Maybe this was temporary. From the July 17, 1948 issue of BoxOffice: “The Plaza at Illmo, Mo., will be closed Feb. 1, 1949. Failure to secure a renewal of his lease, and inability to find another suitable location are given by Martin Operle, owner, as reasons for a decision to suspend operations.”
“COLORADO SPRINGS – The $100,000 Starlight Drive-In Theatre was opened here recently after three and a half months of construction work. The 650-car drive-in was equipped with Simplex projectors, and complete modern facilities. Paul Rothman of Colorado Springs is manager of the new ozoner.” —BoxOffice, July 17, 1948
Perhaps the El Paso opened with loudspeakers? From the Jan. 8, 1949 issue of BoxOffice:
EL PASO, TEX. – E. L. Pack reportedly was considering building a third local drive-in as the improvement program on the El Paso Drive-In got under way with installation of a new $30,000 sound system to provide 600 individual speakers. The parking area also was resurfaced. Pack’s Del Norte Drive-In, his second local situation, is equipped with individual speakers. The two ozoners represent an investment of $250,000.
“The St. Louis Theatre Supply Co. will provide all of the projection, sound, in-car speakers and other equipment for the 500-car drive-in being constructed on Highway 61 (sic) north of Farmington, Mo., by Edwards & Plumlee Theatres. Provision is being made to increase the capacity by 250 cars if and when business warrants.” —BoxOffice, Jan. 8, 1949
A note in the Jan. 1, 1949 issue of BoxOffice said that Charles Weisenberg was working on opening a new indoor theater in Seagoville. “Then he will build his new Pike Drive-In on a site between the new house and the Dallas city limits.”
Looks like the Trail existed during late 1948. From the Jan. 1, 1949 issue of BoxOffice: “FORT STOCKTON, TEX. – The Trail Drive-In gave away one-half ton of oranges and grapefruit during the holiday season. The Trail shows American and Spanish films and the citrus fruits were purchased from the Rio Grande valley.”
OLNEY, ILL.—Construction of a 450-car drive-in theatre has been started on a ten-acre tract on the north side of route 50 west of the local city limits. It is opposite the skating rink on the Lemay property.
Those interested in the project are H. E. “Barney” Coen, president; C. P. Porter, vice-president; Anson Gher, L. R. Forsyth, John Nix and Robert Hill.
The general contract has been awarded to Leland Jared of Olney, while Robert Hill, whose home is in Evansville, Ind., is personally supervising the construction. The plans call for a screen tower 50 feet high and 55 feet wide. There will be individual car speakers and other modern conveniences for patrons.
It is planned to open the theatre early next April and to operate it until November 15.
The Edwardsville (IL) Intelligencer reported on May 25, 1962 that Jerry Lindemann had sued the owners of the Falcon. Lindemann said that he “was parked with a loudspeaker on the window when another patron passing his auto hit the wire and knocked the loudspeaker against his head.” He said he suffered head, jaw, and teeth injuries when the speaker was dislodged from his window.
The June 5, 1955 St. Louis Globe-Democrat wrote that the 648-car Shop City was being developed by St. Louis investors and would be managed by Jablonow-Komm Theaters.
The Mound was built in 1954, based on a May 13, 1955 article in The Press-Gazette of Hillsboro OH. It discussed a possible new drive-in operated by a subsidiary of Associated Theatres, which operated the Mound. The chain was widening other drive-in screens, but the screen at the Mound “which was completed only last year, was already a wide screen”.
Associated Press weird news note that got picked up by several newspapers: On Sunday, Sept. 7, 1952, thieves cracked the safe “of the Bluemound Drive-In Theater in Elm Grove” and stole 8650 pennies. Manager Roberg Gross said the pennies were around to make change but the weekend’s proceeds were already deposited.
More notes. Motion Picture Herald, May 10, 1947: “Ray Toepfer and Lida Cummins, operating the Blue Grass drive-in, have secured a site south of Lexington where they will build another drive-in.”
Motion Picture Herald, Oct. 4, 1952: “The Blue Grass Drive-In theatre, which has been in operation outside of Georgetown, Kentucky, since 1941, was denied a permit Sept. 22 by Judge G. G. Barkley of Scott County. Although in operation 11 years, the theatre had never been granted a permit. Judge Barkley, after hearing testimony said, ‘… to gain a permit a person must abide by the laws. It has been brought out that the theatre has remained open several times until after midnight, implying that the law would not be carried out if a permit is granted. Therefore, I am denying a permit.’ ”
It must have worked out. The Exhibitor, December 23, 1953: “Mark Cummins, exhibitor, is in St. Petersburg, Fla., for several weeks. Midwest Theatre Supply furnished RCA projection equipment for his Blue Grass Drive-In, Georgetown, Ky.”
“The Fort Wood theatre, Waynesville, Mo., which is largely patronized by service men from Fort Leonard Wood, has just installed a wide screen, the first in the area, for the showing of CinemaScope.”
— Motion Picture Herald, Sept. 4, 1954
I believe this drive-in opened in July 1955. From the July 23, 1955 Motion Picture Herald: “The Woodlane drive-in theater, Waynesville, Mo., had its gala opening recently and the merchants of the city got together and ran a full-page advertisement in the Waynesville newspaper congratulating the management.”
The 1955-56 Theatre Catalog listed the Woodlane with a capacity of 280 cars, owned by Commonwealth Amuse. Co.
A “Drive-In” with no other information debuted under Waynesville in the 1955 Motion Picture Almanac. The next year, it was the Wood Lane, capacity 380, owner Commonwealth Amuse. Co. That’s how it stayed through 1976; the 1977 edition dropped the capacity of the “Woodlane” to 200 through to the final MPA drive-in list in 1988.
Did the Woodlane have a soft opening in 1954? Because of that 1955 MPA listing, it probably existed before February that year. And then there’s this cryptic one-sentence note, providing more questions than answers, in the Dec. 25, 1954 issue of Motion Picture Herald:
“The recently constructed Woodlane drive-in theatre at Waynesville, Mo., and all sound and concession projection equipment was destroyed recently.”
“A large neon sign with 16-foot lettering, was installed at the 66 Drive-In on U. S. 66 south of Springfield, Ilk, owned and operated by Kerasotes and managed by Bill Ford.” — The Independent Film Journal, May 2, 1953
Those letters must have been on the back of the screen tower. The 66’s marquee was magnificent, but its letters don’t look anywhere near that tall.
Same theater? The Independent Film Journal reported on March 7, 1953 that “Bill Ford, owner-mgr. of the Bland Theatre, Blandinsville, Ill.,
has been made mgr. of Kerasotes’ 66 Drive-In Theatre at Springfield, Ill.”
I would pay $5 for a framed picture of the Bland marquee. ;)
Small update to the Motion Picture Almanac notes above: “Drive-In” switched to “Mustang” in the 1970 edition, so the name change was probably a year or two earlier.
“The property was in bad shape and the theatre had a reputation as a place for young people to get drunk and, he learned later, there had been a small riot on the last night of the 1987 season. Worse, the Petersons knew nothing about running a drive-in.” The couple cleaned up the place and most importantly, created and enforced a no-alcohol policy. That hurt first year attendance, Paul Peterson said, “but it worked because word got out: it’s not a dump anymore.”
The Petersons added a second screen in 2002, and as of 2008, their adult children were helping to run the Mustang.
From the Jan. 5, 1955 Motion Picture Exhibitor: “In Granite City, Ill., the Bel-Air Drive-In, owned and operated by Komm Circuit, has recently put into service 200 new Radiant type in-a-car heaters purchased through the St. Louis branch of National Theatre Supply.”
From the Nov. 27, 1957 Motion Picture Exhibitor: “EAST ST. LOUIS, ILL.—Members of the Knights of Columbus Council, Number 592. recently adopted a resolution condemning three of the drive-in theatres of this vicinity on the grounds that they had been showing ‘immoral and obscene’ motion pictures. The resolution also urged members of the Council not to patronize the drive-ins so long as the management continues ‘to show such pictures.’ The theatres involved are Shop City Drive-In, Mounds Drive-In, and the Bel-Air Drive-In. All are operated by the Jablonow-Komm theatre interests.”
From the Aug. 26, 1964 Motion Picture Exhibitor: “Reinhardt Weseman has been appointed supervisor for the five drive-ins operated in southern Illinois by Mid America Theatres. Weseman will retain his position as manager, Bel Air Drive-In, Mitchell, Ill.”
On March 14, 1956, Motion Picture Exhibitor reported, “An unfortunate situation occurred at the opening night of the new million-dollar Bel-Air Drive-In in suburban Cicero. Temperatures in the high 50’s had melted the snow and softened the ground in the huge parking area to such an extent that many of the cars sank to their hubs. Tractors were used to pull them out. Further showings at the theatre were postponed until the ground hardens. Bel-Air was built and is operated by Jerome and Raymond Marks, Martin Rosenfield,” (and the rest, if any, was cut off)
From the April 4, 1953 Motion Picture Herald: “Nashville will have a new drive-in theatre soon, to cost $120,000, and to be run by the new Bel-Air Drive-In Theatres Company, of which the president will be Charles Henritz, who also will manage the house. The 700-car unit is expected to start operation June 1. Associated with Mr. Henritz arc Charles Kuertz and James Ferguson.”
Maybe this was temporary. From the July 17, 1948 issue of BoxOffice: “The Plaza at Illmo, Mo., will be closed Feb. 1, 1949. Failure to secure a renewal of his lease, and inability to find another suitable location are given by Martin Operle, owner, as reasons for a decision to suspend operations.”
“COLORADO SPRINGS – The $100,000 Starlight Drive-In Theatre was opened here recently after three and a half months of construction work. The 650-car drive-in was equipped with Simplex projectors, and complete modern facilities. Paul Rothman of Colorado Springs is manager of the new ozoner.” —BoxOffice, July 17, 1948
Based on aerial photos, the Midway expanded its capacity between 1948 and 1966.
Perhaps the El Paso opened with loudspeakers? From the Jan. 8, 1949 issue of BoxOffice:
EL PASO, TEX. – E. L. Pack reportedly was considering building a third local drive-in as the improvement program on the El Paso Drive-In got under way with installation of a new $30,000 sound system to provide 600 individual speakers. The parking area also was resurfaced. Pack’s Del Norte Drive-In, his second local situation, is equipped with individual speakers. The two ozoners represent an investment of $250,000.
The drive-in was still intact in a 1985 aerial photo but was gone by 1990.
“The St. Louis Theatre Supply Co. will provide all of the projection, sound, in-car speakers and other equipment for the 500-car drive-in being constructed on Highway 61 (sic) north of Farmington, Mo., by Edwards & Plumlee Theatres. Provision is being made to increase the capacity by 250 cars if and when business warrants.” —BoxOffice, Jan. 8, 1949
A note in the Jan. 1, 1949 issue of BoxOffice said that Charles Weisenberg was working on opening a new indoor theater in Seagoville. “Then he will build his new Pike Drive-In on a site between the new house and the Dallas city limits.”
Looks like the Trail existed during late 1948. From the Jan. 1, 1949 issue of BoxOffice: “FORT STOCKTON, TEX. – The Trail Drive-In gave away one-half ton of oranges and grapefruit during the holiday season. The Trail shows American and Spanish films and the citrus fruits were purchased from the Rio Grande valley.”
From the Jan. 1, 1949 issue of BoxOffice:
OLNEY, ILL.—Construction of a 450-car drive-in theatre has been started on a ten-acre tract on the north side of route 50 west of the local city limits. It is opposite the skating rink on the Lemay property.
Those interested in the project are H. E. “Barney” Coen, president; C. P. Porter, vice-president; Anson Gher, L. R. Forsyth, John Nix and Robert Hill.
The general contract has been awarded to Leland Jared of Olney, while Robert Hill, whose home is in Evansville, Ind., is personally supervising the construction. The plans call for a screen tower 50 feet high and 55 feet wide. There will be individual car speakers and other modern conveniences for patrons.
It is planned to open the theatre early next April and to operate it until November 15.
The Edwardsville (IL) Intelligencer reported on May 25, 1962 that Jerry Lindemann had sued the owners of the Falcon. Lindemann said that he “was parked with a loudspeaker on the window when another patron passing his auto hit the wire and knocked the loudspeaker against his head.” He said he suffered head, jaw, and teeth injuries when the speaker was dislodged from his window.
On Oct. 14, 1960, The Maryville (MO) Daily Forum mentioned a field trip that included a visit to the “Mound City drive-in theater.”
The June 5, 1955 St. Louis Globe-Democrat wrote that the 648-car Shop City was being developed by St. Louis investors and would be managed by Jablonow-Komm Theaters.
The Mound was built in 1954, based on a May 13, 1955 article in The Press-Gazette of Hillsboro OH. It discussed a possible new drive-in operated by a subsidiary of Associated Theatres, which operated the Mound. The chain was widening other drive-in screens, but the screen at the Mound “which was completed only last year, was already a wide screen”.
Associated Press weird news note that got picked up by several newspapers: On Sunday, Sept. 7, 1952, thieves cracked the safe “of the Bluemound Drive-In Theater in Elm Grove” and stole 8650 pennies. Manager Roberg Gross said the pennies were around to make change but the weekend’s proceeds were already deposited.
More notes. Motion Picture Herald, May 10, 1947: “Ray Toepfer and Lida Cummins, operating the Blue Grass drive-in, have secured a site south of Lexington where they will build another drive-in.”
Motion Picture Herald, Oct. 4, 1952: “The Blue Grass Drive-In theatre, which has been in operation outside of Georgetown, Kentucky, since 1941, was denied a permit Sept. 22 by Judge G. G. Barkley of Scott County. Although in operation 11 years, the theatre had never been granted a permit. Judge Barkley, after hearing testimony said, ‘… to gain a permit a person must abide by the laws. It has been brought out that the theatre has remained open several times until after midnight, implying that the law would not be carried out if a permit is granted. Therefore, I am denying a permit.’ ”
It must have worked out. The Exhibitor, December 23, 1953: “Mark Cummins, exhibitor, is in St. Petersburg, Fla., for several weeks. Midwest Theatre Supply furnished RCA projection equipment for his Blue Grass Drive-In, Georgetown, Ky.”
“The Fort Wood theatre, Waynesville, Mo., which is largely patronized by service men from Fort Leonard Wood, has just installed a wide screen, the first in the area, for the showing of CinemaScope.” — Motion Picture Herald, Sept. 4, 1954
I believe this drive-in opened in July 1955. From the July 23, 1955 Motion Picture Herald: “The Woodlane drive-in theater, Waynesville, Mo., had its gala opening recently and the merchants of the city got together and ran a full-page advertisement in the Waynesville newspaper congratulating the management.”
The 1955-56 Theatre Catalog listed the Woodlane with a capacity of 280 cars, owned by Commonwealth Amuse. Co.
A “Drive-In” with no other information debuted under Waynesville in the 1955 Motion Picture Almanac. The next year, it was the Wood Lane, capacity 380, owner Commonwealth Amuse. Co. That’s how it stayed through 1976; the 1977 edition dropped the capacity of the “Woodlane” to 200 through to the final MPA drive-in list in 1988.
Did the Woodlane have a soft opening in 1954? Because of that 1955 MPA listing, it probably existed before February that year. And then there’s this cryptic one-sentence note, providing more questions than answers, in the Dec. 25, 1954 issue of Motion Picture Herald:
“The recently constructed Woodlane drive-in theatre at Waynesville, Mo., and all sound and concession projection equipment was destroyed recently.”
The drive-in was “abandoned” but not yet gone when mentioned in the 1996 book Road Trip USA.
“A large neon sign with 16-foot lettering, was installed at the 66 Drive-In on U. S. 66 south of Springfield, Ilk, owned and operated by Kerasotes and managed by Bill Ford.” — The Independent Film Journal, May 2, 1953
Those letters must have been on the back of the screen tower. The 66’s marquee was magnificent, but its letters don’t look anywhere near that tall.
Same theater? The Independent Film Journal reported on March 7, 1953 that “Bill Ford, owner-mgr. of the Bland Theatre, Blandinsville, Ill., has been made mgr. of Kerasotes’ 66 Drive-In Theatre at Springfield, Ill.”
I would pay $5 for a framed picture of the Bland marquee. ;)
Small update to the Motion Picture Almanac notes above: “Drive-In” switched to “Mustang” in the 1970 edition, so the name change was probably a year or two earlier.
Online at the Internet Archive, I picked up Tim Falconer’s 2008 book Drive: a road trip through our complicated affair with the automobile. His description of Paul and Nancy Peterson’s 1988 purchase matches Demont’s, but he adds more details.
“The property was in bad shape and the theatre had a reputation as a place for young people to get drunk and, he learned later, there had been a small riot on the last night of the 1987 season. Worse, the Petersons knew nothing about running a drive-in.” The couple cleaned up the place and most importantly, created and enforced a no-alcohol policy. That hurt first year attendance, Paul Peterson said, “but it worked because word got out: it’s not a dump anymore.”
The Petersons added a second screen in 2002, and as of 2008, their adult children were helping to run the Mustang.
Its first movie was Canyon Passage, starring Dana Andrews. It was kind of old (1946) at the time, but it was in Technicolor.
From the Jan. 5, 1955 Motion Picture Exhibitor: “In Granite City, Ill., the Bel-Air Drive-In, owned and operated by Komm Circuit, has recently put into service 200 new Radiant type in-a-car heaters purchased through the St. Louis branch of National Theatre Supply.”
From the Nov. 27, 1957 Motion Picture Exhibitor: “EAST ST. LOUIS, ILL.—Members of the Knights of Columbus Council, Number 592. recently adopted a resolution condemning three of the drive-in theatres of this vicinity on the grounds that they had been showing ‘immoral and obscene’ motion pictures. The resolution also urged members of the Council not to patronize the drive-ins so long as the management continues ‘to show such pictures.’ The theatres involved are Shop City Drive-In, Mounds Drive-In, and the Bel-Air Drive-In. All are operated by the Jablonow-Komm theatre interests.”
From the Aug. 26, 1964 Motion Picture Exhibitor: “Reinhardt Weseman has been appointed supervisor for the five drive-ins operated in southern Illinois by Mid America Theatres. Weseman will retain his position as manager, Bel Air Drive-In, Mitchell, Ill.”
On March 14, 1956, Motion Picture Exhibitor reported, “An unfortunate situation occurred at the opening night of the new million-dollar Bel-Air Drive-In in suburban Cicero. Temperatures in the high 50’s had melted the snow and softened the ground in the huge parking area to such an extent that many of the cars sank to their hubs. Tractors were used to pull them out. Further showings at the theatre were postponed until the ground hardens. Bel-Air was built and is operated by Jerome and Raymond Marks, Martin Rosenfield,” (and the rest, if any, was cut off)
From the April 4, 1953 Motion Picture Herald: “Nashville will have a new drive-in theatre soon, to cost $120,000, and to be run by the new Bel-Air Drive-In Theatres Company, of which the president will be Charles Henritz, who also will manage the house. The 700-car unit is expected to start operation June 1. Associated with Mr. Henritz arc Charles Kuertz and James Ferguson.”