The Jan. 25, 1960 issue of BoxOffice ran an interview with Tom P. Finnegan that was mostly a summary of dallasmovietheaters' thorough history above. A minor addition was the marble. “Yes, sir,” Finnegan said, “there wasn’t a finer movie theatre in this part of the country when the old Hippodrome opened for business in 1913. We had all the latest equipment and facilities for the comfort of the audience. And we put in long slabs of marble down each side of the house to enhance its beauty.”
From the Jan. 25, 1960 issue of BoxOffice: “The Plaza Theatre in Appleton City which has changed hands frequently in recent years has been taken over by His Honor, Paul Eye, mayor of the town.”
From BoxOffice, Jan. 18, 1960: “The Ritz in Elmore City is down to a Saturday change, and owner Jack Pickens says he’ll shutter unless business picks up. Pickens and his wife have moved to Madill where they operate a sports store and bait shop. His father is running the theatre.”
Tragic note from BoxOffice, Jan. 18, 1960: “John Hayes Fain, 28, owner and operator of the local Texas Theatre and the Texas Drive-In, died in Baptist Hospital, Beaumont, following an operation necessitated by injuries he received Friday night (8) in an auto accident on Highway 19, a mile east of Woodville.”
Tragic note from BoxOffice, Jan. 18, 1960: “Bernard D. Bright, 44, owner of the Hi-Y Drive-In Theatre in Henderson the last eight years, was killed recently in what apparently was an after-closing holdup at the Bright Star cafeteria, which he had opened only 17 days previous to his death.”
A couple of names, from the Jan. 11, 1960 issue of BoxOffice: “Kansas exhibitors seen on (Film) Row early last week included Al McClure and Woody Barritt of the Westport Drive-In, Wichita.”
From BoxOffice, Jan. 11, 1960: Harley Fryer of Lamar (MO?) “has acquired the Kansas Theatre and the Fredonia Drive-In in the Wilson County seat in the southeast part of the state from A. W. Pugh and the new management will be effective Thursday (17). Fryer’s brother Richard will manage the Fredonia operation”.
From BoxOffice, Jan. 11, 1960: Harley Fryer of Lamar (MO?) “has acquired the Kansas Theatre and the Fredonia Drive-In in the Wilson County seat in the southeast part of the state from A. W. Pugh and the new management will be effective Thursday (17). Fryer’s brother Richard will manage the Fredonia operation”.
Richard Wyse probably bought the Star after seeing this “Theatres For Sale” ad in the Jan. 4, 1960 issue of BoxOffice: “In Northwestern Ohio beautiful drive-in including approximately 10 acres of land. Owner retiring. Contact D. Lee McLain, Route 2, Wauseon, Ohio.”
From BoxOffice, Jan. 4, 1960: “Jack L. Haynie has purchased the Texas Theatre and 281 Drive-In, Hamilton, from Mrs. H. H. Stroud sr. and H. H. Stroud jr. Ed V. Green is also associated with Haynie in the venture.”
From BoxOffice, Jan. 4, 1960: “The Eagles Drive-In, Benavides, gave away a turkey for the holidays. The drive-in, which opened recently, is owned by Leo Pena and Mr. and Mrs. G. C. Pena.”
From BoxOffice, Jan. 4, 1960: “Lester and Margaurite Adrian must move their Dillon Theatre to the new townsite of Dillon prior to April 1961. The present town of Dillon will go under water after completion of the new dam and the entire city is being moved to higher ground.”
From BoxOffice, Jan. 4, 1960: “C. E. Langford opened the new Covina Drive-In, a 400-car situation, December 18. The drive-in is on Arrow highway and Grand avenue and has a large playground and a self-service snack bar. RCA equipment for the Covina was furnished by John C. Filbert Co. John Reynolds is manager of the new drive-in and Film Booking Service is doing the booking and buying.”
AZCentral.com wrote today about the Rodeo, saying it opened in 1953 at the site of the former Jacob Waltz ranch near 12th Street and Buckeye Road, then known as Henshaw Road. (Indeed, I can’t find any mention of it in any of the three industry drive-in lists for 1952.) The opening night program included the movies “Branded" (1950), “Flying Leathernecks" (1951), and “The Sniper" (1952).
The article concludes, “The drive-in closed in 1981. The Central City Campus of Gateway Community College now occupies the site.” If the link is still active, you ought to read the whole thing.
From the Theatres For Sale section of BoxOffice, May 30, 1966: “FLORIDA, Titusville. … 300-car drive-in. Ground and equipment. Less than one year old. Selling due to dissolving partnership.” The seller was a P.O. Box in Titusville.
The May 30, 1966 issue of BoxOffice reporter that owner/manager Bob Smith notified his patrons via the local newspaper that the Grand would close for a week for remodeling. “We are going to remodel the foyer, the concession area and part of the outside.”
The next ownership change came in 1966, per this May 30 note in BoxOffice: “Recently General Cinema Corp. of Boston, Mass., purchased the Admiral Twin Drive-In in Tulsa from Alex Blue and Hank Robb”.
“CAMDEN, TENN. – The Mid-Way Drive-In here, which had been operated by Exhibitors Services, is now being operated by new owners J. W. Bowden and J. C. Harris.” —BoxOffice, May 30, 1966
“Chuck Thomas of Osawatomie-Paola, Kas., reports bad weather has prevented completion of a renovation program at his Midway Drive-In.” —BoxOffice, May 30, 1966
This note in the May 30, 1966 issue of BoxOffice may have marked the end: “Eldon Eaton is closing the Civic Theatre, Hay Springs, Neb., and will be moving to Huron, S. D.”
It was still open for this note in the May 30, 1966 issue of BoxOffice: “Lee Tile has resigned as assistant manager of the Sparks Theatre to enter the motorcycle business. His replacement is Philip Brown, whose father owns a local drugstore.”
The April 18, 1966 issue of BoxOffice reported that among the exhibitors visiting the Oklahoma City film row were “Mr. and Mrs. Joe Harris, Rex Theatre, Konawa, who reported the house had been closed and his equipment was for sale, since he has other interests to take care of and does not have time to operate the theatre.”
The Jan. 25, 1960 issue of BoxOffice ran an interview with Tom P. Finnegan that was mostly a summary of dallasmovietheaters' thorough history above. A minor addition was the marble. “Yes, sir,” Finnegan said, “there wasn’t a finer movie theatre in this part of the country when the old Hippodrome opened for business in 1913. We had all the latest equipment and facilities for the comfort of the audience. And we put in long slabs of marble down each side of the house to enhance its beauty.”
From the Jan. 25, 1960 issue of BoxOffice: “The Plaza Theatre in Appleton City which has changed hands frequently in recent years has been taken over by His Honor, Paul Eye, mayor of the town.”
From BoxOffice, Jan. 18, 1960: “The Ritz in Elmore City is down to a Saturday change, and owner Jack Pickens says he’ll shutter unless business picks up. Pickens and his wife have moved to Madill where they operate a sports store and bait shop. His father is running the theatre.”
Tragic note from BoxOffice, Jan. 18, 1960: “John Hayes Fain, 28, owner and operator of the local Texas Theatre and the Texas Drive-In, died in Baptist Hospital, Beaumont, following an operation necessitated by injuries he received Friday night (8) in an auto accident on Highway 19, a mile east of Woodville.”
Tragic note from BoxOffice, Jan. 18, 1960: “Bernard D. Bright, 44, owner of the Hi-Y Drive-In Theatre in Henderson the last eight years, was killed recently in what apparently was an after-closing holdup at the Bright Star cafeteria, which he had opened only 17 days previous to his death.”
A couple of names, from the Jan. 11, 1960 issue of BoxOffice: “Kansas exhibitors seen on (Film) Row early last week included Al McClure and Woody Barritt of the Westport Drive-In, Wichita.”
From BoxOffice, Jan. 11, 1960: Harley Fryer of Lamar (MO?) “has acquired the Kansas Theatre and the Fredonia Drive-In in the Wilson County seat in the southeast part of the state from A. W. Pugh and the new management will be effective Thursday (17). Fryer’s brother Richard will manage the Fredonia operation”.
From BoxOffice, Jan. 11, 1960: Harley Fryer of Lamar (MO?) “has acquired the Kansas Theatre and the Fredonia Drive-In in the Wilson County seat in the southeast part of the state from A. W. Pugh and the new management will be effective Thursday (17). Fryer’s brother Richard will manage the Fredonia operation”.
Richard Wyse probably bought the Star after seeing this “Theatres For Sale” ad in the Jan. 4, 1960 issue of BoxOffice: “In Northwestern Ohio beautiful drive-in including approximately 10 acres of land. Owner retiring. Contact D. Lee McLain, Route 2, Wauseon, Ohio.”
From BoxOffice, Jan. 4, 1960: “Jack L. Haynie has purchased the Texas Theatre and 281 Drive-In, Hamilton, from Mrs. H. H. Stroud sr. and H. H. Stroud jr. Ed V. Green is also associated with Haynie in the venture.”
From BoxOffice, Jan. 4, 1960: “The Eagles Drive-In, Benavides, gave away a turkey for the holidays. The drive-in, which opened recently, is owned by Leo Pena and Mr. and Mrs. G. C. Pena.”
From BoxOffice, Jan. 4, 1960: “Lester and Margaurite Adrian must move their Dillon Theatre to the new townsite of Dillon prior to April 1961. The present town of Dillon will go under water after completion of the new dam and the entire city is being moved to higher ground.”
From BoxOffice, Jan. 4, 1960: “C. E. Langford opened the new Covina Drive-In, a 400-car situation, December 18. The drive-in is on Arrow highway and Grand avenue and has a large playground and a self-service snack bar. RCA equipment for the Covina was furnished by John C. Filbert Co. John Reynolds is manager of the new drive-in and Film Booking Service is doing the booking and buying.”
Note that this was the (second) season-opener, not the Grand Opening. The mention of “Our Improved Snackbar” was a clue.
AZCentral.com wrote today about the Rodeo, saying it opened in 1953 at the site of the former Jacob Waltz ranch near 12th Street and Buckeye Road, then known as Henshaw Road. (Indeed, I can’t find any mention of it in any of the three industry drive-in lists for 1952.) The opening night program included the movies “Branded" (1950), “Flying Leathernecks" (1951), and “The Sniper" (1952).
The article concludes, “The drive-in closed in 1981. The Central City Campus of Gateway Community College now occupies the site.” If the link is still active, you ought to read the whole thing.
From the Theatres For Sale section of BoxOffice, May 30, 1966: “FLORIDA, Titusville. … 300-car drive-in. Ground and equipment. Less than one year old. Selling due to dissolving partnership.” The seller was a P.O. Box in Titusville.
A note in the May 30, 1966 BoxOffice said, “Bill Crosby and Harve Wooden operate the Little River Drive-In at Wright City.”
The May 30, 1966 issue of BoxOffice reporter that owner/manager Bob Smith notified his patrons via the local newspaper that the Grand would close for a week for remodeling. “We are going to remodel the foyer, the concession area and part of the outside.”
The next ownership change came in 1966, per this May 30 note in BoxOffice: “Recently General Cinema Corp. of Boston, Mass., purchased the Admiral Twin Drive-In in Tulsa from Alex Blue and Hank Robb”.
“CAMDEN, TENN. – The Mid-Way Drive-In here, which had been operated by Exhibitors Services, is now being operated by new owners J. W. Bowden and J. C. Harris.” —BoxOffice, May 30, 1966
“Chuck Thomas of Osawatomie-Paola, Kas., reports bad weather has prevented completion of a renovation program at his Midway Drive-In.” —BoxOffice, May 30, 1966
This note in the May 30, 1966 issue of BoxOffice may have marked the end: “Eldon Eaton is closing the Civic Theatre, Hay Springs, Neb., and will be moving to Huron, S. D.”
It was still open for this note in the May 30, 1966 issue of BoxOffice: “Lee Tile has resigned as assistant manager of the Sparks Theatre to enter the motorcycle business. His replacement is Philip Brown, whose father owns a local drugstore.”
The April 18, 1966 issue of BoxOffice reported that among the exhibitors visiting the Oklahoma City film row were “Mr. and Mrs. Joe Harris, Rex Theatre, Konawa, who reported the house had been closed and his equipment was for sale, since he has other interests to take care of and does not have time to operate the theatre.”
“Mrs. Sam Covey is reopening the Mertzon Drive-In, Mertzon, prior to May 1. The airer has been closed since 1961.” —BoxOffice, April 18, 1966