YUMA, ARIZ. – Bill Wickersham has disposed of his 700-car Mesa Drive-In here to Bernie Leavitt, California exhibitor who operates conventional indoor theatres in Santa Monica and La Jolla.
The June 17, 1950 issue of BoxOffice reported, “The Four Lane Drive-In, a 444-car situation, built by John Whipple of Muleshoe, Tex., and Myron Finkelstein of Kansas City, Mo.,” had opened during “the May-June period”.
The June 10, 1950 issue of BoxOffice reported, “The Bloomer Amusement Co. has installed an elaborate illuminated sign at the Skyview Drive-In. The sign features a fire-spitting neon rocketship roaring into space. The ship measures 35 feet high and 34 feet wide.” I think they meant that the sign, not the rocket ship, was that big.
The June 10, 1950 issue of BoxOffice included the “Brewer, Paul’s Valley, 450 cars, owned by L. D. Brewer” in a list of drive-ins scheduled to open later that month.
The June 10, 1950 issue of BoxOffice included the Tower “250 cars, owned by Ray Hughes, O. K. and W. O. Kemp” in a list of drive-ins scheduled to open later that month.
The June 10, 1950 issue of BoxOffice included the “Fifth Street Moviette, Duncan, 250 cars, owned by Jack Guest”, in its list of drive-ins scheduled to open later that month.
The June 10, 1950 issue of BoxOffice included the Terrytime, “owned by D. V. and Ben Terry”, in its list of newly built drive-ins that opened in May 1950.
The June 10, 1950 issue of BoxOffice included the Comet, “300 cars, owned by John Blakeman and Jim Rochelle”, in its list of newly built drive-ins that opened in May 1950. It also included Sulphur’s Starlite in that list.
The June 10, 1950 issue of BoxOffice included the Starlite, “owned by Waite Kerr and Mrs. Izaah Adams”, in its list of newly built drive-ins that opened in May 1950. It also included the Comet in that list.
The June 10, 1950 issue of BoxOffice reported that Video Independent Theatres was about to begin building “an unnamed drive-in, accommodating 300 cars, in Holdenville.”
The June 10, 1950 issue of BoxOffice reported that the Stovall, “an 800-seater at Sayre, jointly owned by (Video Independent Theatres) and George Stovall”, was scheduled to open later that month.
The June 10, 1950 issue of BoxOffice reported that the “Lake-Air, owned by R. E. and C. B. McFarland, a 600-car situation at Oklahoma City,” opened in April.
A fire at the Trail Drive-In Theater, 7500 E. Amarillo Blvd., early this morning caused an estimated $4,500 damage, including heavy damage to the movie screen.
The blaze was reported to Amarillo firemen at 3:19 a.m. The first report came from a passing motorist and the second call was made by an employe of an all-night service station across the street from the drive-in.
La Roy Doyal of 1313 Avondale, manager of the theater, said the exact cause of the blaze has not been determined, but it is believed to have resulted from faulty electrical wiring.
Doyal said the theater would not be able to reopen until repairs could be made to the electrical circuits and the movie screen rebuilt.
SHAMROCK – (Special) – Seibert Worley, manager of the Liberty and Texas theatres, has been in Dallas and Oklahoma City recently conferring with architects and equipment people about Shamrock’s new drive-in theatre.
Contracts on equipment are to be let soon in order that the spring completion date agreement of contractors can be met. Worley said the drive-in would be completed in 60 days after construction begins.
The April 23, 1962 issue of BoxOffice reported, “J. S. Worley, who operates theatres in Shamrock, Tex., is expanding in the cable television field. He has a cable system in Shamrock and is constructing others in Beaver, Okla., and Dalhart and Clarendon, Tex. He closed the Texas Theatre in Shamrock, except for weekends, when he reopened his Pioneer Drive-In for the season, since there’s not enough midweek business for both. Despite his theatre and cable TV activities, Worley consented to have his name appear on the ticket for the recent mayoralty election on a write-in basis, although he was not a formal candidate. He has been twice mayor. In the April 3 voting, he barely missed being elected again.”
If that’s true, it was one of the few times in his adult life that Worley was not mayor of Shamrock. I’ve found references to Mayor Worley in 1956, 1958, 1966, 1972, 1975 (see below), and 1982. That last one was a UPI story that mentioned that Worley had “served as mayor six different times since 1956”.
A legal filing in 1982 wrote that, “The appellant had elicited from George Hooten, the chief of police of Shamrock, that during March, 1975, the mayor of Shamrock, Siebert Worley, had ordered Hooten to obtain the appellant’s ‘rap sheet.’”
BIG SPRING, TEX. – A spectacular fire destroyed the 100-foot high screen of the Jet Drive-In on a recent Wednesday night. Police escorted about ten cars to safety before the intense heat drove spectators a block from the drive-in.
The fire broke out about 11 p.m. at the theatre, which is on the south edge of town. Manager Ike Robb said the feature had ended only a few minutes earlier. He estimated the loss at $30,000.
Probably between the opening of the Star and the building of the Movie Manor is this note from the April 23, 1962 issue of BoxOffice: “George Kelloff has completed construction of his new home which was erected on the grounds of the Star Drive-In, Monte Vista.”
The April 23, 1962 issue of BoxOffice reported, “The screen tower at the Holiday Drive-In, Boulder, was blown down and completely demolished in a 60-mile-an-hour wind.”
A lengthy article in the April 23, 1962 issue of BoxOffice talked about the reopening of the Highland on April 18, 1962. It sure sounded like that was the date of the grand unveiling of the new 150-foot-wide curved screens.
KTVI ran a news video recently promoting the SkyView’s 70th Anniversary with its current owner, Steve Bloomer. It showed off the framed photos in the concession stand, and also had a framed full-page Grand Opening ad. From the date on the top of that newspaper, the SkyView opened on Friday, July 8, 1949.
The May 20, 1950 issue of BoxOffice reported that “the Crest, a 300-car situation, was opened at Hobart May 10” by Video Theatres.
BoxOffice added a few more details on June 3. “Tom Kirkham is local manager for the (Video) circuit. The drive-in has a capacity of 400 cars, a snack bar and asphalt drive surfaces.”
The drive-in probably opened in late May 1950, given the note in the June 3, 1950 issue of BoxOffice:
NEWTON, KAS. – The West-Vue, first drive-in in this area, has been opened by Lee J. Sproule and his partner Roy Roberson, who also manages the West-Vue along with the Rex Theatre. The 350-car theatre is equipped with RCA projection and sound.
The June 17, 1950 issue of BoxOffice reported:
YUMA, ARIZ. – Bill Wickersham has disposed of his 700-car Mesa Drive-In here to Bernie Leavitt, California exhibitor who operates conventional indoor theatres in Santa Monica and La Jolla.
The June 17, 1950 issue of BoxOffice reported, “The Four Lane Drive-In, a 444-car situation, built by John Whipple of Muleshoe, Tex., and Myron Finkelstein of Kansas City, Mo.,” had opened during “the May-June period”.
The June 10, 1950 issue of BoxOffice reported, “The Bloomer Amusement Co. has installed an elaborate illuminated sign at the Skyview Drive-In. The sign features a fire-spitting neon rocketship roaring into space. The ship measures 35 feet high and 34 feet wide.” I think they meant that the sign, not the rocket ship, was that big.
The June 10, 1950 issue of BoxOffice included the “Brewer, Paul’s Valley, 450 cars, owned by L. D. Brewer” in a list of drive-ins scheduled to open later that month.
The June 10, 1950 issue of BoxOffice included the Tower “250 cars, owned by Ray Hughes, O. K. and W. O. Kemp” in a list of drive-ins scheduled to open later that month.
The June 10, 1950 issue of BoxOffice included the “Fifth Street Moviette, Duncan, 250 cars, owned by Jack Guest”, in its list of drive-ins scheduled to open later that month.
The June 10, 1950 issue of BoxOffice included the Terrytime, “owned by D. V. and Ben Terry”, in its list of newly built drive-ins that opened in May 1950.
The June 10, 1950 issue of BoxOffice included the Comet, “300 cars, owned by John Blakeman and Jim Rochelle”, in its list of newly built drive-ins that opened in May 1950. It also included Sulphur’s Starlite in that list.
The June 10, 1950 issue of BoxOffice included the Starlite, “owned by Waite Kerr and Mrs. Izaah Adams”, in its list of newly built drive-ins that opened in May 1950. It also included the Comet in that list.
The June 10, 1950 issue of BoxOffice said that the Sand Springs, owned by Line Amusement Co., had opened in May.
The June 10, 1950 issue of BoxOffice reported that Video Independent Theatres was about to begin building “an unnamed drive-in, accommodating 300 cars, in Holdenville.”
The June 10, 1950 issue of BoxOffice reported that the Stovall, “an 800-seater at Sayre, jointly owned by (Video Independent Theatres) and George Stovall”, was scheduled to open later that month.
The June 10, 1950 issue of BoxOffice reported that “the Sunset, a 500-car situation at Frederick,” was scheduled to open later that month.
The June 10, 1950 issue of BoxOffice noted that, “The Westland Theatre, an 800-seater, was opened at Elk City” in May.
The June 10, 1950 issue of BoxOffice reported that the “Lake-Air, owned by R. E. and C. B. McFarland, a 600-car situation at Oklahoma City,” opened in April.
From the June 1, 1966 Amarillo Globe-Times:
A fire at the Trail Drive-In Theater, 7500 E. Amarillo Blvd., early this morning caused an estimated $4,500 damage, including heavy damage to the movie screen.
The blaze was reported to Amarillo firemen at 3:19 a.m. The first report came from a passing motorist and the second call was made by an employe of an all-night service station across the street from the drive-in.
La Roy Doyal of 1313 Avondale, manager of the theater, said the exact cause of the blaze has not been determined, but it is believed to have resulted from faulty electrical wiring.
Doyal said the theater would not be able to reopen until repairs could be made to the electrical circuits and the movie screen rebuilt.
From the Jan. 25, 1950 Pampa (TX) Daily News:
SHAMROCK – (Special) – Seibert Worley, manager of the Liberty and Texas theatres, has been in Dallas and Oklahoma City recently conferring with architects and equipment people about Shamrock’s new drive-in theatre.
Contracts on equipment are to be let soon in order that the spring completion date agreement of contractors can be met. Worley said the drive-in would be completed in 60 days after construction begins.
Three sites are under consideration.
The April 23, 1962 issue of BoxOffice reported, “J. S. Worley, who operates theatres in Shamrock, Tex., is expanding in the cable television field. He has a cable system in Shamrock and is constructing others in Beaver, Okla., and Dalhart and Clarendon, Tex. He closed the Texas Theatre in Shamrock, except for weekends, when he reopened his Pioneer Drive-In for the season, since there’s not enough midweek business for both. Despite his theatre and cable TV activities, Worley consented to have his name appear on the ticket for the recent mayoralty election on a write-in basis, although he was not a formal candidate. He has been twice mayor. In the April 3 voting, he barely missed being elected again.”
If that’s true, it was one of the few times in his adult life that Worley was not mayor of Shamrock. I’ve found references to Mayor Worley in 1956, 1958, 1966, 1972, 1975 (see below), and 1982. That last one was a UPI story that mentioned that Worley had “served as mayor six different times since 1956”.
A legal filing in 1982 wrote that, “The appellant had elicited from George Hooten, the chief of police of Shamrock, that during March, 1975, the mayor of Shamrock, Siebert Worley, had ordered Hooten to obtain the appellant’s ‘rap sheet.’”
From the April 23, 1962 issue of BoxOffice:
BIG SPRING, TEX. – A spectacular fire destroyed the 100-foot high screen of the Jet Drive-In on a recent Wednesday night. Police escorted about ten cars to safety before the intense heat drove spectators a block from the drive-in.
The fire broke out about 11 p.m. at the theatre, which is on the south edge of town. Manager Ike Robb said the feature had ended only a few minutes earlier. He estimated the loss at $30,000.
Probably between the opening of the Star and the building of the Movie Manor is this note from the April 23, 1962 issue of BoxOffice: “George Kelloff has completed construction of his new home which was erected on the grounds of the Star Drive-In, Monte Vista.”
The April 23, 1962 issue of BoxOffice reported, “The screen tower at the Holiday Drive-In, Boulder, was blown down and completely demolished in a 60-mile-an-hour wind.”
A lengthy article in the April 23, 1962 issue of BoxOffice talked about the reopening of the Highland on April 18, 1962. It sure sounded like that was the date of the grand unveiling of the new 150-foot-wide curved screens.
KTVI ran a news video recently promoting the SkyView’s 70th Anniversary with its current owner, Steve Bloomer. It showed off the framed photos in the concession stand, and also had a framed full-page Grand Opening ad. From the date on the top of that newspaper, the SkyView opened on Friday, July 8, 1949.
The May 20, 1950 issue of BoxOffice reported that “the Crest, a 300-car situation, was opened at Hobart May 10” by Video Theatres.
BoxOffice added a few more details on June 3. “Tom Kirkham is local manager for the (Video) circuit. The drive-in has a capacity of 400 cars, a snack bar and asphalt drive surfaces.”
The drive-in probably opened in late May 1950, given the note in the June 3, 1950 issue of BoxOffice:
NEWTON, KAS. – The West-Vue, first drive-in in this area, has been opened by Lee J. Sproule and his partner Roy Roberson, who also manages the West-Vue along with the Rex Theatre. The 350-car theatre is equipped with RCA projection and sound.