a high school teacher here, and his wife have sold the Varsity Theatre to Jack and Jim McMillion.”
Boxoffice, Jan. 19, 1957: “Marie Ortiz, seventh grade pupil, won the first prize in the contest to rename the Isis Theatre. Her winning name was the Spur.”
Boxoffice, Dec. 15, 1956: “Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell Kelloff have taken over the 800-seat Uptown in Pueblo and will operate it. The house has been operated the past 25 years by the Cooper Foundation Theatres.”
Boxoffice, Nov. 17, 1956: “Ed and John Nelson have closed the Olathe, Olathe, Colo. They were unable to show a profit even with the full cooperation of the merchants”