Boxoffice, Dec. 29, 1951: “ARTESIA, N. M. – Another drive-in is planned for this area. Ray Bartlett, owner of the Landsun and Ocotillo theatres and the Circle-B Drive-In, has purchased a site about three and one-half miles south of town, and is planning for an Easter opening of the new project. Because of the steel shortage the tower will be constructed of wood. It will be replaced when steel becomes available. Bartlett plans to use first runs in one drive-in and subsequent runs in the other.”
Boxoffice, Dec. 8, 1951: “In a violent windstorm … recently, major damage was done at the Super 99 Drive-In on McLoughlin boulevard, when the huge outdoor screen was toppled. It would have to be completely rebuilt, the management said, and as a result, the theatre was closed for the remainder of the season.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 15, 1951: “Tom Griffing of Griffing-Lasky Construction Co. left (Boston) for Albuquerque, N. M. to supervise the construction of a drive-in theater there. To be called the Terrace, it will be operated by All State Theatres and is expected to be finished by mid-October. … It takes its name from the fact that between 400 and 500 lounge chair seats will be installed on the terrace for patrons who prefer to leave their cars.”
Boxoffice, Dec. 1, 1951: “The Terrace Drive-In opened with what the owners say is the largest screen tower in the country. The projection booth sits back 550 feet.”
Boxoffice, Dec. 1, 1951: “LOVELAND, COLO. – Acquisition of the Luv-Vu Drive-In by the University Theatre Corp. of Boulder was announced by Richard W. Koenig. The latter, who has owned the Motorena Drive-In at Boulder for three years, negotiated the purchase from Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Martell.”
Early story of the actual Rio; I wonder whether it opened as the Terrace. Boxoffice, Nov. 17, 1951: “THERMOPOLIS, WYO. – Dietz Lusk of Kansas City, who has designed 26 of the largest drive-in theatres in the country, was here recently laying plans with Fred Curtis for the new Terrace Drive-In, Walk-In Theatre at the junction of Highway 20 and Park street, which was formerly the elk pasture on State park land. It was stated that work on the new theatre grounds will get under way this fall.”
Boxoffice, Nov. 10, 1951: “YUMA, ARIZ. – Cinema Park Theatres, Inc., of Phoenix has started construction of a $375,000 drive-in on the Yuma mesa, across Highway 95 from Panther field. In keeping with its name, the Silver Buck Drive-In will charge $1 a carload and will be able to accommodate 1,000 autos, making it one of the largest underskyers in the state. The screen, 75x80 feet, will be the biggest in Arizona.”
The Nov. 3, 1951 Boxoffice ran a lengthy article about the unusual features of the “Dian 29 Drive-In,” which had opened “not long ago”. There was a wood-burning fireplace in the concession area “for atmospheric effect only,” since it also had modern heating. A fish pond sat between the first ramp and the screen tower, which was covered with asbestos shingle siding. The screen was 42x59 feet.
Boxoffice, Nov. 3, 1951: “An explosion and fire thought to have been caused by spontaneous combustion in the coal bin caused $100,000 damages to the El Raton at Raton, N. M. The house, belonging to Hubbard & Murphy, Inc., suffered a burned-out stage and auditorium. Although the lobby was practically undamaged, the force of the explosion blew a door across the street. The walls and the ceiling were also undamaged. This was the A-house and the policy is being moved over to the Schuler until the 684-seat El Raton can be rebuilt. The fire occurred at 10:40 in the morning so no one was in the theatre, and it so happend that no one was passing when the door was blown off the hinges.”
The Oct. 27, 1951 issue of Boxoffice had a two-page story, with pictures, of the Wareham and how it rebounded from terrible flood damage in July that year.
Boxoffice, Oct. 20, 1951: “NOGALES, ARIZ. – The Diamos interests have started construction work here on a new drive-in that will cost between $80,000 and $90,000. The outdoorer will be named the El Rancho and will follow a western motif in design and construction. Opening has been tentatively set for the early part of 1952. The 600-car drive-in is being built five miles north of Nogales on the Tucson highway and will cover about ten acres.”
Hmm, the Mt. Elden was three miles east of downtown Flagstaff. Boxoffice, Oct. 20, 1951: “FLAGSTAFF, ARIZ. – Construction has been started on a 500-car drive-in five miles east of here. It will be operated by Harry L. Nace and Ray Olmstead, representing Northern Arizona Theatres.”
Almost exactly one year later… Boxoffice, Oct. 20, 1951: “VICTORVILLE, CALIF. – Construction has been launched on a new $75,000 drive-in theatre here by the Western Amusement Co., headed by Ted Jones. The ozoner will be operated on a first run policy under supervision of Frank Justice, city manager, who also is in charge of the circuit’s two indoor houses, the El Rancho and Mesa.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 15, 1951: “DOUGLAS, ARIZ. – The Diamos brothers, owners and operators of the Grand and Lyric here, have started construction of a $70,000 drive-in three miles west of Douglas on Highway 80. The open-airer is scheduled to be completed late in October. The drive-in will have a capacity of 700 cars and will be named by the public in a preopening contest.”
Boxoffice, Oct. 13, 1951: “W. P. Wickersham and B. J. Leavitt have joined forces with the Diamos interests to pool resources and complete the construction of the Fort Cochise Drive-In. Originally, each company was to have built separate theatres.”
Boxoffice, Oct. 13, 1951: “Ownership of the Starlite Drive-In here was acquired last month by Teno Roncalio, native of Rock Springs and a Cheyenne attorney, with his purchase of the interests of Evan H. Reese and Frank R. Crocker in the theatre.”
Motion Picture Herald, March 21, 1953: “C. E. Bradshaw, owner of the Inland, Martin, S. D., his son Russell, and Wm. Wells, bought the Starlite drive-in, Rock Springs, Wyo.”
Boxoffice, May 2, 1960: “John Anselmi and Fred Magana have purchased the Motor Vu Drive-In, Rock Springs, Wyo., from Teno Roncalio of Cheyenne”.
Boxoffice, Sept. 15, 1951: “WINSLOW, ARIZ. – The Nace theatre interests will start construction here soon on a $50,000 drive-in to accommodate 500 cars. Vaughn Taylor, Nace manager, will be a partner-manager in the outdoorer, which will be operated by a staff of 15.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 29, 1951: “Construction is under way on Winslow’s first drive-in, the Tonto, with present plans calling for an opening the first week in October. The 500-car drive-in is being built on U.S. highway 66 by Michael A. Parker … The Tonto screen will be 60x55 feet, and the projection room and concession stand will be housed in a 36x40-foot building. … At recent ground-breaking ceremonies, Mayor F. C. Whipple turned the first shovel of earth.”
Boxoffice, July 28, 1951: “GALLUP, N. M. – Construction has been launched on this city’s first drive-in, a 300-car ozoner being built by William Nagle and Theatre Enterprises. It is being constructed on a ten-acre site on Highway 66. Theatre Enterprises also operates the Chief and El Morro, conventional houses here, with Bruce Waugh as city manager.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 22, 1951: “GALLUP, N. M. – Construction of Gallup’s first drive-in by Theatre Enterprises and William Nagle is proceeding on schedule, according to Bruce Waugh, manager of the Chief and El Morro theatres. The project is located on Highway 66 just west of the city limits. J. E. Waller, Roswell, N. M., contractor, has installed five poles 46 feet high to support the screen tower. Ramps are already built and grading and drainage are now being processed.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 22, 1951: “Mr. and Mrs. J. T. Latimore opened their new drive-in at Arco, Ida., in record time after start of construction. The owners of the new theatre are calling it the Motor-Vu”
Leo’s did not became the Rio, which didn’t open before 1954. A 1962 topo map points to the 198 Park Street address for a drive-in (the Rio), and a 1964 aerial shows it active, but a 1954 aerial photo of the site looks a lot more like an empty field than the 1964 drive-in.
That site was just north of town, and here’s the note that pointed me to the actual location of Leo’s (at present-day 162 Lane 3 in Thermopolis).
Boxoffice, Sept. 22, 1951: “Leo Roncco and Leo Roncco jr. have sold the Leo’s Drive-In to Fred Curtis, owner of the Tepee Theatre. The ozoner is located south of here.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 25, 1951: “An opening date for the Hondo Drive-In will be announced soon, according to Harry A. Hammill, whose new airer is located on the west edge of Hondo on Highway 90. The public will be admitted free opening night.”
Yet another spelling of the owner’s name, and a city name that’s nowhere near his drive-in, in this note in the Aug. 18, 1951 issue of Boxoffice: “The new drive-in at Hot Springs, N. M. is near completion. Called the Palms, it is owned by Oscar Conwell, who had hoped to open by July 4th.”
Motion Picture Herald, April 26, 1947: “Clarence Martin buys Gem, Hugo, Colo., from Earl Behrens.”
Boxoffice June 9, 1951: “HUGO, COLO. – Sam Feinstein and Charles McCarthy have purchased the Gem Theatre here from Clarence Martin, who operated the house since June 1947.”
Boxoffice, June 9, 1951: “Robert L. Lippert’s new Terrace Drive-In, which opened here (in San Francisco) recently, is an unusual theatre installation. Instead of scooping out the earth to provide the customary flat surface, designer Gale Santocono tailored a drive-in to fit San Francisco’s hilly contour. The parking area resembles an amphitheatre.”
Boxoffice, May 12, 1951: “The Showboat Drive-In at Tracy has been purchased by Mrs. Ada and M. Rosenberg, owners of the Grand and Arlon theatres in Tracy, from five partners, Vincent Trains, Robert Byers, Charles Gubser, Stewart Fletcher and Alex Balanesi.”
Boxoffice, Dec. 29, 1951: “ARTESIA, N. M. – Another drive-in is planned for this area. Ray Bartlett, owner of the Landsun and Ocotillo theatres and the Circle-B Drive-In, has purchased a site about three and one-half miles south of town, and is planning for an Easter opening of the new project. Because of the steel shortage the tower will be constructed of wood. It will be replaced when steel becomes available. Bartlett plans to use first runs in one drive-in and subsequent runs in the other.”
Boxoffice, Dec. 8, 1951: “In a violent windstorm … recently, major damage was done at the Super 99 Drive-In on McLoughlin boulevard, when the huge outdoor screen was toppled. It would have to be completely rebuilt, the management said, and as a result, the theatre was closed for the remainder of the season.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 15, 1951: “Tom Griffing of Griffing-Lasky Construction Co. left (Boston) for Albuquerque, N. M. to supervise the construction of a drive-in theater there. To be called the Terrace, it will be operated by All State Theatres and is expected to be finished by mid-October. … It takes its name from the fact that between 400 and 500 lounge chair seats will be installed on the terrace for patrons who prefer to leave their cars.”
Boxoffice, Dec. 1, 1951: “The Terrace Drive-In opened with what the owners say is the largest screen tower in the country. The projection booth sits back 550 feet.”
Boxoffice, Dec. 1, 1951: “LOVELAND, COLO. – Acquisition of the Luv-Vu Drive-In by the University Theatre Corp. of Boulder was announced by Richard W. Koenig. The latter, who has owned the Motorena Drive-In at Boulder for three years, negotiated the purchase from Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Martell.”
Early story of the actual Rio; I wonder whether it opened as the Terrace. Boxoffice, Nov. 17, 1951: “THERMOPOLIS, WYO. – Dietz Lusk of Kansas City, who has designed 26 of the largest drive-in theatres in the country, was here recently laying plans with Fred Curtis for the new Terrace Drive-In, Walk-In Theatre at the junction of Highway 20 and Park street, which was formerly the elk pasture on State park land. It was stated that work on the new theatre grounds will get under way this fall.”
Boxoffice, Nov. 10, 1951: “YUMA, ARIZ. – Cinema Park Theatres, Inc., of Phoenix has started construction of a $375,000 drive-in on the Yuma mesa, across Highway 95 from Panther field. In keeping with its name, the Silver Buck Drive-In will charge $1 a carload and will be able to accommodate 1,000 autos, making it one of the largest underskyers in the state. The screen, 75x80 feet, will be the biggest in Arizona.”
The Nov. 3, 1951 Boxoffice ran a lengthy article about the unusual features of the “Dian 29 Drive-In,” which had opened “not long ago”. There was a wood-burning fireplace in the concession area “for atmospheric effect only,” since it also had modern heating. A fish pond sat between the first ramp and the screen tower, which was covered with asbestos shingle siding. The screen was 42x59 feet.
Boxoffice, Nov. 3, 1951: “An explosion and fire thought to have been caused by spontaneous combustion in the coal bin caused $100,000 damages to the El Raton at Raton, N. M. The house, belonging to Hubbard & Murphy, Inc., suffered a burned-out stage and auditorium. Although the lobby was practically undamaged, the force of the explosion blew a door across the street. The walls and the ceiling were also undamaged. This was the A-house and the policy is being moved over to the Schuler until the 684-seat El Raton can be rebuilt. The fire occurred at 10:40 in the morning so no one was in the theatre, and it so happend that no one was passing when the door was blown off the hinges.”
The Oct. 27, 1951 issue of Boxoffice had a two-page story, with pictures, of the Wareham and how it rebounded from terrible flood damage in July that year.
Boxoffice, Oct. 20, 1951: “NOGALES, ARIZ. – The Diamos interests have started construction work here on a new drive-in that will cost between $80,000 and $90,000. The outdoorer will be named the El Rancho and will follow a western motif in design and construction. Opening has been tentatively set for the early part of 1952. The 600-car drive-in is being built five miles north of Nogales on the Tucson highway and will cover about ten acres.”
Hmm, the Mt. Elden was three miles east of downtown Flagstaff. Boxoffice, Oct. 20, 1951: “FLAGSTAFF, ARIZ. – Construction has been started on a 500-car drive-in five miles east of here. It will be operated by Harry L. Nace and Ray Olmstead, representing Northern Arizona Theatres.”
Almost exactly one year later… Boxoffice, Oct. 20, 1951: “VICTORVILLE, CALIF. – Construction has been launched on a new $75,000 drive-in theatre here by the Western Amusement Co., headed by Ted Jones. The ozoner will be operated on a first run policy under supervision of Frank Justice, city manager, who also is in charge of the circuit’s two indoor houses, the El Rancho and Mesa.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 15, 1951: “DOUGLAS, ARIZ. – The Diamos brothers, owners and operators of the Grand and Lyric here, have started construction of a $70,000 drive-in three miles west of Douglas on Highway 80. The open-airer is scheduled to be completed late in October. The drive-in will have a capacity of 700 cars and will be named by the public in a preopening contest.”
Boxoffice, Oct. 13, 1951: “W. P. Wickersham and B. J. Leavitt have joined forces with the Diamos interests to pool resources and complete the construction of the Fort Cochise Drive-In. Originally, each company was to have built separate theatres.”
Boxoffice, Oct. 13, 1951: “Ownership of the Starlite Drive-In here was acquired last month by Teno Roncalio, native of Rock Springs and a Cheyenne attorney, with his purchase of the interests of Evan H. Reese and Frank R. Crocker in the theatre.”
Motion Picture Herald, March 21, 1953: “C. E. Bradshaw, owner of the Inland, Martin, S. D., his son Russell, and Wm. Wells, bought the Starlite drive-in, Rock Springs, Wyo.”
Boxoffice, May 2, 1960: “John Anselmi and Fred Magana have purchased the Motor Vu Drive-In, Rock Springs, Wyo., from Teno Roncalio of Cheyenne”.
The Oct. 6, 1951 issue of Boxoffice ran a two-page article on the St. Ann, including a rare two-page panorama photo of three of the four screens.
Boxoffice, Sept. 15, 1951: “WINSLOW, ARIZ. – The Nace theatre interests will start construction here soon on a $50,000 drive-in to accommodate 500 cars. Vaughn Taylor, Nace manager, will be a partner-manager in the outdoorer, which will be operated by a staff of 15.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 29, 1951: “Construction is under way on Winslow’s first drive-in, the Tonto, with present plans calling for an opening the first week in October. The 500-car drive-in is being built on U.S. highway 66 by Michael A. Parker … The Tonto screen will be 60x55 feet, and the projection room and concession stand will be housed in a 36x40-foot building. … At recent ground-breaking ceremonies, Mayor F. C. Whipple turned the first shovel of earth.”
Boxoffice, July 28, 1951: “GALLUP, N. M. – Construction has been launched on this city’s first drive-in, a 300-car ozoner being built by William Nagle and Theatre Enterprises. It is being constructed on a ten-acre site on Highway 66. Theatre Enterprises also operates the Chief and El Morro, conventional houses here, with Bruce Waugh as city manager.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 22, 1951: “GALLUP, N. M. – Construction of Gallup’s first drive-in by Theatre Enterprises and William Nagle is proceeding on schedule, according to Bruce Waugh, manager of the Chief and El Morro theatres. The project is located on Highway 66 just west of the city limits. J. E. Waller, Roswell, N. M., contractor, has installed five poles 46 feet high to support the screen tower. Ramps are already built and grading and drainage are now being processed.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 22, 1951: “Mr. and Mrs. J. T. Latimore opened their new drive-in at Arco, Ida., in record time after start of construction. The owners of the new theatre are calling it the Motor-Vu”
Leo’s did not became the Rio, which didn’t open before 1954. A 1962 topo map points to the 198 Park Street address for a drive-in (the Rio), and a 1964 aerial shows it active, but a 1954 aerial photo of the site looks a lot more like an empty field than the 1964 drive-in.
That site was just north of town, and here’s the note that pointed me to the actual location of Leo’s (at present-day 162 Lane 3 in Thermopolis).
Boxoffice, Sept. 22, 1951: “Leo Roncco and Leo Roncco jr. have sold the Leo’s Drive-In to Fred Curtis, owner of the Tepee Theatre. The ozoner is located south of here.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 25, 1951: “An opening date for the Hondo Drive-In will be announced soon, according to Harry A. Hammill, whose new airer is located on the west edge of Hondo on Highway 90. The public will be admitted free opening night.”
Yet another spelling of the owner’s name, and a city name that’s nowhere near his drive-in, in this note in the Aug. 18, 1951 issue of Boxoffice: “The new drive-in at Hot Springs, N. M. is near completion. Called the Palms, it is owned by Oscar Conwell, who had hoped to open by July 4th.”
This photo was published in the Aug. 11, 1951 issue of Boxoffice, so it’s probably in the public domain.
Motion Picture Herald, April 26, 1947: “Clarence Martin buys Gem, Hugo, Colo., from Earl Behrens.”
Boxoffice June 9, 1951: “HUGO, COLO. – Sam Feinstein and Charles McCarthy have purchased the Gem Theatre here from Clarence Martin, who operated the house since June 1947.”
Boxoffice, June 9, 1951: “Robert L. Lippert’s new Terrace Drive-In, which opened here (in San Francisco) recently, is an unusual theatre installation. Instead of scooping out the earth to provide the customary flat surface, designer Gale Santocono tailored a drive-in to fit San Francisco’s hilly contour. The parking area resembles an amphitheatre.”
Boxoffice, May 12, 1951: “The Showboat Drive-In at Tracy has been purchased by Mrs. Ada and M. Rosenberg, owners of the Grand and Arlon theatres in Tracy, from five partners, Vincent Trains, Robert Byers, Charles Gubser, Stewart Fletcher and Alex Balanesi.”