Looks like this drive-in spent its final ~15 years as the Linda Vista.
Boxoffice, Aug. 4, 1969: “The opening of the Linda Vista Drive-In, 5400 Second NW, was highlighted by a live show … The theatre is the former Star Theatre. Mel Sanchez is owner.”
That photo, which shows “Grand Opening Thursday” on the marquee, suggests that the opening night really was Thursday, Aug. 29, 1963. Drive-ins often hold invite-only soft openings the night before, so maybe that happened here and misled the Boxoffice correspondent.
The Nov. 4, 1963 issue of Boxoffice revisited the Del-Sego, which had just expanded its mini golf, with a two-page article including photos.
Owner-operator William Warnken jr. said the lighting over the courses “affords a dual purpose in that it gives me just about the right degree of ‘Moonlight’ which has cut down on speaker thefts 75 per cent.”
Boxoffice, July 29, 1963: “The Starway Drive-In, which had been closed under its previous ownership, has been returned to active exhibition following its purchased by Interstate Theatre Corp. from James Sayre jr., Salem attorney.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 20, 1962: “Mr. and Mrs. Paul McCalmon have sold Paul’s Drive-In at Powell, Wyo., to Craig and Ann Jones”
Boxoffice, July 29, 1963: “Mr. and Mrs. Paul McCalmon again are operating Paul’s Drive-In, Powell, Wyo. They were the original owners prior to selling to Craig and Ann Jones at the beginning of the year”
Boxoffice, July 15, 1963: “Western Amusement Co. announced plans have been completed for construction of a 600-car drive-in at Barstow. R. B. Brout of Los Angeles is the architect. Western Amusement also operates the Barstow Theatre … and the Bar-Len Drive-In at Barstow. The latter is to be renovated.”
What a remarkably fast descent for the former Comet, as told over a few weeks in Boxoffice:
May 6, 1963: “The Paris Theatre, which operated under an art house policy, has been taken over by Wally Nash, who will open it with live entertainment. The first stage show will feature six comedians.”
May 20, 1963: “The Paris Theatre which had been operated as an art house and more recently with live entertainment has been closed and is for sale”
June 10, 1963: “The Paris Theatre was completely destroyed by a mysterious Sunday evening explosion. … (It) was for sale at $32,000”
July 1, 1963: “Investigative authorities have declared the explosion which completely demolished the Paris Theatre in Denver to have been a case of arson.”
Boxoffice, July 17, 1961: Sero Amusement Co. has purchased the Tri-C Drive-In at Albuquerque from Carl Halberg"
Boxoffice, June 24, 1963: “Carl Halberg, owner-operator of two drive-in theatres here, has rebuilt his old Tri-C Drive-In, which was destroyed by wind last spring, and renamed it the Route 25 Drive-In.”
Boxoffice, June 3, 1963: “BAKER, ORE. – Shortly before the Old Trail Drive-In was opened for the season it was purchased by Harold C. Fuller of Salt Lake City. Fuller plans to remodel the drive-in on West Highway 30 without interfering with the daily program schedule.”
Looks like it wasn’t a flood that took out the Kar-Vu. The last ad I could find in the local Tri-State Daily News was Sept. 13, 1962, and on April 15, 1963, Boxoffice reported: “The Kar-Vu Drive-In, Lamar, damaged by fire during the winter, will apparently remain closed.”
The April 8, 1963 issue of Boxoffice ran a two-page article, with photos, of the Fairyland’s 50x50-foot playground, unusual in that it was designed only for small children. The article said the drive-in opened without a playground but added it, next to the concession stand, in Spring 1962.
The drive-in opened as the North Star Auto Theater, which is how it advertised for the rest of the 1962 season. Winds knocked down the screen on Feb. 10, 1963, and when the drive-in reopened on April 10 that year, it began advertising as the North Star Drive-In.
Boxoffice, Dec. 17, 1962: “After many years, Raymond Borcherdt, Nucla Theatre at Nucla, is retiring and turning over operation to his son Martin and daughter-in-law Mary Ellen.”
Boxoffice, April 1, 1963: “Martin Borcherdt has closed the Nucla Theatre, Nucla”
Bill Bowman wrote about the Bagdad in the March 8, 1963 issue of the Arizona Republic. He said it was “beginning its seventh year today,” which would make its opening night March 8, 1957. A canyon carved by Bridle Creek separated the ramps from the 250-foot screen.
That’s the quick summary. Here’s the whole article, for as long as the embed lasts:
Boxoffice, Feb. 18, 1963: “Norman Bentz, who recently took over operation of the Cody (Wyo.) Theatre and Cody Drive-In from owner Earl Corder, has negotiated for the Park Drive-In, also in Cody, and will operate it in association with Paul Cory from Thermopolis, Wyo.”
Boxoffice, Feb. 11, 1963: “Video Independent Theatres has purchased the Terrace and Duke City drive-ins in Albuquerque. The same organization also has taken over the Wyoming Drive-In, also in Albuquerque”
Boxoffice, Feb. 11, 1963: “Video Independent Theatres has purchased the Terrace and Duke City drive-ins in Albuquerque. The same organization also has taken over the Wyoming Drive-In, also in Albuquerque”
Boxoffice, Feb. 11, 1963: “Video Independent Theatres has purchased the Terrace and Duke City drive-ins in Albuquerque. The same organization also has taken over the Wyoming Drive-In, also in Albuquerque”
The Feb. 4, 1963 issue of Boxoffice ran a two-page article, with photos, of the renovated Paris. “Remodeling a theatre that had been closed for five years, and had thus become completely dirty and filthy, was the job tackled by several employes of the Art Theatre Guild, which operates 30 art theatres, three of which are in Denver.”
Looks like this drive-in spent its final ~15 years as the Linda Vista.
Boxoffice, Aug. 4, 1969: “The opening of the Linda Vista Drive-In, 5400 Second NW, was highlighted by a live show … The theatre is the former Star Theatre. Mel Sanchez is owner.”
That photo, which shows “Grand Opening Thursday” on the marquee, suggests that the opening night really was Thursday, Aug. 29, 1963. Drive-ins often hold invite-only soft openings the night before, so maybe that happened here and misled the Boxoffice correspondent.
From the Nov. 4, 1963 issue of Boxoffice.
The Nov. 4, 1963 issue of Boxoffice revisited the Del-Sego, which had just expanded its mini golf, with a two-page article including photos.
Owner-operator William Warnken jr. said the lighting over the courses “affords a dual purpose in that it gives me just about the right degree of ‘Moonlight’ which has cut down on speaker thefts 75 per cent.”
Boxoffice, Oct. 28, 1963: “Sam Russo of San Diego has taken over the Harbor Drive-In in Chula Vista.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 30, 1963: “The El Rancho Drive-In at Sacramento has been dismantled by Blumenfeld Theatres, which is turning it into a trailer court”
Boxoffice, Sept. 2, 1963: “Lloyd Greve is closing his Eagle Theatre in Eagle”
Boxoffice, Sept. 23, 1963: “Lloyd Greve is opening an electrical appliance business in what was formerly the Eagle Theatre in Eagle, Colo.”
Boxoffice, July 29, 1963: “The Starway Drive-In, which had been closed under its previous ownership, has been returned to active exhibition following its purchased by Interstate Theatre Corp. from James Sayre jr., Salem attorney.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 20, 1962: “Mr. and Mrs. Paul McCalmon have sold Paul’s Drive-In at Powell, Wyo., to Craig and Ann Jones”
Boxoffice, July 29, 1963: “Mr. and Mrs. Paul McCalmon again are operating Paul’s Drive-In, Powell, Wyo. They were the original owners prior to selling to Craig and Ann Jones at the beginning of the year”
Boxoffice, July 15, 1963: “Western Amusement Co. announced plans have been completed for construction of a 600-car drive-in at Barstow. R. B. Brout of Los Angeles is the architect. Western Amusement also operates the Barstow Theatre … and the Bar-Len Drive-In at Barstow. The latter is to be renovated.”
What a remarkably fast descent for the former Comet, as told over a few weeks in Boxoffice:
May 6, 1963: “The Paris Theatre, which operated under an art house policy, has been taken over by Wally Nash, who will open it with live entertainment. The first stage show will feature six comedians.”
May 20, 1963: “The Paris Theatre which had been operated as an art house and more recently with live entertainment has been closed and is for sale”
June 10, 1963: “The Paris Theatre was completely destroyed by a mysterious Sunday evening explosion. … (It) was for sale at $32,000”
July 1, 1963: “Investigative authorities have declared the explosion which completely demolished the Paris Theatre in Denver to have been a case of arson.”
Boxoffice, July 17, 1961: Sero Amusement Co. has purchased the Tri-C Drive-In at Albuquerque from Carl Halberg"
Boxoffice, June 24, 1963: “Carl Halberg, owner-operator of two drive-in theatres here, has rebuilt his old Tri-C Drive-In, which was destroyed by wind last spring, and renamed it the Route 25 Drive-In.”
Boxoffice, June 3, 1963: “BAKER, ORE. – Shortly before the Old Trail Drive-In was opened for the season it was purchased by Harold C. Fuller of Salt Lake City. Fuller plans to remodel the drive-in on West Highway 30 without interfering with the daily program schedule.”
Boxoffice, March 11, 1963: “The Vassos brothers are offering their Sunset Drive-In, Bridgeport, Neb., for sale at auction March 15”
Boxoffice, April 15, 1963: “The Sunset Drive-In, Bridgeport, Neb., was not sold at auction and will be reopened by John Vassos”
Looks like it wasn’t a flood that took out the Kar-Vu. The last ad I could find in the local Tri-State Daily News was Sept. 13, 1962, and on April 15, 1963, Boxoffice reported: “The Kar-Vu Drive-In, Lamar, damaged by fire during the winter, will apparently remain closed.”
From the April 8, 1963 issue of Boxoffice.
The April 8, 1963 issue of Boxoffice ran a two-page article, with photos, of the Fairyland’s 50x50-foot playground, unusual in that it was designed only for small children. The article said the drive-in opened without a playground but added it, next to the concession stand, in Spring 1962.
The drive-in opened as the North Star Auto Theater, which is how it advertised for the rest of the 1962 season. Winds knocked down the screen on Feb. 10, 1963, and when the drive-in reopened on April 10 that year, it began advertising as the North Star Drive-In.
Boxoffice, Dec. 17, 1962: “After many years, Raymond Borcherdt, Nucla Theatre at Nucla, is retiring and turning over operation to his son Martin and daughter-in-law Mary Ellen.”
Boxoffice, April 1, 1963: “Martin Borcherdt has closed the Nucla Theatre, Nucla”
Bill Bowman wrote about the Bagdad in the March 8, 1963 issue of the Arizona Republic. He said it was “beginning its seventh year today,” which would make its opening night March 8, 1957. A canyon carved by Bridle Creek separated the ramps from the 250-foot screen.
That’s the quick summary. Here’s the whole article, for as long as the embed lasts:
Boxoffice, Feb. 18, 1963: “Norman Bentz, who recently took over operation of the Cody (Wyo.) Theatre and Cody Drive-In from owner Earl Corder, has negotiated for the Park Drive-In, also in Cody, and will operate it in association with Paul Cory from Thermopolis, Wyo.”
Boxoffice, Feb. 11, 1963: “Video Independent Theatres has purchased the Terrace and Duke City drive-ins in Albuquerque. The same organization also has taken over the Wyoming Drive-In, also in Albuquerque”
Boxoffice, Feb. 11, 1963: “Video Independent Theatres has purchased the Terrace and Duke City drive-ins in Albuquerque. The same organization also has taken over the Wyoming Drive-In, also in Albuquerque”
Boxoffice, Feb. 11, 1963: “Video Independent Theatres has purchased the Terrace and Duke City drive-ins in Albuquerque. The same organization also has taken over the Wyoming Drive-In, also in Albuquerque”
The Feb. 4, 1963 issue of Boxoffice ran a two-page article, with photos, of the renovated Paris. “Remodeling a theatre that had been closed for five years, and had thus become completely dirty and filthy, was the job tackled by several employes of the Art Theatre Guild, which operates 30 art theatres, three of which are in Denver.”