The Motion Picture Almanac drive-in list first included the Mountain View in Ruidoso in the 1952-53 edition, capacity 230, owner Bill Eiland. The Theatre Catalog listed it as capacity 250, owner William Eiland.
I wonder whether this was renamed the Main, because the 1951 Film Daily Year Book lists three theaters for Walsenburg – Fox, 715 Main St.; Rialto, 613 Main St., and the Main, no address.
I’ve found a few other references to the Main, including this note in the Aug. 21, 1954 Motion Picture Herald: “Joe Giordano, owner of the Main, Walsenburg, Colo., is building a 250-car drive-in there.”
Motion Picture Herald, Aug. 14, 1954: “Russell Allen is building a 350-car drive-in, with CinemaScope, at Farmington, N. M., and hopes to have it in operation by Sept. 1.”
Motion Picture Herald, July 31, 1954: “Hundred mile-an-hour wind blew down and demolished the screen tower at the Rapid, Rapid City, S. D., owned by the Black Hills Amusement Co.”
A reminder of the scary old days, from Motion Picture Herald, July 24, 1954: “The Wigwam, Basin, Wyo., has been closed temporarily because of a polio epidemic.”
Motion Picture Herald, Jan. 30, 1954: “The Panhandle drive-in, Kimball, Neb., is being readied to open May 1. With a 250-car capacity, the drive-in is being built by the Panhandle Theatre Corp., composed of Kimball business men.”
Motion Picture Herald, May 22, 1954: “Nate Eastman has opened 300-car drive-in, the Panhandle, at Kimball, Neb.”
Motion Picture Herald, April 24, 1954: “Service clubs at Yuma, Colo., filled the Yuma, Yuma, Colo., managed by Lyle Myers, twice in one evening at $1 a seat for the benefit of the hospital.”
Motion Picture Herald, Feb. 27, 1954: “Ed Nesbit, owner of the Alpine, is here (in Denver) inventorying and closing the theatre, in preparation to getting the building ready for other businesses. Clarence Martin, who has been operating the house, has given up his lease.”
Motion Picture Herald, Dec. 5, 1953: “Arthur Goldstein, who recently closed the Ute, Strassburg (sic), Colo., because of poor business, has taken over the World, Denver, and will operate it on a subsequent basis.”
Motion Picture Herald, Dec. 19, 1953: “Lorene McCarthy has taken over the Ute, Strasburg, Colo., from Archie Goldstein, who had closed the house a few weeks ago. She will do some remodeling before reopening.”
Motion Picture Herald, Feb. 13, 1954: “Lorane McCarthy has reopened the Ute, Strassburg (sic), Colo., after remodeling the house and keeping it closed three months.”
Motion Picture Herald, Dec. 13, 1947: “W. B. Parks sells Lake, Johnstown, Colo., to Dave Marnock (sic).”
Motion Picture Herald, Jan. 24, 1953: “Dave Warnock has sold the Lake, Johnstown, Colo., to Merf Evans, manager for Gibralter Theatres at Craig, Colo.”
Motion Picture Herald, Sept. 12, 1953: “Merf Evans has closed the Lake, Johnstown, Colo., and is now managing the Lakewood, Lakewood, Colo.”
Motion Picture Herald, Oct. 3, 1953: “Dave Warnock, who recently sold the Lake, Johnstown, Colo., to Merf Evans, has taken back the theatre and reopened it.”
Motion Picture Herald, Sept. 12, 1953: “The Denham this week is celebrating its 40th year.* Built in 1913 for legitimate plays, the house was also used for years for stock before closing for a time, and then opening for films in 1932, with the late Lou Hellborn managing until Dave Cockrill came in 1934 to manage until his death last year. His widow, Mr. (sic?) Vera Cockrill, now is managing director, with Robt. Lotito as manager, and with Wm. Fitzgerald handling the publicity.”
Actually, it was the Denham’s 40th anniversary, marking the start of its 41st year.
Motion Picture Herald, July 4, 1953: “The Wolfberg Theatres officially opened their new 1,000-car Valley drive-in southeast of Denver, and will operate it first run and date with the North drive-in and the downtown Paramount.”
Motion Picture Herald, June 20, 1953: “Fox Inter-Mountain Theatres has sold the American, Sterling, Colo., and the Coronado, Las Vegas, N. M., to the M & M Theatres Inc.”
Motion Picture Herald, May 9, 1953: “Norman Probstein, owner of the State, has taken over the Isis from Fox Inter-Mountain Theatres, and will tear down the State to make a parking lot, which he will operate.”
Motion Picture Herald, April 4, 1953: “Robert Kehr is building a 350-car drive-in, with room for expansion, at Ogallala, Neb., where he also operated theatres.”
Motion Picture Herald, May 2, 1953: “Robert and Al Kehr, owner of two conventional theatres in Ohallala (sic), Neb., will open their 350-car drive-in there about May 15, using RCA.”
The Motion Picture Almanac drive-in list first included the Mountain View in Ruidoso in the 1952-53 edition, capacity 230, owner Bill Eiland. The Theatre Catalog listed it as capacity 250, owner William Eiland.
I wonder whether this was renamed the Main, because the 1951 Film Daily Year Book lists three theaters for Walsenburg – Fox, 715 Main St.; Rialto, 613 Main St., and the Main, no address.
I’ve found a few other references to the Main, including this note in the Aug. 21, 1954 Motion Picture Herald: “Joe Giordano, owner of the Main, Walsenburg, Colo., is building a 250-car drive-in there.”
Motion Picture Herald, Aug. 14, 1954: “Russell Allen is building a 350-car drive-in, with CinemaScope, at Farmington, N. M., and hopes to have it in operation by Sept. 1.”
Motion Picture Herald, Aug. 7, 1954: “Joe Stalman, partner in the Mile-High drive-in, Douglas, Wyo., has sold his interest to his three partners.”
Motion Picture Herald, May 23, 1953: “Pete Meyers is building a drive-in at Luck (sic), Wyo., and heading for a June 1 opening.”
Motion Picture Herald, Aug. 7, 1954: “Pete Meirs is building a 250-car drive-in at Lusk, Wyo.”
Motion Picture Herald, May 21, 1955: “Melvin Meier has opened his new 250-car Lusk drive-in, Lusk, Wyo.”
Motion Picture Herald, July 31, 1954: “Hundred mile-an-hour wind blew down and demolished the screen tower at the Rapid, Rapid City, S. D., owned by the Black Hills Amusement Co.”
A reminder of the scary old days, from Motion Picture Herald, July 24, 1954: “The Wigwam, Basin, Wyo., has been closed temporarily because of a polio epidemic.”
Motion Picture Herald, May 22, 1954: “Alex Kling will open his new drive-in four miles east of Belle Fourche, S. D., next month.”
Motion Picture Herald, Jan. 30, 1954: “The Panhandle drive-in, Kimball, Neb., is being readied to open May 1. With a 250-car capacity, the drive-in is being built by the Panhandle Theatre Corp., composed of Kimball business men.”
Motion Picture Herald, May 22, 1954: “Nate Eastman has opened 300-car drive-in, the Panhandle, at Kimball, Neb.”
Motion Picture Herald, April 24, 1954: “Service clubs at Yuma, Colo., filled the Yuma, Yuma, Colo., managed by Lyle Myers, twice in one evening at $1 a seat for the benefit of the hospital.”
Motion Picture Herald, Feb. 27, 1954: “Ed Nesbit, owner of the Alpine, is here (in Denver) inventorying and closing the theatre, in preparation to getting the building ready for other businesses. Clarence Martin, who has been operating the house, has given up his lease.”
Motion Picture Herald, Dec. 5, 1953: “Arthur Goldstein, who recently closed the Ute, Strassburg (sic), Colo., because of poor business, has taken over the World, Denver, and will operate it on a subsequent basis.”
Motion Picture Herald, Dec. 19, 1953: “Lorene McCarthy has taken over the Ute, Strasburg, Colo., from Archie Goldstein, who had closed the house a few weeks ago. She will do some remodeling before reopening.”
Motion Picture Herald, Feb. 13, 1954: “Lorane McCarthy has reopened the Ute, Strassburg (sic), Colo., after remodeling the house and keeping it closed three months.”
Motion Picture Almanac, Jan. 2, 1954: “Russell Allen is adding 300 seats to the Aztec, Aztec, N. M., to double its size.”
Motion Picture Herald, Dec. 13, 1947: “W. B. Parks sells Lake, Johnstown, Colo., to Dave Marnock (sic).”
Motion Picture Herald, Jan. 24, 1953: “Dave Warnock has sold the Lake, Johnstown, Colo., to Merf Evans, manager for Gibralter Theatres at Craig, Colo.”
Motion Picture Herald, Sept. 12, 1953: “Merf Evans has closed the Lake, Johnstown, Colo., and is now managing the Lakewood, Lakewood, Colo.”
Motion Picture Herald, Oct. 3, 1953: “Dave Warnock, who recently sold the Lake, Johnstown, Colo., to Merf Evans, has taken back the theatre and reopened it.”
Motion Picture Herald, Sept. 12, 1953: “The Denham this week is celebrating its 40th year.* Built in 1913 for legitimate plays, the house was also used for years for stock before closing for a time, and then opening for films in 1932, with the late Lou Hellborn managing until Dave Cockrill came in 1934 to manage until his death last year. His widow, Mr. (sic?) Vera Cockrill, now is managing director, with Robt. Lotito as manager, and with Wm. Fitzgerald handling the publicity.”
Motion Picture Herald, July 18, 1953: “Claude Graves and Wilbur Williams opened their new 600-car Holiday drive-in, Boulder, Colo.”
Motion Picture Herald, July 4, 1953: “The Wolfberg Theatres officially opened their new 1,000-car Valley drive-in southeast of Denver, and will operate it first run and date with the North drive-in and the downtown Paramount.”
Motion Picture Herald, June 20, 1953: “Fox Inter-Mountain Theatres has sold the American, Sterling, Colo., and the Coronado, Las Vegas, N. M., to the M & M Theatres Inc.”
Motion Picture Herald, June 20, 1953: “Lewis Rademacher has sold the Plains, Rushville, Neb., to Ross A. Jenkins.”
Motion Picture Herald, June 20, 1953: “Wesco Theatres has sold the Wyoming, Lusk, Wyoming, to Melvin Meier.”
Motion Picture Herald, May 9, 1953: “Norman Probstein, owner of the State, has taken over the Isis from Fox Inter-Mountain Theatres, and will tear down the State to make a parking lot, which he will operate.”
Motion Picture Herald, April 4, 1953: “Robert Kehr is building a 350-car drive-in, with room for expansion, at Ogallala, Neb., where he also operated theatres.”
Motion Picture Herald, May 2, 1953: “Robert and Al Kehr, owner of two conventional theatres in Ohallala (sic), Neb., will open their 350-car drive-in there about May 15, using RCA.”
Motion Picture Herald, May 2, 1953: “Merle Swank is building a 285-car drive-in, Stockton, Kansas.”
Motion Picture Herald, April 18, 1953: “Paul Cory opening new 287-car Cory drive-in, Basin, Wyo., early next month.”
Motion Picture Herald, April 18, 1953: “Lloyd Greve has added the Crystal, Carbondale, Colo., to his operations.”