“Bob Getter said he is putting on a gravel and blacktop surface at the Tee-Pee Drive-In, and is making ready for an early spring opening.” — BoxOffice, Feb. 4, 1956
The 1955-56 Theatre Catalog included the 63st Street, capacity 700, owners Shniderman and Sutter. Which lined up with this note from the Feb. 4, 1956 issue of BoxOffice: “The suit filed by Harold Lux against the E&S Theatre Enterprises, operating the 63rd Street Drive-In, as been settled out of court on a nuisance value basis. E. S. Sutter and Alex Shniderman, partners in the company, said $900 was paid, including the amount to Lux and his attorneys and the court costs.”
“WEST FRANKFORT, ILL. – The Roxy Theatre, 500-seat unit of the Fox Midwest Theatres circuit, has been closed indefinitely. Since January 5, the house had been operating on a ‘family’ basis with subsequent run product.” —BoxOffice, Feb. 4, 1956
ST. LOUIS – The demolition of the 40-year-old Capitol Theatre, closed since Feb. 27, 1953, following sale of the property to the May Department Stores Co., started Monday (30) to make way for a parking lot for May’s Famous-Barr department store.
The theatre was built in 1916 and operated for some years under a lease by Sigmund E. Freund. Warner Bros. used it for the St. Louis premiere of the revolutionary Vitaphone sound process in 1926 with “Don Juan,” starring John Barrymore.
From the Feb. 4, 1956 issue of BoxOffice: “Martin Butler has bought the Star Drive-In, Albuquerque, and has added it to his Tesque (sic) and Sunset drive-ins. He bought it from T. E. Ribble.”
“Earl Seitz, Sandusky, O., owner of both indoor and outdoor theatres, recently acquired the Blue Sky Drive-In, Wadsworth, O., from Dale Morrison.” — The Exhibitor, Jan. 30, 1952
From the Dec. 12, 1951 issue of The Exhibitor: “Reports are that Mr. and Mrs. George Harris received $40,000 for the Skyvue property, which includes 11 acres of land near Jackson, Miss. This was revealed in a deed filed with the Hinds County Chancery Clerk. The purchasers were M. A. Lewis, Jr., Richard Parker, and unnamed associated of the Skyvue Corporation, which owns and operated the 51 Drive-In. Richard Parker also owns and operated the Starlite, Canton, Miss.”
The evidence is strong that there were two Canyons, this one about a half-mile north of the original.
Checking the aerial photos for 3805 SW 117th Avenue, Beaverton, that address was vacant in 1960, a drive-in in 1970 & 1981, then a shopping center parking lot in 1995.
On the other hand, the aerials also show another drive-in on old Oregon Highway 10, current address 11601 SW Beaverton Hillsdale Hwy, Beaverton, OR 97005. That site was a drive-in in 1952 & 1960 but was gone in the 1970 aerial.
The 1951-66 Motion Picture Almanacs listed a Canyon Drive-In, capacity 500, owner A. W. Adamson. The 1977 MPA updated that capacity to 350. Since the MPA didn’t update much of anything from 1967-76, the move probably happened in the mid to late 1960s.
Checking the aerial photos, this site was vacant in 1970, a four-screen drive-in in 1981, 1990, & 1994, and some kind of bus or truck parking lot, screens still intact, in 2000.
A close address for the Sky-Vu, east of Springfield, is 2020 GA-21 S, Springfield, GA 31329, currently a floor covering store.
From the May 2, 1953 Motion Picture Herald: “The Sky-Vu Drive-In theatre, Springfield, Ga., owned and operated by Pat Ingram and Rufus Wilson, held its formal opening April 22.”
From the Oct. 8, 1949 issue of Showmen’s Trade Review: “Moonlite Movies, a new drive-in located near Santa Clara, Calif., owned by Golden State Theatres, is slated to open Oct. 21. The open-airer will be equipped with individual car-heaters for winter operation. Ben Stevenson has been named manager. He was formerly at the Parkside Theatre where Bud Sears is now in charge. Roy Young, assistant manager of the Noe Theatre, was made manager when Sears left for the Parkside.”
More spellings from the Showmen’s Trade Journal of Oct. 1, 1949, take your pick. On one page: “A 350-car, $75,000 drive-in has been opened at Alliance, Neb., by Charles Britton, Jr., Arthur Dobson and Fitch Burdette, using Brenkert booth equipment and RCA car speakers, bought through Western Service and Supply.”
On another page, same issue, under New Theatres: “Omaha — Charles H. Brittan, Jr., Park Dobson, Jr., and Burdett Fisher, a 300-car drive-in north of Alliance, Neb.”
“After what they called "a horrible season,” Friedman brothers of Minneapolis have closed their drive-in at Albert Lea, Minn. They termed
the operation “the worst project they’ve ever been connected with.” The investment was called a “total loss,” after trying just about every kind of promotional stunt.“ — Showmen’s Trade Review, Oct. 1, 1949
“DENVER – The new 800-car Motorena Drive-In in north Denver, built by Carvue Theatres, Inc., has been opened. David Samuels is manager. A feature of the new amusement center is an artesian well from which patrons may obtain drinking water for home use.” —Box Office, July 17, 1948
“John Wolfberg, president of Wolfberg Theatres, announces the purchase of the Motorena Drive-In in north Denver, Colo. from Carvue Theatres, a Salt Lake City corporation. The purchase price was reported in excess of $200,000. Improvements planned for the ozoner include a playground for children and a free bottle-warming service. Mickey Gross is city manager for the circuit.” —BoxOffice, Oct. 9, 1948
Looks like the Skyway opened in the summer of 1948, a little before this July 17 note in BoxOffice: “Griffith’s Starlite Drive-In at Shawnee and the Skyway Drive-In at Seminole opened recently.”
The Jones Theatres site says the Starlite opened in 1947, but this note from the July 17, 1948 issue of BoxOffice disagrees: “Griffith’s Starlite Drive-In at Shawnee and the Skyway Drive-In at Seminole opened recently.”
“CARMICHAELS, PA. – The drive-in on Route 88, which will be opened within a few days, is unique in its screen tower construction. Cemenstone Corp., Neville Island, is producing the 53x50 screen tower in blocks poured at Neville Island and fabricated here. These blocks are 22 and 28 feet long, 6 feet wide and 4 inches thich. The tower itself is supported by four concrete posts, the weight being over 90 tons for the 45x33 screen. Louis Stuler and Durward Coe are owners of the drive-in.” —BoxOffice, July 17, 1948
“BEAVER FALLS, PA. – Chippewa township school board was awaiting the inaugural of the recently opened Hi-Way 51 Drive-In owned by John Wincek and Albert R. Tate. The board had passed an amusement tax June 7 and it became effective July 8.” —BoxOffice, July 17, 1948
“Bob Getter said he is putting on a gravel and blacktop surface at the Tee-Pee Drive-In, and is making ready for an early spring opening.” — BoxOffice, Feb. 4, 1956
From the Feb. 4, 1956 issue of BoxOffice: “The Pines, a Video theatre in Tulsa, will shutter on or about February 4, according to present reports.”
The 1955-56 Theatre Catalog included the 63st Street, capacity 700, owners Shniderman and Sutter. Which lined up with this note from the Feb. 4, 1956 issue of BoxOffice: “The suit filed by Harold Lux against the E&S Theatre Enterprises, operating the 63rd Street Drive-In, as been settled out of court on a nuisance value basis. E. S. Sutter and Alex Shniderman, partners in the company, said $900 was paid, including the amount to Lux and his attorneys and the court costs.”
“WEST FRANKFORT, ILL. – The Roxy Theatre, 500-seat unit of the Fox Midwest Theatres circuit, has been closed indefinitely. Since January 5, the house had been operating on a ‘family’ basis with subsequent run product.” —BoxOffice, Feb. 4, 1956
From the Feb. 4, 1956 issue of BoxOffice:
ST. LOUIS – The demolition of the 40-year-old Capitol Theatre, closed since Feb. 27, 1953, following sale of the property to the May Department Stores Co., started Monday (30) to make way for a parking lot for May’s Famous-Barr department store.
The theatre was built in 1916 and operated for some years under a lease by Sigmund E. Freund. Warner Bros. used it for the St. Louis premiere of the revolutionary Vitaphone sound process in 1926 with “Don Juan,” starring John Barrymore.
From the Feb. 4, 1956 issue of BoxOffice: “ST. LOUIS – The Amythis, operated by Marvin Banks, was scheduled to close indefinitely January 30.”
From the Feb. 4, 1956 issue of BoxOffice: “Martin Butler has bought the Star Drive-In, Albuquerque, and has added it to his Tesque (sic) and Sunset drive-ins. He bought it from T. E. Ribble.”
“Earl Seitz, Sandusky, O., owner of both indoor and outdoor theatres, recently acquired the Blue Sky Drive-In, Wadsworth, O., from Dale Morrison.” — The Exhibitor, Jan. 30, 1952
From the Dec. 12, 1951 issue of The Exhibitor: “Reports are that Mr. and Mrs. George Harris received $40,000 for the Skyvue property, which includes 11 acres of land near Jackson, Miss. This was revealed in a deed filed with the Hinds County Chancery Clerk. The purchasers were M. A. Lewis, Jr., Richard Parker, and unnamed associated of the Skyvue Corporation, which owns and operated the 51 Drive-In. Richard Parker also owns and operated the Starlite, Canton, Miss.”
The evidence is strong that there were two Canyons, this one about a half-mile north of the original.
Checking the aerial photos for 3805 SW 117th Avenue, Beaverton, that address was vacant in 1960, a drive-in in 1970 & 1981, then a shopping center parking lot in 1995.
On the other hand, the aerials also show another drive-in on old Oregon Highway 10, current address 11601 SW Beaverton Hillsdale Hwy, Beaverton, OR 97005. That site was a drive-in in 1952 & 1960 but was gone in the 1970 aerial.
The 1951-66 Motion Picture Almanacs listed a Canyon Drive-In, capacity 500, owner A. W. Adamson. The 1977 MPA updated that capacity to 350. Since the MPA didn’t update much of anything from 1967-76, the move probably happened in the mid to late 1960s.
Checking the aerial photos, this site was vacant in 1970, a four-screen drive-in in 1981, 1990, & 1994, and some kind of bus or truck parking lot, screens still intact, in 2000.
A close address for the Sky-Vu, east of Springfield, is 2020 GA-21 S, Springfield, GA 31329, currently a floor covering store.
From the May 2, 1953 Motion Picture Herald: “The Sky-Vu Drive-In theatre, Springfield, Ga., owned and operated by Pat Ingram and Rufus Wilson, held its formal opening April 22.”
From the Oct. 8, 1949 issue of Showmen’s Trade Review: “Moonlite Movies, a new drive-in located near Santa Clara, Calif., owned by Golden State Theatres, is slated to open Oct. 21. The open-airer will be equipped with individual car-heaters for winter operation. Ben Stevenson has been named manager. He was formerly at the Parkside Theatre where Bud Sears is now in charge. Roy Young, assistant manager of the Noe Theatre, was made manager when Sears left for the Parkside.”
More spellings from the Showmen’s Trade Journal of Oct. 1, 1949, take your pick. On one page: “A 350-car, $75,000 drive-in has been opened at Alliance, Neb., by Charles Britton, Jr., Arthur Dobson and Fitch Burdette, using Brenkert booth equipment and RCA car speakers, bought through Western Service and Supply.”
On another page, same issue, under New Theatres: “Omaha — Charles H. Brittan, Jr., Park Dobson, Jr., and Burdett Fisher, a 300-car drive-in north of Alliance, Neb.”
“After what they called "a horrible season,” Friedman brothers of Minneapolis have closed their drive-in at Albert Lea, Minn. They termed the operation “the worst project they’ve ever been connected with.” The investment was called a “total loss,” after trying just about every kind of promotional stunt.“ — Showmen’s Trade Review, Oct. 1, 1949
“Graham and Rockholt have opened their 220-car drive-in at Dayton, Tenn.” — Showmen’s Trade Review, Oct. 1, 1949
From the Dec. 4, 1948 issue of BoxOffice, which I believe is in the public domain
“DENVER – The new 800-car Motorena Drive-In in north Denver, built by Carvue Theatres, Inc., has been opened. David Samuels is manager. A feature of the new amusement center is an artesian well from which patrons may obtain drinking water for home use.” —Box Office, July 17, 1948
“John Wolfberg, president of Wolfberg Theatres, announces the purchase of the Motorena Drive-In in north Denver, Colo. from Carvue Theatres, a Salt Lake City corporation. The purchase price was reported in excess of $200,000. Improvements planned for the ozoner include a playground for children and a free bottle-warming service. Mickey Gross is city manager for the circuit.” —BoxOffice, Oct. 9, 1948
From the Oct. 9, 1948 issue of BoxOffice, which I believe is in the public domain.
Also found in the Sept. 11, 1948 issue of BoxOffice, which I believe is in the public domain.
This clipping is from the July 17, 1948 issue of BoxOffice, which I believe is in the public domain.
Looks like the Skyway opened in the summer of 1948, a little before this July 17 note in BoxOffice: “Griffith’s Starlite Drive-In at Shawnee and the Skyway Drive-In at Seminole opened recently.”
The Jones Theatres site says the Starlite opened in 1947, but this note from the July 17, 1948 issue of BoxOffice disagrees: “Griffith’s Starlite Drive-In at Shawnee and the Skyway Drive-In at Seminole opened recently.”
“CARMICHAELS, PA. – The drive-in on Route 88, which will be opened within a few days, is unique in its screen tower construction. Cemenstone Corp., Neville Island, is producing the 53x50 screen tower in blocks poured at Neville Island and fabricated here. These blocks are 22 and 28 feet long, 6 feet wide and 4 inches thich. The tower itself is supported by four concrete posts, the weight being over 90 tons for the 45x33 screen. Louis Stuler and Durward Coe are owners of the drive-in.” —BoxOffice, July 17, 1948
“BEAVER FALLS, PA. – Chippewa township school board was awaiting the inaugural of the recently opened Hi-Way 51 Drive-In owned by John Wincek and Albert R. Tate. The board had passed an amusement tax June 7 and it became effective July 8.” —BoxOffice, July 17, 1948