This 1955 photo was about Les Davis living in a tent on top of the screen as a publicity stunt. The copyright as listed on Life.com is Yale Joel/Life Pictures/Shutterstock.
The Twilite first appeared in the Motion Picture Almanac in the 1960 edition. It was listed under Bruce (a few miles away), capacity 275 cars, owner J. A. Thornton.
It was still open in October 1970, when Boxoffice noted that Bruce’s “Twilight” had closed for the season.
The MPA’s refreshed drive-in list in its 1977 edition still included the Twilite, now 240 cars, owned by W. Clark. The owner changed to M. Franklin in the 1980 edition. It changed again to B. Bowling in the 1983 edition, but the Twilite left the list in 1985.
Boxoffice, Oct. 26, 1970: “A storm resulted in screen damage to the Morrow Drive-In at Calhoun City, Miss., and the Eupora Drive-In at Eupora, Miss. Both of the airers were forced to close temporarily while repairs were being made."
Boxoffice, July 4, 1977: “Skyvue Drive-In, Savannah, has reopened and the Savannah Theatre has closed, it was announced by Charles Arendall of Arendall Enterprises"
Boxoffice, June 18, 1955: “Gordon Hutchins, who formerly operated the State at Corning, has purchased the 64 Drive-In, Russelville, Ark., from Mrs. Henley Smith and has moved to Russelville”
Boxoffice, July 4, 1977: “Gordon Hutchins sold the 64 Drive-In, Russellville, Ark., to Victor Webber of Kensett, Ark., owner of a circuit of theatres located throughout Arkansas.”
The Hickory’s ad in the 1952 Sharon High School yearbook boasted that the drive-in had “the Country’s Largest Screen” and accommodation for 1000 cars. Chris Lampros was manager.
Boxoffice, Sept. 7, 1970: “NASH, TEX. - Area theatregoers joined owners Joy and Clyde Houck in grand opening events Friday, August 21, at the Joy Twin Drive-In, which was constructed on a design that will permit the addition of two more outdoor screens and a walk-in theatre later. The entertainment complex, just off I-30 and Kings Highway, represents an investment of around $250,000”
The year is fuzzy and probably inaccurate, but the owner details are interesting.
Boxoffice, Sept. 7, 1970: “Sarto Smalldone and his wife, approaching the 25th year of operation of the Malta Drive-In south of Saratoga Springs, have been aiming at family patronage … Smalldone doubles as mayor of Saratoga Springs”
Just sayin', this looks like a third-generation cropped copy of the photo that “railroad” uploaded here in 2012: https://cinematreasures.org/theaters/23775/photos/54453
Sorry for any misunderstanding, everybody. When I post a quote, it’s just a quote. In this case, the main reason was to show the change of ownership.
When there’s no primary evidence of an opening date, a later quote can provide some indication. But when the opening date has already been nailed down pretty well (such as with the Florence), I sometimes leave it in to show the fallibility of memory, and why we should treat such decades-later statements with a grain of salt.
Number One Drive-In Theatre, Inc., was the name of the corporation that was approved by the National Production Authority to build a drive-in at Daytona Beach in March 1951. The Coles City Directory may have used that for its listing.
The Feb. 17, 1951 issue of Boxoffice included Walter Brown’s 250-car drive-in in Winnsboro as one of the drive-ins recently put into operation.
The obituary for Mary Elizabeth Tidwell Brown, published in the State newspaper of Columbia SC, said she was the former owner of the Winn-Ridge along with the Carolina, Boyd, and Fairfield theaters. Wife of Boyd Brown, she once received a Woman of the Year award from the Winnsboro Business and Professional Women.
Boxoffice, Aug. 24, 1970: “Richard P. Ernst Realty Co., owner of the Dixie Drive-In and the Florence Drive-In, has announced that it will sell the two ozoners to Redstone Theatres of Boston. Both drive-ins were opened in 1946.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 24, 1970: “Richard P. Ernst Realty Co., owner of the Dixie Drive-In and the Florence Drive-In, has announced that it will sell the two ozoners to Redstone Theatres of Boston. Both drive-ins were opened in 1946.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 24, 1970: “W. T. Ash was on the (Dallas Film) Row and reported total loss of his Mathis Drive-In due to hurricane Celia. He said it’s not likely he will rebuild.”
One more note. Boxoffice, Aug. 24, 1970: “A partnership composed of Owen E. Barnett and Billy Wallace has assumed operation of Scenic Drive-In at Booneville.”
As is often the case when an indoor movie house occupies a drive-in site - they had the same owners.
Boxoffice, Aug. 24, 1970: “The Stateline Cinema, this area’s newest theatre, has been opened in the Crescent Valley Shopping Center Annex by Robert Retzer and William Tomlinson, who jointly own the Tahoe Drive-In.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 10, 1970: “Richard Smith, who has the Fourth Street Theatre at David City, has purchased the Isis Theatre and drive-in at Marysville, Kas., and plans remodeling before reopening. The Isis has been closed for some time"
Boxoffice, Aug. 10, 1970: “Richard Smith, who has the Fourth Street Theatre at David City, has purchased the Isis Theatre and drive-in at Marysville, Kas."
The Theatre Catalog first included the West Point in its 1955-56 edition, capacity 280 cars, owner Finley Moss.
This 1955 photo was about Les Davis living in a tent on top of the screen as a publicity stunt. The copyright as listed on Life.com is Yale Joel/Life Pictures/Shutterstock.
The copyright as listed on Life.com is Yale Joel/Life Pictures/Shutterstock.
The Twilite first appeared in the Motion Picture Almanac in the 1960 edition. It was listed under Bruce (a few miles away), capacity 275 cars, owner J. A. Thornton.
It was still open in October 1970, when Boxoffice noted that Bruce’s “Twilight” had closed for the season.
The MPA’s refreshed drive-in list in its 1977 edition still included the Twilite, now 240 cars, owned by W. Clark. The owner changed to M. Franklin in the 1980 edition. It changed again to B. Bowling in the 1983 edition, but the Twilite left the list in 1985.
Just a bad year for the Eupora.
Boxoffice, Oct. 26, 1970: “A storm resulted in screen damage to the Morrow Drive-In at Calhoun City, Miss., and the Eupora Drive-In at Eupora, Miss. Both of the airers were forced to close temporarily while repairs were being made."
Boxoffice, July 4, 1977: “Skyvue Drive-In, Savannah, has reopened and the Savannah Theatre has closed, it was announced by Charles Arendall of Arendall Enterprises"
Boxoffice, July 4, 1977: “Paul and Pearl Womble are the new owners of the Carousel Drive-In in Fordyce, Ark."
Boxoffice, June 18, 1955: “Gordon Hutchins, who formerly operated the State at Corning, has purchased the 64 Drive-In, Russelville, Ark., from Mrs. Henley Smith and has moved to Russelville”
Boxoffice, July 4, 1977: “Gordon Hutchins sold the 64 Drive-In, Russellville, Ark., to Victor Webber of Kensett, Ark., owner of a circuit of theatres located throughout Arkansas.”
The Hickory’s ad in the 1952 Sharon High School yearbook boasted that the drive-in had “the Country’s Largest Screen” and accommodation for 1000 cars. Chris Lampros was manager.
The second Joy opened Aug. 21, 1970.
Boxoffice, Sept. 7, 1970: “NASH, TEX. - Area theatregoers joined owners Joy and Clyde Houck in grand opening events Friday, August 21, at the Joy Twin Drive-In, which was constructed on a design that will permit the addition of two more outdoor screens and a walk-in theatre later. The entertainment complex, just off I-30 and Kings Highway, represents an investment of around $250,000”
The year is fuzzy and probably inaccurate, but the owner details are interesting.
Boxoffice, Sept. 7, 1970: “Sarto Smalldone and his wife, approaching the 25th year of operation of the Malta Drive-In south of Saratoga Springs, have been aiming at family patronage … Smalldone doubles as mayor of Saratoga Springs”
Just sayin', this looks like a third-generation cropped copy of the photo that “railroad” uploaded here in 2012: https://cinematreasures.org/theaters/23775/photos/54453
Sorry for any misunderstanding, everybody. When I post a quote, it’s just a quote. In this case, the main reason was to show the change of ownership.
When there’s no primary evidence of an opening date, a later quote can provide some indication. But when the opening date has already been nailed down pretty well (such as with the Florence), I sometimes leave it in to show the fallibility of memory, and why we should treat such decades-later statements with a grain of salt.
Number One Drive-In Theatre, Inc., was the name of the corporation that was approved by the National Production Authority to build a drive-in at Daytona Beach in March 1951. The Coles City Directory may have used that for its listing.
The Feb. 17, 1951 issue of Boxoffice included Walter Brown’s 250-car drive-in in Winnsboro as one of the drive-ins recently put into operation.
The obituary for Mary Elizabeth Tidwell Brown, published in the State newspaper of Columbia SC, said she was the former owner of the Winn-Ridge along with the Carolina, Boyd, and Fairfield theaters. Wife of Boyd Brown, she once received a Woman of the Year award from the Winnsboro Business and Professional Women.
Posted on Flickr in September 2009, with an “All rights reserved” non-license, by Ethan.
Boxoffice, Aug. 24, 1970: “Richard P. Ernst Realty Co., owner of the Dixie Drive-In and the Florence Drive-In, has announced that it will sell the two ozoners to Redstone Theatres of Boston. Both drive-ins were opened in 1946.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 24, 1970: “Richard P. Ernst Realty Co., owner of the Dixie Drive-In and the Florence Drive-In, has announced that it will sell the two ozoners to Redstone Theatres of Boston. Both drive-ins were opened in 1946.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 24, 1970: “W. T. Ash was on the (Dallas Film) Row and reported total loss of his Mathis Drive-In due to hurricane Celia. He said it’s not likely he will rebuild.”
One more note. Boxoffice, Aug. 24, 1970: “A partnership composed of Owen E. Barnett and Billy Wallace has assumed operation of Scenic Drive-In at Booneville.”
As is often the case when an indoor movie house occupies a drive-in site - they had the same owners.
Boxoffice, Aug. 24, 1970: “The Stateline Cinema, this area’s newest theatre, has been opened in the Crescent Valley Shopping Center Annex by Robert Retzer and William Tomlinson, who jointly own the Tahoe Drive-In.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 10, 1970: “Walt Allen sold the Corral Drive-In, Moline, Ill., to Redstone Management of Boston."
Boxoffice, Aug. 10, 1970: “Richard Smith, who has the Fourth Street Theatre at David City, has purchased the Isis Theatre and drive-in at Marysville, Kas., and plans remodeling before reopening. The Isis has been closed for some time"
Boxoffice, Aug. 10, 1970: “Richard Smith, who has the Fourth Street Theatre at David City, has purchased the Isis Theatre and drive-in at Marysville, Kas."
Boxoffice, Aug. 10, 1970: “Carl J. Murphy bought the Hi Ho Drive-In at Spur, taking over control of the airer as of July 6."