A tiny note of Page 2 of the May 6, 1976 issue of the Burlington Record pointed out that “Burlington’s new Drive-In Theatre, owned and operated by Edmundson Theatres, is now open for business.” The drive-in’s ad, not mentioning a grand opening, listed the double feature of “The Killer Elite” and “The Wind and the Lion.”
I failed to find any mention of the drive-in in August-October 1975 issues of the Record, and May 6 was apparently the drive-in’s first ad.
On the other end, the Burlington’s final ad in the Record was Aug. 1, 1985, announcing that it would close for the season after Aug. 4, an unusually early closing. I couldn’t find any ads for it in summer 1986.
A front-page note in the Thursday, July 5, 1951 Brush News-Tribune: “Brush’s new drive-in theater was opened this week one mile east of town on Highway 6. Jake Bauer, owner of the new theater as well as Bauer’s Drive-In at Fort Morgan, announced programs would be changed three times a week … The current attraction at the new theater includes the Colorado Hillbillies in person on the stage and Mickey Rooney in ‘Big Wheel’”.
The Brush’s ad that issue indicated that it was the final day for that movie, suggesting that it had opened earlier.
At the other end of its life, the Brush closed for the season on Sept. 28, 1957. In a note on April 10, 1958 about the indoor Emerson opening under new management, the News-Tribune reported that “according to present plans the Brush Drive-In theater will be abandoned.”
After running grand opening ads set for the 18th all week in the Lamar Daily News, the Kar-Vu shifted the date to May 25, 1950. It met that opening, showing “Red River,” “Return of October,” and always a color cartoon.
As described in the Dec. 10, 1949 Showmen’s Trade Review, Lee’s innovation was to put the large concession stand in the “center of population” two-thirds of the way to the back of the drive-in, well away from the tiny projection booth.
Motion Picture Herald, Dec. 25, 1948: “Harmon Montgomery sold his Vogue, Littleton, Colo., to William B. Jury.”
Showmen’s Trade Review, June 11, 1949: “Hans Peterson and son, James J., have bought the Vogue, Littleton, Colo., from W. B. Jury, who sold because of his wife’s health, it being necessary to take her to a lower altitude.”
Showman’s Trade Review, Jan. 22, 1949: “Peter Nelson has bought the Post, Ft. Logan, Colo., from Robert Patrick.”
Motion Picture Herald, Dec. 15, 1951: “Because of the removal of the veterans hospital, the Post theatre, Fort Logan, Colo., has been closed by Peter Nelson.”
From Anthony L. Vazquez-Hernandez’s photo (thanks!), we know that the Burlington was active in May 1977. I just uploaded a grainy USGS photo that shows that the viewing field was complete by June 11, 1976. What I didn’t upload was an equally grainy USGS photo taken June 23, 1975, which showed the site as untouched pasture.
Boxoffice, Sept. 9, 1974: “Russ Berry, vice-president and general manager, Highland Theatres, has announced the acquisition of the University Hills Twin Cinema, located in the University Hills section of southeast Denver. The theatre had been opened and operated by Tom Goldfarb and Marvin Davis.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 2, 1974: “Bozeman, Mont.,-based Theatre Operators has taken over the operation of the old Golden Horn Theatre in Missoula, Mont. The facility is being completely rebuilt with new floors, new seating, new screen, new booth equipment, new front and new marquee. The theatre, which is scheduled for a mid-September reopening, will be known as the World Theatre.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 5, 1974: “The Apache Triplex, the new three-screen version of the 20-year-old Apache Drive-In, was opened July 16 with a benefit showing of "The Great Gatsby,” “American Graffiti” and “The Mysterious Island of Captain Nemo.” … The capacity of the restructured drive-in is 1,200 cars, in contrast with the former 1,000 car capacity for the one-screen operation. There are now two smaller theatres, with 30x60-foot screens, and a third larger area with a 60x110-foot screen. … The late Harry Agron built the original Apache Drive-In and opened it in 1951. After five years, he closed half of the theatre and continued to operate the other half until 1966, when he sold the drive-in to the Cactus Corp. After operating it for five years, Cactus rebuilt the airer to its 1,000-car capacity in 1971."
If this note is accurate, the North Star was built by HMK Corp. in 1954. Boxoffice, July 15, 1974: “Interstate Amusement, based in Twin Falls, Ida., and owned by Roy Roper, has leased the Roxy Theater and North Star Drive-In here (in Shelby MT), along with the State Theatre and Derrick Drive-In at Cut Bank, Mont., and the Orpheum Theatre and Star Drive-In at Conrad, Mont. … HMK Corp. constructed the area’s first drive-in about 1950 between Cut Bank and Shelby. It was closed in 1954, when the corporation built drive-ins in Shelby and Cut Bank. The ozoner at Conrad was purchased in 1956.”
Boxoffice, July 15, 1974: “Interstate Amusement, based in Twin Falls, Ida., and owned by Roy Roper, has leased the Roxy Theater and North Star Drive-In here (in Shelby MT), along with the State Theatre and Derrick Drive-In at Cut Bank, Mont., and the Orpheum Theatre and Star Drive-In at Conrad, Mont. … HMK Corp. constructed the area’s first drive-in about 1950 between Cut Bank and Shelby. It was closed in 1954, when the corporation built drive-ins in Shelby and Cut Bank. The ozoner at Conrad was purchased in 1956.”
So there were two Derrick Drive-Ins? Boxoffice, July 15, 1974: “Interstate Amusement, based in Twin Falls, Ida., and owned by Roy Roper, has leased the Roxy Theater and North Star Drive-In here (in Shelby MT), along with the State Theatre and Derrick Drive-In at Cut Bank, Mont., and the Orpheum Theatre and Star Drive-In at Conrad, Mont. … HMK Corp. constructed the area’s first drive-in about 1950 between Cut Bank and Shelby. It was closed in 1954, when the corporation built drive-ins in Shelby and Cut Bank. The ozoner at Conrad was purchased in 1956.”
Boxoffice, March 11, 1974: “The LaRoy Theatre recently was demolished to make way for the widening of Gay Street. Through the efforts of the Portsmouth Arts Council, some irreplaceable ornamental sections of the vintage building were salvaged.”
Another hint that the Sunset wasn’t considered closed before the 1974 season comes from a note in the March 4, 1974 Boxoffice about movies at a local church. “Movies are offered Carthage area residents during the summer months by the 66 and Sunset drive-ins.”
Boxoffice, March 4, 1974: “Mr. and Mrs. Ken Moyer have taken over the operation of the Sunset Drive-In, Bridgeport, Neb., from Mr. and Mrs. George Vassos.”
The West was still alive on Feb. 18, 1974, when Boxoffice reported that “Steve Hepson of the West Drive-In, Riverton” had visited Denver to talk with his booking agent.
Boxoffice, Feb. 18, 1974: “The old West Theatre in Gunnison reopened early this year, following extensive remodeling, as the Mountaineer Theatre. The cinema is being operated by Frank Poye, former Houston contractor, and his wife Carol, assisted by their five youngsters.”
The Feb. 11, 1974 issue of Boxoffice had an extensive article with photos about the extreme concession stand remodeling that Chakeres Theatres has performed on the Holiday beginning in late 1970.
A tiny note of Page 2 of the May 6, 1976 issue of the Burlington Record pointed out that “Burlington’s new Drive-In Theatre, owned and operated by Edmundson Theatres, is now open for business.” The drive-in’s ad, not mentioning a grand opening, listed the double feature of “The Killer Elite” and “The Wind and the Lion.”
I failed to find any mention of the drive-in in August-October 1975 issues of the Record, and May 6 was apparently the drive-in’s first ad.
On the other end, the Burlington’s final ad in the Record was Aug. 1, 1985, announcing that it would close for the season after Aug. 4, an unusually early closing. I couldn’t find any ads for it in summer 1986.
A front-page note in the Thursday, July 5, 1951 Brush News-Tribune: “Brush’s new drive-in theater was opened this week one mile east of town on Highway 6. Jake Bauer, owner of the new theater as well as Bauer’s Drive-In at Fort Morgan, announced programs would be changed three times a week … The current attraction at the new theater includes the Colorado Hillbillies in person on the stage and Mickey Rooney in ‘Big Wheel’”.
The Brush’s ad that issue indicated that it was the final day for that movie, suggesting that it had opened earlier.
At the other end of its life, the Brush closed for the season on Sept. 28, 1957. In a note on April 10, 1958 about the indoor Emerson opening under new management, the News-Tribune reported that “according to present plans the Brush Drive-In theater will be abandoned.”
After running grand opening ads set for the 18th all week in the Lamar Daily News, the Kar-Vu shifted the date to May 25, 1950. It met that opening, showing “Red River,” “Return of October,” and always a color cartoon.
As described in the Dec. 10, 1949 Showmen’s Trade Review, Lee’s innovation was to put the large concession stand in the “center of population” two-thirds of the way to the back of the drive-in, well away from the tiny projection booth.
Motion Picture Herald, Dec. 25, 1948: “Harmon Montgomery sold his Vogue, Littleton, Colo., to William B. Jury.”
Showmen’s Trade Review, June 11, 1949: “Hans Peterson and son, James J., have bought the Vogue, Littleton, Colo., from W. B. Jury, who sold because of his wife’s health, it being necessary to take her to a lower altitude.”
Motion Picture Herald, May 10, 1947: “George Simms sells Prince, Ault, Colo., to Wilbur E. Cox.”
Showmen’s Trade Review, May 28, 1949: “Wilbur Cox has sold the Prince, Ault, Colo., to Don Moore.”
Boxoffice, Nov. 12, 1949: “The front of the Prince Theatre is being remodeled by owner Don Moore.”
Showmen’s Trade Journal, May 28, 1949: “Raleigh Messerschmidt has sold the Kiowa, Kiowa, Colo., to W. V. Stapleton.”
Motion Picture Herald, April 12, 1952: “Mr. and Mrs. Sam Bauguess have bought the Kiowa, Kiowa, Colo., from Lola Staley.”
Showmen’s Trade Review, Feb, 19, 1949: “Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Newman, owners of the Gem, Walsh, Colo., are vacationing in California.”
Showman’s Trade Review, Jan. 22, 1949: “Peter Nelson has bought the Post, Ft. Logan, Colo., from Robert Patrick.”
Motion Picture Herald, Dec. 15, 1951: “Because of the removal of the veterans hospital, the Post theatre, Fort Logan, Colo., has been closed by Peter Nelson.”
From Anthony L. Vazquez-Hernandez’s photo (thanks!), we know that the Burlington was active in May 1977. I just uploaded a grainy USGS photo that shows that the viewing field was complete by June 11, 1976. What I didn’t upload was an equally grainy USGS photo taken June 23, 1975, which showed the site as untouched pasture.
Boxoffice, Sept. 9, 1974: “Russ Berry, vice-president and general manager, Highland Theatres, has announced the acquisition of the University Hills Twin Cinema, located in the University Hills section of southeast Denver. The theatre had been opened and operated by Tom Goldfarb and Marvin Davis.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 2, 1974: “Bozeman, Mont.,-based Theatre Operators has taken over the operation of the old Golden Horn Theatre in Missoula, Mont. The facility is being completely rebuilt with new floors, new seating, new screen, new booth equipment, new front and new marquee. The theatre, which is scheduled for a mid-September reopening, will be known as the World Theatre.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 12, 1974: “ROY, UTAH – A second screen has been erected at the Riverdale Drive-In, which is being converted to a twin ozoner.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 5, 1974: “The Apache Triplex, the new three-screen version of the 20-year-old Apache Drive-In, was opened July 16 with a benefit showing of "The Great Gatsby,” “American Graffiti” and “The Mysterious Island of Captain Nemo.” … The capacity of the restructured drive-in is 1,200 cars, in contrast with the former 1,000 car capacity for the one-screen operation. There are now two smaller theatres, with 30x60-foot screens, and a third larger area with a 60x110-foot screen. … The late Harry Agron built the original Apache Drive-In and opened it in 1951. After five years, he closed half of the theatre and continued to operate the other half until 1966, when he sold the drive-in to the Cactus Corp. After operating it for five years, Cactus rebuilt the airer to its 1,000-car capacity in 1971."
Same theater? Boxoffice, July 29, 1974: “Peter H. May has closed the Cinema Laurel Theatre in Laurel, Mont.”
If this note is accurate, the North Star was built by HMK Corp. in 1954. Boxoffice, July 15, 1974: “Interstate Amusement, based in Twin Falls, Ida., and owned by Roy Roper, has leased the Roxy Theater and North Star Drive-In here (in Shelby MT), along with the State Theatre and Derrick Drive-In at Cut Bank, Mont., and the Orpheum Theatre and Star Drive-In at Conrad, Mont. … HMK Corp. constructed the area’s first drive-in about 1950 between Cut Bank and Shelby. It was closed in 1954, when the corporation built drive-ins in Shelby and Cut Bank. The ozoner at Conrad was purchased in 1956.”
Boxoffice, July 15, 1974: “Interstate Amusement, based in Twin Falls, Ida., and owned by Roy Roper, has leased the Roxy Theater and North Star Drive-In here (in Shelby MT), along with the State Theatre and Derrick Drive-In at Cut Bank, Mont., and the Orpheum Theatre and Star Drive-In at Conrad, Mont. … HMK Corp. constructed the area’s first drive-in about 1950 between Cut Bank and Shelby. It was closed in 1954, when the corporation built drive-ins in Shelby and Cut Bank. The ozoner at Conrad was purchased in 1956.”
So there were two Derrick Drive-Ins? Boxoffice, July 15, 1974: “Interstate Amusement, based in Twin Falls, Ida., and owned by Roy Roper, has leased the Roxy Theater and North Star Drive-In here (in Shelby MT), along with the State Theatre and Derrick Drive-In at Cut Bank, Mont., and the Orpheum Theatre and Star Drive-In at Conrad, Mont. … HMK Corp. constructed the area’s first drive-in about 1950 between Cut Bank and Shelby. It was closed in 1954, when the corporation built drive-ins in Shelby and Cut Bank. The ozoner at Conrad was purchased in 1956.”
Boxoffice, March 11, 1974: “The LaRoy Theatre recently was demolished to make way for the widening of Gay Street. Through the efforts of the Portsmouth Arts Council, some irreplaceable ornamental sections of the vintage building were salvaged.”
Another hint that the Sunset wasn’t considered closed before the 1974 season comes from a note in the March 4, 1974 Boxoffice about movies at a local church. “Movies are offered Carthage area residents during the summer months by the 66 and Sunset drive-ins.”
Boxoffice, March 4, 1974: “Mr. and Mrs. Ken Moyer have taken over the operation of the Sunset Drive-In, Bridgeport, Neb., from Mr. and Mrs. George Vassos.”
The Tucson 4 opened on Feb. 11, 1974, according to a long article about the drive-in in the Feb. 25 issue of Boxoffice.
The West was still alive on Feb. 18, 1974, when Boxoffice reported that “Steve Hepson of the West Drive-In, Riverton” had visited Denver to talk with his booking agent.
Boxoffice, Feb. 18, 1974: “The old West Theatre in Gunnison reopened early this year, following extensive remodeling, as the Mountaineer Theatre. The cinema is being operated by Frank Poye, former Houston contractor, and his wife Carol, assisted by their five youngsters.”
The Feb. 11, 1974 issue of Boxoffice had an extensive article with photos about the extreme concession stand remodeling that Chakeres Theatres has performed on the Holiday beginning in late 1970.