I wonder which Walsenburg theater was once called the Main. Probably not the Fox on Main Street. From Motion Picture Herald, Jan. 11, 1947: “K. M. Krause, recently with Service Theatre Supply, leases Main, Walsenburg, Colo. Joe Giordano had been operating same.”
Billboard, Jan. 15, 1955: “T. M. Mance announces that the
Monessen Amusement Company,
Inc., of Greensburg, Pa., has
bought the controlling interest in
the Super Skyway Drive-In of
Allentown, described as the first to
install Stereophonic sound. It utilizes the Motiograph two-speaker
system and will open March 15
with enlarged capacity of 1,000
cars, Manos says, with Sol Shocker
remaining as managing director
and stockholder of the theater.”
Billboard, Jan. 8, 1955: “The Tex Drive-In Theater, Port Arthur, Tex., has been sold by Tex Drive-In Theater Company, to the Capri Theaters, Inc., of Dallas, and its name will be changed to Capri Drive-In, according to Charles W. Weisenburg, president.”
Billboard, Aug. 7, 1954: “In New Cumberland, Pa., Judge Ray P. Sherwood dissolved a preliminary injunction against pickets who held up construction of a drive-in. According to the original complaint, the union demanded that the drive-in bind itself to use only union labor to operate its projection machines when it goes into business. The complainant, the Shore Drive-In Theater, Inc., sought the injunction when construction workers refused to cross the projectionists' picket lines. The drive-in is near the Harrisburg Pa., Municipal Airport.”
Billboard, Aug. 28, 1954: “The Shore Drive-In opened. The spot is next to the Harrisburg Airport in New Cumberland, Pa.”
and then again months later. Billboard, Jan. 1, 1955: “Frank Freistock opened his new
Shore Drive-In with a 500-car
capacity at New Cumberland, Pa.
Milgram Theaters, Philadelphia, is
doing the booking and buying.”
Billboard, Dec. 25, 1954: “Al Reynolds, general manager of Ezell &
Associates, has announced that the
circuit has purchased … the Buckner Boulevard Drive-In, Dallas, from the Interstate Theater Circuit.”
Billboard, Dec. 25, 1954: “Robert P. Maclary,
owner of Pleasant Hill Drive-In,
Wilmington, Del., was re-elected
to the State’s House of Representatives recently.”
Billboard, Dec. 4, 1954: “Fred
Frick has been named manager of
the reopened Glade Drive-In Theater, opened under the new ownership of the H&H Amusement Company at Gladewater, Tex. Cinemascope and other modernizations
were completed by the new owners, O. L. Lowery and B. J. Hardy.”
The Film Daily, March 13, 1931, “Eastland, Tex. – Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Belcher, formerly of Iowa Park, are again established in the theater business, having recently opened the old Connollee here.”
Billboard, Nov. 27, 1954: “New drive-in at
Edmonton, Alta., is the Belmont
which boasts the only all-steel
CinemaScope screen in Alberta.
Manager is C. Rapp.”
Billboard, Nov. 27, 1954: “The screen at the Trail Drive-in,
Pleasanton, Tex., has been replaced
after being wrecked in a windstorm, according to Frank Glasscock, manager.”
Billboard, Nov. 27, 1954: “Robo, the monstrous robot elephant owned by Ezell &
Associates, is scheduled for a one-week stay at Fredericksburg Road
Drive-In San Antonio. The elephant
will make a tour of Texas, stopping
at various cities where Ezell &
Associates has drive-ins. Robo is
9 feet high, 12½ feet long, weighs
2,500 pounds and is powered by a
four-cylinder, 10-horsepower motor.”
Billboard, Aug. 21, 1954: “R. L. Vaught and High Millington are building a 300-car capacity drive-in at a site between Rising Star and Cross Plains, Tex. It is expected to be completed by September.”
Billboard, Nov. 20, 1954: “Bob
Vaught and Hugh Millington have
opened the new Pioneer Drive-In
between Rising Star and Cross
Hains, Tex. It is equipped with
CinemaScope.”
Billboard, Oct. 2, 1954: “A Shetland pony is being given away each Monday night at Hi-Park Drive-In, San Antonio, reports Carlton H. Weaver Jr., manager.”
Billboard, Nov. 20, 1954: “Ezell
& Associates, Dallas, has taken
over operation of Hi-Park Drive-In, San Antonio, formerly owned
by Carlton H. Weaver.”
Billboard, Nov. 20, 1954: “ A major remodeling project has been started at
Skyway Drive-In, Bryan. Tex.,
which is owned by Jack A. Farr,
Houston. CinemaScope will be installed. Also in the plans are a
new patio for the front area, a remodeled snack bar and new playground equipment. Capacity of
the drive-in will be increased from
650 to 900 speakers. Farr also
plans to install a swimming pool
alongside the drive-in.”
Billboard, Nov. 20, 1954: “The Toledo and Jesse James
drive-ins at Toledo are establishing a record for multiple features by offering Saturday night
shows of five and six features each
plus an equal number of cartoons.
The owners topped the bargain by
offering free coffee and doughnuts
to all customers who stayed thru
the marathon.”
Billboard, Nov. 13, 1954: “H. A. Carlile has announced that construction has started at Dimmitt, Tex.,
of a 300-car capacity drive-in
which is being built at a cost of
$50,000. It will be equipped with
CinemaScope and feature a concession stand in the center of the
parking area.”
This Grand Opening note must be what dallasmovietheaters was referencing in his helpful post. Billboard, Nov. 13, 1954: “Boasting a 122 by 72-foot screen which the management believes to be the largest in the country, the West End Drive-In near Allentown, Pa., opened recently, filled to almost its 1,000-car capacity. There is plenty of space to accommodate another 200 cars. The ribbon officially marking the opening of the drive-in was cut by Allentown’s mayor, Brighton C. Diefenderfer. E. M. Loew, president, E. M. Loew Theaters, was in for the opening. John J. Scully Jr., a partner with E. M. Loew, is managing the West End.”
Billboard, Oct. 30, 1954: “Offering off-screen entertainment the other night, Paul W. Amadeo, general
manager, Pike Drive-In, Newington, Conn., presented recording star Glenn Taylor and George Kent’s orchestra. The first 75 cars
received a recording of a Taylor disk. Taylor has concluded engagements at the Bowl Drive-In, West Haven, and Pine Drive-In, Waterbury.”
Billboard, Oct. 30, 1954: “Manchester Drive-In, Bolton
Notch, Conn., erected in 1953 at a
cost of $100,000, will double its
Car capacity of 500 this winter, according to partners Bernard Menschell and John Calvocoressci. As
a promotional stunt for the comedy, ‘Genevieve,’ the drive-in recently offered free admission to
riders in pre-1920 automobiles at
opening performance”
This was probably the sale that led to the renaming. It makes me believe that Billboard’s drive-in columnist got some of his news by phone.
Billboard, Oct. 23, 1954: “At Bethlehem, Pa., Eastern (sic) Medina
Drive-In Realty Corporation bought the Eastern (sic) Medina Drive-In for $75,000. It had been operated by Essex Amusement Corporation, Newark, N. J. The 32-acre property was sold by Harry Appleman, Brooklyn, the principal owner. It has been announced that
proposed improvements for the
spot include installation of CinemaScope equipment.”
Billboard, Oct. 23, 1954: “Sale of two drive-in theaters in San Antonio for $275,000 has been reported by Thurman Barrett Jr., owner-operator. Buyer is Lone Star Theaters, Inc., Dallas, owned by Pack-Murchison interests. The theaters are the Lackland and the Kelly.”
Billboard, Oct. 23, 1954: “Sale of two drive-in theaters in
San Antonio for $275,000 has been
reported by Thurman Barrett Jr.,
owner-operator. Buyer is Lone
Star Theaters, Inc., Dallas, owned
by Pack-Murchison interests. The
theaters are the Lackland and the
Kelly.”
Billboard, Oct. 16, 1954: “Seymour B. Levine, Stratford, Conn., who operates the Bowl Drive-In, West Haven, has petitioned the State commissioner of police for permission to erect a drive-in theater to accommodate 450 cars on River Street, Bridgeport, on a site adjacent to Candlelight Stadium. If permission is granted, a spring opening is planned.”
Billboard, Oct. 16, 1954: “Seymour B.
Levine, Stratford, Conn., who operates the Bowl Drive-In, West Haven, has petitioned the State commissioner of police for permission
to erect a drive-in theater to accommodate 450 cars on River
Street, Bridgeport, on a site adjacent to Candlelight Stadium. If
permission is granted, a spring
opening is planned.”
More regulations highlighted in the Oct. 9, 1954 Billboard: “Screen towers of new drive-in
theaters in Saskatchewan must
be designed by a registered engineer and must be built to withstand wind velocity of 25 pounds
pressure per square foot, according
to a recently announced ruling under the Theaters and Cinematographs Act. All new drive-ins must
also provide individual speakers
for each vehicle and a suitable
fence must be provided to prevent
spread of paper and other refuse
to adjacent properties.”
I wonder which Walsenburg theater was once called the Main. Probably not the Fox on Main Street. From Motion Picture Herald, Jan. 11, 1947: “K. M. Krause, recently with Service Theatre Supply, leases Main, Walsenburg, Colo. Joe Giordano had been operating same.”
Billboard, Jan. 15, 1955: “T. M. Mance announces that the Monessen Amusement Company, Inc., of Greensburg, Pa., has bought the controlling interest in the Super Skyway Drive-In of Allentown, described as the first to install Stereophonic sound. It utilizes the Motiograph two-speaker system and will open March 15 with enlarged capacity of 1,000 cars, Manos says, with Sol Shocker remaining as managing director and stockholder of the theater.”
Billboard, Jan. 8, 1955: “The Tex Drive-In Theater, Port Arthur, Tex., has been sold by Tex Drive-In Theater Company, to the Capri Theaters, Inc., of Dallas, and its name will be changed to Capri Drive-In, according to Charles W. Weisenburg, president.”
Billboard, Aug. 7, 1954: “In New Cumberland, Pa., Judge Ray P. Sherwood dissolved a preliminary injunction against pickets who held up construction of a drive-in. According to the original complaint, the union demanded that the drive-in bind itself to use only union labor to operate its projection machines when it goes into business. The complainant, the Shore Drive-In Theater, Inc., sought the injunction when construction workers refused to cross the projectionists' picket lines. The drive-in is near the Harrisburg Pa., Municipal Airport.”
Billboard, Aug. 28, 1954: “The Shore Drive-In opened. The spot is next to the Harrisburg Airport in New Cumberland, Pa.”
and then again months later. Billboard, Jan. 1, 1955: “Frank Freistock opened his new Shore Drive-In with a 500-car capacity at New Cumberland, Pa. Milgram Theaters, Philadelphia, is doing the booking and buying.”
Billboard, Dec. 25, 1954: “Al Reynolds, general manager of Ezell & Associates, has announced that the circuit has purchased … the Buckner Boulevard Drive-In, Dallas, from the Interstate Theater Circuit.”
Billboard, Dec. 25, 1954: “Robert P. Maclary, owner of Pleasant Hill Drive-In, Wilmington, Del., was re-elected to the State’s House of Representatives recently.”
Billboard, Dec. 4, 1954: “Fred Frick has been named manager of the reopened Glade Drive-In Theater, opened under the new ownership of the H&H Amusement Company at Gladewater, Tex. Cinemascope and other modernizations were completed by the new owners, O. L. Lowery and B. J. Hardy.”
The Film Daily, March 13, 1931, “Eastland, Tex. – Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Belcher, formerly of Iowa Park, are again established in the theater business, having recently opened the old Connollee here.”
Billboard, Nov. 27, 1954: “New drive-in at Edmonton, Alta., is the Belmont which boasts the only all-steel CinemaScope screen in Alberta. Manager is C. Rapp.”
Billboard, Nov. 27, 1954: “The screen at the Trail Drive-in, Pleasanton, Tex., has been replaced after being wrecked in a windstorm, according to Frank Glasscock, manager.”
Billboard, Nov. 27, 1954: “Robo, the monstrous robot elephant owned by Ezell & Associates, is scheduled for a one-week stay at Fredericksburg Road Drive-In San Antonio. The elephant will make a tour of Texas, stopping at various cities where Ezell & Associates has drive-ins. Robo is 9 feet high, 12½ feet long, weighs 2,500 pounds and is powered by a four-cylinder, 10-horsepower motor.”
Billboard, Aug. 21, 1954: “R. L. Vaught and High Millington are building a 300-car capacity drive-in at a site between Rising Star and Cross Plains, Tex. It is expected to be completed by September.”
Billboard, Nov. 20, 1954: “Bob Vaught and Hugh Millington have opened the new Pioneer Drive-In between Rising Star and Cross Hains, Tex. It is equipped with CinemaScope.”
Billboard, Oct. 2, 1954: “A Shetland pony is being given away each Monday night at Hi-Park Drive-In, San Antonio, reports Carlton H. Weaver Jr., manager.”
Billboard, Nov. 20, 1954: “Ezell & Associates, Dallas, has taken over operation of Hi-Park Drive-In, San Antonio, formerly owned by Carlton H. Weaver.”
Billboard, Nov. 20, 1954: “ A major remodeling project has been started at Skyway Drive-In, Bryan. Tex., which is owned by Jack A. Farr, Houston. CinemaScope will be installed. Also in the plans are a new patio for the front area, a remodeled snack bar and new playground equipment. Capacity of the drive-in will be increased from 650 to 900 speakers. Farr also plans to install a swimming pool alongside the drive-in.”
Billboard, Nov. 20, 1954: “The Toledo and Jesse James drive-ins at Toledo are establishing a record for multiple features by offering Saturday night shows of five and six features each plus an equal number of cartoons. The owners topped the bargain by offering free coffee and doughnuts to all customers who stayed thru the marathon.”
Billboard, Nov. 13, 1954: “H. A. Carlile has announced that construction has started at Dimmitt, Tex., of a 300-car capacity drive-in which is being built at a cost of $50,000. It will be equipped with CinemaScope and feature a concession stand in the center of the parking area.”
This Grand Opening note must be what dallasmovietheaters was referencing in his helpful post. Billboard, Nov. 13, 1954: “Boasting a 122 by 72-foot screen which the management believes to be the largest in the country, the West End Drive-In near Allentown, Pa., opened recently, filled to almost its 1,000-car capacity. There is plenty of space to accommodate another 200 cars. The ribbon officially marking the opening of the drive-in was cut by Allentown’s mayor, Brighton C. Diefenderfer. E. M. Loew, president, E. M. Loew Theaters, was in for the opening. John J. Scully Jr., a partner with E. M. Loew, is managing the West End.”
Billboard, Oct. 30, 1954: “Offering off-screen entertainment the other night, Paul W. Amadeo, general manager, Pike Drive-In, Newington, Conn., presented recording star Glenn Taylor and George Kent’s orchestra. The first 75 cars received a recording of a Taylor disk. Taylor has concluded engagements at the Bowl Drive-In, West Haven, and Pine Drive-In, Waterbury.”
Billboard, Oct. 30, 1954: “Manchester Drive-In, Bolton Notch, Conn., erected in 1953 at a cost of $100,000, will double its Car capacity of 500 this winter, according to partners Bernard Menschell and John Calvocoressci. As a promotional stunt for the comedy, ‘Genevieve,’ the drive-in recently offered free admission to riders in pre-1920 automobiles at opening performance”
This was probably the sale that led to the renaming. It makes me believe that Billboard’s drive-in columnist got some of his news by phone.
Billboard, Oct. 23, 1954: “At Bethlehem, Pa., Eastern (sic) Medina Drive-In Realty Corporation bought the Eastern (sic) Medina Drive-In for $75,000. It had been operated by Essex Amusement Corporation, Newark, N. J. The 32-acre property was sold by Harry Appleman, Brooklyn, the principal owner. It has been announced that proposed improvements for the spot include installation of CinemaScope equipment.”
Billboard, Oct. 23, 1954: “Sale of two drive-in theaters in San Antonio for $275,000 has been reported by Thurman Barrett Jr., owner-operator. Buyer is Lone Star Theaters, Inc., Dallas, owned by Pack-Murchison interests. The theaters are the Lackland and the Kelly.”
Billboard, Oct. 23, 1954: “Sale of two drive-in theaters in San Antonio for $275,000 has been reported by Thurman Barrett Jr., owner-operator. Buyer is Lone Star Theaters, Inc., Dallas, owned by Pack-Murchison interests. The theaters are the Lackland and the Kelly.”
Billboard, Oct. 16, 1954: “Seymour B. Levine, Stratford, Conn., who operates the Bowl Drive-In, West Haven, has petitioned the State commissioner of police for permission to erect a drive-in theater to accommodate 450 cars on River Street, Bridgeport, on a site adjacent to Candlelight Stadium. If permission is granted, a spring opening is planned.”
Billboard, Oct. 16, 1954: “Seymour B. Levine, Stratford, Conn., who operates the Bowl Drive-In, West Haven, has petitioned the State commissioner of police for permission to erect a drive-in theater to accommodate 450 cars on River Street, Bridgeport, on a site adjacent to Candlelight Stadium. If permission is granted, a spring opening is planned.”
More regulations highlighted in the Oct. 9, 1954 Billboard: “Screen towers of new drive-in theaters in Saskatchewan must be designed by a registered engineer and must be built to withstand wind velocity of 25 pounds pressure per square foot, according to a recently announced ruling under the Theaters and Cinematographs Act. All new drive-ins must also provide individual speakers for each vehicle and a suitable fence must be provided to prevent spread of paper and other refuse to adjacent properties.”