If memory serves, there were more drives-ins than just the Auto Vue and (presumably) the N. Division on N. Division Street.
According to an old raffle ticket I have that lists the 6 Spokane drive-ins participating in it (see photos), the N. Division was separate from the Auto Vue and any of the others.
Some further info would be awesome.
The Varsity Theatre was opened by Fox Intermountain Theatres in 1941. It was closed around 1960, and remained shuttered until 1970, when it reopened as the Art Cinema.
Wow-maybe I’m missing something, maybe the extremely negative (albeit, ancient) comments are directed at a different theatre someone had in mind or maybe the author(s) of these comments have some underlying agenda against this theatre and/or its management/owner because after doing a whopping 5 minutes of Google research, I have determined with 100% certainty that this theatre is not only a bona-fide movie theatre but an extremely unique one at that. I’ve never been to this theatre (or city, or state for that matter) and stumbled upon this listing purely by accident however the said comments intrigued me enough to take a closer look. There is a screen (no TVs in sight), a professionally decorated auditorium (albeit tables instead of fixed seating which makes perfect sense, given the venue), it’s been around for well over 30 years, had/has 35mm projection,went through the same struggle as all the rest regarding digital conversion, etc. Assuming that the negative author isn’t thinking of someplace else and/or doesn’t have an underlying agenda against this place, it does bring up a very interesting question: what is a movie theatre? What is a cinema treasure? To me, and I’d imagine most of us, it’s a venue that shows motion pictures to the public for entertainment (and sometimes, education/enlightenment) while respecting copyright laws. Period. It’s a beloved place (with or without walls) where people gather together to watch movies, regardless of the quality of the location, it’s facilities, staff, showmanship, etc. Not every theatre is The Radio City Music Hall or Bengies Drive-In. Of course, any who know me personally or have kept track of my photo uploads, theatre uploads and comments can easily attest to the fact that while I cherish the undeniable majesty of the great movie palace and find its demise despicable, nothing fascinates me quite like that little 120 seat movie house in population 200 West Virginia that only lasted from 1935-1950 or that haphazardly built and operated 200 car drive-in built in 1975 in the worst part of Chicago that only lasted long enough for the land to gain enough value for development.
My taste, of course, is mine alone, and not something I expect or demand anyone else to share but my definition of a theatre, a cinema treasure and the respect I demand for all of them is what’s correct and something that anyone & everyone who claims a love for theatres should share.
While I usually don’t post photos that are not my own or of my own artifacts (unless it is a particularly rare photo of a particularly rare theatre that would not be represented otherwise), least of all, one that is still operating, I am going to post a couple restriction-free ones I snagged off Google simply to clear this theatre’s name. I will also try to post the links to a few articles about it in a future comment.
Something appears to be wrong with this listing-if you search Trimble, TN on the site, the town comes up but says that there are no theatres listed. If you search for Sondra Theatre, you get the same result. The only way I personally can get to this listing is by Googling it. Any idea what’s going on?
The 5100 Wadsworth address that was on the duplicate listing for this theatre that was recently remove is, I believe, much more likely the correct/closer to correct address than the 5050 that is listed here now. The listings for this theatre on Cinematour and drive-ins.com also have 5100 as the address. One long time union operator in the area who worked several shifts here says that one of the exit/entrance ramps to I-70 from Wadsworth sits on part of the old theatre site.
I’m not presently able to find an address on any of my artifacts, documents or ephemera or online that provides and address for the theatre. Does anyone have access to a source to verify the address?
Also, there was a really cool old arial veiw of the theatre that was on the duplicate listing but unfortunately, it doesn’t seem like it was moved over here. Is it stil available that someone can repost it?
Last but not least, this was an old Wolberg Theatres/Compass Drive-In Theatres and the description/ previous operators part of this listing should be updated to reflect this.
I spoke with Darold Albertson, the Midway’s current owner, the other day and he confirmed the theatre closed around 2013 due mainly to lack of funds to make the digital conversion as well as some attendance issues. The theatre is, however, for sale and he believe he will be finalizing the sale to a group that formed to reopen the theatre for live events and/or movies.
Prior to that the theatre has been running regularly; as with most businesses, organizations and even local government agencies in that part of the state, the Midway never had any web presence. No website,social media pages, online movie times or even a showtime recording on the phone which is why it “looked closed”.
So sadly, for now, status should be changed to CLOSED although we’ll have to keep an eye on it and change it again once the group gets it running once again!
The address for this theatre was 12600 East Colfax Avenue Aurora,CO 80011. There is a duplicate listing for this theatre listed as The East, which I have recommended be removed and combined with this page as they’re one in the same. Additionally, no one around here,including longtime Union projectionists and others in the theatre business locally, ever knew this theatre to be called the “70mm” East-just the East 70 or more commonly, the East. While there were indeed intentions of and even some preparations in the booth for showing 70mm, this theatre never did. The only drive-in theatre in the Denver metro area (and most likely the entire state of Colorado) to run 70mm was The North Star.
The theatre name listed really should be changed to just The East as that is what many remember it as or at very least, The East 70. As I cannot prove beyond a doubt that it was never called a The East 70mm, I’d be OK seeing that listed as a previous name pending some research from us all but still, I’m fairly certain here.
I have a theatre program from a Columbus Drive-In Theatres. There is no location given except that it says it’s located at 14th Ave and 29th St. Program was printed by The Anchor Litho Company in Tampa, FL and I acquired this in a lot of many programs from different Florida drive-ins and hardtops which would make this listing the likely location. According to CT, there was only one other Columbus Drive-In which was located all the way in Columbus, NE at 3564 23rd St.
Obviously, the 14th Ave & 29th St doesn’t match the Fort Benning Road address either.
Does anyone know if this location on this program is for this theatre? Did the address change? If not, does anyone know where this particular Columbus is?
Film Daily Yearbook of 1951 lists as having 838 seats but also lists it as being on Kurby St. I wonder if this was a typo in the yearbook (quite possible) or a different location? Does anyone know?
Marsch Theatres should be added to the list of previous operators
Tickets from Wallace Theatres ownership-back
Was originally the Tanimoto Theatre. Should be added to the list of previous names
If memory serves, there were more drives-ins than just the Auto Vue and (presumably) the N. Division on N. Division Street. According to an old raffle ticket I have that lists the 6 Spokane drive-ins participating in it (see photos), the N. Division was separate from the Auto Vue and any of the others. Some further info would be awesome.
The Varsity Theatre was opened by Fox Intermountain Theatres in 1941. It was closed around 1960, and remained shuttered until 1970, when it reopened as the Art Cinema.
Was once part of the Highland Theatres chain. Should be added to the list of previous operators.
Was once part of the Highland Theatres chain. Should be added to the list of previous operators.
Was once part of the Highland Theatres chain. Should be added to the list of previous operators.
Was once part of the Highland Theatres chain. Should be added to the list of previous operators.
Was once part of the Highland Theatres chain. Should be added to the list of previous operators.
Was part of the Compass Drive-In Theatres/Wolfberg Theatres chain. Should be added to previous operators.
October 1987 calendar
January 1986 calendar
General view of Paonia calendar
Capitol calendar
Flagler calendar
Wow-maybe I’m missing something, maybe the extremely negative (albeit, ancient) comments are directed at a different theatre someone had in mind or maybe the author(s) of these comments have some underlying agenda against this theatre and/or its management/owner because after doing a whopping 5 minutes of Google research, I have determined with 100% certainty that this theatre is not only a bona-fide movie theatre but an extremely unique one at that. I’ve never been to this theatre (or city, or state for that matter) and stumbled upon this listing purely by accident however the said comments intrigued me enough to take a closer look. There is a screen (no TVs in sight), a professionally decorated auditorium (albeit tables instead of fixed seating which makes perfect sense, given the venue), it’s been around for well over 30 years, had/has 35mm projection,went through the same struggle as all the rest regarding digital conversion, etc. Assuming that the negative author isn’t thinking of someplace else and/or doesn’t have an underlying agenda against this place, it does bring up a very interesting question: what is a movie theatre? What is a cinema treasure? To me, and I’d imagine most of us, it’s a venue that shows motion pictures to the public for entertainment (and sometimes, education/enlightenment) while respecting copyright laws. Period. It’s a beloved place (with or without walls) where people gather together to watch movies, regardless of the quality of the location, it’s facilities, staff, showmanship, etc. Not every theatre is The Radio City Music Hall or Bengies Drive-In. Of course, any who know me personally or have kept track of my photo uploads, theatre uploads and comments can easily attest to the fact that while I cherish the undeniable majesty of the great movie palace and find its demise despicable, nothing fascinates me quite like that little 120 seat movie house in population 200 West Virginia that only lasted from 1935-1950 or that haphazardly built and operated 200 car drive-in built in 1975 in the worst part of Chicago that only lasted long enough for the land to gain enough value for development.
My taste, of course, is mine alone, and not something I expect or demand anyone else to share but my definition of a theatre, a cinema treasure and the respect I demand for all of them is what’s correct and something that anyone & everyone who claims a love for theatres should share.
While I usually don’t post photos that are not my own or of my own artifacts (unless it is a particularly rare photo of a particularly rare theatre that would not be represented otherwise), least of all, one that is still operating, I am going to post a couple restriction-free ones I snagged off Google simply to clear this theatre’s name. I will also try to post the links to a few articles about it in a future comment.
Something appears to be wrong with this listing-if you search Trimble, TN on the site, the town comes up but says that there are no theatres listed. If you search for Sondra Theatre, you get the same result. The only way I personally can get to this listing is by Googling it. Any idea what’s going on?
Was part of the Wolfberg Theatres/Compass Drive-In Theatres chain.
The 5100 Wadsworth address that was on the duplicate listing for this theatre that was recently remove is, I believe, much more likely the correct/closer to correct address than the 5050 that is listed here now. The listings for this theatre on Cinematour and drive-ins.com also have 5100 as the address. One long time union operator in the area who worked several shifts here says that one of the exit/entrance ramps to I-70 from Wadsworth sits on part of the old theatre site. I’m not presently able to find an address on any of my artifacts, documents or ephemera or online that provides and address for the theatre. Does anyone have access to a source to verify the address?
Also, there was a really cool old arial veiw of the theatre that was on the duplicate listing but unfortunately, it doesn’t seem like it was moved over here. Is it stil available that someone can repost it?
Last but not least, this was an old Wolberg Theatres/Compass Drive-In Theatres and the description/ previous operators part of this listing should be updated to reflect this.
I spoke with Darold Albertson, the Midway’s current owner, the other day and he confirmed the theatre closed around 2013 due mainly to lack of funds to make the digital conversion as well as some attendance issues. The theatre is, however, for sale and he believe he will be finalizing the sale to a group that formed to reopen the theatre for live events and/or movies. Prior to that the theatre has been running regularly; as with most businesses, organizations and even local government agencies in that part of the state, the Midway never had any web presence. No website,social media pages, online movie times or even a showtime recording on the phone which is why it “looked closed”.
So sadly, for now, status should be changed to CLOSED although we’ll have to keep an eye on it and change it again once the group gets it running once again!
The address for this theatre was 12600 East Colfax Avenue Aurora,CO 80011. There is a duplicate listing for this theatre listed as The East, which I have recommended be removed and combined with this page as they’re one in the same. Additionally, no one around here,including longtime Union projectionists and others in the theatre business locally, ever knew this theatre to be called the “70mm” East-just the East 70 or more commonly, the East. While there were indeed intentions of and even some preparations in the booth for showing 70mm, this theatre never did. The only drive-in theatre in the Denver metro area (and most likely the entire state of Colorado) to run 70mm was The North Star.
The theatre name listed really should be changed to just The East as that is what many remember it as or at very least, The East 70. As I cannot prove beyond a doubt that it was never called a The East 70mm, I’d be OK seeing that listed as a previous name pending some research from us all but still, I’m fairly certain here.
Was once part of Wolfberg Theatres chain-this should be added to the previous operators.
I have a theatre program from a Columbus Drive-In Theatres. There is no location given except that it says it’s located at 14th Ave and 29th St. Program was printed by The Anchor Litho Company in Tampa, FL and I acquired this in a lot of many programs from different Florida drive-ins and hardtops which would make this listing the likely location. According to CT, there was only one other Columbus Drive-In which was located all the way in Columbus, NE at 3564 23rd St.
Obviously, the 14th Ave & 29th St doesn’t match the Fort Benning Road address either.
Does anyone know if this location on this program is for this theatre? Did the address change? If not, does anyone know where this particular Columbus is?
Thanks!
Film Daily Yearbook of 1951 lists as having 838 seats but also lists it as being on Kurby St. I wonder if this was a typo in the yearbook (quite possible) or a different location? Does anyone know?