Boxoffice, Feb. 19, 1955: “MOUND (sic) CITY, ILL. - The Arlee, 400-seater, owned by Arthur G. Struck, was reopened February 4 after being closed for three days for installation of a wide panoramic screen by Arnold & Cufaude.”
Boxoffice, Feb. 12, 1955: “Manager L. R. Hess of the Ritz Theatre which was recently given to the city reports that the 600 seats were distributed to five local churches.”
Boxoffice, Feb. 11, 1955: “A spring opening is planned for the new Villa Theatre constructed by Carl Veseth, owner of the local Palace. The new house, which has dimensions of 140x76 feet, will have a 475-seat auditorium and include space for several offices on the ground level and two apartments on the second floor. Constructed of Hadite blocks, the theatre will be completely fireproof and be equipped for the showing of the new wide screen process.”
Is this drive-in active? Darned if I know, but I see that the Chama Valley Chamber of Commerce held a Scare-Fest triple feature there on Oct. 31, 2021.
Also, this is one of several mentions I’ve seen calling this the “Chama Drive-In.” Maybe CT could add that as an alternate name?
Boxoffice, Feb. 18, 1956: “Although flood waters came up in the Bandon Theatre recently, covering the floor up to the 12 front rows for four days, the house was able to resume operation without extensive repairs. Owner Raleigh Greene had the air conditioning motors lifted high so heat could be resumed. Chief damage was to aisle carpeting.”
Boxoffice, Feb. 18, 1956: “Vista, Calif. - Western Amusement Co. will launch construction immediately on a drive-in here adjoining the freeway to Carlsbad and Oceanside, it was disclosed by Clell McElroy, who manages the Avo Theatre for the circuit.”
Boxoffice, Feb. 11, 1956: “M. J. "Dutch” Koneman (sic) has leased the closed Victory at Pueblo from the Westland Theatres, and has reopened it"
That was Marion Konemann, former all-star halfback at Georgia Tech, who built the Hicks (later the East) Drive-In in Pueblo in 1953. In the summer of 1957, he would marry a Grand Junction woman and move there while his ex-wife ran the drive-in, so that may have been the end of his involvement with the Victory.
Clarifying a couple of names? Boxoffice, Feb. 11, 1956: “Robert Perry, formerly operating at Lyman, Neb., has leased the Mitchell (Neb.) Drive-In from Merle Nygren.”
Motion Picture Exhibitor, April 4, 1962: “Charlie and Velva Otts, Texas exhibitors for more than 30 years, have retired, turning over their Majestic and Hi-Vue at Dublin, Tex., to Mr. and Mrs. H. R. Poor, who also own theatres at Lawn, Tex.”
Motion Picture Exhibitor, April 20, 1955: “The Sunset Drive-In has been reopened at Munday, Tex., by owners P. V. and Clyde Williams after widening of its screen.”
Eugene Houck’s obituary (July 27, 1932 - Jan. 22, 2019) in the Waco Tribune Herald made it seem as though he didn’t stay in the business very long: “Eugene started working in the theater business. He owned the Joy Drive-In Theater and the Joy Theater downtown that was destroyed in the 1953 Waco tornado. He then went into the nursery and landscaping business with his father, Corbin Houck, starting up Westview Nursery, which has been around for over six decades.”
The Joy also advertised in the Las Cruces Sun-News, but the first ad I could find was later that month.
When did the Joy close? The last ad I could find was in the Sun-News on Aug. 25, 1974.
Sounds like it was definitely closed by 1980. “El Paso Times, Nov. 7, 1988: “Eight years ago, sisters Bertha Rizzuti and Ernestina Acosta decided to put the old Joy Drive-in movie theater on their family’s farm to good use. The former snack bar became a preschool classroom.”
I found a final-er ad for the Sunset in the Albuquerque Journal. Now I’d say that the last one was on Sept. 1, 1990, showing “Gremlins II”.
And I may have found the slightly misspelled D. Armino.
Albuquerque Journal, May 12, 2009: “The Sunset opened in the early ‘50s, built by a hard-working couple, Marlin and Carrie Butler, who years later, coincidentally became Caroline’s (Armijo Butler, 60) in-laws. Opened a wholesome family place, the Butlers did, and poured their hearts into it, till 1967 … Caroline’s father, David Armijo, owned the land. All the rest – exit signs, popcorn machine, restrooms, was leased.”
I couldn’t find any Silver Dollar ads in the Albuquerque Journal after Sept. 2, 1980. Spot checks in the summer of 1981 turned up nothing.
Albuquerque Tribune, Sept. 16, 1982: “The former Silver Dollar Drive-In movie theater off San Mateo Boulevard N. E. is on its way to becoming a high-rise apartment complex.”
Tesuque’s version of the Pueblo showed its final movies “The Creature Walks Among Us” and “The Last Hunt” on Saturday, Sept. 28, 1957. Its ad concluded, “The Pueblo will close Sat. nite for the season. Thank you for your patronage and we hope to see you next year.”
Santa Fe New Mexican, April 13, 1958: “Greer Enterprises now is in the process of building a “new home” for the Pueblo Drive-In in a more convenient location, and at the same time is expanding facilities at the movie theater. Site of the Pueblo is being switched from the end of Tesuque Drive to Cerrillos Road"
Santa Fe New Mexican, April 13, 1958: “Greer Enterprises now is in the process of building a “new home” for the Pueblo Drive-In in a more convenient location, and at the same time is expanding facilities at the movie theater. Site of the Pueblo is being switched from the end of Tesuque Drive to Cerrillos Road, and it is scheduled to begin operation about May 1. The new location will provide room for 600 cars, compared with 400 in the old location, and a new 40 by 80-foot, all-steel curved screen is being installed along with modern projection equipment and new snack bar and playground facilities. Second run films from the Lensic will be shown at the drive-in.”
This new location for the Pueblo held its Grand Opening on May 30, 1958, with a program of “Badlands” (probably “Badlands of Montana,” a 1957 movie starring Rex Reason) and “Les Girls” starring Gene Kelly.
A Hobbs Daily News-Sun retropective on Sept. 18, 1975 mentioned, “In 1948 Theatre Enterprises opened the Sky-Vu drive-in theater on Hobbs-Lovington Highway.” However, two contemporary notes suggest that the Sky Vu opened on May 5, 1949. An ad in the May 1, 1949 Hobbs Daily News-Sun said that would the date of the Grand Opening. And a roundup of new theater openings in the May 14, 1949 Boxoffice included "Hobbs, N. M. - Sky-Vue Drive-In opened May 5 by R. W. Ferguson.”
I don’t think the Eagle recovered from the Feb. 9, 1960 storm that knocked down its tower. I couldn’t find any ads in the Hobbs Daily News that summer or the summer of 1961 next to the Sky-Vu and the Flamingo. In May 1960, manager Kenneth Powell reported that someone stole three projector lenses from the Eagle. A 1976 note reported the theft of carpet from a storage building “at the old Eagle Drive-In”.
Since CT uses a theater’s final name in its entry, this drive-in of several lives probably ought to be the Northside. Although it ran a tiny one-column ad the day before, here’s a better ad from the Northside’s opening weekend.
An article in the Sept. 16, 1986 Journal said that former Video Independent Theaters employees Curtis and Melinda Ralston were behind the drive-in restoration. They put in FM radio sound before opening and were planning to add a playground and picnic tables for the 1987 season.
The last Northside ad I could find was on Nov. 12, 1988.
A few more notes after combing through the Albuquerque Tribune and Albuquerque Journal. Ralph Moody was the manager when it opened, but Roger G. Steiger was the manager by late September, when Life magazine took “panoramic pictures” of the Circle and its patrons. I wonder if those are around somewhere.
The Autoscope might have been a victim of a price war. The Route 25 was advertising triple features for 90c per carload, and the Circle went from 99c a carload on Sept. 28 to as low as 80c for four shows on Oct. 19.
Although its name was typically shortened to just “Circle Drive-In,” the Autoscope continued advertising in the Albuquerque Tribune and Journal through Dec. 1, 1963. On Dec. 2, the Circle’s ad was gone.
The last Chief ad I could find in the Lordsburg Liberal was Aug. 28, 1964. “Seven Ways From Sundown” was going to play until Sunday, Aug. 30, then “Drive-in closes after Sunday show for winter months.” Spot checks of summer 1965 issues showed ads for the indoor Coronado but nothing for the Chief.
The April 16, 1954 issue of the Lordsburg Liberal said the Chief Drive-In would open on April 17 with “Stalag 17” starring William Holden. “The Chief Drive-In has been under construction for several months now and is located about three miles east of town on Highways 70 and 80.”
T of C Herald, Dec. 14, 1972: “We would like to welcome Jim Moss to the community as one of our newest businessmen. Jim has purchased the El Rio Theatre from McCormick Theatres and will open for business with the first showing Thursday night December 14.”
James Moss wrote a letter to editor, appearing Sept. 4, 1975, that he was cancelling plans to show “Deep Throat” at the El Rio. “The people protesting this movie never come to our family features, nor do the organizations of this community support the theatre.”
I’d guess that the Whetzels didn’t arrive until late 1975 or later.
Boxoffice, Feb. 26, 1955: “The Knoll Theatre, operated for the past several years by the Harold Aaron estate, has been sold to Charles Tobox”
Boxoffice, Feb. 19, 1955: “MOUND (sic) CITY, ILL. - The Arlee, 400-seater, owned by Arthur G. Struck, was reopened February 4 after being closed for three days for installation of a wide panoramic screen by Arnold & Cufaude.”
Boxoffice, Feb. 12, 1955: “Manager L. R. Hess of the Ritz Theatre which was recently given to the city reports that the 600 seats were distributed to five local churches.”
Boxoffice, Feb. 11, 1955: “A spring opening is planned for the new Villa Theatre constructed by Carl Veseth, owner of the local Palace. The new house, which has dimensions of 140x76 feet, will have a 475-seat auditorium and include space for several offices on the ground level and two apartments on the second floor. Constructed of Hadite blocks, the theatre will be completely fireproof and be equipped for the showing of the new wide screen process.”
Is this drive-in active? Darned if I know, but I see that the Chama Valley Chamber of Commerce held a Scare-Fest triple feature there on Oct. 31, 2021.
Also, this is one of several mentions I’ve seen calling this the “Chama Drive-In.” Maybe CT could add that as an alternate name?
Boxoffice, Feb. 18, 1956: “Although flood waters came up in the Bandon Theatre recently, covering the floor up to the 12 front rows for four days, the house was able to resume operation without extensive repairs. Owner Raleigh Greene had the air conditioning motors lifted high so heat could be resumed. Chief damage was to aisle carpeting.”
Boxoffice, Feb. 18, 1956: “Vista, Calif. - Western Amusement Co. will launch construction immediately on a drive-in here adjoining the freeway to Carlsbad and Oceanside, it was disclosed by Clell McElroy, who manages the Avo Theatre for the circuit.”
Boxoffice, Feb. 11, 1956: “M. J. "Dutch” Koneman (sic) has leased the closed Victory at Pueblo from the Westland Theatres, and has reopened it"
That was Marion Konemann, former all-star halfback at Georgia Tech, who built the Hicks (later the East) Drive-In in Pueblo in 1953. In the summer of 1957, he would marry a Grand Junction woman and move there while his ex-wife ran the drive-in, so that may have been the end of his involvement with the Victory.
Clarifying a couple of names? Boxoffice, Feb. 11, 1956: “Robert Perry, formerly operating at Lyman, Neb., has leased the Mitchell (Neb.) Drive-In from Merle Nygren.”
Motion Picture Exhibitor, April 4, 1962: “Charlie and Velva Otts, Texas exhibitors for more than 30 years, have retired, turning over their Majestic and Hi-Vue at Dublin, Tex., to Mr. and Mrs. H. R. Poor, who also own theatres at Lawn, Tex.”
Motion Picture Exhibitor, April 20, 1955: “The Sunset Drive-In has been reopened at Munday, Tex., by owners P. V. and Clyde Williams after widening of its screen.”
Eugene Houck’s obituary (July 27, 1932 - Jan. 22, 2019) in the Waco Tribune Herald made it seem as though he didn’t stay in the business very long: “Eugene started working in the theater business. He owned the Joy Drive-In Theater and the Joy Theater downtown that was destroyed in the 1953 Waco tornado. He then went into the nursery and landscaping business with his father, Corbin Houck, starting up Westview Nursery, which has been around for over six decades.”
When did the Joy open? The first ad I could find in the El Paso Times was on May 5, 1954, but it looked nothing like a Grand Opening ad.
The Joy also advertised in the Las Cruces Sun-News, but the first ad I could find was later that month.
When did the Joy close? The last ad I could find was in the Sun-News on Aug. 25, 1974.
Sounds like it was definitely closed by 1980. “El Paso Times, Nov. 7, 1988: “Eight years ago, sisters Bertha Rizzuti and Ernestina Acosta decided to put the old Joy Drive-in movie theater on their family’s farm to good use. The former snack bar became a preschool classroom.”
I found a final-er ad for the Sunset in the Albuquerque Journal. Now I’d say that the last one was on Sept. 1, 1990, showing “Gremlins II”.
And I may have found the slightly misspelled D. Armino.
Albuquerque Journal, May 12, 2009: “The Sunset opened in the early ‘50s, built by a hard-working couple, Marlin and Carrie Butler, who years later, coincidentally became Caroline’s (Armijo Butler, 60) in-laws. Opened a wholesome family place, the Butlers did, and poured their hearts into it, till 1967 … Caroline’s father, David Armijo, owned the land. All the rest – exit signs, popcorn machine, restrooms, was leased.”
I couldn’t find any Silver Dollar ads in the Albuquerque Journal after Sept. 2, 1980. Spot checks in the summer of 1981 turned up nothing.
Albuquerque Tribune, Sept. 16, 1982: “The former Silver Dollar Drive-In movie theater off San Mateo Boulevard N. E. is on its way to becoming a high-rise apartment complex.”
Don’t you hate it when the microfilmers use bound newspapers?
Found on Newspaperarchive.com
Tesuque’s version of the Pueblo showed its final movies “The Creature Walks Among Us” and “The Last Hunt” on Saturday, Sept. 28, 1957. Its ad concluded, “The Pueblo will close Sat. nite for the season. Thank you for your patronage and we hope to see you next year.”
Santa Fe New Mexican, April 13, 1958: “Greer Enterprises now is in the process of building a “new home” for the Pueblo Drive-In in a more convenient location, and at the same time is expanding facilities at the movie theater. Site of the Pueblo is being switched from the end of Tesuque Drive to Cerrillos Road"
Santa Fe New Mexican, April 13, 1958: “Greer Enterprises now is in the process of building a “new home” for the Pueblo Drive-In in a more convenient location, and at the same time is expanding facilities at the movie theater. Site of the Pueblo is being switched from the end of Tesuque Drive to Cerrillos Road, and it is scheduled to begin operation about May 1. The new location will provide room for 600 cars, compared with 400 in the old location, and a new 40 by 80-foot, all-steel curved screen is being installed along with modern projection equipment and new snack bar and playground facilities. Second run films from the Lensic will be shown at the drive-in.”
This new location for the Pueblo held its Grand Opening on May 30, 1958, with a program of “Badlands” (probably “Badlands of Montana,” a 1957 movie starring Rex Reason) and “Les Girls” starring Gene Kelly.
The final ad for the Pueblo, in the Commonwealth Theatres section, was on Sunday, Sept. 14, 1980. The program was “Friday the 13th” and “Up in Smoke.”
A Hobbs Daily News-Sun retropective on Sept. 18, 1975 mentioned, “In 1948 Theatre Enterprises opened the Sky-Vu drive-in theater on Hobbs-Lovington Highway.” However, two contemporary notes suggest that the Sky Vu opened on May 5, 1949. An ad in the May 1, 1949 Hobbs Daily News-Sun said that would the date of the Grand Opening. And a roundup of new theater openings in the May 14, 1949 Boxoffice included "Hobbs, N. M. - Sky-Vue Drive-In opened May 5 by R. W. Ferguson.”
I don’t think the Eagle recovered from the Feb. 9, 1960 storm that knocked down its tower. I couldn’t find any ads in the Hobbs Daily News that summer or the summer of 1961 next to the Sky-Vu and the Flamingo. In May 1960, manager Kenneth Powell reported that someone stole three projector lenses from the Eagle. A 1976 note reported the theft of carpet from a storage building “at the old Eagle Drive-In”.
The Eagle opened on Aug. 8, 1950. Its first program was “The Kid from Texas” starrting Audie Murphy, plus two color cartoons.
Found on Newspaperarchive.com
Since CT uses a theater’s final name in its entry, this drive-in of several lives probably ought to be the Northside. Although it ran a tiny one-column ad the day before, here’s a better ad from the Northside’s opening weekend.
An article in the Sept. 16, 1986 Journal said that former Video Independent Theaters employees Curtis and Melinda Ralston were behind the drive-in restoration. They put in FM radio sound before opening and were planning to add a playground and picnic tables for the 1987 season.
The last Northside ad I could find was on Nov. 12, 1988.
A few more notes after combing through the Albuquerque Tribune and Albuquerque Journal. Ralph Moody was the manager when it opened, but Roger G. Steiger was the manager by late September, when Life magazine took “panoramic pictures” of the Circle and its patrons. I wonder if those are around somewhere.
The Autoscope might have been a victim of a price war. The Route 25 was advertising triple features for 90c per carload, and the Circle went from 99c a carload on Sept. 28 to as low as 80c for four shows on Oct. 19.
Although its name was typically shortened to just “Circle Drive-In,” the Autoscope continued advertising in the Albuquerque Tribune and Journal through Dec. 1, 1963. On Dec. 2, the Circle’s ad was gone.
The last Chief ad I could find in the Lordsburg Liberal was Aug. 28, 1964. “Seven Ways From Sundown” was going to play until Sunday, Aug. 30, then “Drive-in closes after Sunday show for winter months.” Spot checks of summer 1965 issues showed ads for the indoor Coronado but nothing for the Chief.
The April 16, 1954 issue of the Lordsburg Liberal said the Chief Drive-In would open on April 17 with “Stalag 17” starring William Holden. “The Chief Drive-In has been under construction for several months now and is located about three miles east of town on Highways 70 and 80.”
T of C Herald, Dec. 14, 1972: “We would like to welcome Jim Moss to the community as one of our newest businessmen. Jim has purchased the El Rio Theatre from McCormick Theatres and will open for business with the first showing Thursday night December 14.”
James Moss wrote a letter to editor, appearing Sept. 4, 1975, that he was cancelling plans to show “Deep Throat” at the El Rio. “The people protesting this movie never come to our family features, nor do the organizations of this community support the theatre.”
I’d guess that the Whetzels didn’t arrive until late 1975 or later.