Boxoffice, July 11, 1953: “Silvers and Stafford opened the new Patio Drive-In on Highway 36 here recently. The theatre is owned by local showman Bill Silvers and Mrs. Pearl Stafford, Mrs. Zeltha Crawford and Kenneth and Marlow Stafford.”
Boxoffice, July 11, 1953: “The new Lake Shore Drive-In opened recently with a capacity of 450 cars. The airer, located on a 6.7-acre tract, was built by Mr. and Mrs. Roy Abbott and their partner Robert Dyer of Martinsville. The Abbotts manage the ozoner.”
Boxoffice, July 11, 1953: “C. R. Gregg and his son Joe K. … have opened the new Caney Valley Drive-In one mile east of town on Highway 166. The 300-car theatre will be managed by Joe Gregg.”
Boxoffice, July 11, 1953: “BUTLER, MO. – The new Sky-Vue Drive-In opened here recently with a capacity of 300 cars. Chet Borg of Fort Scott, Kas., is owner. Opening of the airer had been set for several weeks earlier, but recent severe windstorms did much damage to the huge screen tower, which at the time was only partially erected. The drive-in will be managed by H. H. McNabb.”
Boxoffice, July 11, 1953: “By the time a golden wedding anniversary rolls around most oldsters are thinking of taking things easy – but not Mr. and Mrs. John Welty. The Weltys celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary eight years ago … they’ve just opened the new Riverside Drive-In at Hill City. Nearly 800 persons attended the opening June 24.”
Boxoffice, July 11, 1953: “DEER PARK, WASH. – The new Deer Drive-In on Highway 395 near here has been opened by co-owners Wayne Mackey and Lola Engle. The new theatre has accommodations for 250 cars, with provision for later expansion.”
Boxoffice, July 11, 1953: “SMELTERVILLE, IDA. – Pat’s Auto-Vu Drive-In east of town has been opened to the public by owner Pat Metzger. The new open-air theatre has accommodations for 450 cars.”
The July 4, 1953 issue of Boxoffice ran a two-page spread on the Parkade, focusing mainly on the T-shaped apartment home that Herbert Jeans built for his family on the second floor of the drive-in’s concession and projection building.
“Supervising the entire construction himself, Herbert Jeans broke ground for the Parkade, situated on 10 acres, on September 29, 1952, and opened the theatre March 27, just less than six months later.”
Boxoffice, July 4, 1953: “The Leawood Drive-In was opened Friday (27)(sic) to a near-capacity crowd. A Dickinson Theatres operation, its screen tower is designed as to look like a southern mansion from the highway, with lamps in windows and other decorations carrying out this same pleasing effect. Inside are the manager’s office and storerooms. … Fireworks were set off between the two films, “Lure of the Wilderness” and “Tembo.” ”
Motion Picture Herald, May 30, 1953: “Herb Gumper is about ready to open his new Roundup, 300-car drive-in, La Jara, Colo.”
Boxoffice, July 4, 1953: “Mr. and Mrs. Herb Gumper opened their new Roundup Drive-In Theatre by inviting the public to a free show. The Roundup is north of La Jara on the La Jara highway.”
Boxoffice, June 27, 1953: “The Yergensen Bros. conducted an advertising slogan contest to call attention to their new Hyland Drive-In at Cedar City, Utah.”
Still not open? Boxoffice, Aug. 16, 1952: “VICTORVILLE, CALIF. – Vandalism by four boys, 6 to 8 years old, who entered the old Victorville Theatre building where the Western Amusement Co. had stored valuable and hard-to-replace amplifying and speaker equipment for its new drive-in, force postponement of the opening, according to Manager Frank Justice.”
Almost there? Boxoffice, June 6, 1953: “Western Amusement Co. was about ready to open a new ozoner, the 400-car Joshua Drive-In, near Victorville.”
And finally, Boxoffice, June 27, 1953: “The 400-car New Joshua Drive-In near Victorville, Calif., opened recently under Manager Frank Justice for the Western Amusement Co.”
I wrote in my book “Drive-Ins of Route 66” that the actual grand opening was May 29, 1953. I must have used LA Times advertisements to arrive at that date, but I don’t have those notes handy as I type.
Boxoffice, June 20, 1953: “The Yerington Drive-In at Nevada opened May 27. The 350-car ozoner is owned by Regina and Pete Perry who now are staging a contest to determine a name for the situation.”
Boxoffice, June 6, 1953: “Ellis Everill, whose Park-Vu was flooded out during Salt Lake’s unseasonal weather of a year ago, will open a new Park-Vu Drive-In within a week in the southeast section.”
Boxoffice, April 18, 1953: “CARSON CITY, NEV. – The new drive-in north of town was recently named the Sky-Vue in a contest. The winner was awarded a $50 savings bond. The opening date is set for May 1.
Boxoffice, June 6, 1953: “The Sky-Vue Drive-In at Carson City, Nev., opened Sunday (28). Operators are Cecil Perrin and George Gessler.
Boxoffice, May 9, 1953: “The Knight Drive-In, with enlarged snack bar and 135 more car spaces, has been opened (for the season), with owner Tom Knight in charge.”
Boxoffice, May 2, 1953: “LA JUNTA, COLO. – The Mesa Theatre here has been sold to Basil Smith, owner of the La Junta Drive-In. Harold Rice, Fox Intermountain district manager, said the sale was made in compliance with the consent decree. The Mesa is the newest theatre here, opened in 1950.”
Boxoffice, May 2, 1953: “KAMIAH, IDA. – Construction of the new outdoor theatre near here was halted temporarily when the large screen, being raised into position, was dropped. Three of the laminated legs that held the structure in place were broken, one of them in four places. … Opening date of the theatre, owned by Mr. and Mrs. Miner Bethman, was set for early May and it was thought that even though the screen had to be repaired, the drive-in still could open at that time.”
Boxoffice, May 2, 1953: “MEDFORD, ORE. – The Rogue Drive-In has been opened here by Robert Corbin, manager of the Oregon-California Theatres here. The new 600-car drive-in, accommodating some 70 less cars than the company’s Starlite Drive-In here, can be expanded to greater capacity if needed.”
Boxoffice, April 19, 1952: “Sam Rosenthal is building a 300-car, $60,000 drive-in at Buffalo, Wyo., where he already operates the Bison in town. He is planning a June opening.”
But there must have been a delay, because one year later, Boxoffice, April 18, 1953: “BUFFALO, WYO. – The new $50,000 Sunset Drive-In, a mile east on Highway 16, opened Friday (17). It has space for 275 cars. Sam Rosenthal is in charge.”
Boxoffice, April 4, 1953: “PASCO, WASH. – This city’s first outdoor theatre, the River-Vue Drive-In, has been opened by Midstate Amusement Corp. … The River-Vue has a capacity of 550 cars and features a snack bar patio and children’s playground.”
Boxoffice, July 25, 1953: “The Patio, a 350-car drive-in, has been opened on the east Ochoco highway. Ken Piercy is manager.”
Boxoffice, July 11, 1953: “Silvers and Stafford opened the new Patio Drive-In on Highway 36 here recently. The theatre is owned by local showman Bill Silvers and Mrs. Pearl Stafford, Mrs. Zeltha Crawford and Kenneth and Marlow Stafford.”
Boxoffice, July 11, 1953: “The new Lake Shore Drive-In opened recently with a capacity of 450 cars. The airer, located on a 6.7-acre tract, was built by Mr. and Mrs. Roy Abbott and their partner Robert Dyer of Martinsville. The Abbotts manage the ozoner.”
Boxoffice, July 11, 1953: “C. R. Gregg and his son Joe K. … have opened the new Caney Valley Drive-In one mile east of town on Highway 166. The 300-car theatre will be managed by Joe Gregg.”
Boxoffice, July 11, 1953: “Clifford H. Hough of Lebanon … who opened the Moonlite Drive-In in 1949, sold it to W. T. Ash of Texas early in March.”
Boxoffice, July 11, 1953: “YATES CENTER, KAS. – The new Yates Center drive-in theatre has been opened by owners Darrell Davis and H. C. Lewer.”
Boxoffice, July 11, 1953: “BUTLER, MO. – The new Sky-Vue Drive-In opened here recently with a capacity of 300 cars. Chet Borg of Fort Scott, Kas., is owner. Opening of the airer had been set for several weeks earlier, but recent severe windstorms did much damage to the huge screen tower, which at the time was only partially erected. The drive-in will be managed by H. H. McNabb.”
Boxoffice, July 11, 1953: “By the time a golden wedding anniversary rolls around most oldsters are thinking of taking things easy – but not Mr. and Mrs. John Welty. The Weltys celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary eight years ago … they’ve just opened the new Riverside Drive-In at Hill City. Nearly 800 persons attended the opening June 24.”
Boxoffice, July 11, 1953: “DEER PARK, WASH. – The new Deer Drive-In on Highway 395 near here has been opened by co-owners Wayne Mackey and Lola Engle. The new theatre has accommodations for 250 cars, with provision for later expansion.”
Boxoffice, July 11, 1953: “SMELTERVILLE, IDA. – Pat’s Auto-Vu Drive-In east of town has been opened to the public by owner Pat Metzger. The new open-air theatre has accommodations for 450 cars.”
The July 4, 1953 issue of Boxoffice ran a two-page spread on the Parkade, focusing mainly on the T-shaped apartment home that Herbert Jeans built for his family on the second floor of the drive-in’s concession and projection building.
“Supervising the entire construction himself, Herbert Jeans broke ground for the Parkade, situated on 10 acres, on September 29, 1952, and opened the theatre March 27, just less than six months later.”
Boxoffice, July 4, 1953: “The Leawood Drive-In was opened Friday (27)(sic) to a near-capacity crowd. A Dickinson Theatres operation, its screen tower is designed as to look like a southern mansion from the highway, with lamps in windows and other decorations carrying out this same pleasing effect. Inside are the manager’s office and storerooms. … Fireworks were set off between the two films, “Lure of the Wilderness” and “Tembo.” ”
That is one gorgeous sign. Also, RoadsideArchitecture was right.
Boxoffice, July 4, 1953: “The New Kitsap Lake Drive-In at Bremerton opened Tuesday (30). … A bang-up preview was staged Monday (22).”
Motion Picture Herald, May 30, 1953: “Herb Gumper is about ready to open his new Roundup, 300-car drive-in, La Jara, Colo.”
Boxoffice, July 4, 1953: “Mr. and Mrs. Herb Gumper opened their new Roundup Drive-In Theatre by inviting the public to a free show. The Roundup is north of La Jara on the La Jara highway.”
Boxoffice, June 27, 1953: “The Yergensen Bros. conducted an advertising slogan contest to call attention to their new Hyland Drive-In at Cedar City, Utah.”
Still not open? Boxoffice, Aug. 16, 1952: “VICTORVILLE, CALIF. – Vandalism by four boys, 6 to 8 years old, who entered the old Victorville Theatre building where the Western Amusement Co. had stored valuable and hard-to-replace amplifying and speaker equipment for its new drive-in, force postponement of the opening, according to Manager Frank Justice.”
Almost there? Boxoffice, June 6, 1953: “Western Amusement Co. was about ready to open a new ozoner, the 400-car Joshua Drive-In, near Victorville.”
And finally, Boxoffice, June 27, 1953: “The 400-car New Joshua Drive-In near Victorville, Calif., opened recently under Manager Frank Justice for the Western Amusement Co.”
I wrote in my book “Drive-Ins of Route 66” that the actual grand opening was May 29, 1953. I must have used LA Times advertisements to arrive at that date, but I don’t have those notes handy as I type.
Boxoffice, June 20, 1953: “The Yerington Drive-In at Nevada opened May 27. The 350-car ozoner is owned by Regina and Pete Perry who now are staging a contest to determine a name for the situation.”
Boxoffice, June 6, 1953: “Ellis Everill, whose Park-Vu was flooded out during Salt Lake’s unseasonal weather of a year ago, will open a new Park-Vu Drive-In within a week in the southeast section.”
Boxoffice, April 18, 1953: “CARSON CITY, NEV. – The new drive-in north of town was recently named the Sky-Vue in a contest. The winner was awarded a $50 savings bond. The opening date is set for May 1.
Boxoffice, June 6, 1953: “The Sky-Vue Drive-In at Carson City, Nev., opened Sunday (28). Operators are Cecil Perrin and George Gessler.
Boxoffice, May 9, 1953: “The Knight Drive-In, with enlarged snack bar and 135 more car spaces, has been opened (for the season), with owner Tom Knight in charge.”
Boxoffice, May 2, 1953: “LA JUNTA, COLO. – The Mesa Theatre here has been sold to Basil Smith, owner of the La Junta Drive-In. Harold Rice, Fox Intermountain district manager, said the sale was made in compliance with the consent decree. The Mesa is the newest theatre here, opened in 1950.”
Boxoffice, May 2, 1953: “KAMIAH, IDA. – Construction of the new outdoor theatre near here was halted temporarily when the large screen, being raised into position, was dropped. Three of the laminated legs that held the structure in place were broken, one of them in four places. … Opening date of the theatre, owned by Mr. and Mrs. Miner Bethman, was set for early May and it was thought that even though the screen had to be repaired, the drive-in still could open at that time.”
Boxoffice, May 2, 1953: “MEDFORD, ORE. – The Rogue Drive-In has been opened here by Robert Corbin, manager of the Oregon-California Theatres here. The new 600-car drive-in, accommodating some 70 less cars than the company’s Starlite Drive-In here, can be expanded to greater capacity if needed.”
Boxoffice, April 19, 1952: “Sam Rosenthal is building a 300-car, $60,000 drive-in at Buffalo, Wyo., where he already operates the Bison in town. He is planning a June opening.”
But there must have been a delay, because one year later, Boxoffice, April 18, 1953: “BUFFALO, WYO. – The new $50,000 Sunset Drive-In, a mile east on Highway 16, opened Friday (17). It has space for 275 cars. Sam Rosenthal is in charge.”
Boxoffice, April 4, 1953: “PASCO, WASH. – This city’s first outdoor theatre, the River-Vue Drive-In, has been opened by Midstate Amusement Corp. … The River-Vue has a capacity of 550 cars and features a snack bar patio and children’s playground.”