Boxoffice, Oct. 16, 1967: “John Groy has opened his new Comanche Drive-In at Buena Vista, Colo. It has a 250-car capacity and operates in conjunction with the Pearl Theatre.”
One of the earliest cases of someone adding a motel to his drive-in?
Motion Picture Exhibitor, Feb. 29, 1956: “Lou Clemmer, owner of drive-ins at Eaton and Miamisburg, O., is building a 12-unit motel adjacent to his Cruise-In Drive-In, Eaton.”
The April 1, 1959 issue (the 1959 Theatre Catalog edition) of Motion Picture Exhibitor ran a two-page story on the Shandon Drive-In and Hotel-Motel at Seaton. It was apparently the first drive-in with an adjoining motel with rooms wired for movie sound – I wonder whether the later US drive-in motels took any inspiration from that article.
According to Motion Picture Exhibitor, the Shandon-Seaton held 1,003 cars and had a 100x44-foot screen and a dining patio.
“Most of the motel rooms have excellent screen viewing,” said the caption under the photo of the windows that face away from the screen. :) From the April 1, 1959 issue of Motion Picture Exhibitor.
Boxoffice, Sept. 27, 1965: “Frank Aydelotte, an exhibitor for 35 years, has sold his local Aggie Theatre to Carlin Smith of Wesco Theatres, a Cheyenne-based circuit … Transfer of title to the Aggie became effective September 10.”
Boxoffice, June 1, 1964: “The 66 Drive-In, situated on U.S. 66 west of the city, is being renovated for a mid-July opening. It has been the site of midget car racing in recent years and hasn’t shown movies in ten years. Louie Avolio, Frontier Theatres, said the new 66 will accommodate 600 cars.”
Boxoffice, July 2, 1962: “William Beutler is taking over operation of the Kit Carson Drive-In from the former operator, H. F. Taylor.”
Boxoffice, May 18, 1964: “The screen tower of the Kit Carson Drive-In, Taos, N.M., was blown down and owner William Beutler expects to have a new screen installed within a few weeks”
Boxoffice, Feb. 10, 1964: “R. L. Stanger, who operates the Evans Drive-In in Denver, has purchased the Lake Estes Drive-In, Estes Park. This theatre had been closed for several years”
Minor data point: The Film Daily Year Book included the Norwood in its drive-in list through at least its 1966 edition, which would be expected considering the drive-in was still visible in a 1965 aerial photo.
Boxoffice, May 16, 1953: “DOVE CREEK, COLO. – Mrs. Elizabeth Young of La Sal, Utah, and her son Robert are constructing a 100-car airer three miles west of here on Highway 160. The ozoner will operate under the name of Auto-Vue. A May debut was planned by the owners.”
The “Auto-Vu Drive-in Theatre” held its grand opening on Friday, May 22, 1953, based on its ad in that day’s Dove Creek Press. The first feature was “Cripple Creek” with George Montgomery. Admission was 50 cents for adults, 9 cents for children.
The Motorena held its grand opening on Sat., Aug. 21, 1948, based on ads in the Greeley Daily Tribune. Its opening program was “Mother Wore Tights,” “Night Train to Memphis,” and a Tom and Jerry cartoon.
Back issues of the World-Independent of Walsenburg verify that the Main “Your Hometown Theatre” existed. For example, on Aug. 20, 1954, itwas showing “Ramrod” with Joel McCrea and Veronica Lake.
The Dove Creek (CO) Press, March 6, 1953: “Three theatres in Cortez were purchased last week from the John Survant estate by Mr. and Mrs. T. Gai of Yellow Jacket, Colo. The AnLe, Cortez and Arroyo Drive-In Theatres … the Drive-in theatre will open (for the season) Friday, April 17th according to word from George Armstrong, manager of the Gai theatres.”
On March 7, 2002, the Glenwood Springs Post Independent ran an article by Willa Soncarty of the local Frontier Historical Museum, and it nailed down all the major details.
“Glenwood Springs became part of the drive-in theater craze in 1950. That August, manager Dan Cornwall oversaw construction of the community’s first and only drive-in theater. … Its site allowed parking for 325 automobiles. … 50-foot movie screen … “Moon-Glo” lights gently illuminated the site … On September 12, 1950, the Canyon Drive-In welcomed guests to the showing of its first movie, “(The) Good Humor Man.” … The final movie at the Canyon Drive-In was shown on Sept. 10, 1979.”
Boxoffice, March 29, 1971: “Mrs. Tom Murphy of Murphy Theatres, headquartered in Raton, N.M., has announced a complete rebuilding of the Grove Theatre in Alamosa. Design will be by Mel Glatz. The Grove, which has been closed in recent years, will be completely gutted and rebuilt into a 300-seat theatre.”
Years later, my advice, since this has happened to me often enough, is to delete the photo entirely and re-upload it with the corrected caption. That works perfectly without intervention from the overworked CT staff. :)
Boxoffice, Aug. 4, 1969: “ALAMOSA, COLO. – The Rialto Theatre here has been reopened by McKenna Theatres of Raton, N.M., under lease from the Thomas F. Murphy Trust, after a six-week remodeling and redecorating program which saw the building completely gutted and rebuilt … For many years, the Rialto was personally supervised by the late Thomas F. Murphy, who had planned for several years to remodel the house. After his death a year ago, Mrs. Mabel Murphy, his wife, carried out his plans.”
Boxoffice, Oct. 16, 1967: “John Groy has opened his new Comanche Drive-In at Buena Vista, Colo. It has a 250-car capacity and operates in conjunction with the Pearl Theatre.”
One of the earliest cases of someone adding a motel to his drive-in?
Motion Picture Exhibitor, Feb. 29, 1956: “Lou Clemmer, owner of drive-ins at Eaton and Miamisburg, O., is building a 12-unit motel adjacent to his Cruise-In Drive-In, Eaton.”
The April 1, 1959 issue (the 1959 Theatre Catalog edition) of Motion Picture Exhibitor ran a two-page story on the Shandon Drive-In and Hotel-Motel at Seaton. It was apparently the first drive-in with an adjoining motel with rooms wired for movie sound – I wonder whether the later US drive-in motels took any inspiration from that article.
According to Motion Picture Exhibitor, the Shandon-Seaton held 1,003 cars and had a 100x44-foot screen and a dining patio.
“Most of the motel rooms have excellent screen viewing,” said the caption under the photo of the windows that face away from the screen. :) From the April 1, 1959 issue of Motion Picture Exhibitor.
From the April 1, 1959 issue of Motion Picture Exhibitor
From the April 1, 1959 issue of Motion Picture Exhibitor
Boxoffice, Sept. 27, 1965: “Frank Aydelotte, an exhibitor for 35 years, has sold his local Aggie Theatre to Carlin Smith of Wesco Theatres, a Cheyenne-based circuit … Transfer of title to the Aggie became effective September 10.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 13, 1965: “Considerable damage was done to Al Kane’s Fiesta Drive-In, Las Cruces, N.M., by flash floods”
Boxoffice, May 10, 1965: “The Sunset Drive-In, Bridgeport, Neb., closed several years, has been reopened”
Boxoffice, April 12, 1965: “Jim Paxton, a resident of Durango, has taken over operation of the Ricon (sic) Drive-In, Aztec, N.M.”
Boxoffice, June 29, 1964: “J. C. West has closed the Sahara Drive-In, Grants, N. M., and is operating the Trails and West theatres”
Boxoffice, June 15, 1964: “Mr. and Mrs. Earl McDaniel are opening the Ute Theatre, Saguache. The Ute has been closed for a year”
Boxoffice, June 1, 1964: “The 66 Drive-In, situated on U.S. 66 west of the city, is being renovated for a mid-July opening. It has been the site of midget car racing in recent years and hasn’t shown movies in ten years. Louie Avolio, Frontier Theatres, said the new 66 will accommodate 600 cars.”
Boxoffice, July 2, 1962: “William Beutler is taking over operation of the Kit Carson Drive-In from the former operator, H. F. Taylor.”
Boxoffice, May 18, 1964: “The screen tower of the Kit Carson Drive-In, Taos, N.M., was blown down and owner William Beutler expects to have a new screen installed within a few weeks”
Boxoffice, March 2, 1964: “Robert Means will not reopen the Nike Drive-In, Carrizozo, N.M.”
Boxoffice, April 6, 1964: “Bill Baker will reopen the Nike Drive-In, Carrizozo, N. M.”
Boxoffice, Feb. 10, 1964: “R. L. Stanger, who operates the Evans Drive-In in Denver, has purchased the Lake Estes Drive-In, Estes Park. This theatre had been closed for several years”
Minor data point: The Film Daily Year Book included the Norwood in its drive-in list through at least its 1966 edition, which would be expected considering the drive-in was still visible in a 1965 aerial photo.
Boxoffice, May 16, 1953: “DOVE CREEK, COLO. – Mrs. Elizabeth Young of La Sal, Utah, and her son Robert are constructing a 100-car airer three miles west of here on Highway 160. The ozoner will operate under the name of Auto-Vue. A May debut was planned by the owners.”
The “Auto-Vu Drive-in Theatre” held its grand opening on Friday, May 22, 1953, based on its ad in that day’s Dove Creek Press. The first feature was “Cripple Creek” with George Montgomery. Admission was 50 cents for adults, 9 cents for children.
The Motorena held its grand opening on Sat., Aug. 21, 1948, based on ads in the Greeley Daily Tribune. Its opening program was “Mother Wore Tights,” “Night Train to Memphis,” and a Tom and Jerry cartoon.
Back issues of the World-Independent of Walsenburg verify that the Main “Your Hometown Theatre” existed. For example, on Aug. 20, 1954, itwas showing “Ramrod” with Joel McCrea and Veronica Lake.
The Dove Creek (CO) Press, March 6, 1953: “Three theatres in Cortez were purchased last week from the John Survant estate by Mr. and Mrs. T. Gai of Yellow Jacket, Colo. The AnLe, Cortez and Arroyo Drive-In Theatres … the Drive-in theatre will open (for the season) Friday, April 17th according to word from George Armstrong, manager of the Gai theatres.”
On March 7, 2002, the Glenwood Springs Post Independent ran an article by Willa Soncarty of the local Frontier Historical Museum, and it nailed down all the major details.
“Glenwood Springs became part of the drive-in theater craze in 1950. That August, manager Dan Cornwall oversaw construction of the community’s first and only drive-in theater. … Its site allowed parking for 325 automobiles. … 50-foot movie screen … “Moon-Glo” lights gently illuminated the site … On September 12, 1950, the Canyon Drive-In welcomed guests to the showing of its first movie, “(The) Good Humor Man.” … The final movie at the Canyon Drive-In was shown on Sept. 10, 1979.”
Boxoffice, March 29, 1971: “Mrs. Tom Murphy of Murphy Theatres, headquartered in Raton, N.M., has announced a complete rebuilding of the Grove Theatre in Alamosa. Design will be by Mel Glatz. The Grove, which has been closed in recent years, will be completely gutted and rebuilt into a 300-seat theatre.”
Years later, my advice, since this has happened to me often enough, is to delete the photo entirely and re-upload it with the corrected caption. That works perfectly without intervention from the overworked CT staff. :)
Boxoffice, Aug. 4, 1969: “ALAMOSA, COLO. – The Rialto Theatre here has been reopened by McKenna Theatres of Raton, N.M., under lease from the Thomas F. Murphy Trust, after a six-week remodeling and redecorating program which saw the building completely gutted and rebuilt … For many years, the Rialto was personally supervised by the late Thomas F. Murphy, who had planned for several years to remodel the house. After his death a year ago, Mrs. Mabel Murphy, his wife, carried out his plans.”