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, May 14, 1955: “HOLBROOK, ARIZ. – Robert R. Young opened his Western Star Drive-In here recently and has been enjoying a good spring business. The airer has a modern snack bar capable of handle more than 200 cars. Young built and operated a drive-in in (Dove) Creek, Colo., before coming to Holbrook.”
That surprises me. As I wrote in my book, Drive-Ins of Route 66, the Western Star’s final movie ad in the local newspaper was on May 13, when it begged, “This is your home-owned Drive-In – Your Patronage will help our town grow.” The 66 Drive-In, run by the Nace group that also owned the town’s indoor Roxy, was too much competition for the Western Star.
The May 7, 1955 issue of Boxoffice ran a lengthy article, with photos, about the Bankhead’s new 119x47-foot screen, advertised as the widest in Atlanta.
The May 7, 1955 issue of Boxoffice included a full-page story on the Valley, with photos, about owners Russell P. Allen and Kelly P. Crawford built it with lessons learned “from the operation of the Apache Drive-In which they opened three years earlier”.
The May 7, 1955 issue of Boxoffice included a full-page on the 63rd Street with a diagram of the layout including an ice skating rink to be in operation during the drive-in’s off-season. “The drive-in opening is scheduled for late May.”
A week later (April 16), Boxoffice expanded on that note and gave us an opening year. “Mr. and Mrs. Edward T. Chambers have purchased the Starlight Drive-In from David W. Moore. Walter Eschebeck, who has managed the airer since it was opened in 1953, will continue to supervise the operation.”
The Zebra was completed in September 1953, according to a two-page spread, with photos, in the March 5, 1955 issue of Boxoffice. The drive-in was named for “the record-winning local high school football team,” and it took that theme to extremes. “As a further tie-in with the football team, ticket takers at the boxoffice are costumed in the team’s football uniforms, complete with helmets.”
The Jan. 9, 1954 issue of Boxoffice ran a two-page article with pictures on the Lakeside. The 78x108-foot screen was “said to be the largest drive-in screen in the world.”
A year later, the Feb. 2, 1955 issue of Boxoffice was back with another four pages, with more photos, on the Lakeside, this time focusing on the big amusement center plans of owner George Bennett, who built the Lakeside on the site of his former dairy farm.
Boxoffice, Jan. 29, 1955: “Westates Amusement Co. will open a drive-in at Ely, Nev., this summer, according to Clyde Blasius, general manager. The ozoner is being constructed at a cost of approximately $75,000.”
The Dec. 4 issue of Boxoffice ran a two-page spread, with photos, about the 400, focusing on how spread out it was. “Extra spaciousness has been provided between the speaker posts and extra depth between each ramp, allowing easier turns.”
Boxoffice, Nov. 26, 1955: “Western Amusement has taken over the Three Way Drive-In in Clifton, Ariz., from Claude Davis”
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. 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.”
Boxoffice, May 14, 1955: “HOLBROOK, ARIZ. – Robert R. Young opened his Western Star Drive-In here recently and has been enjoying a good spring business. The airer has a modern snack bar capable of handle more than 200 cars. Young built and operated a drive-in in (Dove) Creek, Colo., before coming to Holbrook.”
That surprises me. As I wrote in my book, Drive-Ins of Route 66, the Western Star’s final movie ad in the local newspaper was on May 13, when it begged, “This is your home-owned Drive-In – Your Patronage will help our town grow.” The 66 Drive-In, run by the Nace group that also owned the town’s indoor Roxy, was too much competition for the Western Star.
The May 7, 1955 issue of Boxoffice ran a lengthy article, with photos, about the Bankhead’s new 119x47-foot screen, advertised as the widest in Atlanta.
The May 7, 1955 issue of Boxoffice included a full-page story on the Valley, with photos, about owners Russell P. Allen and Kelly P. Crawford built it with lessons learned “from the operation of the Apache Drive-In which they opened three years earlier”.
The May 7, 1955 issue of Boxoffice included a full-page on the 63rd Street with a diagram of the layout including an ice skating rink to be in operation during the drive-in’s off-season. “The drive-in opening is scheduled for late May.”
Boxoffice, April 30, 1955: “Dorrance Schmidt, owner of the Trail, Bridgeport, Neb., has opened his new 250-car drive-in there.”
A week later (April 16), Boxoffice expanded on that note and gave us an opening year. “Mr. and Mrs. Edward T. Chambers have purchased the Starlight Drive-In from David W. Moore. Walter Eschebeck, who has managed the airer since it was opened in 1953, will continue to supervise the operation.”
The Zebra was completed in September 1953, according to a two-page spread, with photos, in the March 5, 1955 issue of Boxoffice. The drive-in was named for “the record-winning local high school football team,” and it took that theme to extremes. “As a further tie-in with the football team, ticket takers at the boxoffice are costumed in the team’s football uniforms, complete with helmets.”
Boxoffice, Feb. 26, 1955: “The Moonglo Drive-In, Fresno, owned by Thompson Bros., has been purchased by Lippert Theatres”
This photo appeared in the Feb. 5, 1955 issue of Boxoffice, which should be in the public domain.
The Jan. 9, 1954 issue of Boxoffice ran a two-page article with pictures on the Lakeside. The 78x108-foot screen was “said to be the largest drive-in screen in the world.”
A year later, the Feb. 2, 1955 issue of Boxoffice was back with another four pages, with more photos, on the Lakeside, this time focusing on the big amusement center plans of owner George Bennett, who built the Lakeside on the site of his former dairy farm.
Boxoffice, Jan. 29, 1955: “Westates Amusement Co. will open a drive-in at Ely, Nev., this summer, according to Clyde Blasius, general manager. The ozoner is being constructed at a cost of approximately $75,000.”
The Dec. 4 issue of Boxoffice ran a two-page spread, with photos, about the 400, focusing on how spread out it was. “Extra spaciousness has been provided between the speaker posts and extra depth between each ramp, allowing easier turns.”