The March 24, 1956 Motion Picture Herald wrote in the Chicago section, “The Bel-Air, which made its debut as the only outdoor theatre with walk-in seats, plans to show only ‘the finest attractions’ each week, plus cartoons for children. Bottle warmers are provided for babies. Children under 12 are admitted free at all times, and youngsters have free playgrounds. There will be concentrated promotion for family attendance.”
From the March 17, 1956 Motion Picture Herald: “Louis Petry and Robt. Perry have leased the Mitchell drive-in, Mitchell, Neb., and the Oskosh (sic) drive-in, Oskosh, Neb., from Merle Nygren.”
A quick check of Google Maps shows that the drive-in was on Wisconsin state highway 44.
From the March 17, 1956 Motion Picture Herald: “Louis Petry and Robt. Perry have leased the Mitchell drive-in, Mitchell, Neb., and the Oskosh (sic) drive-in, Oskosh, Neb., from Merle Nygren.”
From the March 17, 1956 Motion Picture Herald: “Atlas Theatres have taken over the lease on the Groy drive-in, Salida, Colo., from Ted Knox. Atlas owns the conventional Salida in town.”
The 1952 Theatre Catalog listed only the Groy in Salida, capacity 350, owned by “Groy Bros., Saguache.” The 1955-56 edition listed the Knox in Salida, capacity 350, owned by T. R. Knox.
Motion Picture Almanac drive-in listings under Salida:
1950-52: Groy, capacity 350, owner B. F. & L. R. Groy
1952-54: Grey, 350, B. F. & L. R. Grey
1955-65: Knox, 350, Knox Theatre, Inc.
1966: off the list
While the MPA drive-in list was on cruise control, the MPA circuit list showed that Atlas Theatre Corp. of Denver included the Groy Drive-In among its holdings from 1957 through 1966. It makes me wonder whether this drive-in was ever really named the Knox or whether it was always the Groy.
Apparently the Beach took a break for a while. From the Feb. 18, 1956 Motion Picture Herald:
LAKE GEORGE, N.Y.: The Beach Drive-in here, closed for the past three years, will reopen in May, it is announced by Joseph Mirasola, who operates the Warren, a conventional closed theatre, in Warrensburg.
The Dec. 10, 1955 Motion Picture Herald ran an article commemorating Ralph Winship’s 50 years in the theater business. In the middle was this sentence: “In 1952, with his son-in-law, D. T. ‘Bud’ Brown, … Ralph built a 300-car drive-in, in Phillipsburg, and also affiliated with other theatres in Colby and Stockton, Kansas and drive-ins in Longmont, Colorado, and McCook, Nebraska.”
The All-Star drive-in theatre, located about a mile east of Holcomb, Mo., now is equipped for both air conditioning and heating, the installations recently having been completed.
C. K. Cargile, manager-owner with the Harry L. Nace circuit, has re-opened the Sands drive-in near Mesa, Ariz., complete with a new tower. Two months ago, shortly after the drive-in opened for the first time, a freak desert wind storm flattened the screen structure.
“Because of a petition asking that he be enabled to collect $40,000 put into the theatre, Max Weinstein caused the closing of the Wadsworth drive-in. A hearing was set for this week and the theatre will be sold at public auction Aug. 29. Built in 1954, the theatre is said to have cost $348,000.”
I’m not sure how this should fit in with CinemaTreasures' style. If the same people with the same stuff set up shop at a nearby location, is that one or two drive-ins? Anyway, the July 30, 1955 Motion Picture Herald wrote:
“Olin and Louis Evans have a drive-in under construction on Highway 31, two miles from Evergreen, Ala., on the Brewton road. They have christened it the Fairview. The drive-in will replace the Moonlite which was badly damaged by a severe windstorm recently. The screen tower and the attraction board were completely destroyed.”
The Moonlite was in the 1953-57 editions of the Motion Picture Almanac, capacity 200, owner Olin Evans. The Fairview was listed in the MPA’s 1958-59 editions, same capacity and owner. There was nothing under Evergreen in 1960.
A note in the July 30, 1955 Motion Picture Almanac suggests this drive-in opened that month. “Capshaw’s ‘Home of the Stars,’ a new drive-in theatre has just been opened at Chaffee, Mo., The layout includes a snack bar, carside service and a playground for the youngsters.”
An assistant manager, James Barnhart, was shot and killed by three soldiers from Fort Leonard Wood in an attempted robbery on July 20, 1960. The following February, the trigger man was sentenced to life in prison.
There were occasional fly-in drive-in theaters, but the Woodlane is the only one I know to get its power knocked out by a plane crash.
The April 2, 1966 issue of the Springfield (MO) Daily News reported that a single-engine Stinson 106 was flying too low over US 66. It clipped distribution lines but kept going for several miles “with a power line trailing from its tail.” After breaking more power lines, including the one leading to the Woodlane, the plane crashed into two cars near the Fort Leonard Wood main gate and was destroyed by fire. Only minor injuries were reported, but the pilot was charged with “flying an airplane too low while consuming intoxicating beverages”.
The 1955-56 Theatre Catalog listed the Lakeside with a capacity of 200, owner Milan G. Steele. He was still listed as owner when the Lakeside finally debuted in the Motion Picture Almanac’s 1966 edition.
Steele wrote a scathing review of Hansel & Gretel (1954) on behalf of the Lakeside in the July 16, 1955 Motion Picture Herald. He wrote, “You would be better off not to play it, since a picture like this stops them from coming for a long time, and some may never come back after seeing such a thing.”
When the MPA resumed including owner info in 1977, it listed P. McCray. That continued through 1982. In 1983, the Lakeside fell off the MPA list.
Update: Now I’m pretty sure it’s the Trail Drive-In of Athens TX. The dates line up better, but most important, the screen tower and lettering are a perfect match for a 2011 photo uploaded by another CT contributor.
Looks like the 19 opened in June 1955. From the June 25, 1955 Motion Picture Herald: “The new 19 drive-in theatre on Highway 19, just north of Cuba, Mo., held its grand opening the other day with a large turnout of people. The drive-in will accommodate 200 automobiles and has a refreshment stand.”
The 19 was absent from the 1952 Theatre Catalog but listed in the 1955-56 edition, capacity 160, owner A. P. Meier.
The 19’s first appearance in the Motion Picture Almanac was the 1957 drive-in list. All MPA mentions:
Verification of that story about what came before the Bel-Air. From the June 11, 1955 Motion Picture Herald:
Plans are under way for a new $750,000 drive-in theatre in the Chicago area, it was announced by M & R Theatres. A 25-year lease for the old Quarry site had been obtained. The drive-in is to be called the Bel-Air and that it will have a capacity of 2,500 cars. “Walk-in seats” will be a feature. CinemaScope, VistaVision and wide screen pictures will be projected, with the latest modern equipment, according to Harry Sears, on a 135 by 90-foot screen which he says will be the largest in the country.
The March 24, 1956 Motion Picture Herald wrote in the Chicago section, “The Bel-Air, which made its debut as the only outdoor theatre with walk-in seats, plans to show only ‘the finest attractions’ each week, plus cartoons for children. Bottle warmers are provided for babies. Children under 12 are admitted free at all times, and youngsters have free playgrounds. There will be concentrated promotion for family attendance.”
From the March 17, 1956 Motion Picture Herald: “Louis Petry and Robt. Perry have leased the Mitchell drive-in, Mitchell, Neb., and the Oskosh (sic) drive-in, Oskosh, Neb., from Merle Nygren.”
A quick check of Google Maps shows that the drive-in was on Wisconsin state highway 44.
From the March 17, 1956 Motion Picture Herald: “Louis Petry and Robt. Perry have leased the Mitchell drive-in, Mitchell, Neb., and the Oskosh (sic) drive-in, Oskosh, Neb., from Merle Nygren.”
From the March 17, 1956 Motion Picture Herald: “Atlas Theatres have taken over the lease on the Groy drive-in, Salida, Colo., from Ted Knox. Atlas owns the conventional Salida in town.”
The 1952 Theatre Catalog listed only the Groy in Salida, capacity 350, owned by “Groy Bros., Saguache.” The 1955-56 edition listed the Knox in Salida, capacity 350, owned by T. R. Knox.
Motion Picture Almanac drive-in listings under Salida:
While the MPA drive-in list was on cruise control, the MPA circuit list showed that Atlas Theatre Corp. of Denver included the Groy Drive-In among its holdings from 1957 through 1966. It makes me wonder whether this drive-in was ever really named the Knox or whether it was always the Groy.
Management built a new concession stand in the 1955-56 offseason, per a Feb. 25, 1956 note in the Motion Picture Herald.
Apparently the Beach took a break for a while. From the Feb. 18, 1956 Motion Picture Herald:
LAKE GEORGE, N.Y.: The Beach Drive-in here, closed for the past three years, will reopen in May, it is announced by Joseph Mirasola, who operates the Warren, a conventional closed theatre, in Warrensburg.
The Dec. 10, 1955 Motion Picture Herald ran an article commemorating Ralph Winship’s 50 years in the theater business. In the middle was this sentence: “In 1952, with his son-in-law, D. T. ‘Bud’ Brown, … Ralph built a 300-car drive-in, in Phillipsburg, and also affiliated with other theatres in Colby and Stockton, Kansas and drive-ins in Longmont, Colorado, and McCook, Nebraska.”
From the Dec. 10, 1955 Motion Picture Herald:
Bob Adams has sold the Skyline drive-in, Rawlins, Wyo., to the Wyoming Amusement Corp. Clarence Batter will buy and book.
From the Nov. 26, 1955 Motion Picture Herald:
The All-Star drive-in theatre, located about a mile east of Holcomb, Mo., now is equipped for both air conditioning and heating, the installations recently having been completed.
From the Nov. 5, 1955 Motion Picture Herald:
C. K. Cargile, manager-owner with the Harry L. Nace circuit, has re-opened the Sands drive-in near Mesa, Ariz., complete with a new tower. Two months ago, shortly after the drive-in opened for the first time, a freak desert wind storm flattened the screen structure.
Opened June 11, 1953 with The Magic Carpet starring Lucille Ball.
The Twilite bought a listing in the March 1978 yellow pages, but I couldn’t find any movie ads in the local newspaper that year.
From the Sept. 3, 1955 Motion Picture Herald:
Clarence Calland, owner of the Isis, Edgemont, S. D., has opened his new Atomic drive-in there, with 300-car capacity.
From the Aug. 27, 1955 Motion Picture Herald:
Herbert Martens has bought the Julesburg drive-in, Julesburg, Colo.
From the Aug. 20, 1955 Motion Picture Herald:
“Because of a petition asking that he be enabled to collect $40,000 put into the theatre, Max Weinstein caused the closing of the Wadsworth drive-in. A hearing was set for this week and the theatre will be sold at public auction Aug. 29. Built in 1954, the theatre is said to have cost $348,000.”
I’m not sure how this should fit in with CinemaTreasures' style. If the same people with the same stuff set up shop at a nearby location, is that one or two drive-ins? Anyway, the July 30, 1955 Motion Picture Herald wrote:
“Olin and Louis Evans have a drive-in under construction on Highway 31, two miles from Evergreen, Ala., on the Brewton road. They have christened it the Fairview. The drive-in will replace the Moonlite which was badly damaged by a severe windstorm recently. The screen tower and the attraction board were completely destroyed.”
The Moonlite was in the 1953-57 editions of the Motion Picture Almanac, capacity 200, owner Olin Evans. The Fairview was listed in the MPA’s 1958-59 editions, same capacity and owner. There was nothing under Evergreen in 1960.
From the July 30, 1955 Motion Picture Herald:
Edwin Koehler has opened his new 350-car drive-in at Gunnison, Colo., which he has named the Island Acres drive-in.
A note in the July 30, 1955 Motion Picture Almanac suggests this drive-in opened that month. “Capshaw’s ‘Home of the Stars,’ a new drive-in theatre has just been opened at Chaffee, Mo., The layout includes a snack bar, carside service and a playground for the youngsters.”
An assistant manager, James Barnhart, was shot and killed by three soldiers from Fort Leonard Wood in an attempted robbery on July 20, 1960. The following February, the trigger man was sentenced to life in prison.
There were occasional fly-in drive-in theaters, but the Woodlane is the only one I know to get its power knocked out by a plane crash.
The April 2, 1966 issue of the Springfield (MO) Daily News reported that a single-engine Stinson 106 was flying too low over US 66. It clipped distribution lines but kept going for several miles “with a power line trailing from its tail.” After breaking more power lines, including the one leading to the Woodlane, the plane crashed into two cars near the Fort Leonard Wood main gate and was destroyed by fire. Only minor injuries were reported, but the pilot was charged with “flying an airplane too low while consuming intoxicating beverages”.
The 1955-56 Theatre Catalog listed the Lakeside with a capacity of 200, owner Milan G. Steele. He was still listed as owner when the Lakeside finally debuted in the Motion Picture Almanac’s 1966 edition.
Steele wrote a scathing review of Hansel & Gretel (1954) on behalf of the Lakeside in the July 16, 1955 Motion Picture Herald. He wrote, “You would be better off not to play it, since a picture like this stops them from coming for a long time, and some may never come back after seeing such a thing.”
When the MPA resumed including owner info in 1977, it listed P. McCray. That continued through 1982. In 1983, the Lakeside fell off the MPA list.
From the June 18, 1955 Motion Picture Herald:
The Hi-Way drive-in, Bay St. Louis, Miss., closed. Operating it for the past year were Mr. and Mrs. Neilius Rhodes.
And three weeks later:
Russell Elliot reopened the Hi Way drive-in, Bay St. Louis, after a brief closing by the previous owners, Mr. and Mrs. Neilius Rhodes.
Sounds like the drive-in was closed in 1954 and reopened. From the July 2, 1955 Motion Picture Herald:
The Camdenton drive-in theatre at Camdenton, Mo., has just been opened for the first time in two years.
Update: Now I’m pretty sure it’s the Trail Drive-In of Athens TX. The dates line up better, but most important, the screen tower and lettering are a perfect match for a 2011 photo uploaded by another CT contributor.
Looks like the 19 opened in June 1955. From the June 25, 1955 Motion Picture Herald: “The new 19 drive-in theatre on Highway 19, just north of Cuba, Mo., held its grand opening the other day with a large turnout of people. The drive-in will accommodate 200 automobiles and has a refreshment stand.”
The 19 was absent from the 1952 Theatre Catalog but listed in the 1955-56 edition, capacity 160, owner A. P. Meier.
The 19’s first appearance in the Motion Picture Almanac was the 1957 drive-in list. All MPA mentions:
Huh! Was the 19 closed for a while?
Verification of that story about what came before the Bel-Air. From the June 11, 1955 Motion Picture Herald:
Plans are under way for a new $750,000 drive-in theatre in the Chicago area, it was announced by M & R Theatres. A 25-year lease for the old Quarry site had been obtained. The drive-in is to be called the Bel-Air and that it will have a capacity of 2,500 cars. “Walk-in seats” will be a feature. CinemaScope, VistaVision and wide screen pictures will be projected, with the latest modern equipment, according to Harry Sears, on a 135 by 90-foot screen which he says will be the largest in the country.