“COLUMBUS, KAS. – The Snack Bar of the Columbus Drive-In, operated by Art Pugh, was damaged by fire here early in the morning. Apparently the fire started in the popcorn machine, which was melted by the intense heat, and considerable damage was done to other equipment before the fire department arrived. The concession building was of fireproof construction so did not burn. A film delivery man discovered and reported the fire. Pugh was out of town at the time.” —BoxOffice, Nov. 7, 1953
“Glenn Jones, owner-operator of the Gravois Mills Drive-In, has inaugurated a popularity contest among girls in the area. The winner will be determined by the number of votes cast for her by drive-in patrons.” —BoxOffice, Sept. 19, 1953
“The name of the Family Drive-In, recently purchased by A. B. McCollum from Frank Stewart of Danville, has been changed to the Clinton Outdoor Theatre. McCollum also owns the Clintonia and Kaye theatres (in Clinton).” —BoxOffice, Sept. 19, 1953
“The Wehrenberg-Krueger theatre interests will construct a 1,000-car twin-screen drive-in at a cost of about $350,000, to be opened early in 1954. It will be located at Lemay and Ferry and Buckley road and named the South Drive-In.” —BoxOffice, Sept. 19, 1953
The Vandalia may have opened in late 1953 or 1954. The Aug. 15, 1953 issue of BoxOffice reported that National Theatre Supply sold “Simplex sound and projection, speakers and posts for the Vandalia Drive-In on Highway 54 about one mile west of Vandalia, Mo., to be owned and operated by Dr. D. A. Squires, osteopathis physician of Fulton, Mo. That drive-in is scheduled to open early in September.”
The July 18, 1953 issue of Box Office reported that an 800-car drive-in was being built by “Komm Theatres” in Granite City.
The Aug. 15 issue added that the St. Louis branch of National Theatre Supply “furnished equipment for the Bel-Air Drive-In on state Route 111 and U.S. 66 north of Granite City, Ill., to be owned and operated by the Komm theatre interests of St. Louis. Equipment for that drive-in includes Simplex X-L sound and projection, lights and generators, Simplex speakers and posts. This drive-in is scheduled for opening about September.”
The name change must have happened by 1953, based on this note from the Aug. 15, 1953 issue of BoxOffice: “Word comes from Eldon, Mo., that Mr. and Mrs. Bill Fitchpatrick have assumed their duties as managers of the Corral Drive-In and Ozark Theatre in the city for Tom Edwards. They are successors to Bill Smith, who resigned recently to take his family to California.”
“The El Capitan Drive-In at Metropolis re-opened July 11. Its screen tower was wrecked in a tornado on June 13. The new screen tower is of concrete block construction and designed to withstand a wind of 120 miles an hour.” —BoxOffice, Aug. 8, 1953
“RANTOUL, ILL. – Harry Fryer is manager of the new Rantoul Drive-In, 485-car situation opened last month by Kerasotes Theatres of Springfield.” —BoxOffice, Aug. 1, 1953
The Oct. 15, 1977 issue of the Chanute Tribune reported that the Neosho County Attorney’s Office had issued a warning to the owners of the Neocha against any further obscene material. It quoted Bob Buscher, one of the owners of B&B Booking and Buying Company of Iola, as saying he couldn’t determine what is or isn’t obscene.
Betty Croley, who managed the Neocha, said part of the problem was people parked along the highway to watch. She called the highway patrol but was told it couldn’t do anything unless the landowner across the highway filed a complaint.
The movies in question were reportedly Panorama Blue and All the Loving Couples, which Buscher said were rated R. IMDb shows Panorama Blue (1974) and All the Loving Couples (1969) with X ratings, though it’s possible that these were edited versions.
“Mr. and Mrs. John Vestal, formerly of Paris, Ill., have taken over management of the Skyway Drive-In at Hoopeston, purchasing it from Jack Butler of Danville, who opened the drive-in three years ago. Vestal formerly owned Twin Lakes Drive-In near Paris, but sold out to E. L. Staup of Delphos, Ohio, early in May.” — BoxOffice, July 11, 1953
“Mr. and Mrs. John Vestal, formerly of Paris, Ill., … formerly owned Twin Lakes Drive-In near Paris, but sold out to E. L. Staup of Delphos, Ohio, early in May.” — BoxOffice, July 11, 1953
On March 28, 1953, BoxOffice reported that Lloyd Spurgeon had purchased the Centralia Drive-In “for more than $100,000”. Spurgeon was vice-president of the Centralia Mutual Benefit Association. The sellers were “Elbert W. Butler of Hillsboro and Homer Butler of Centralia, who built the drive-in, which has a capacity of 540 cars and seats for 200 walk-ins.”
By the time of a 1962 aerial and a 1965 topo map, Spearman’s landing strip was immediately north of town. That same 1962 aerial places the drive-in past the southwest corner of Spearman, about a mile away and across the railroad tracks from that strip.
The only explanation that fits is that the Wagon Wheel used to provide its own shorter runways on land immediately north of the drive-in, and that they were gone by the 1962 photo.
The Dubuque IA Telegraph Herald published an article on June 21, 2019 that quoted Dennis Voy, owner of the nearby 61 Drive-In in Maquoketa IA since 1972. Voy said that what became the Super 20 “used to reside near the intersection of U.S. 20 and John F. Kennedy Road before later moving to a spot near U.S. 20 and North Cascade Road.”
A June 21, 2019 article in the Dubuque IA Telegraph Herald, reprinted in the San Francisco Chronicle, focused on the 61 and owner Dennis Voy, who bought the place in 1972.
“MOUNT VERNON, MO. – Ralph Roller has sold his interest in Roller’s Airway Drive-In here to his partner Elson Roller. The drive-in will be operated this summer by Elson and his wife.” — BoxOffice, Jan. 31, 1953
“JEFFERSON CITY – Articles of Incorporation have been granted by the (Missouri) secretary of state’s office to the Springfield Drive-In Corp., authorizing it to own, operate, manage and carry on a general theatre business and to issue up to 100 shares of $100 par value stock. Incorporators were listed as R. M. Shelton, F. L. Moore and R. P. Lyon. Shelton is vice-president and general manager of Commonwealth Theatres, and Moore is listed as secretary-treasurer of the circuit.” —BoxOffice, Jan. 10, 1953
“Kathryn DeLee, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Louis C. Odorizzi of Staunton, Ill., and Robert John McEnery were married December 27 (1952). Her father owns the Mount Olive Drive-In on Route No. 66.” —BoxOffice, Jan. 10, 1953
We now know that the Sunset definitely opened in 1951, thanks to the Internet Archive. In the May 30, 1951 issue of The Exhibitor, there’s this note: “The 400-car Mount Olive Drive-In, Mount Olive, Ill., will be opened by Louis Odorozzi, Staunton, Ill., will be handled by Co-operative Theatres of St. Louis.”
The June 5 issue tried to narrow that date. “In Mount Olive, Ill., the Mount Olive Drive-In will be opened about June 15 by its owner Louis Odorozzi, Staunton, Ill. The booking and buying for the drive-in will be handled by Co-operative Theatres.”
And in the July 11 issue, The Exhibitor said it finally happened, even though it got the name wrong. “In Mount Olive, Ill., after several postponements, the Starlite Drive-In finally opened. The drive-in, owned by Louis Odorizzi, Staunton, Ill., is under the management of Mr. and Mrs. William H. Fischer. Booking and buying is being handled by Co-operative Theatres, headed by Andy Dietz.”
One odd note shows this had been at least planned for years. The July 2, 1949 issue of Showmen’s Trade Review had a heading of New Theatres lumping together planned, under construction, and newly opened theaters. At the bottom, it included “Louis Odorizzi, hotel owner, a 400-car ozoner, a mile west of the city limits of Mount Olive, Ill.”
The Aug. 13, 1955 issue of Motion Picture Herald reported, “The Sunset drive-in, Mount Olive, Ill., located at the junction of Highways 66 and 138, has installed a new screen for the showing of CinemaScope, VistaVision and other wide screen pictures.”
Not sure where this May 16, 1956 note from Motion Picture Exhibitor fits. “The Frisina Amusement Company was reported to be preparing to build a drive-in near Hillsboro, Ill., on land it is said to have purchased from Louis Odorizzi, owner, Sunset Drive-In, Mount Olive, Ill.”
In 1951, it was owned by Joe Katz. The May 30, 1951 issue of The Exhibitor reported, “In Mount Olive, Ill., Mrs. Josie Lawson, 500-seat New Grand, sold the house to Joe Katz, Benld, Ill., who also operates the 450-seat Grand, Benld. Katz plans to operate the theatre during the summer months with shows on Sundays, Mondays, Fridays, and Saturdays in the evening.”
“COLUMBUS, KAS. – The Snack Bar of the Columbus Drive-In, operated by Art Pugh, was damaged by fire here early in the morning. Apparently the fire started in the popcorn machine, which was melted by the intense heat, and considerable damage was done to other equipment before the fire department arrived. The concession building was of fireproof construction so did not burn. A film delivery man discovered and reported the fire. Pugh was out of town at the time.” —BoxOffice, Nov. 7, 1953
“RANTOUL, ILL. – Bernard J. Baker is the new manager of the Twilite Drive-In, four miles north of town on Route 45.” —BoxOffice, Nov. 7, 1953
“Glenn Jones, owner-operator of the Gravois Mills Drive-In, has inaugurated a popularity contest among girls in the area. The winner will be determined by the number of votes cast for her by drive-in patrons.” —BoxOffice, Sept. 19, 1953
“The name of the Family Drive-In, recently purchased by A. B. McCollum from Frank Stewart of Danville, has been changed to the Clinton Outdoor Theatre. McCollum also owns the Clintonia and Kaye theatres (in Clinton).” —BoxOffice, Sept. 19, 1953
“The Wehrenberg-Krueger theatre interests will construct a 1,000-car twin-screen drive-in at a cost of about $350,000, to be opened early in 1954. It will be located at Lemay and Ferry and Buckley road and named the South Drive-In.” —BoxOffice, Sept. 19, 1953
That’s from the Sept. 5, 1953 issue of BoxOffice, which had a three-page spread on the Forest Hills.
“Exhibitors seen along (St. Louis) Filmrow included … A. Schwartz, Grande Drive-In, Sullivan, Mo.” —BoxOffice, Aug. 29, 1953
The Vandalia may have opened in late 1953 or 1954. The Aug. 15, 1953 issue of BoxOffice reported that National Theatre Supply sold “Simplex sound and projection, speakers and posts for the Vandalia Drive-In on Highway 54 about one mile west of Vandalia, Mo., to be owned and operated by Dr. D. A. Squires, osteopathis physician of Fulton, Mo. That drive-in is scheduled to open early in September.”
The July 18, 1953 issue of Box Office reported that an 800-car drive-in was being built by “Komm Theatres” in Granite City.
The Aug. 15 issue added that the St. Louis branch of National Theatre Supply “furnished equipment for the Bel-Air Drive-In on state Route 111 and U.S. 66 north of Granite City, Ill., to be owned and operated by the Komm theatre interests of St. Louis. Equipment for that drive-in includes Simplex X-L sound and projection, lights and generators, Simplex speakers and posts. This drive-in is scheduled for opening about September.”
The name change must have happened by 1953, based on this note from the Aug. 15, 1953 issue of BoxOffice: “Word comes from Eldon, Mo., that Mr. and Mrs. Bill Fitchpatrick have assumed their duties as managers of the Corral Drive-In and Ozark Theatre in the city for Tom Edwards. They are successors to Bill Smith, who resigned recently to take his family to California.”
“The El Capitan Drive-In at Metropolis re-opened July 11. Its screen tower was wrecked in a tornado on June 13. The new screen tower is of concrete block construction and designed to withstand a wind of 120 miles an hour.” —BoxOffice, Aug. 8, 1953
“RANTOUL, ILL. – Harry Fryer is manager of the new Rantoul Drive-In, 485-car situation opened last month by Kerasotes Theatres of Springfield.” —BoxOffice, Aug. 1, 1953
The August 1, 1953 issue of BoxOffice reported that the Lake Estes, capacity 302 cars, had opened.
The Oct. 15, 1977 issue of the Chanute Tribune reported that the Neosho County Attorney’s Office had issued a warning to the owners of the Neocha against any further obscene material. It quoted Bob Buscher, one of the owners of B&B Booking and Buying Company of Iola, as saying he couldn’t determine what is or isn’t obscene.
Betty Croley, who managed the Neocha, said part of the problem was people parked along the highway to watch. She called the highway patrol but was told it couldn’t do anything unless the landowner across the highway filed a complaint.
The movies in question were reportedly Panorama Blue and All the Loving Couples, which Buscher said were rated R. IMDb shows Panorama Blue (1974) and All the Loving Couples (1969) with X ratings, though it’s possible that these were edited versions.
“Mr. and Mrs. John Vestal, formerly of Paris, Ill., have taken over management of the Skyway Drive-In at Hoopeston, purchasing it from Jack Butler of Danville, who opened the drive-in three years ago. Vestal formerly owned Twin Lakes Drive-In near Paris, but sold out to E. L. Staup of Delphos, Ohio, early in May.” — BoxOffice, July 11, 1953
“Mr. and Mrs. John Vestal, formerly of Paris, Ill., … formerly owned Twin Lakes Drive-In near Paris, but sold out to E. L. Staup of Delphos, Ohio, early in May.” — BoxOffice, July 11, 1953
On March 28, 1953, BoxOffice reported that Lloyd Spurgeon had purchased the Centralia Drive-In “for more than $100,000”. Spurgeon was vice-president of the Centralia Mutual Benefit Association. The sellers were “Elbert W. Butler of Hillsboro and Homer Butler of Centralia, who built the drive-in, which has a capacity of 540 cars and seats for 200 walk-ins.”
By the time of a 1962 aerial and a 1965 topo map, Spearman’s landing strip was immediately north of town. That same 1962 aerial places the drive-in past the southwest corner of Spearman, about a mile away and across the railroad tracks from that strip.
The only explanation that fits is that the Wagon Wheel used to provide its own shorter runways on land immediately north of the drive-in, and that they were gone by the 1962 photo.
The Dubuque IA Telegraph Herald published an article on June 21, 2019 that quoted Dennis Voy, owner of the nearby 61 Drive-In in Maquoketa IA since 1972. Voy said that what became the Super 20 “used to reside near the intersection of U.S. 20 and John F. Kennedy Road before later moving to a spot near U.S. 20 and North Cascade Road.”
A June 21, 2019 article in the Dubuque IA Telegraph Herald, reprinted in the San Francisco Chronicle, focused on the 61 and owner Dennis Voy, who bought the place in 1972.
“MOUNT VERNON, MO. – Ralph Roller has sold his interest in Roller’s Airway Drive-In here to his partner Elson Roller. The drive-in will be operated this summer by Elson and his wife.” — BoxOffice, Jan. 31, 1953
“JEFFERSON CITY – Articles of Incorporation have been granted by the (Missouri) secretary of state’s office to the Springfield Drive-In Corp., authorizing it to own, operate, manage and carry on a general theatre business and to issue up to 100 shares of $100 par value stock. Incorporators were listed as R. M. Shelton, F. L. Moore and R. P. Lyon. Shelton is vice-president and general manager of Commonwealth Theatres, and Moore is listed as secretary-treasurer of the circuit.” —BoxOffice, Jan. 10, 1953
“Kathryn DeLee, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Louis C. Odorizzi of Staunton, Ill., and Robert John McEnery were married December 27 (1952). Her father owns the Mount Olive Drive-In on Route No. 66.” —BoxOffice, Jan. 10, 1953
We now know that the Sunset definitely opened in 1951, thanks to the Internet Archive. In the May 30, 1951 issue of The Exhibitor, there’s this note: “The 400-car Mount Olive Drive-In, Mount Olive, Ill., will be opened by Louis Odorozzi, Staunton, Ill., will be handled by Co-operative Theatres of St. Louis.”
The June 5 issue tried to narrow that date. “In Mount Olive, Ill., the Mount Olive Drive-In will be opened about June 15 by its owner Louis Odorozzi, Staunton, Ill. The booking and buying for the drive-in will be handled by Co-operative Theatres.”
And in the July 11 issue, The Exhibitor said it finally happened, even though it got the name wrong. “In Mount Olive, Ill., after several postponements, the Starlite Drive-In finally opened. The drive-in, owned by Louis Odorizzi, Staunton, Ill., is under the management of Mr. and Mrs. William H. Fischer. Booking and buying is being handled by Co-operative Theatres, headed by Andy Dietz.”
One odd note shows this had been at least planned for years. The July 2, 1949 issue of Showmen’s Trade Review had a heading of New Theatres lumping together planned, under construction, and newly opened theaters. At the bottom, it included “Louis Odorizzi, hotel owner, a 400-car ozoner, a mile west of the city limits of Mount Olive, Ill.”
The Aug. 13, 1955 issue of Motion Picture Herald reported, “The Sunset drive-in, Mount Olive, Ill., located at the junction of Highways 66 and 138, has installed a new screen for the showing of CinemaScope, VistaVision and other wide screen pictures.”
Not sure where this May 16, 1956 note from Motion Picture Exhibitor fits. “The Frisina Amusement Company was reported to be preparing to build a drive-in near Hillsboro, Ill., on land it is said to have purchased from Louis Odorizzi, owner, Sunset Drive-In, Mount Olive, Ill.”
In 1951, it was owned by Joe Katz. The May 30, 1951 issue of The Exhibitor reported, “In Mount Olive, Ill., Mrs. Josie Lawson, 500-seat New Grand, sold the house to Joe Katz, Benld, Ill., who also operates the 450-seat Grand, Benld. Katz plans to operate the theatre during the summer months with shows on Sundays, Mondays, Fridays, and Saturdays in the evening.”