Boxoffice, April 2, 1949: “Danville, Ill. - Abe H. Kaufman, owner of the Fountain Theatre, Terre Haute, Ind., has purchased the Victory Theatre here effective April 1 from Jack Butler. The theatre name will be changed to the Main.”
Boxoffice, April 2, 1949: “Cave-In-Rock, Ill. - The Ohio Theatre, which was badly damaged by fire January 23, has been reopened by Carl Humm and Tom Partain. A plastic fireproof screen has been installed and the projection room has been made as nearly fireproof as possible. Steel guards, which will drop automatically, have been placed over all opening so that it would be sealed off in the event of a fire. A fireproof door, which is closed automatically, shots off the booth from the rest of the house. Humm and Partain did not carry insurance on either the theatre building or its contents prior to the fire.”
Boxoffice, April 2, 1949: “New feature of the Eugene Drive-In, opening for its second season, is a pony ring, with six shetland ponies to provide rides before the shows free of charge for children. The ozoner is located at 2860 South Willamette St., near the intersection of the Lorane Road. L. M. Wirtz is the manager.”
Boxoffice, April 2, 1949: “Michael Redstone, operator of the Sunrise Highway Drive-In Theatre at Valley Stream, L. I., will build an 800 to 1,000-car drive-in in the east Bronx. This will be the second drive-in within the city limits. The Fabian circuit opened a 620-car drive-in on Staten Island last spring. Redstone’s new theatre will be built on a 22-acre site near the Bronx-Whitestone bridge. The property was bought last week”
According to the Lewiston PA Sentinel, Timothy and Lacie Wert of Burnham bought the Midway as of Dec. 1 this year. They bought it mainly for the River’s Edge RV Park and Campground next door, but they have assured fans on Facebook that the only change they plan is moving opening day from Memorial Day to Mother’s Day weekend.
According to a drive-in history roundup in the Omaha World-Herald (paywall) that started in 2021 and was updated in 2022, this photo was taken by a World-Herald staffer as workers were raising the screen one week before opening night. I would bet that the newspaper still owns the copyright.
The regional Press-Tribune noted on Aug. 2, 1978 that the owners of the Citrus Heights Drive-In had sold it to developers, and that it would close forever at the end of the 1978 season. The article quoted a local guy as inaccurately saying the drive-in had been built in 1947. (Another reminder that memories aren’t perfect.) Its final owner was the San Francisco-based General Theatrical Corp.
The screen wasn’t torn down until April 1981. The caption for that demolition photo said the Citrus Heights had closed in the fall of 1979, but I couldn’t find any ads for the drive-in after October 1978.
The Ferry OH Times-Leader ran a news roundup near the end of 2022. It mentioned that in July 2022, a group announced that it was forming to raise money to restore the State. “The structure opened in 1925 along West Main Street and featured a large stage and balcony. Over the decades, it hosted an array of live shows and movies before it closed for good around 1969. The building was later used as a carpet store, followed by a thrift store, but it has been vacant for many years.”
Boxoffice, May 11, 1940: “Memphis - Bernard Woolner expects to open Memphis' first drive-in theatre this spring.”
Which illustrates the fallibility of memory. As I posted earlier, Dave Woolner was quoted in the May 30, 1966 issue of BoxOffice saying that the Woolners “built the South’s first drive-in at Memphis in 1937”.
Perhaps the Falls was opened in 1927 as the Ritz? The street matches.
Variety, Dec. 14, 1927: “The new Ritz, Marlin, Tex., was opened by Lee Oakes.”
Film Daily, Dec. 20, 1927: “Marlin. Tex. — Dean & Oakes have opened the Ritz on Live Oak St. This gives the town three houses.”
Then maybe it changed to the Rex? The 1930 Film Daily Year Book listed the Rex and the Palace as the only two Marlin theaters that were wired for sound.
Motion Picture News, Jan. 11, 1930: “Kipp sound equipment has been installed at the … Rex, Marlin, Tex.”
The 1933 Film Daily Year Book listed three theaters in Marlin: the Palace, the Strand, and the Lyric (capacity 350). Was that yet another renaming? I don’t know, but at least I have a place to dump most of my Marlin notes. :)
Harper Herald, April 15, 1949: “The El Rancho Theatre of Harper has been sold by the former owner, B. O. McDonald of Kerrville, to Walter R. Dills, also of Kerrville. Mr. Dills announced that he has changed the name of the theatre to the "Hartex” theatre and plans are to have a show each night of the week."
The Herald noted on Oct. 15, 1954 that “Roger Harper is the proprietor of the Hartex Theatre now”.
As the watermarks indicate, those aerial photos are copyrighted by HistoricAerials.com’s company. If you find the original aerials, typically USGS, those would be public domain, but this isn’t.
The Exhibitor, June 21, 1950: “ H. C. Stadele is building a new 300-car capacity drive-in at Marlin, Tex… . The Royal Drive-In has been opened at Marlin by E. L. Williamson and Associates.”
Several newspapers reported on a false-alarm panic that originated at the Royal in early May 1951. About 9 pm, a patron told owner/manager John Lawrence (J. L.) Compere that he heard on his car radio that a twister was headed from Waco towards Marlin. Compere got on the drive-in PA and warned patrons to take cover. “An estimated 600 cars, four abreast, streamed out of the drive-in and headed for town,” spreading the word as they drove. There was no tornado, and no one could figure what the patron, “a man of good reputation,” had heard.
The Exhibitor, Nov. 14, 1951: “J. L. Compere, manager, Royal Drive-In, Marlin, Tex., announced that he will continue the operation of the drive-in on a year-round basis.”
The Exhibitor, May 7, 1952: “The Royal Drive-In has been reopened at Marlin, Tex., by J. C. Chatmas, Sr., and Johnny Chatmas. It was purchased by the Chatmas Amusement Company last November.”
Moving Picture News, Feb. 10, 1912: “Marlin, Tex, — J. W. Christian is erecting a playhouse on Railroad street.”
Moving Picture World, March 16, 1912: “Marlin, Tex. — J. W. Christian is erecting a playhouse on Railroad Street.”
Film Daily, June 14, 1925: “Marlin, Tex.— J. C. Chatman has opened the Palace.”
An article in Exhibitors Herald-World, Dec. 21, 1929, included the Palace among theaters with newly installed Western Electric sound-on-film equipment.
Boxoffice, Feb. 10, 1945: “If open-air theatres ever become the rage again, J. C. Chatmas will be the man to go to for advice. In 1912 his first theatre, the Majestic Airdome, in Marlin, Tex., boasted a partially open roof at night, but it was closed all day. His admission price was five cents. In 1916 Jimmy purchased the old Opera House in Marlin, renaming it the Orpheum. Fire destroyed the Orpheum in 1922. He then opened the Majestic. With the coming of sound the Majestic was renovated. The improved house is now known as the Palace Theatre.”
Same theater? Moving Picture World, Sept. 18, 1915: “Nathan & Naman have purchased the Arlington opera house, at Marlin, Tex. The building was damaged in the storm which recently swept the southwest, but the new owners plan to expend $6,000 this fall in remodeling it into a modern photoplay and theatrical house.”
An article in Exhibitors Herald-World, April 26, 1930, included the Strand in a list of theaters with newly installed Western Electric sound equipment. It listed the Strand’s capacity as 382 seats.
The Marlin Democrat included a short history of the Majestic/Palace in a March 11, 2020 article on its 95th anniversary. Highlights:
“In 1912, the “Majestic” Theater was born in Marlin, built by a “Mr. Christian.” It sat on Railroad Street, now Heritage Row, and showed Birth of a Nation as it’s first film. The building was later purchased by film connoisseur J.C. Chatmas … When another of his similar entrepreneurial ventures, the Orpheum Opera House, burned down in 1921, he decided that the Majestic was in need of renovation to avoid a similar fate.
He bought the building in 1924 and because of the condition of disarray, Chatmas decided it would be in best interest to tear the whole thing down and start from scratch.
Construction on The Palace Theatre was completed in 1925 … J.C. Chatmus ran the place with the help of his right-hand man, Casey, until his death in 1966, but it was operated by family members for another nine years after such time. The Chatmus Family held onto the theater until 1980, when it was donated to the First Presbyterian Church of Marlin."
The non-profit Marlin Palace Theater Center, Inc., was then formed to restore the Palace.
Vintage Aerial has a 1976 photo of the Mound Drive-In here and a 1981 photo here.
Vintage Aerials has a 1984 photo of the Atomic Drive-In here.
Vintage Aerials has a 1977 photo of the Hi-Way 28 here.
Boxoffice, April 2, 1949: “Danville, Ill. - Abe H. Kaufman, owner of the Fountain Theatre, Terre Haute, Ind., has purchased the Victory Theatre here effective April 1 from Jack Butler. The theatre name will be changed to the Main.”
Boxoffice, April 2, 1949: “Cave-In-Rock, Ill. - The Ohio Theatre, which was badly damaged by fire January 23, has been reopened by Carl Humm and Tom Partain. A plastic fireproof screen has been installed and the projection room has been made as nearly fireproof as possible. Steel guards, which will drop automatically, have been placed over all opening so that it would be sealed off in the event of a fire. A fireproof door, which is closed automatically, shots off the booth from the rest of the house. Humm and Partain did not carry insurance on either the theatre building or its contents prior to the fire.”
Boxoffice, April 2, 1949: “New feature of the Eugene Drive-In, opening for its second season, is a pony ring, with six shetland ponies to provide rides before the shows free of charge for children. The ozoner is located at 2860 South Willamette St., near the intersection of the Lorane Road. L. M. Wirtz is the manager.”
Boxoffice, April 2, 1949: “Michael Redstone, operator of the Sunrise Highway Drive-In Theatre at Valley Stream, L. I., will build an 800 to 1,000-car drive-in in the east Bronx. This will be the second drive-in within the city limits. The Fabian circuit opened a 620-car drive-in on Staten Island last spring. Redstone’s new theatre will be built on a 22-acre site near the Bronx-Whitestone bridge. The property was bought last week”
According to the Lewiston PA Sentinel, Timothy and Lacie Wert of Burnham bought the Midway as of Dec. 1 this year. They bought it mainly for the River’s Edge RV Park and Campground next door, but they have assured fans on Facebook that the only change they plan is moving opening day from Memorial Day to Mother’s Day weekend.
This Omaha World-Herald file photo was taken before the Q-Twin’s season opener in 1987. I would bet that the newspaper still owns the copyright.
According to a drive-in history roundup in the Omaha World-Herald (paywall) that started in 2021 and was updated in 2022, this photo was taken by a World-Herald staffer as workers were raising the screen one week before opening night. I would bet that the newspaper still owns the copyright.
According to the Omaha World-Herald, this shot (from 2000) was by staff photographer Kiley Cruse. Presumably, the newspaper still holds its copyright.
The regional Press-Tribune noted on Aug. 2, 1978 that the owners of the Citrus Heights Drive-In had sold it to developers, and that it would close forever at the end of the 1978 season. The article quoted a local guy as inaccurately saying the drive-in had been built in 1947. (Another reminder that memories aren’t perfect.) Its final owner was the San Francisco-based General Theatrical Corp.
The screen wasn’t torn down until April 1981. The caption for that demolition photo said the Citrus Heights had closed in the fall of 1979, but I couldn’t find any ads for the drive-in after October 1978.
The Ferry OH Times-Leader ran a news roundup near the end of 2022. It mentioned that in July 2022, a group announced that it was forming to raise money to restore the State. “The structure opened in 1925 along West Main Street and featured a large stage and balcony. Over the decades, it hosted an array of live shows and movies before it closed for good around 1969. The building was later used as a carpet store, followed by a thrift store, but it has been vacant for many years.”
Boxoffice, Oct. 19, 1940: “Paola - The new Paola was formally opened a few weeks ago.”
Boxoffice, May 11, 1940: “Memphis - Bernard Woolner expects to open Memphis' first drive-in theatre this spring.”
Which illustrates the fallibility of memory. As I posted earlier, Dave Woolner was quoted in the May 30, 1966 issue of BoxOffice saying that the Woolners “built the South’s first drive-in at Memphis in 1937”.
Boxoffice, Feb. 10, 1940: “Mora - N. Cornett is opening a new house, the first in this town, which has a population of 1,500.”
Boxoffice, Dec. 31, 1949: (under Theatre Construction) “Marlin, Tex. - 400-car drive-in started on Route 6 for E. L. Williams.”
Boxoffice, March 4, 1950: (under Theatre Openings) “Marlin, Tex. - Royal Drive-In opened by E. L. Williamson & Associates.”
Boxoffice, March 18, 1950: (under Theatre Openings) “Marlin, Tex. - 300-car drive-in to open immediately for H. C. Stadele on Highway 7.”
Perhaps the Falls was opened in 1927 as the Ritz? The street matches.
Variety, Dec. 14, 1927: “The new Ritz, Marlin, Tex., was opened by Lee Oakes.”
Film Daily, Dec. 20, 1927: “Marlin. Tex. — Dean & Oakes have opened the Ritz on Live Oak St. This gives the town three houses.”
Then maybe it changed to the Rex? The 1930 Film Daily Year Book listed the Rex and the Palace as the only two Marlin theaters that were wired for sound.
Motion Picture News, Jan. 11, 1930: “Kipp sound equipment has been installed at the … Rex, Marlin, Tex.”
The 1933 Film Daily Year Book listed three theaters in Marlin: the Palace, the Strand, and the Lyric (capacity 350). Was that yet another renaming? I don’t know, but at least I have a place to dump most of my Marlin notes. :)
Harper Herald, April 15, 1949: “The El Rancho Theatre of Harper has been sold by the former owner, B. O. McDonald of Kerrville, to Walter R. Dills, also of Kerrville. Mr. Dills announced that he has changed the name of the theatre to the "Hartex” theatre and plans are to have a show each night of the week."
The Herald noted on Oct. 15, 1954 that “Roger Harper is the proprietor of the Hartex Theatre now”.
As the watermarks indicate, those aerial photos are copyrighted by HistoricAerials.com’s company. If you find the original aerials, typically USGS, those would be public domain, but this isn’t.
The Exhibitor, June 21, 1950: “ H. C. Stadele is building a new 300-car capacity drive-in at Marlin, Tex… . The Royal Drive-In has been opened at Marlin by E. L. Williamson and Associates.”
Several newspapers reported on a false-alarm panic that originated at the Royal in early May 1951. About 9 pm, a patron told owner/manager John Lawrence (J. L.) Compere that he heard on his car radio that a twister was headed from Waco towards Marlin. Compere got on the drive-in PA and warned patrons to take cover. “An estimated 600 cars, four abreast, streamed out of the drive-in and headed for town,” spreading the word as they drove. There was no tornado, and no one could figure what the patron, “a man of good reputation,” had heard.
The Exhibitor, Nov. 14, 1951: “J. L. Compere, manager, Royal Drive-In, Marlin, Tex., announced that he will continue the operation of the drive-in on a year-round basis.”
The Exhibitor, May 7, 1952: “The Royal Drive-In has been reopened at Marlin, Tex., by J. C. Chatmas, Sr., and Johnny Chatmas. It was purchased by the Chatmas Amusement Company last November.”
Moving Picture News, Feb. 10, 1912: “Marlin, Tex, — J. W. Christian is erecting a playhouse on Railroad street.”
Moving Picture World, March 16, 1912: “Marlin, Tex. — J. W. Christian is erecting a playhouse on Railroad Street.”
Film Daily, June 14, 1925: “Marlin, Tex.— J. C. Chatman has opened the Palace.”
An article in Exhibitors Herald-World, Dec. 21, 1929, included the Palace among theaters with newly installed Western Electric sound-on-film equipment.
Boxoffice, Feb. 10, 1945: “If open-air theatres ever become the rage again, J. C. Chatmas will be the man to go to for advice. In 1912 his first theatre, the Majestic Airdome, in Marlin, Tex., boasted a partially open roof at night, but it was closed all day. His admission price was five cents. In 1916 Jimmy purchased the old Opera House in Marlin, renaming it the Orpheum. Fire destroyed the Orpheum in 1922. He then opened the Majestic. With the coming of sound the Majestic was renovated. The improved house is now known as the Palace Theatre.”
Same theater? Moving Picture World, Sept. 18, 1915: “Nathan & Naman have purchased the Arlington opera house, at Marlin, Tex. The building was damaged in the storm which recently swept the southwest, but the new owners plan to expend $6,000 this fall in remodeling it into a modern photoplay and theatrical house.”
An article in Exhibitors Herald-World, April 26, 1930, included the Strand in a list of theaters with newly installed Western Electric sound equipment. It listed the Strand’s capacity as 382 seats.
Motion Picture Exhibitor, May 27, 1955: “Homer Walters has announced that CinemaScope has been installed in his Falls, Marlin, Tex.”
The Marlin Democrat included a short history of the Majestic/Palace in a March 11, 2020 article on its 95th anniversary. Highlights:
“In 1912, the “Majestic” Theater was born in Marlin, built by a “Mr. Christian.” It sat on Railroad Street, now Heritage Row, and showed Birth of a Nation as it’s first film. The building was later purchased by film connoisseur J.C. Chatmas … When another of his similar entrepreneurial ventures, the Orpheum Opera House, burned down in 1921, he decided that the Majestic was in need of renovation to avoid a similar fate.
He bought the building in 1924 and because of the condition of disarray, Chatmas decided it would be in best interest to tear the whole thing down and start from scratch.
Construction on The Palace Theatre was completed in 1925 … J.C. Chatmus ran the place with the help of his right-hand man, Casey, until his death in 1966, but it was operated by family members for another nine years after such time. The Chatmus Family held onto the theater until 1980, when it was donated to the First Presbyterian Church of Marlin."
The non-profit Marlin Palace Theater Center, Inc., was then formed to restore the Palace.