Boxoffice, July 3, 1954: “SANTA ROSA, CALIF. – Philip Zenovich, owner of the State Theatre at Petaluma, Calif., has purchased the Redwood Drive-In here from G. E. Burnette and Alfred Truslow jr., who built the airer in 1947. Zenovich said that he will revamp the 18-acre site to include a picnic area and a children’s playground.”
Boxoffice, June 26, 1954: “The Weekiwow Drive-In, located five miles south of Polson on Highway 93, was opened Friday (11) by Mr. and Mrs. Bill Shell, who also operate a local indoor theatre. The name Weekiwow was chosen in a contest. It means a large gathering or lodge in the Indian language. The Weekiwow features a 66x40-foot screen.”
I don’t trust Boxoffice’s spellings; the 1955-56 Theatre Catalog had it as the Wiki Wow, capacity 250.
Boxoffice, June 5, 1954: “Former owners of the Park Vu Drive-In lost a $48,796 suit filed against the city for damages suffered in 1952 floods. … The city had decided to turn floodwaters from their natural course and upon the drive-in to save what it regarded as "more valuable property” below. The drive-in operators, Leon J. Frickberg, Beth Everill Frickberg, William R. Everill and Emma L. C. Everill, contended there was no reason to divert the floodwaters through the drive-in."
The May 8, 1954 issue of Boxoffice ran a lengthy article with photos of the Frontier, focusing on the rustic look created by lodge pole pine shipped in from Colorado. “The full-size logs were nailed together with 13-inch nail spikes, then caulking compound was used to seal the cracks between them. They are not finished on the inside, but intentionally left rough. On the outside the logs were given a coat of linseed oil and later varnished.”
The May 1, 1954 issue of Boxoffice ran a lengthy article about the opening of the Airport, including a photo of its cement block screen tower. “The huge screen literally is awe-inspiring. It is curved, and is formed by one side of a five-story building of cement block construction … The first floor contains a garage and office space, the second floor has an apartment for Manager Robert Huntling. Third, fourth and fifth floors are for storage.”
Boxoffice, May 1, 1954: “BRAWLEY, CALIF. – A curved, all-aluminum screen measuring 60x80 feet is a highlight of the new Family Drive-In a half-mile south of this Imperial Valley community and owned by the Motor-Vu Corp. The ozoner, which opened last month, represents an investment of nearly $200,000. The screen … is said to be ideally suited to withstand the intense heat which prevails in the Imperial Valley during the summer. … The Family Drive-In accommodates 550 cars.”
Looks like both the Grand Vu and Hill Top were built in 1954. Boxoffice, April 24, 1954: “The uranium boom in southeastern Utah has resulted in construction of two drive-ins at Moab … (whose) population has doubled in little more than a year”
Boxoffice, April 24, 1954: “San Pedro valley will have a $25,000 drive-in ready for use in about 60 days, according to Elliot Long of Safford, contractor, who will build the airer for the L. F. Long theatre firm. Location is about one mile south of Benson on U.S. 80. Capacity will be 350 cars. Frame for the screen will be 50x60 feet, with the screen itself measuring 30x40.”
The April 3, 1954 issue of Boxoffice ran a two-page story on the Hillside with several photos. “Travelers on the heavily-trafficked highway cannot fail to be impressed by the huge screen tower with an animated name sign. The tower is further enhanced by giant theatre masks representing laughter and sadness.”
Fun story in the March 27, 1954 issue of Boxoffice: “Every evening for more than two weeks the ramps of Anthony L. Fenton’s Starlite Drive-In were filled and the concession stand did a landoffice business, although it was in the dead of winter and there was no picture on the big screen. Through arrangements made by army channels, the Starlite was used as an overnight stopover by the 31st Dixie division in its move from Indiana to Camp Carson in Colorado. The division made the journey in relays, an average of 400 men in motor vehicles pulling in around 4 p.m. and staying to 12:30 p.m. the next day … The men slept in trucks or in pup tents on the ground.”
Boxoffice, March 20, 1954: “High winds recently hit the Sage Drive-In here, ripping off board siding on the front of the 60-foot screen structure, collapsing the marquee and wrecking neon light signs. Manager Allen Klindt said workmen were remodeling the steel-framed structure when the wind struck. He estimated damage at between $5,000 and $6,000.”
Finally, the scaled-down version was complete. Boxoffice, March 13, 1954: “ALBUQUERQUE – The new San Jose Drive-In was opened here recently. It has a capacity for 400 automobiles and will feature pictures for Spanish-American citizens. The feature bill will usually include one Spanish-language picture and one American picture, according to Robert E. Morley, a partner, who also has interests in the Sunset Drive-In and the Ernie Pyle Theatre. The other partners in the San Jose Drive-In are Fidel Gonzales and Harvey Canaday.”
Boxoffice, Feb. 13, 1954: “The Rimrock Drive-In was sold at a sheriff’s sale to Aldrich and Co. and Marshall Wells. The business will be resold to settle the bills due these two firms and other local business firms.”
The Feb. 6, 1954 issue of Boxoffice ran a three-page article about the Park, mostly about the efficient design of its concession / projection building. Not only did it include the owners' living quarters, the boxoffice was attached on its north side. The article featured a diagram of the layout by Mrs. Swank and several photos by Mr. Swank.
The Feb. 6, 1954 issue of Boxoffice included a four-page article about the Glaize Drive-In’s extensive use of live entertainment. There were a half-dozen photos and a diagram of the concession / projection building layout.
To amplify BobFermanek’s note, that issue of Boxoffice had a two-page article about the Lake Park’s extensive playground area. It also had several photos, including a fairly impressive merry-go-round near the base of the screen tower.
The Feb. 6, 1954 issue of Boxoffice ran a full-page profile about the rustic look of the Cow Town. It included several photos, most of which have already been uploaded here.
In a four-page article about Commonwealth’s drive-ins, the Feb. 6, 1954 issue of Boxoffice included a photo of patrons playing at a horseshoe pitching court at the Sunset.
In a four-page article about Commonwealth Theatres' drive-ins in the Feb. 6, 1954 issue of Boxoffice, they included four photos of the extensive Children’s Zoo at the Grand Island drive-in.
Boxoffice, Feb. 6, 1954: “The Canby Theatre has reopened under the management of Mr. and Mrs. Herald McKellips, who … bought the theatre business and leased the building from Irvin Westenskow of Woodburn. The Canby Theatre, originally opened Nov. 1, 1950, was closed last November by the O. A. Nelsons for lack of patronage.”
Boxoffice, July 3, 1954: “SANTA ROSA, CALIF. – Philip Zenovich, owner of the State Theatre at Petaluma, Calif., has purchased the Redwood Drive-In here from G. E. Burnette and Alfred Truslow jr., who built the airer in 1947. Zenovich said that he will revamp the 18-acre site to include a picnic area and a children’s playground.”
Boxoffice, June 26, 1954: “The Weekiwow Drive-In, located five miles south of Polson on Highway 93, was opened Friday (11) by Mr. and Mrs. Bill Shell, who also operate a local indoor theatre. The name Weekiwow was chosen in a contest. It means a large gathering or lodge in the Indian language. The Weekiwow features a 66x40-foot screen.”
I don’t trust Boxoffice’s spellings; the 1955-56 Theatre Catalog had it as the Wiki Wow, capacity 250.
Boxoffice, June 5, 1954: “Former owners of the Park Vu Drive-In lost a $48,796 suit filed against the city for damages suffered in 1952 floods. … The city had decided to turn floodwaters from their natural course and upon the drive-in to save what it regarded as "more valuable property” below. The drive-in operators, Leon J. Frickberg, Beth Everill Frickberg, William R. Everill and Emma L. C. Everill, contended there was no reason to divert the floodwaters through the drive-in."
Boxoffice, May 15, 1954: “J. Harry Agron has opened his 600-car 22nd Street Drive-In in Tucson”
The May 8, 1954 issue of Boxoffice ran a lengthy article with photos of the Frontier, focusing on the rustic look created by lodge pole pine shipped in from Colorado. “The full-size logs were nailed together with 13-inch nail spikes, then caulking compound was used to seal the cracks between them. They are not finished on the inside, but intentionally left rough. On the outside the logs were given a coat of linseed oil and later varnished.”
The May 1, 1954 issue of Boxoffice ran a lengthy article about the opening of the Airport, including a photo of its cement block screen tower. “The huge screen literally is awe-inspiring. It is curved, and is formed by one side of a five-story building of cement block construction … The first floor contains a garage and office space, the second floor has an apartment for Manager Robert Huntling. Third, fourth and fifth floors are for storage.”
Boxoffice, May 1, 1954: “BRAWLEY, CALIF. – A curved, all-aluminum screen measuring 60x80 feet is a highlight of the new Family Drive-In a half-mile south of this Imperial Valley community and owned by the Motor-Vu Corp. The ozoner, which opened last month, represents an investment of nearly $200,000. The screen … is said to be ideally suited to withstand the intense heat which prevails in the Imperial Valley during the summer. … The Family Drive-In accommodates 550 cars.”
Looks like both the Grand Vu and Hill Top were built in 1954. Boxoffice, April 24, 1954: “The uranium boom in southeastern Utah has resulted in construction of two drive-ins at Moab … (whose) population has doubled in little more than a year”
Boxoffice, April 24, 1954: “San Pedro valley will have a $25,000 drive-in ready for use in about 60 days, according to Elliot Long of Safford, contractor, who will build the airer for the L. F. Long theatre firm. Location is about one mile south of Benson on U.S. 80. Capacity will be 350 cars. Frame for the screen will be 50x60 feet, with the screen itself measuring 30x40.”
A slightly cropped version of this photo can be found in the April 17, 1954 issue of Boxoffice, which should be in the public domain.
The April 3, 1954 issue of Boxoffice ran a two-page story on the Hillside with several photos. “Travelers on the heavily-trafficked highway cannot fail to be impressed by the huge screen tower with an animated name sign. The tower is further enhanced by giant theatre masks representing laughter and sadness.”
Boxoffice, April 3, 1954: “John Feys & Associates have purchased the Cine-Car Drive-In, a 700-seat (sic) operation, from Bill Montgomery.”
Fun story in the March 27, 1954 issue of Boxoffice: “Every evening for more than two weeks the ramps of Anthony L. Fenton’s Starlite Drive-In were filled and the concession stand did a landoffice business, although it was in the dead of winter and there was no picture on the big screen. Through arrangements made by army channels, the Starlite was used as an overnight stopover by the 31st Dixie division in its move from Indiana to Camp Carson in Colorado. The division made the journey in relays, an average of 400 men in motor vehicles pulling in around 4 p.m. and staying to 12:30 p.m. the next day … The men slept in trucks or in pup tents on the ground.”
Boxoffice, March 20, 1954: “High winds recently hit the Sage Drive-In here, ripping off board siding on the front of the 60-foot screen structure, collapsing the marquee and wrecking neon light signs. Manager Allen Klindt said workmen were remodeling the steel-framed structure when the wind struck. He estimated damage at between $5,000 and $6,000.”
Finally, the scaled-down version was complete. Boxoffice, March 13, 1954: “ALBUQUERQUE – The new San Jose Drive-In was opened here recently. It has a capacity for 400 automobiles and will feature pictures for Spanish-American citizens. The feature bill will usually include one Spanish-language picture and one American picture, according to Robert E. Morley, a partner, who also has interests in the Sunset Drive-In and the Ernie Pyle Theatre. The other partners in the San Jose Drive-In are Fidel Gonzales and Harvey Canaday.”
Boxoffice, Feb. 13, 1954: “The Rimrock Drive-In was sold at a sheriff’s sale to Aldrich and Co. and Marshall Wells. The business will be resold to settle the bills due these two firms and other local business firms.”
Boxoffice, Feb. 13, 1954: “Pacific Drive-Ins is taking over operation of two local ozoners, the Victory and Gilmore, from Sero Amusement”
Boxoffice, Feb. 13, 1954: “Pacific Drive-Ins is taking over operation of two local ozoners, the Victory and Gilmore, from Sero Amusement”
The Feb. 6, 1954 issue of Boxoffice ran a three-page article about the Park, mostly about the efficient design of its concession / projection building. Not only did it include the owners' living quarters, the boxoffice was attached on its north side. The article featured a diagram of the layout by Mrs. Swank and several photos by Mr. Swank.
The Feb. 6, 1954 issue of Boxoffice included a four-page article about the Glaize Drive-In’s extensive use of live entertainment. There were a half-dozen photos and a diagram of the concession / projection building layout.
To amplify BobFermanek’s note, that issue of Boxoffice had a two-page article about the Lake Park’s extensive playground area. It also had several photos, including a fairly impressive merry-go-round near the base of the screen tower.
The Feb. 6, 1954 issue of Boxoffice ran a full-page profile about the rustic look of the Cow Town. It included several photos, most of which have already been uploaded here.
In a four-page article about Commonwealth’s drive-ins, the Feb. 6, 1954 issue of Boxoffice included a photo of patrons playing at a horseshoe pitching court at the Sunset.
In a four-page article about Commonwealth Theatres' drive-ins in the Feb. 6, 1954 issue of Boxoffice, they included four photos of the extensive Children’s Zoo at the Grand Island drive-in.
Boxoffice, Feb. 6, 1954: “The Canby Theatre has reopened under the management of Mr. and Mrs. Herald McKellips, who … bought the theatre business and leased the building from Irvin Westenskow of Woodburn. The Canby Theatre, originally opened Nov. 1, 1950, was closed last November by the O. A. Nelsons for lack of patronage.”