Boxoffice, April 7, 1956: “LIBERAL, KAS. – Jay Wooten of Hutchinson and Ben Adams of El Dorado have started grading in the north end of town for the construction of a new drive-in. The partners built the Great Western at the south end of town and have operated it since May 1949.”
Boxoffice, March 31, 1956: “H. L. Boehm, who operates theatres at Woodward, Okla., has bought the Mission and El Rancho Drive-In, Dalhart, Tex., from J. C. Parker.”
Boxoffice, March 24, 1956: “Recent sale of the Star Drive-In, south of Conrad, to the Kluth interests was announced by former owner, Ray Yeager, Brady. Yeager built the drive-in in the summer of 1952 and has owned and operated it the past four years.”
Boxoffice, March 10, 1956: “BOISE, IDA. – Lou Pressler of Seattle has purchased the Boise and Broadway drive-ins here. They were formerly owned by Joy Naylor and the late Milton Fry.”
Boxoffice, March 10, 1956: “BOISE, IDA. – Lou Pressler of Seattle has purchased the Boise and Broadway drive-ins here. They were formerly owned by Joy Naylor and the late Milton Fry.”
Boxoffice, Jan. 28, 1956: “TWENTYNINE PALMS, CALIF. – A mid-March opening is planned for Clemon’s Drive-In, a 365-car installation here, being built and to be operated by Art and Deldee Clemon. Designed by architect J. Arthur Drielsma of Los Angeles, the ozoner will feature a 60-foot screen, individual car speakers, snack bar and playground for the smallfry.”
More proof of existence: The Jan. 14, 1956 issue of Boxoffice described O. O. Knotts as the guy “who operates the Sunset and Trade Wind drive-in in Hobbs”.
With the distinctive contours of Johnson Lake in the background of the photo, the drive-in must have been at about 140 15 St E, Brooks, AB T1R 1C4, although there is no trace, just businesses, there today.
The Jan. 7, 1956 issue of Boxoffice ran a two-page story, with photos, dealing with the way Peter Umbertino and his son Robert built the Brooks “two miles north of town” even after the Trans-Canada Highway cut through the middle of the site. The story implied that the drive-in had one season under its belt, which would mean that it opened in 1955.
Boxoffice, Dec. 10, 1955: “HOBBS, N. M. – The Flamingo, new twin-screen drive-in on the Denver City highway, has been opened here with a 1,200-car capacity. George Fossell is manager of the theatre for All-States Theatres.”
Boxoffice, Oct. 22, 1955: “Ralph and Bruce Isaacson and Glenn Metcalf, local business men, have bought the Westernaire Drive-In from Frank and Helen Machler, who operated it through the recently completed season.”
Same Motor-In? Boxoffice, Oct. 8, 1955: “TULARE, CALIF. – The Harvey Amusement Co., San Francisco, has bought the 576-car Tulare Motor-In from the Robert L. Lippert theatre chain, also of San Francisco.”
The Oct. 1, 1955 issue of Boxoffice ran a two-page spread, with photos of the Twin Ranch. “Only one screen was ready for last summer, serving 300 cars. Mounted on a tower of pine poles set in concrete and braced with welded drill stem steel, the 41x82-foot screen was constructed of center match, covered with felt and faced with Transite.”
The Oct. 1, 1955 issue of Boxoffice added a few more names. “Manager John H. Echols has opened the 1,250-car de luxe Nevada Drive-In on the Salt Lake highway at Nellis boulevard here. The new first run drive-in was started a year ago by Bernie Leavitt, California theatre owner; Sam Decker, theatre owner and picture producer; and Woody Wickersham, theatre owner and drive-in builder.”
Boxoffice, July 30, 1955: “Andy Floor, who has been operating the Star Theatre for many years, this week opened the Valley-Vu Drive-In in the southwest part of the valley. It is a 900-car ozoner with the latest developments in outdoor theatre equipment and refreshment stand.”
The Tonto’s screen was just 3000 feet from the end of one of the airport’s runways, so I wonder what Nace had in mind here? Not that the project was ever completed.
Boxoffice, July 30, 1955: “WINSLOW, ARIZ. – Construction of a drive-in adjacent to the Municipal Airport here has been halted after action by the city council to invoke a six-month cancellation clause in the lease agreement between the city and the Nace Interests of Phoenix. All construction materials have been removed from the site … objections raised by several Winslow citizens to the location of the drive-in caused the city council to demand the six-month termination of the lease … Clem Evans, construction foreman on the drive-in, said that the airer was to be completed in eight weeks. Concrete for the foundations was to be poured on the day work was halted.”
Boxoffice, July 16, 1955: “CLEARLAKE HIGHLANDS, CALIF. – Mr. and Mrs. Maurice W. Bouldin, after closing their theatre at Lower Lake, opened the Lake Drive-In here, a new 315-car drive-in with a 40x80 screen.”
Boxoffice, Jan. 29, 1955: “Austin Kennedy, who took over the Jerome (Ida.) Drive-In from Harry Harris, is getting some competition. Irving H. Harris will open an ozoner at the other end of the town”
Boxoffice, June 25, 1955: “JEROME, IDA. – The Rio Rey Drive-In which opened here recently features the only drive-in screen of solid aluminum in Idaho, according to Manager Walter M. Harris, who supervised construction of the airer.”
Boxoffice, June 4, 1955: “Despite heavy rains, a large crowd turned out for the recent opening of the Mile High Drive-In at Lead, S. D., which was built by C. C. Creamer, Robert L??, Robert Lundquist and Leonard Steele jr. The latter will manage the operation.”
The June 4, 1955 issue of Boxoffice ran a two-page story about the launch of the Nickelodeon, characterized as the “first movie theatre”. It was by the late (even then) Alexander Parke, as previously told to Boxoffice staffer Robert F. Klingensmith. “The converted store rooms provided space for 96 old red plush-covered opera chairs, later the seating arrangement was changed to accommodate 200 chairs and a standing room space in the rear.”
The May 14, 1955 issue of Boxoffice ran a story with photos on the recently opened Bel-Air. “The entire theatre is enclosed with a high fence of transite set in the ground with steel poles and concrete. The giant screen is 70x100 feet.”
Boxoffice, April 7, 1956: “LIBERAL, KAS. – Jay Wooten of Hutchinson and Ben Adams of El Dorado have started grading in the north end of town for the construction of a new drive-in. The partners built the Great Western at the south end of town and have operated it since May 1949.”
Boxoffice, March 31, 1956: “H. L. Boehm, who operates theatres at Woodward, Okla., has bought the Mission and El Rancho Drive-In, Dalhart, Tex., from J. C. Parker.”
Boxoffice, March 24, 1956: “Recent sale of the Star Drive-In, south of Conrad, to the Kluth interests was announced by former owner, Ray Yeager, Brady. Yeager built the drive-in in the summer of 1952 and has owned and operated it the past four years.”
Boxoffice, March 10, 1956: “BOISE, IDA. – Lou Pressler of Seattle has purchased the Boise and Broadway drive-ins here. They were formerly owned by Joy Naylor and the late Milton Fry.”
Boxoffice, March 10, 1956: “BOISE, IDA. – Lou Pressler of Seattle has purchased the Boise and Broadway drive-ins here. They were formerly owned by Joy Naylor and the late Milton Fry.”
Boxoffice, Jan. 28, 1956: “TWENTYNINE PALMS, CALIF. – A mid-March opening is planned for Clemon’s Drive-In, a 365-car installation here, being built and to be operated by Art and Deldee Clemon. Designed by architect J. Arthur Drielsma of Los Angeles, the ozoner will feature a 60-foot screen, individual car speakers, snack bar and playground for the smallfry.”
More proof of existence: The Jan. 14, 1956 issue of Boxoffice described O. O. Knotts as the guy “who operates the Sunset and Trade Wind drive-in in Hobbs”.
With the distinctive contours of Johnson Lake in the background of the photo, the drive-in must have been at about 140 15 St E, Brooks, AB T1R 1C4, although there is no trace, just businesses, there today.
The Jan. 7, 1956 issue of Boxoffice ran a two-page story, with photos, dealing with the way Peter Umbertino and his son Robert built the Brooks “two miles north of town” even after the Trans-Canada Highway cut through the middle of the site. The story implied that the drive-in had one season under its belt, which would mean that it opened in 1955.
Boxoffice, Dec. 10, 1955: “HOBBS, N. M. – The Flamingo, new twin-screen drive-in on the Denver City highway, has been opened here with a 1,200-car capacity. George Fossell is manager of the theatre for All-States Theatres.”
Boxoffice, Nov. 26, 1955: “Western Amusement has taken over the Three Way Drive-In in Clifton, Ariz., from Claude Davis”
Boxoffice, Oct. 22, 1955: “Ralph and Bruce Isaacson and Glenn Metcalf, local business men, have bought the Westernaire Drive-In from Frank and Helen Machler, who operated it through the recently completed season.”
Same Motor-In? Boxoffice, Oct. 8, 1955: “TULARE, CALIF. – The Harvey Amusement Co., San Francisco, has bought the 576-car Tulare Motor-In from the Robert L. Lippert theatre chain, also of San Francisco.”
The Oct. 1, 1955 issue of Boxoffice ran a two-page spread, with photos of the Twin Ranch. “Only one screen was ready for last summer, serving 300 cars. Mounted on a tower of pine poles set in concrete and braced with welded drill stem steel, the 41x82-foot screen was constructed of center match, covered with felt and faced with Transite.”
The Oct. 1, 1955 issue of Boxoffice added a few more names. “Manager John H. Echols has opened the 1,250-car de luxe Nevada Drive-In on the Salt Lake highway at Nellis boulevard here. The new first run drive-in was started a year ago by Bernie Leavitt, California theatre owner; Sam Decker, theatre owner and picture producer; and Woody Wickersham, theatre owner and drive-in builder.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 13, 1955: “A new 300-car drive-in was opened in Cottonwood, Arizona, by A. F. Allen”
Boxoffice, Aug. 13, 1955: “OROVILLE, WASH. – The new Powwow Drive-In was opened here recently by Peter Barnes”
Boxoffice, Aug. 6, 1955: “The recently opened Cuba Drive-In on Route 19 near Cuba, Mo., a 175-car project, has a screen 36x72 feet.”
Boxoffice, July 30, 1955: “Andy Floor, who has been operating the Star Theatre for many years, this week opened the Valley-Vu Drive-In in the southwest part of the valley. It is a 900-car ozoner with the latest developments in outdoor theatre equipment and refreshment stand.”
The Tonto’s screen was just 3000 feet from the end of one of the airport’s runways, so I wonder what Nace had in mind here? Not that the project was ever completed.
Boxoffice, July 30, 1955: “WINSLOW, ARIZ. – Construction of a drive-in adjacent to the Municipal Airport here has been halted after action by the city council to invoke a six-month cancellation clause in the lease agreement between the city and the Nace Interests of Phoenix. All construction materials have been removed from the site … objections raised by several Winslow citizens to the location of the drive-in caused the city council to demand the six-month termination of the lease … Clem Evans, construction foreman on the drive-in, said that the airer was to be completed in eight weeks. Concrete for the foundations was to be poured on the day work was halted.”
Boxoffice, July 16, 1955: “CLEARLAKE HIGHLANDS, CALIF. – Mr. and Mrs. Maurice W. Bouldin, after closing their theatre at Lower Lake, opened the Lake Drive-In here, a new 315-car drive-in with a 40x80 screen.”
Boxoffice, Jan. 29, 1955: “Austin Kennedy, who took over the Jerome (Ida.) Drive-In from Harry Harris, is getting some competition. Irving H. Harris will open an ozoner at the other end of the town”
Boxoffice, June 25, 1955: “JEROME, IDA. – The Rio Rey Drive-In which opened here recently features the only drive-in screen of solid aluminum in Idaho, according to Manager Walter M. Harris, who supervised construction of the airer.”
Boxoffice, June 4, 1955: “Despite heavy rains, a large crowd turned out for the recent opening of the Mile High Drive-In at Lead, S. D., which was built by C. C. Creamer, Robert L??, Robert Lundquist and Leonard Steele jr. The latter will manage the operation.”
The June 4, 1955 issue of Boxoffice ran a two-page story about the launch of the Nickelodeon, characterized as the “first movie theatre”. It was by the late (even then) Alexander Parke, as previously told to Boxoffice staffer Robert F. Klingensmith. “The converted store rooms provided space for 96 old red plush-covered opera chairs, later the seating arrangement was changed to accommodate 200 chairs and a standing room space in the rear.”
The May 14, 1955 issue of Boxoffice ran a story with photos on the recently opened Bel-Air. “The entire theatre is enclosed with a high fence of transite set in the ground with steel poles and concrete. The giant screen is 70x100 feet.”