Stanley and Jeanne Dewsnup bought two other Delta theaters in 1966, according to a Sept. 21, 2013 article in The Daily Sentinel of Grand Junction. An earlier Daily Sentinel story added, “A year later came the acquisition of the Tru-Vu,” which would make the year of their purchase 1967.
Stan passed away in 2008, and Jeanne died April 9, 2019.
Not so long after Hardy bought the Big Sky, both the drive-in and the indoor Egyptian were purchased by Stanley and Jeanne Dewsnup “in the late ‘60s after the former owner was killed in a plane crash,” according to an April 14, 2000 story in The Daily Sentinel of Grand Junction. “A year later came the acquisition of the Tru-Vu. The oil shale bust forced the sale of the Big Sky in 1986.”
(The purchase of the Big Sky & Egyptian was in 1966, according to a Sept. 21, 2013 article.)
An Aug. 26, 2018 story in the Daily Sentinel said the couple acquired the first two theaters after seeing an ad in BoxOffice. The Dewsnups “kept them running for years, showing Spanish-language films at the Big Sky.” After the oil shale bust of the 1980s, they decided to close one and preferred the Tru-Vu for its lack of light pollution. Stan passed away in 2008, and Jeanne died April 9, 2019.
The long story of the Taggerts reaching an out-of-court settlement in 1962 with the former Tru-Vu owners is available in that drive-in’s listing on CT. Subsequent newspaper stories imply that’s about the time the Taggerts ceased to own the Skylite.
The name change occurred in March 1964 along with another ownership change, as reported in the March 30, 1964 edition of The Daily Sentinel of Grand Junction. “DELTA – The newly remodeled Big Sky Drive-In Theater on Crawford avenue east of here was opened this week under new management. Formerly known as the Skylite theater, the outdoor movie was purchased by Tom Hardy, manager of the Egyptian Theater here, from Edgar Jones of Vernal, Utah. Hardy will continue management of both units.”
Although newspaper advertisements through at least 1976 also used the Vista View spelling, the Motion Picture Almanacs' drive-in lists always spelled its name as “Vista Vu”. The 1958-59 editions listed it in Security with a capacity of 652, owner W. H. Claiborne. The 1960-76 MPAs listed the owner as Westland Theatres, Inc.
The 1977-88 MPAs listed the Vista Vu Drive-In in Colorado Springs, capacity 600, owner Westland Theatres, Inc. In its Circuit entry, Westland called it the Vista Vue during 1961-85 before Westland fell off the circuit list in 1986.
Nothing remains of the Vista View Drive-In. Today a garden center occupies most of the former site. Most of the ramps were in what is now Security-Widefield, but the screen was in what is now Fountain.
Grouped together, these stories from The Daily Sentinel of Grand Junction CO read like a novel.
Jan. 6, 1958: “Vandals wrought about $1,000 damage to the exterior of the Tru-Vu drive-in theatre, which is closed for the winter. … The marquee was torn up and all glass except in three windows was broken.”
Sept. 8, 1958: “Vandals (ripped out 14 speakers,) and 72 wires connecting speakers with the main system were found missing”.
Oct. 14, 1958: Twenty-six speakers and connecting wires were missing Sunday when Fred Chubka, owner, went to the theatre and noticed the vandalism.
July 21, 1960: “A blazing fire gutted the Tru-Vue Drive-In theatre building … causing about $7,000 in damages. The blaze apparently was set, according to Fire Chief Harvey Richards.”
Oct. 4, 1961: Mr. & Mrs. Chubka have sued the owners of the nearby Starlite Drive-In. At the time of the fire, the defendants were also co-owners of the Tru-Vu. “Claiming that one or more of the defendants set fire to the Tru-Vue Theater to eliminate competition, the Chubkas sought actual damages of $30,000 and exemplary damages of $100,000.”
(That trial ended in a hung jury. The case was rescheduled for early 1962. After delays, on May 14, the date the second trial was to begin, the two parties reached an out-of-court settlement.)
Jan. 5, 1963: June Chubka was granted a divorce from Fred Chubka, filed Aug. 20, 1962.
May 28, 1963: “The two drive-in theaters at Delta, the Skylite and Tru-Vu, were burglarized early this morning … (a few items) were found missing at the Skylite theater. Nothing was taken from the unused Tru-Vu Theater. The break-ins were discovered this morning by the owner, Fred Chubka.”
Sept. 12, 1963: “The Tru-Vue Drive-In Theater was reopened Wednesday night (Sept. 11) under the new ownership of Police Chief Dan Morgan and James Hanson, both of Delta. The theater … was sold through the district court to expedite property settlement in a divorce case”.
The Skylite opened on Tuesday, May 10, 1949, according to a very brief note the next day in The Daily Sentinel of Grand Junction.
According to a couple of stories in the mid-1950s, only part of the Skylite was within the Delta city limits. Bill Taggert repeatedly asked the city council to hook into the local electrical grid; the drive-in started with service from the Delta-Montrose Rural Power Lines Association.
The Daily Sentinel wrote on Nov. 15, 1961, that Fred and June Chubka had sued William and Helen Taggert over “a destructive fire which closed the Tru-Vue Drive-In Theater in July of 1960. They also allege fraudulent acquisition of an interest in the theater.”
The Tsaya fell off the Motion Picture Almanac drive-in list between the 1967 edition and 1969, a rare update for MPA for that period. The drive-in looked fairly intact even in a 1993 aerial, and it was included in a 1984 topo map.
This Westland Theatres drive-in was consistently advertised as the Sky Vue, with an E, though editors sometimes added a hyphen or just combined the words in stories that included the name.
As “Sky Vu”, it debuted in the 1957 edition of the Motion Picture Almanac series of drive-in lists, capacity 450, owner R. N. Cullen. In the 1960 MPA, ownership changed to Westland, and that’s how it stayed through the final MPA list in 1988.
A widely published Associated Press report noted that the final movie at the 8th Street was on Friday, Sept. 28, 1984. It said the drive-in opened in 1950 with the double feature of “Jolson Sings Again” and “Riders in the Sky.”
Westland Theaters sold the 8th Street to developers Bob Osborne and Duane Hays, who held one last performance for drive-in fans. The film that night, and the reason so many papers included the little story, was “The Last Picture Show.”
Same drive-in? The Independent Film Journal reported on April 4, 1953: “Owners Guidry and Duplisses will also open their 900-car Surf Drive-In, Lake Charles, around April 15, for year-round operation and 3 to 6 changes weekly."
Same drive-in? The Independent Film Journal reported on April 4, 1953: “The new 400-car Frontier Drive-In at Sulphur, La. will have its formal opening around April 20 for all year operation with 5-6 changes weekly.” The owners were Guidry and Duplisses.
“Herbert Gumper, Frontier Drive-In, Center, Colo., and the Roundup Drive-In, La Jara, Colo., died of a heart attack. The 54-year-old theatre man is survived by his wife, a son, and three grandchildren.” —Motion Picture Exhibitor, Aug. 12, 1964
The June 10, 1964 issue of Motion Picture Exhibitor reported: “Earl Kerr has opened the new Hi-Vu Drive-In, Knoxville, Ia. The new drive-in replaces the Frontier Drive-In. The federal Red Rock dam project necessitated the move.”
The Frontier was still there in 1962 when Carl Schwanebeck gave away a diamond ring to mark the drive-in’s ninth anniversary, according to a note in the Aug. 6, 1962 BoxOffice.
But the Frontier was gone by this June 10, 1964 note from Motion Picture Exhibitor: “Earl Kerr has opened the new Hi-Vu Drive-In, Knoxville, Ia. The new drive-in replaces the Frontier Drive-In. The federal Red Rock dam project necessitated the move.”
The Frontier Drive-In was opened in July 1953 according to a note about the 25th anniversary of E. W. Kerr’s Bethany theaters reported in the July 30, 1962 issue of BoxOffice. Frestle Chenoweth was the manager since the Frontier opened. “The screen at the Frontier was replaced following the tornado-like wind of September 1959.”
Funky layout for this little drive-in. It was outlined in a 1973 topo map but was gone by the 1980 edition. By 1993, the site was a full-blown housing development.
The 1958-70 Motion Picture Almanacs had it as the “#47”, capacity 200, owned by J. J. Petersen and M. W. Gieskeing. By 1972, the MPA began calling it the Outdoor Cinema, capacity 250 – a rare update to its drive-in lists during that period. It fell off the MPA list in 1977.
In both the drive-in lists and theatre circuit holdings, the 1977-88 Motion Picture Almanacs showed the Sunset owned by Commonwealth, which didn’t include it in its 1976 holdings. Aerial photos confirm that by 1999, the site was a Wal-Mart.
The Burlington’s first appearance in the Motion Picture Almanacs' annual drive-in list was the 1980 edition, and it stayed there through the final MPA list in 1988. There was never a mention of capacity. The owner was J. Edmundson.
Based on the aerial photos, the Kar-Vu opened after 1949 and was completely replaced by 1991. Let’s check the paper trail.
The June 24, 1953 issue of the Exhibitor reported, “Other Atlas Theatres changes included the promotion of Mel Madero from manager, Kar-Vu Drive-In, Brighton, Colo., to city manager at Salida, Colo., where he succeeds Warren Butler, resigned.”
The new manager must not have worked out, given the news in the July 22, 1953 issue of the Exhibitor: “Atlas Theatres disposed of its interests in the Kar-Vu Drive-In, Brighton, Colo., to its partner, Elden Menagh, who also owns the nearby Star, Fort Lupton, Colo.”
The Jan. 19, 1955 issue of Variety reported, “Elden Managh sold the Kar-vu drive-in, Brighton, Colo., to Sam Feinstein and Arlie Beery.”
Motion Picture Exhibitor, May 20, 1959: “Sam Feinstein setting dates for his Kar Vu Drive-In, Brighton, Colo.”
In Feb. 1976, the Greeley Tribune (newspaper of the Weld County seat) reported that Kar-Vu Drive-In Theatre, Inc., had sold $86,000 of real estate to Rollande L. Prevost.
Motion Picture Almanac drive-in list mentions:
1951-54: 350, Atlas Circuit
1955-56: 350, E. K. Managh
1957-66: 350, Sam Feinstein
1967-76: 350 (no owner info)
1977-82: 300, A. Prevost
1983-88: 1 screen, A. Prevost
The 1952 Theatre Catalog showed the Kar-Vu with a capacity of 350, owner Dave Davis of the Atlas Circuit. For the 1955-56 edition, the owner was Sam Feinstein.
The May 24, 1950 issue of The Exhibitor provided a few more details, including a reason why Lee’s company was called Kar-Vu:
“The Kar-Vu Drive-In, first to get an inside-Denver permit, will feature an unusual setup in the concession stand. It will be of a horseshoe type, 60-feet long, and will be operated cafeteria style, with two cashiers to speed up operations. The refreshment stand will feature many items, including fried chicken, popcorn, etc. In order to get rapid turnover, customers will not be able to see the screen while in the refreshment stand. The ozoner will have room for 726 cars and about 150 walkins, will cost about $145,000, and will be opened next month.”
Minor update to the 1956 ownership transfer date: The Feb. 25, 1956 issue of the Motion Picture Herald reported, “Wolfberg Theatres has taken over the Monaco Drive-in, formerly operated by L. K. Lee and Phil Rothman. Wolfberg Theatres now has six drive-ins here, and the Paramount, first run.”
Maybe Lee and Rothman sold because they were fed up with not being able to bid on first-run movies? Variety reported that on Jan. 24, 1956, “Kar-Vu Theatres Inc., operating the Monaco and Centennial drive-ins, has sued eight distributors and two theatre companies.”
The start of a three-page story in the March 3, 1956 issue of BoxOffice:
“Supported by excellent patronage from its opening night, May 28, 1955, the Chocolate Bayou Drive-In at Houston has become one of the most successful innovations in the Texas entertainment picture. The theatre was built by Roland Torn, former FBI operative, who conceived the idea of a de luxe operation as a constructive step toward good race relations. Torn chose as his manager George Haynes, a former member of Louis Armstrong’s band.
“In the ten months since the drive-in opened, there have been several notable promotions. One was a dusk-to-dawn show, beginning at 6 p.m. and running until 8 a.m., during which period 12 feature films were shown. The charge was $1 per person and Haynes estimated that about 1,100 patrons turned out for the marathon show. The event proved so popular that Haynes received many requests to repeat the promotion on New Year’s Eve. On several occasions the drive-in has accommodated 1,400. although the parking area is equipped with just 660 speakers and 200 walk-in seats in front of the concessions stand.
“The usual boxoffice price is 50 cents for adults, which includes all over 12 years of age. Children under 12 are admitted free, even when they are not with their parents. Haynes says that there are many small
children of the immediate neighborhood who wander in and out at will during the evening performances.”
There are many more details, including a doughnut machine that creates them to order, well-graded ramps to prevent the region’s typical mud issues, a 64x90-foot plywood screen, and minimal vandalism because “patrons wish to show appreciation to the management for providing such a pleasant entertainment spot that is open year-round.”
From the March 3, 1956 issue of BoxOffice: “Purchase of the Barksdale Drive-In, on Old Highway 80 north of Barksdale Air Force Base, by McElroy Theatres, Inc., was announced Monday (2) by Tom McElroy, head of the company. The drive-in was purchased from Mrs. Lillian Lutzer, Dallas, for an undisclosed amount and becomes the McElroy circuit’s ninth theatre.”
From the Feb. 4, 1956 issue of BoxOffice: “CARROLL, IOWA – Notice of dissolution of the Carroll Outdoor Theatre Corp. has been filed here by the company’s assistant secretary, Gertrude Framhein.”
Stanley and Jeanne Dewsnup bought two other Delta theaters in 1966, according to a Sept. 21, 2013 article in The Daily Sentinel of Grand Junction. An earlier Daily Sentinel story added, “A year later came the acquisition of the Tru-Vu,” which would make the year of their purchase 1967.
Stan passed away in 2008, and Jeanne died April 9, 2019.
Not so long after Hardy bought the Big Sky, both the drive-in and the indoor Egyptian were purchased by Stanley and Jeanne Dewsnup “in the late ‘60s after the former owner was killed in a plane crash,” according to an April 14, 2000 story in The Daily Sentinel of Grand Junction. “A year later came the acquisition of the Tru-Vu. The oil shale bust forced the sale of the Big Sky in 1986.”
(The purchase of the Big Sky & Egyptian was in 1966, according to a Sept. 21, 2013 article.)
An Aug. 26, 2018 story in the Daily Sentinel said the couple acquired the first two theaters after seeing an ad in BoxOffice. The Dewsnups “kept them running for years, showing Spanish-language films at the Big Sky.” After the oil shale bust of the 1980s, they decided to close one and preferred the Tru-Vu for its lack of light pollution. Stan passed away in 2008, and Jeanne died April 9, 2019.
The long story of the Taggerts reaching an out-of-court settlement in 1962 with the former Tru-Vu owners is available in that drive-in’s listing on CT. Subsequent newspaper stories imply that’s about the time the Taggerts ceased to own the Skylite.
The name change occurred in March 1964 along with another ownership change, as reported in the March 30, 1964 edition of The Daily Sentinel of Grand Junction. “DELTA – The newly remodeled Big Sky Drive-In Theater on Crawford avenue east of here was opened this week under new management. Formerly known as the Skylite theater, the outdoor movie was purchased by Tom Hardy, manager of the Egyptian Theater here, from Edgar Jones of Vernal, Utah. Hardy will continue management of both units.”
Although newspaper advertisements through at least 1976 also used the Vista View spelling, the Motion Picture Almanacs' drive-in lists always spelled its name as “Vista Vu”. The 1958-59 editions listed it in Security with a capacity of 652, owner W. H. Claiborne. The 1960-76 MPAs listed the owner as Westland Theatres, Inc.
The 1977-88 MPAs listed the Vista Vu Drive-In in Colorado Springs, capacity 600, owner Westland Theatres, Inc. In its Circuit entry, Westland called it the Vista Vue during 1961-85 before Westland fell off the circuit list in 1986.
Nothing remains of the Vista View Drive-In. Today a garden center occupies most of the former site. Most of the ramps were in what is now Security-Widefield, but the screen was in what is now Fountain.
Grouped together, these stories from The Daily Sentinel of Grand Junction CO read like a novel.
Jan. 6, 1958: “Vandals wrought about $1,000 damage to the exterior of the Tru-Vu drive-in theatre, which is closed for the winter. … The marquee was torn up and all glass except in three windows was broken.”
Sept. 8, 1958: “Vandals (ripped out 14 speakers,) and 72 wires connecting speakers with the main system were found missing”.
Oct. 14, 1958: Twenty-six speakers and connecting wires were missing Sunday when Fred Chubka, owner, went to the theatre and noticed the vandalism.
July 21, 1960: “A blazing fire gutted the Tru-Vue Drive-In theatre building … causing about $7,000 in damages. The blaze apparently was set, according to Fire Chief Harvey Richards.”
Oct. 4, 1961: Mr. & Mrs. Chubka have sued the owners of the nearby Starlite Drive-In. At the time of the fire, the defendants were also co-owners of the Tru-Vu. “Claiming that one or more of the defendants set fire to the Tru-Vue Theater to eliminate competition, the Chubkas sought actual damages of $30,000 and exemplary damages of $100,000.”
(That trial ended in a hung jury. The case was rescheduled for early 1962. After delays, on May 14, the date the second trial was to begin, the two parties reached an out-of-court settlement.)
Jan. 5, 1963: June Chubka was granted a divorce from Fred Chubka, filed Aug. 20, 1962.
May 28, 1963: “The two drive-in theaters at Delta, the Skylite and Tru-Vu, were burglarized early this morning … (a few items) were found missing at the Skylite theater. Nothing was taken from the unused Tru-Vu Theater. The break-ins were discovered this morning by the owner, Fred Chubka.”
Sept. 12, 1963: “The Tru-Vue Drive-In Theater was reopened Wednesday night (Sept. 11) under the new ownership of Police Chief Dan Morgan and James Hanson, both of Delta. The theater … was sold through the district court to expedite property settlement in a divorce case”.
The Skylite opened on Tuesday, May 10, 1949, according to a very brief note the next day in The Daily Sentinel of Grand Junction.
According to a couple of stories in the mid-1950s, only part of the Skylite was within the Delta city limits. Bill Taggert repeatedly asked the city council to hook into the local electrical grid; the drive-in started with service from the Delta-Montrose Rural Power Lines Association.
The Daily Sentinel wrote on Nov. 15, 1961, that Fred and June Chubka had sued William and Helen Taggert over “a destructive fire which closed the Tru-Vue Drive-In Theater in July of 1960. They also allege fraudulent acquisition of an interest in the theater.”
The Tsaya fell off the Motion Picture Almanac drive-in list between the 1967 edition and 1969, a rare update for MPA for that period. The drive-in looked fairly intact even in a 1993 aerial, and it was included in a 1984 topo map.
This Westland Theatres drive-in was consistently advertised as the Sky Vue, with an E, though editors sometimes added a hyphen or just combined the words in stories that included the name.
As “Sky Vu”, it debuted in the 1957 edition of the Motion Picture Almanac series of drive-in lists, capacity 450, owner R. N. Cullen. In the 1960 MPA, ownership changed to Westland, and that’s how it stayed through the final MPA list in 1988.
A widely published Associated Press report noted that the final movie at the 8th Street was on Friday, Sept. 28, 1984. It said the drive-in opened in 1950 with the double feature of “Jolson Sings Again” and “Riders in the Sky.”
Westland Theaters sold the 8th Street to developers Bob Osborne and Duane Hays, who held one last performance for drive-in fans. The film that night, and the reason so many papers included the little story, was “The Last Picture Show.”
Same drive-in? The Independent Film Journal reported on April 4, 1953: “Owners Guidry and Duplisses will also open their 900-car Surf Drive-In, Lake Charles, around April 15, for year-round operation and 3 to 6 changes weekly."
Same drive-in? The Independent Film Journal reported on April 4, 1953: “The new 400-car Frontier Drive-In at Sulphur, La. will have its formal opening around April 20 for all year operation with 5-6 changes weekly.” The owners were Guidry and Duplisses.
“Herbert Gumper, Frontier Drive-In, Center, Colo., and the Roundup Drive-In, La Jara, Colo., died of a heart attack. The 54-year-old theatre man is survived by his wife, a son, and three grandchildren.” —Motion Picture Exhibitor, Aug. 12, 1964
The June 10, 1964 issue of Motion Picture Exhibitor reported: “Earl Kerr has opened the new Hi-Vu Drive-In, Knoxville, Ia. The new drive-in replaces the Frontier Drive-In. The federal Red Rock dam project necessitated the move.”
The Frontier was still there in 1962 when Carl Schwanebeck gave away a diamond ring to mark the drive-in’s ninth anniversary, according to a note in the Aug. 6, 1962 BoxOffice.
But the Frontier was gone by this June 10, 1964 note from Motion Picture Exhibitor: “Earl Kerr has opened the new Hi-Vu Drive-In, Knoxville, Ia. The new drive-in replaces the Frontier Drive-In. The federal Red Rock dam project necessitated the move.”
The Frontier Drive-In was opened in July 1953 according to a note about the 25th anniversary of E. W. Kerr’s Bethany theaters reported in the July 30, 1962 issue of BoxOffice. Frestle Chenoweth was the manager since the Frontier opened. “The screen at the Frontier was replaced following the tornado-like wind of September 1959.”
The Frontier debuted in the 1956 edition of the Motion Picture Almanac series, listed as owned by Herbert Gumper. It fell off the MPA list in 1985.
Funky layout for this little drive-in. It was outlined in a 1973 topo map but was gone by the 1980 edition. By 1993, the site was a full-blown housing development.
The 1958-70 Motion Picture Almanacs had it as the “#47”, capacity 200, owned by J. J. Petersen and M. W. Gieskeing. By 1972, the MPA began calling it the Outdoor Cinema, capacity 250 – a rare update to its drive-in lists during that period. It fell off the MPA list in 1977.
In both the drive-in lists and theatre circuit holdings, the 1977-88 Motion Picture Almanacs showed the Sunset owned by Commonwealth, which didn’t include it in its 1976 holdings. Aerial photos confirm that by 1999, the site was a Wal-Mart.
The Burlington’s first appearance in the Motion Picture Almanacs' annual drive-in list was the 1980 edition, and it stayed there through the final MPA list in 1988. There was never a mention of capacity. The owner was J. Edmundson.
Based on the aerial photos, the Kar-Vu opened after 1949 and was completely replaced by 1991. Let’s check the paper trail.
The June 24, 1953 issue of the Exhibitor reported, “Other Atlas Theatres changes included the promotion of Mel Madero from manager, Kar-Vu Drive-In, Brighton, Colo., to city manager at Salida, Colo., where he succeeds Warren Butler, resigned.”
The new manager must not have worked out, given the news in the July 22, 1953 issue of the Exhibitor: “Atlas Theatres disposed of its interests in the Kar-Vu Drive-In, Brighton, Colo., to its partner, Elden Menagh, who also owns the nearby Star, Fort Lupton, Colo.”
The Jan. 19, 1955 issue of Variety reported, “Elden Managh sold the Kar-vu drive-in, Brighton, Colo., to Sam Feinstein and Arlie Beery.”
Motion Picture Exhibitor, May 20, 1959: “Sam Feinstein setting dates for his Kar Vu Drive-In, Brighton, Colo.”
In Feb. 1976, the Greeley Tribune (newspaper of the Weld County seat) reported that Kar-Vu Drive-In Theatre, Inc., had sold $86,000 of real estate to Rollande L. Prevost.
Motion Picture Almanac drive-in list mentions:
The 1952 Theatre Catalog showed the Kar-Vu with a capacity of 350, owner Dave Davis of the Atlas Circuit. For the 1955-56 edition, the owner was Sam Feinstein.
The May 24, 1950 issue of The Exhibitor provided a few more details, including a reason why Lee’s company was called Kar-Vu:
“The Kar-Vu Drive-In, first to get an inside-Denver permit, will feature an unusual setup in the concession stand. It will be of a horseshoe type, 60-feet long, and will be operated cafeteria style, with two cashiers to speed up operations. The refreshment stand will feature many items, including fried chicken, popcorn, etc. In order to get rapid turnover, customers will not be able to see the screen while in the refreshment stand. The ozoner will have room for 726 cars and about 150 walkins, will cost about $145,000, and will be opened next month.”
Minor update to the 1956 ownership transfer date: The Feb. 25, 1956 issue of the Motion Picture Herald reported, “Wolfberg Theatres has taken over the Monaco Drive-in, formerly operated by L. K. Lee and Phil Rothman. Wolfberg Theatres now has six drive-ins here, and the Paramount, first run.”
Maybe Lee and Rothman sold because they were fed up with not being able to bid on first-run movies? Variety reported that on Jan. 24, 1956, “Kar-Vu Theatres Inc., operating the Monaco and Centennial drive-ins, has sued eight distributors and two theatre companies.”
The start of a three-page story in the March 3, 1956 issue of BoxOffice:
“Supported by excellent patronage from its opening night, May 28, 1955, the Chocolate Bayou Drive-In at Houston has become one of the most successful innovations in the Texas entertainment picture. The theatre was built by Roland Torn, former FBI operative, who conceived the idea of a de luxe operation as a constructive step toward good race relations. Torn chose as his manager George Haynes, a former member of Louis Armstrong’s band.
“In the ten months since the drive-in opened, there have been several notable promotions. One was a dusk-to-dawn show, beginning at 6 p.m. and running until 8 a.m., during which period 12 feature films were shown. The charge was $1 per person and Haynes estimated that about 1,100 patrons turned out for the marathon show. The event proved so popular that Haynes received many requests to repeat the promotion on New Year’s Eve. On several occasions the drive-in has accommodated 1,400. although the parking area is equipped with just 660 speakers and 200 walk-in seats in front of the concessions stand.
“The usual boxoffice price is 50 cents for adults, which includes all over 12 years of age. Children under 12 are admitted free, even when they are not with their parents. Haynes says that there are many small children of the immediate neighborhood who wander in and out at will during the evening performances.”
There are many more details, including a doughnut machine that creates them to order, well-graded ramps to prevent the region’s typical mud issues, a 64x90-foot plywood screen, and minimal vandalism because “patrons wish to show appreciation to the management for providing such a pleasant entertainment spot that is open year-round.”
From the March 3, 1956 issue of BoxOffice: “Purchase of the Barksdale Drive-In, on Old Highway 80 north of Barksdale Air Force Base, by McElroy Theatres, Inc., was announced Monday (2) by Tom McElroy, head of the company. The drive-in was purchased from Mrs. Lillian Lutzer, Dallas, for an undisclosed amount and becomes the McElroy circuit’s ninth theatre.”
From the Feb. 4, 1956 issue of BoxOffice: “CARROLL, IOWA – Notice of dissolution of the Carroll Outdoor Theatre Corp. has been filed here by the company’s assistant secretary, Gertrude Framhein.”