From Motion Picture Exhibitor, Nov. 13, 1957: “Mark Cummins, Cincinnati, is the new owner, Bel-Air, Colonial, and Warner Park Drive-Ins from the Condra Amusement Company, Nashville, Tenn.”
From the Feb. 12, 1964 Motion Picture Exhibitor: “In Jackson, Mich., Jack and Jay Phillips, who have operated the Bel-Air Drive-In for the past decade, have sold it to veteran exhibitor Elton L. Samuels. Presently closed, it will reopen March 27. Samuels, who also owns the Jackson Drive-In, will reopen it March 13. About a year ago, Samuels disposed of the Miracle Mile outdoorer in Pontiac, and the Waterford fresh airer in Waterford to Redstone of Boston. Through Clark Theatre Service of Detroit, which handles Samuels’ buying and booking, notice has been served on distributors that the Bel-Air is in contention for first-run product.”
From Motion Picture Exhibitor, Aug. 26, 1964: “Mid America Theatres has
purchased Marlow’s Drive-In, Herrin, Ill. The drive-in was renamed the Riviera. Earl Ritchey, Herrin, has been named manager. A new concessions building, electric in-car heaters, and other improvements have been announced.”
The June 25, 1944 Chicago Sun carried a short story that the “Drive-In Theater” would have a fireworks show on July 4 as part of a War Bond drive.
From the Sept. 9, 1945 Chicago Sun:
“With the removal of gasoline restrictions, the Drive In Theater has enjoyed such an upsurge of business that architects have been called in to reconstruct the entire left wing of the screen area to provide another ‘hold-out’ lot for 250 cars.
“Two weeks ago, a similar lot was opened on the right side of the theater to expedite entrance into the landscaped auditorium.”
More personal details than normal from the June 21, 1947 BoxOffice:
Robert L. Barton, son of the R. Lewis Bartons, and Betty Lou Humphrey were married recently. Both the bride and bridegroom
were Oklahoma City university students. The
bride was president of her senior class. The
couple is on a one-month wedding trip to
Canada and Niagara Falls. Young Barton is
associated with his dad in the theatre business but plans to continue his college education in the autumn. His father owns a chain
of houses in Oklahoma, including the Home,
Knob Hill and Redskin here. He also is
building a new drive-in near the city which
will have a 1,000-car capacity. It is three
miles south of the city on Norman Highway
77, and will be known as the Odom.
“Ed Johnson and Dwight
Spracher have changed the name of their
drive-in on the Seattle-Tacoma highway
from the Northwest Motor-In to the Midway.” — BoxOffice, June 21, 1947
Gordon Allen’s new Motor Movies Drive-In
at Hayward will open June 27. A CPA permit
has been received. No one was more surprised than Gordon when he realized that
ground was broken for the drive-in only two
weeks ago. Allen recently was married to
Helen McCoy of the Robert L. Lippert circuit.
HOUSTON — The Shepherd, Houston’s newest drive-in, located on North Shepherd
drive just beyond the city limits, was opened
Friday, May 23.
It is the second de luxe drive-in to be
opened in Houston by Underwood & Ezell
this year and the third operated in Houston
by this company. They also operate drive-in
theatres in Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio,
Waco and Pharr.
The modern design of the Shepherd combines both beauty and operating efficiency.
Designed by Jack Corgan of Dallas, it offers
the newest developments in drive-in theatre
engineering. The arena is paved throughout
and each ramp has been engineered to a
fraction of an inch to insure perfect vision
for each patron. Special lighting makes it
possible for cars to move in and out of the
theatre with safety. Each car is provided
with an individual speaker with a sound-volume-control button to adjust the sound
to the exact volume desired.
A snack bar is located in the center of the
park where cold drinks, popcorn and candy
may be sold.
The Shepherd will change programs four
times each week.
A few more details in the April 19, 1947 issue of BoxOffice:
Winkler Drive-In: Opened March 21 and
has a capacity for 600 cars. It is the family
type theatre and shows two shows nightly
with a Saturday midnighter. W. C. Underwood and C. C. Ezell owners of the South
Main Drive-In and also of a string in Texas,
built the Winkler. Maurice Rogillio is operator and Bill Sargent its manager. The opening picture was “Three Little Girls in Blue.” Each car has its own speaker. A nursery is in operation and there is a playground for the children. There are also concessions.
AGAWAM, MASS. — With a record crowd
in attendance, Riverside Park-In Theatre,
owned and operated by Edward J. Carroll,
opened here over the Easter weekend. The
open-air theatre is part of Carroll’s extensive
Riverside amusement park.
With the completion of the second drive-in theatre here,
the owners decided they would have to use
names to properly identify one from the
other. One theatre will be known as the East
Drive-In and the other the West Drive-In.
The East was scheduled to open Wednesday
(16). During the closed months, many improvements were made, including the changing from a central speaking system to in-a-car speakers. The West is still in the building stage and is expected to open some time
between the first and the 15th of July. The
West will also be equipped with in-a-car
speakers. Both will be directed by Floyd
Murrow.
“OPEN NEW DRIVE-IN — Underwood and Ezell have opened their new Winkler
drive-in, located on the Houston thoroughfare of that name where it intersects with Telephone road. It is their ninth such plant in the state. The Winkler was designed by Jack Corgan, Dallas architect; will park 450 cars on ramps that have been paved to keep down the dust. In-car speakers, a play park for children and lawn seats for those without cars are features. Bill Sargent is manager, having been transferred from the Circle at Waco.”
In a story about De Leon’s other indoor theater, the Feb. 1, 1947 issue of BoxOffice mentioned that “M. D. Stewart’s Texas … was sold to J. R. Miller a year ago.”
Same theater? From the Feb. 1, 1947 issue of BoxOffice:
De Leon, Tex. – H. L. Millington and A. R. Parsons will open their new Atomic Theatre here March 15. They have leased a store building with a high ceiling and are having Lupe Romero of Dallas do the conversion job. The 475-seater will have a balcony, rest rooms and probably a cry room.
Millington is in the auto business at Comanche, 15 miles from here. Parsons worked for many years as projectionist at M. D. Stewart’s Texas, which was sold to J. R. Miller a year ago.
“BILLINGS. MO. – O. F. Bolinger has sold the State here to Buford L. Lowrance, an ex-GI new to the business. Bolinger owned the theatre for a year.” —BoxOffice, Feb. 1, 1947
Looks like it opened even earlier. From the Feb. 1, 1947 issue of BoxOffice:
CRYSTAL CITY, MO. – Tilden Dickson opened his new Hi-Way Theatre here January 21. The house has RCA projection and sound equipment, International seats and Mohawk carpeting, all furnished by Cinema Supply.
Same drive-in? From the Feb. 1, 1947 issue of BoxOffice:
LOS ANGELES – Robert L. Lippert, vice-president of Screen Guild Productions, is building a new drive-in theatre on the outskirts of Medford, Ore. This will increase the number of his theatre holdings to 35.
The Medford property was one of several theatre sites acquired by Lippert when he purchased the nine-theatre circuit of Leverette Interstate Theatres situated in Oregon and northern California.
The new theatre will have a capacity of 400 automobiles with individual speakers for each year. (sic) It is expected to be completed by early summer.
STOCKDALE, TEX. – Stockdale’s new and ultramodern theatre, the Dale, which cost $80,000, was opened here Christmas week by W. D. Glasscock of San Antonio. He also owns the Blanco and the new George West, situated in the respective Texas towns of those names.
The George West was officially opened New Year’s eve. This theatre cost $75,000.
Present at the Stockdale opening were numerous exhibitors from surrounding towns, including Mr. and Mrs. H. D. Arrington of the Dutch Mill Theatre at Holland.
GREENE, IOWA – A modernistic marquee was hung at the Greene here last weekend, replacing the old-style canopy sign. The marquee, which extends horizontally from the theatre front, has neon lettering showing the current attraction on each side in five-inch characters. Mayor Robert Hessel, owner of the theatre, plans to redecorate the entire building in the spring.
ST. LOUIS – The Plaza Theatre was opened January 1 by Clarence and Francis Kalmann as part of the Wehrenberg-Kalmann circuit, which now includes 23 houses. The theatre has for some years been used as a synagogue. It has been thoroughly modernized inside and out, equipped with latest in sound and projection equipment, about 600 seats, carpeting, drapes and lighting.
HUGO, COLO. – Earl Berens of Milbank, S. D., has purchased the Hugo Theatre here from Marion Smith, giving a free show an an introduction to the community. He announced he will improve the house. —BoxOffice, Jan. 4, 1947
CRAIG, COLO. – Opening date for the New West Theatre here is only weeks away, and workmen have been working overtime to complete remodeling of the building early in January. Stan Stanfill, manager, hasn’t set the opening day as yet.
Ed Arnold, commercial artist, recently spent a week in Craig painting the panels for the auditorium. Arnold was in charge of all decorators and artists who worked on the buildings at the San Francisco World’s Fair of 1940.
New screen, new projection equipment, and new heating and ventilating systems are also being installed.
From Variety, Aug. 6, 1952, “Terrace Drive-In opened in Lees Summitt, Mo., July 31. The 300-car ozoner is operated by Jam, Inc.”
From the Aug. 27, 1952 issue of The Exhibitor, “The sign on the Terrace Drive-In, Lee’s Summit, Mo., was damaged by high winds the day after it opened. Sam Abend and Earl Jameson are the owners.”
From Variety July 9, 1958, “Roy S. Lindamood, 75, longtime theatre manager in the Kansas City area, died June 26 in K.C. He had operated the Vogue Theatre and the Terrace Drive-In Theatre in Lee’s Summit and at one time ran an amusement park in Galveston, Tex.”
From Motion Picture Exhibitor, Nov. 13, 1957: “Mark Cummins, Cincinnati, is the new owner, Bel-Air, Colonial, and Warner Park Drive-Ins from the Condra Amusement Company, Nashville, Tenn.”
From the Feb. 12, 1964 Motion Picture Exhibitor: “In Jackson, Mich., Jack and Jay Phillips, who have operated the Bel-Air Drive-In for the past decade, have sold it to veteran exhibitor Elton L. Samuels. Presently closed, it will reopen March 27. Samuels, who also owns the Jackson Drive-In, will reopen it March 13. About a year ago, Samuels disposed of the Miracle Mile outdoorer in Pontiac, and the Waterford fresh airer in Waterford to Redstone of Boston. Through Clark Theatre Service of Detroit, which handles Samuels’ buying and booking, notice has been served on distributors that the Bel-Air is in contention for first-run product.”
From Motion Picture Exhibitor, Aug. 26, 1964: “Mid America Theatres has purchased Marlow’s Drive-In, Herrin, Ill. The drive-in was renamed the Riviera. Earl Ritchey, Herrin, has been named manager. A new concessions building, electric in-car heaters, and other improvements have been announced.”
The June 25, 1944 Chicago Sun carried a short story that the “Drive-In Theater” would have a fireworks show on July 4 as part of a War Bond drive.
From the Sept. 9, 1945 Chicago Sun:
“With the removal of gasoline restrictions, the Drive In Theater has enjoyed such an upsurge of business that architects have been called in to reconstruct the entire left wing of the screen area to provide another ‘hold-out’ lot for 250 cars.
“Two weeks ago, a similar lot was opened on the right side of the theater to expedite entrance into the landscaped auditorium.”
More personal details than normal from the June 21, 1947 BoxOffice:
Robert L. Barton, son of the R. Lewis Bartons, and Betty Lou Humphrey were married recently. Both the bride and bridegroom were Oklahoma City university students. The bride was president of her senior class. The couple is on a one-month wedding trip to Canada and Niagara Falls. Young Barton is associated with his dad in the theatre business but plans to continue his college education in the autumn. His father owns a chain of houses in Oklahoma, including the Home, Knob Hill and Redskin here. He also is building a new drive-in near the city which will have a 1,000-car capacity. It is three miles south of the city on Norman Highway 77, and will be known as the Odom.
“Ed Johnson and Dwight Spracher have changed the name of their drive-in on the Seattle-Tacoma highway from the Northwest Motor-In to the Midway.” — BoxOffice, June 21, 1947
From the June 7, 1947 BoxOffice:
Gordon Allen’s new Motor Movies Drive-In at Hayward will open June 27. A CPA permit has been received. No one was more surprised than Gordon when he realized that ground was broken for the drive-in only two weeks ago. Allen recently was married to Helen McCoy of the Robert L. Lippert circuit.
From BoxOffice, May 24, 1947:
HOUSTON — The Shepherd, Houston’s newest drive-in, located on North Shepherd drive just beyond the city limits, was opened Friday, May 23.
It is the second de luxe drive-in to be opened in Houston by Underwood & Ezell this year and the third operated in Houston by this company. They also operate drive-in theatres in Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio, Waco and Pharr.
The modern design of the Shepherd combines both beauty and operating efficiency. Designed by Jack Corgan of Dallas, it offers the newest developments in drive-in theatre engineering. The arena is paved throughout and each ramp has been engineered to a fraction of an inch to insure perfect vision for each patron. Special lighting makes it possible for cars to move in and out of the theatre with safety. Each car is provided with an individual speaker with a sound-volume-control button to adjust the sound to the exact volume desired.
A snack bar is located in the center of the park where cold drinks, popcorn and candy may be sold.
The Shepherd will change programs four times each week.
A few more details in the April 19, 1947 issue of BoxOffice:
Winkler Drive-In: Opened March 21 and has a capacity for 600 cars. It is the family type theatre and shows two shows nightly with a Saturday midnighter. W. C. Underwood and C. C. Ezell owners of the South Main Drive-In and also of a string in Texas, built the Winkler. Maurice Rogillio is operator and Bill Sargent its manager. The opening picture was “Three Little Girls in Blue.” Each car has its own speaker. A nursery is in operation and there is a playground for the children. There are also concessions.
From the April 19, 1947 issue of BoxOffice:
AGAWAM, MASS. — With a record crowd in attendance, Riverside Park-In Theatre, owned and operated by Edward J. Carroll, opened here over the Easter weekend. The open-air theatre is part of Carroll’s extensive Riverside amusement park.
From the April 19, 1947 issue of BoxOffice:
With the completion of the second drive-in theatre here, the owners decided they would have to use names to properly identify one from the other. One theatre will be known as the East Drive-In and the other the West Drive-In. The East was scheduled to open Wednesday (16). During the closed months, many improvements were made, including the changing from a central speaking system to in-a-car speakers. The West is still in the building stage and is expected to open some time between the first and the 15th of July. The West will also be equipped with in-a-car speakers. Both will be directed by Floyd Murrow.
Two notes from BoxOffice, April 12, 1947:
PARIS, KY. — In-car speakers have been installed at the Bluegrass Drive-In Theatre on the Lexington-Georgetown road near here.
The Blue Grass Drive-In, Georgetown, Ky., also opened the last weekend in March.
Here’s the full note that Joe Vogel found:
“OPEN NEW DRIVE-IN — Underwood and Ezell have opened their new Winkler drive-in, located on the Houston thoroughfare of that name where it intersects with Telephone road. It is their ninth such plant in the state. The Winkler was designed by Jack Corgan, Dallas architect; will park 450 cars on ramps that have been paved to keep down the dust. In-car speakers, a play park for children and lawn seats for those without cars are features. Bill Sargent is manager, having been transferred from the Circle at Waco.”
In a story about De Leon’s other indoor theater, the Feb. 1, 1947 issue of BoxOffice mentioned that “M. D. Stewart’s Texas … was sold to J. R. Miller a year ago.”
Same theater? From the Feb. 1, 1947 issue of BoxOffice:
De Leon, Tex. – H. L. Millington and A. R. Parsons will open their new Atomic Theatre here March 15. They have leased a store building with a high ceiling and are having Lupe Romero of Dallas do the conversion job. The 475-seater will have a balcony, rest rooms and probably a cry room.
Millington is in the auto business at Comanche, 15 miles from here. Parsons worked for many years as projectionist at M. D. Stewart’s Texas, which was sold to J. R. Miller a year ago.
“BILLINGS. MO. – O. F. Bolinger has sold the State here to Buford L. Lowrance, an ex-GI new to the business. Bolinger owned the theatre for a year.” —BoxOffice, Feb. 1, 1947
“MILLER, MO. – The Star Theatre here is moving. It will move into the Frank Washam building which is undergoing alteration.” —BoxOffice, Feb. 1, 1947
Looks like it opened even earlier. From the Feb. 1, 1947 issue of BoxOffice:
CRYSTAL CITY, MO. – Tilden Dickson opened his new Hi-Way Theatre here January 21. The house has RCA projection and sound equipment, International seats and Mohawk carpeting, all furnished by Cinema Supply.
Same drive-in? From the Feb. 1, 1947 issue of BoxOffice:
LOS ANGELES – Robert L. Lippert, vice-president of Screen Guild Productions, is building a new drive-in theatre on the outskirts of Medford, Ore. This will increase the number of his theatre holdings to 35.
The Medford property was one of several theatre sites acquired by Lippert when he purchased the nine-theatre circuit of Leverette Interstate Theatres situated in Oregon and northern California.
The new theatre will have a capacity of 400 automobiles with individual speakers for each year. (sic) It is expected to be completed by early summer.
From the Jan. 4, 1947 issue of BoxOffice:
STOCKDALE, TEX. – Stockdale’s new and ultramodern theatre, the Dale, which cost $80,000, was opened here Christmas week by W. D. Glasscock of San Antonio. He also owns the Blanco and the new George West, situated in the respective Texas towns of those names.
The George West was officially opened New Year’s eve. This theatre cost $75,000.
Present at the Stockdale opening were numerous exhibitors from surrounding towns, including Mr. and Mrs. H. D. Arrington of the Dutch Mill Theatre at Holland.
From the Jan. 4, 1947 issue of BoxOffice:
GREENE, IOWA – A modernistic marquee was hung at the Greene here last weekend, replacing the old-style canopy sign. The marquee, which extends horizontally from the theatre front, has neon lettering showing the current attraction on each side in five-inch characters. Mayor Robert Hessel, owner of the theatre, plans to redecorate the entire building in the spring.
From BoxOffice, Jan. 4, 1947:
ST. LOUIS – The Plaza Theatre was opened January 1 by Clarence and Francis Kalmann as part of the Wehrenberg-Kalmann circuit, which now includes 23 houses. The theatre has for some years been used as a synagogue. It has been thoroughly modernized inside and out, equipped with latest in sound and projection equipment, about 600 seats, carpeting, drapes and lighting.
HUGO, COLO. – Earl Berens of Milbank, S. D., has purchased the Hugo Theatre here from Marion Smith, giving a free show an an introduction to the community. He announced he will improve the house. —BoxOffice, Jan. 4, 1947
From the Jan. 4, 1947 issue of BoxOffice:
CRAIG, COLO. – Opening date for the New West Theatre here is only weeks away, and workmen have been working overtime to complete remodeling of the building early in January. Stan Stanfill, manager, hasn’t set the opening day as yet.
Ed Arnold, commercial artist, recently spent a week in Craig painting the panels for the auditorium. Arnold was in charge of all decorators and artists who worked on the buildings at the San Francisco World’s Fair of 1940.
New screen, new projection equipment, and new heating and ventilating systems are also being installed.
From Variety, Aug. 6, 1952, “Terrace Drive-In opened in Lees Summitt, Mo., July 31. The 300-car ozoner is operated by Jam, Inc.”
From the Aug. 27, 1952 issue of The Exhibitor, “The sign on the Terrace Drive-In, Lee’s Summit, Mo., was damaged by high winds the day after it opened. Sam Abend and Earl Jameson are the owners.”
From Variety July 9, 1958, “Roy S. Lindamood, 75, longtime theatre manager in the Kansas City area, died June 26 in K.C. He had operated the Vogue Theatre and the Terrace Drive-In Theatre in Lee’s Summit and at one time ran an amusement park in Galveston, Tex.”