The 1955-56 Theatre Catalog included the Norwood, owner F. H. Buss, capacity 62.
The drive-in debuted in the Motion Picture Almanac list as the T. A. Buss Drive-In in the 1953-54 edition, capacity 65. That changed to the Norwood in the 1956 edition, but the capacity and owner never changed until the drive-in dropped off the list in 1977. A 1983 topo map still included the Norwood.
In the 1952 aerial of the site, a smaller possible screen is pointing to a clamshell field in the same direction as the obvious screen in the 1963 & 1965 aerials. My guess would be that a Buss expanded the Norwood a little as early as the 1956 name change but the MPA didn’t notice.
A lengthy June 15, 2013 article in the Chaffee County Times indicated that the original owner’s son, also named John Groy, would continue operating the Comanche using the original projection equipment.
The drive-in was on the east side of town on US 6. Nothing remains today; it’s a farm equipment yard across the highway from High Plains Cattle Supply, which has the address of 29576 US-6.
In the Motion Picture Almanac, the Brush debuted in the 1952-53 edition, capacity 300, owner Jack Bauer. In 1955-59, the MPA recognized John Roberts as owner. In the 1960-61 editions, the owner changed to W. M. Ashton, and then it was gone.
The 1952-56 Theatre Catalogs also have the Brush, capacity 350, owner John C. Roberts.
More details of the opener were in the July 22, 1950 issue of BoxOffice:
CLAREMORE, OKLA. – With a large neon portrait of Will Rogers adorning the front, the new drive-in named for the famous Oklahoma humorist here recently was opened. Calvin Council is manager of the open-air theatre. A 50-foot screen tower supports a 29x39-foot screen. A building in the center of the parking area houses the projection booth and a concession stand. A playground for children is one of the features of the new drive-in.
The Hi Way 63 last appeared in the Motion Picture Almanac drive-in list in 1982.
Here are details of its opening from a note in the July 22, 1950 issue of BoxOffice:
MOBERLY, MO. – The new 300-car Highway 63 Drive-In erected by Elmer Bills on a 10-acre tract near the Omar Bradley airport north of here recently was opened. Bills is operator of the Lyric Theatre in Salisbury, Mo., where he lives, and eight other houses in Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. The new drive-in is the first to be opened near here. …
Surrounded by an aluminum fence, the new open-air theatre has such features as a playground for children and a modernistic snack bar. The projection booth is situation in a portion of the building housing the concession stand. Equipment installed in the booth includes Century projection and sound, Strong lamps and RCA in-car speakers. The parking area is covered with crushed rock.
A few more details emerged a month later in the July 22, 1950 issue of BoxOffice:
PANORA, IOWA – Dorothy Kean and Mrs. Margaret Gibson have opened the new Star-Vue Drive-In here with a car capacity of 250. The ozoner is equipped with Century sound purchased from the Des Moines Theatre Supply Co.
Willis Warner and Otis Hesket constructed the ozoner and concessions stand. The drive-in is equipped with a horseshoe pit for use in daylight hours.
I wonder whether this drive-in opened as the Sunset, which is listed in the 1950 & 1951 Film Daily Year Books as the only one in Socorro.
Or maybe it was the Star-Lite, based on this note in the July 22, 1950 issue of BoxOffice:
SOCORRO, N. M. – Fire believed to have been caused by static electricity caused damage estimated at $4,000 to the projection booth and equipment at the Star-Lite Drive-In near here recently. A show was in progress when the blaze started, and about 30 cars parked on various ramps were hurriedly driven out of the open-air theater. Paul Padilla, projectionist, suffered burns on his head and body when he attempted to put out the fire. He was taken to a hospital in Albuquerque for treatment. The drive-in is owned and operated by Edsell Casavos.
Thirty seconds with Google Maps, and I learned that Newport faces Yaquina Bay. Something I did not know before.
Anyway, from the July 22, 1950 issue of BoxOffice, we start with an apparently old note:
“NEWPORT, ORE. – Fire of undetermined origin recently caused heavy damage at the new Yaquina Drive-In near here. The loss was estimated at approximately $20,000 by Bill McKevitt, manager. Rebuilding of the open-air theatre was started immediately, and reopening is expected to be possible before July 1.”
Followed by an update a few pages later in the same issue:
“NEWPORT, ORE. – The Yaquina Drive-In on Route 101 south of here, recently damaged by first, has been reopened following extensive building. New projection and sound equipment was installed. William McKivvits is manager of the house.”
The July 22, 1950 issue of BoxOffice reported, “Wade Loudermilk has opened the new Stanfield Theatre, a 300-seater, (in Stanfield). Loudermilk also operates the Buckeye in Buckeye.”
More details from the July 22, 1950 issue of BoxOffice: “The new Starlite Drive-In, erected on an eight-acre tract one mile north of (Hamilton) on Route 93 recently was opened by Dave B. Simon. The open-air theatre was designed by Simon, and constructed under his supervision. It accommodates 300 cars, and its conveniences include a snack bar. Simon served in the U.S. air corps during World War II.”
The July 22, 1950 issue of BoxOffice reported, “Grand opening of the Sunset Drive-In was held (in Havre) recently. Owned by Emil Don Tigny and Clarence Golder, the airer is located on Highway 2 and has a capacity of 300 cars. The screen is 50 by 37½ feet and is strong enough to resist winds over 100 miles per hours. Motiograph microphonic sound equipment has been installed at the airer.”
The July 22, 1950 issue of BoxOffice reported, “Mr. and Mrs. Fred Lind have opened their new Chief Drive-In at Rifle, Colo. It accommodates about 300 cars and cost around $40,000.”
Unless there was another tiny Branson drive-in that we haven’t discovered, the Shepherd of the Hills opened in the summer of 1950.
In its list of theater openings, the July 22, 1950 issue of BoxOffice included “Branson, Mo. – 150-car drive-in opened by Kenneth Tippet and J. W. Shinn.”
THAYER, ILL. – While the spring rains have delayed construction of the 300-car drive-in that W. E. Swift, owner of the Gaiety Theatre, Virden, Ill., is building on Route 4 north of here, Swift hopes to have the project ready for opening in the next week or so.
The July 15, 1950 issue had more of the same. “Opening of W. F. Smith’s (sic) new drive-in on Route 4 … has been delayed by frequent rains… The airer, to be known as the Route 4 Drive-In, will accommodate 300 cars.”
Looks like the renaming occurred in summer 1950. From the July 15, 1950 issue of BoxOffice: “Better films and improved theatre facilities are planned by the new operators of the Tokay Drive-In, formerly the Midway. Charlie Holtz and Ed Rowden have taken over the drive-in, which is now under the operation of the Sacramento Amusement & Development Co.”
Google Maps likes the address of 3118 MO-19, Salem MO.
From the July 8, 1950 issue of BoxOffice:
SALEM, MO. – Construction of a 300-car drive-in has been started at a site on Route 19 about two miles north of here by L. L. Pruitt and Paul Hamaker. Pruitt now operates the Legion Theatre in Steelville, Mo., and Hamaker is a retired farmer living near the tract on which the new open-air theater is being erected. The new drive-in is expected to be ready for opening about August 15.
Looks like the drive-in opened as the Pioneer. The July 8, 1950 issue of BoxOffice reported, “MERKEL, TEX. – N. T. Hodge has opened the Pioneer Drive-In a mile west of town. It has a prefabricated swing-up tower, the first of its kind in the state. It is a 300-car project, with individual car speakers. Hodge operates the Queen and Texas theatres here.”
The July 8, 1950 issue of BoxOffice noted that “Paul E. Anderson, 52, operator of the Beaver”, died after an eight-month illness. “Anderson had operated the Beaver for the last 15 years.”
Based on a front-page article in the following day’s Argus-Leader of Sioux Falls SD, the fire that destroyed the Roxy occurred on the morning of Sunday, Jan. 7, 2001.
It started in the concession area. “Most damage was contained to the oldest portion of the theater. A 1989 addition that includes three more movie screens was protected by fire doors”.
According to the article, Nelson Logan moved from Los Angeles to Mitchell and converted a garage to a theater in 1933. His son, Jeff Logan, owned the Roxy at the time of the fire. No one was hurt, but his extensive memorabilia collection was lost.
Plans were announced in the July 8, 1950 issue of BoxOffice: “The new 350-car drive-in the be constructed between Hemet and San Jacinto will be called the Hemacinto, according to J. W. Davis, who is constructing and will operate the ozoner. His booking and buying chores will be handled by Ish White.”
Grand opening note from the July 8, 1950 issue of BoxOffice: “The new West Drive-In erected near (Torrington) by Harry McDonald recently was opened. With a capacity of 300 cars, it has a new type of curved screen. Archie Speak is manager of the theatre.”
Grand opening note from the July 8, 1950 issue of BoxOffice: “The new 350-car Star-Vu Drive-In on the Estes road northwest of (Longmont) recently was opened. With a capacity of 350 cars, the new open air theatre is equipped with RCA projection and sound. Bob Jones is manager of the drive-in.”
I’m guessing that this grand opening note from the July 8, 1950 issue of BoxOffice is about the same drive-in.
CUT BANK, MONT. – The Ranch Auto Theatre on Route 2 between Cut Bank and Shelby recently was opened. Partners in the project are J. E. Kelly, W. G. Harkins and Jim Schollard.
The 1955-56 Theatre Catalog included the Norwood, owner F. H. Buss, capacity 62.
The drive-in debuted in the Motion Picture Almanac list as the T. A. Buss Drive-In in the 1953-54 edition, capacity 65. That changed to the Norwood in the 1956 edition, but the capacity and owner never changed until the drive-in dropped off the list in 1977. A 1983 topo map still included the Norwood.
In the 1952 aerial of the site, a smaller possible screen is pointing to a clamshell field in the same direction as the obvious screen in the 1963 & 1965 aerials. My guess would be that a Buss expanded the Norwood a little as early as the 1956 name change but the MPA didn’t notice.
A lengthy June 15, 2013 article in the Chaffee County Times indicated that the original owner’s son, also named John Groy, would continue operating the Comanche using the original projection equipment.
The drive-in was on the east side of town on US 6. Nothing remains today; it’s a farm equipment yard across the highway from High Plains Cattle Supply, which has the address of 29576 US-6.
In the Motion Picture Almanac, the Brush debuted in the 1952-53 edition, capacity 300, owner Jack Bauer. In 1955-59, the MPA recognized John Roberts as owner. In the 1960-61 editions, the owner changed to W. M. Ashton, and then it was gone.
The 1952-56 Theatre Catalogs also have the Brush, capacity 350, owner John C. Roberts.
More details of the opener were in the July 22, 1950 issue of BoxOffice:
CLAREMORE, OKLA. – With a large neon portrait of Will Rogers adorning the front, the new drive-in named for the famous Oklahoma humorist here recently was opened. Calvin Council is manager of the open-air theatre. A 50-foot screen tower supports a 29x39-foot screen. A building in the center of the parking area houses the projection booth and a concession stand. A playground for children is one of the features of the new drive-in.
The Hi Way 63 last appeared in the Motion Picture Almanac drive-in list in 1982.
Here are details of its opening from a note in the July 22, 1950 issue of BoxOffice:
MOBERLY, MO. – The new 300-car Highway 63 Drive-In erected by Elmer Bills on a 10-acre tract near the Omar Bradley airport north of here recently was opened. Bills is operator of the Lyric Theatre in Salisbury, Mo., where he lives, and eight other houses in Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. The new drive-in is the first to be opened near here. …
Surrounded by an aluminum fence, the new open-air theatre has such features as a playground for children and a modernistic snack bar. The projection booth is situation in a portion of the building housing the concession stand. Equipment installed in the booth includes Century projection and sound, Strong lamps and RCA in-car speakers. The parking area is covered with crushed rock.
A note in the July 22, 1950 issue of BoxOffice said that the White River would open on Thursday, July 27, 1950. It was run by Commonwealth.
A note in the July 22, 1950 issue of BoxOffice said that the Sunset opened on Friday, July 21, 1950. It was run by Commonwealth.
A few more details emerged a month later in the July 22, 1950 issue of BoxOffice:
PANORA, IOWA – Dorothy Kean and Mrs. Margaret Gibson have opened the new Star-Vue Drive-In here with a car capacity of 250. The ozoner is equipped with Century sound purchased from the Des Moines Theatre Supply Co.
Willis Warner and Otis Hesket constructed the ozoner and concessions stand. The drive-in is equipped with a horseshoe pit for use in daylight hours.
I wonder whether this drive-in opened as the Sunset, which is listed in the 1950 & 1951 Film Daily Year Books as the only one in Socorro.
Or maybe it was the Star-Lite, based on this note in the July 22, 1950 issue of BoxOffice:
SOCORRO, N. M. – Fire believed to have been caused by static electricity caused damage estimated at $4,000 to the projection booth and equipment at the Star-Lite Drive-In near here recently. A show was in progress when the blaze started, and about 30 cars parked on various ramps were hurriedly driven out of the open-air theater. Paul Padilla, projectionist, suffered burns on his head and body when he attempted to put out the fire. He was taken to a hospital in Albuquerque for treatment. The drive-in is owned and operated by Edsell Casavos.
Thirty seconds with Google Maps, and I learned that Newport faces Yaquina Bay. Something I did not know before.
Anyway, from the July 22, 1950 issue of BoxOffice, we start with an apparently old note:
“NEWPORT, ORE. – Fire of undetermined origin recently caused heavy damage at the new Yaquina Drive-In near here. The loss was estimated at approximately $20,000 by Bill McKevitt, manager. Rebuilding of the open-air theatre was started immediately, and reopening is expected to be possible before July 1.”
Followed by an update a few pages later in the same issue:
“NEWPORT, ORE. – The Yaquina Drive-In on Route 101 south of here, recently damaged by first, has been reopened following extensive building. New projection and sound equipment was installed. William McKivvits is manager of the house.”
The July 22, 1950 issue of BoxOffice reported, “Wade Loudermilk has opened the new Stanfield Theatre, a 300-seater, (in Stanfield). Loudermilk also operates the Buckeye in Buckeye.”
More details from the July 22, 1950 issue of BoxOffice: “The new Starlite Drive-In, erected on an eight-acre tract one mile north of (Hamilton) on Route 93 recently was opened by Dave B. Simon. The open-air theatre was designed by Simon, and constructed under his supervision. It accommodates 300 cars, and its conveniences include a snack bar. Simon served in the U.S. air corps during World War II.”
The July 22, 1950 issue of BoxOffice reported, “Grand opening of the Sunset Drive-In was held (in Havre) recently. Owned by Emil Don Tigny and Clarence Golder, the airer is located on Highway 2 and has a capacity of 300 cars. The screen is 50 by 37½ feet and is strong enough to resist winds over 100 miles per hours. Motiograph microphonic sound equipment has been installed at the airer.”
The July 22, 1950 issue of BoxOffice reported, “Mr. and Mrs. Fred Lind have opened their new Chief Drive-In at Rifle, Colo. It accommodates about 300 cars and cost around $40,000.”
Unless there was another tiny Branson drive-in that we haven’t discovered, the Shepherd of the Hills opened in the summer of 1950. In its list of theater openings, the July 22, 1950 issue of BoxOffice included “Branson, Mo. – 150-car drive-in opened by Kenneth Tippet and J. W. Shinn.”
From the June 10, 1950 issue of BoxOffice:
THAYER, ILL. – While the spring rains have delayed construction of the 300-car drive-in that W. E. Swift, owner of the Gaiety Theatre, Virden, Ill., is building on Route 4 north of here, Swift hopes to have the project ready for opening in the next week or so.
The July 15, 1950 issue had more of the same. “Opening of W. F. Smith’s (sic) new drive-in on Route 4 … has been delayed by frequent rains… The airer, to be known as the Route 4 Drive-In, will accommodate 300 cars.”
Looks like the renaming occurred in summer 1950. From the July 15, 1950 issue of BoxOffice: “Better films and improved theatre facilities are planned by the new operators of the Tokay Drive-In, formerly the Midway. Charlie Holtz and Ed Rowden have taken over the drive-in, which is now under the operation of the Sacramento Amusement & Development Co.”
Google Maps likes the address of 3118 MO-19, Salem MO.
From the July 8, 1950 issue of BoxOffice:
SALEM, MO. – Construction of a 300-car drive-in has been started at a site on Route 19 about two miles north of here by L. L. Pruitt and Paul Hamaker. Pruitt now operates the Legion Theatre in Steelville, Mo., and Hamaker is a retired farmer living near the tract on which the new open-air theater is being erected. The new drive-in is expected to be ready for opening about August 15.
Looks like the drive-in opened as the Pioneer. The July 8, 1950 issue of BoxOffice reported, “MERKEL, TEX. – N. T. Hodge has opened the Pioneer Drive-In a mile west of town. It has a prefabricated swing-up tower, the first of its kind in the state. It is a 300-car project, with individual car speakers. Hodge operates the Queen and Texas theatres here.”
The July 8, 1950 issue of BoxOffice noted that “Paul E. Anderson, 52, operator of the Beaver”, died after an eight-month illness. “Anderson had operated the Beaver for the last 15 years.”
Based on a front-page article in the following day’s Argus-Leader of Sioux Falls SD, the fire that destroyed the Roxy occurred on the morning of Sunday, Jan. 7, 2001.
It started in the concession area. “Most damage was contained to the oldest portion of the theater. A 1989 addition that includes three more movie screens was protected by fire doors”.
According to the article, Nelson Logan moved from Los Angeles to Mitchell and converted a garage to a theater in 1933. His son, Jeff Logan, owned the Roxy at the time of the fire. No one was hurt, but his extensive memorabilia collection was lost.
Plans were announced in the July 8, 1950 issue of BoxOffice: “The new 350-car drive-in the be constructed between Hemet and San Jacinto will be called the Hemacinto, according to J. W. Davis, who is constructing and will operate the ozoner. His booking and buying chores will be handled by Ish White.”
Grand opening note from the July 8, 1950 issue of BoxOffice: “The new West Drive-In erected near (Torrington) by Harry McDonald recently was opened. With a capacity of 300 cars, it has a new type of curved screen. Archie Speak is manager of the theatre.”
Grand opening note from the July 8, 1950 issue of BoxOffice: “The new 350-car Star-Vu Drive-In on the Estes road northwest of (Longmont) recently was opened. With a capacity of 350 cars, the new open air theatre is equipped with RCA projection and sound. Bob Jones is manager of the drive-in.”
I’m guessing that this grand opening note from the July 8, 1950 issue of BoxOffice is about the same drive-in.
CUT BANK, MONT. – The Ranch Auto Theatre on Route 2 between Cut Bank and Shelby recently was opened. Partners in the project are J. E. Kelly, W. G. Harkins and Jim Schollard.