This photo ran in a 1981 issue of the Daily Oklahoman. You can find it today at the Oklahoma Historical Society, which says that its copyright status is undetermined.
Bob Albright took this photo on Aug. 19, 1960, for the Oklahoma Times. You can find it at the Oklahoma Historical Society, which says that its copyright status is undetermined.
I’ve uploaded the top of the Fair Park’s grand opening ad. It shows that the first program was the Glenn Ford movie “Framed,” plus a two-reel comedy and cartoon. There were two complete shows at 8:10 pm and 10 pm - quick turnaround!
There was a small drive-in almost three miles northwest of Coalgate on US 75. I wouldn’t describe that as “just outside” of town, but I’d still guess it’s the Skyview.
A 1955 aerial photo showed the drive-in there. Topo maps continued to show its outline through at least 1984, but a 1981 aerial photo showed only traces of the old drive-in. I’m having a heck of a time getting a decent address for the site out of Google Maps, so I’ll leave that piece to our other experts here.
This 1982 photo by John Margolies is part of the John Margolies Roadside America photograph archive (1972-2008), Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division. It’s effectively in the public domain.
Confusing for the future researcher, the N'Eastern ran the same ad on Saturday, Aug. 5. From Aug. 6 through at least the 20th, its ad said it was “Open Tonite”; one of those is in the photo section.
That looks like a blurry, cropped version of a circa-1960 photo by M. H. Millard, Sky Signs Aerial Advertising, that can be found at the Tulsa Historical Society.
The May 20, 1950 issue of BoxOffice reported that Video Theatres planned to open the Lariat on May 30. And three weeks later, BoxOffice wrote that the Lariat had opened in May.
But once again, Boxoffice reported an opening before it happened. An ad in the June 8, 1950 Vinita Leader said ““Opening Postponed due to weather delaying paving of the parking area. Opening Date June 14th” I couldn’t find any confirmation of that date, but it’s a better choice than May.
This News-Gazette photo from “1950-59” is part of the Champaign County Historical Archives, found at the Illinois Digital Archives site. It’s free to use for education purposes; all others are supposed to check with The Urbana Free Library.
I deeply appreciate the wealth of information I find at CinemaTreasures. I hope that we are working together, not in competition, to pool information and uncover the historical facts of these theaters.
It would be very helpful for us all to cite sources of information. If you were there in person, mention that. If you’re quoting the Motion Picture Almanac, we’ve learned that it was often slow to notice changes. If the source is Boxoffice, we know that it sometimes prematurely announced openings. And so forth.
I spot-checked the Pettit-owned theater ads in July issues of Ava’s Douglas County Herald. Listings for “the drive-in” there continued in 1955 and 1956. That was not included in the July 1957 and 1958 issues I checked.
Just sayin', the use of the one-word Lakeside in this drive-in’s name vs. two words was about 10-1 in Boxoffice. Its ads in the Conneautville Courier and Greenville Record-Argus used the one-word name. And yes, I’m a little ashamed to care about which is correct. Here’s a data dump:
Boxoffice, April 16, 1949: “Conneaut Lake, Pa. - 425-car drive-in planned by F. E. Hasley, East Pittsburgh operator, and Sam Yakins (sic), Coverdale exhibitor.”
Boxoffice, May 14, 1949: “Conneaut Lake, Pa. - Lakeside Drive-In, 425 cars, to open soon for F. E. Hasley, East Pittsburgh, and Sam Yakish, Coverdale.”
Boxoffice, June 4, 1949: “Two Pittsburgh exhibitors, F. E. Hasley and Sam Yakish, are making plans for the opening of their new Lakeside Drive-In near Conneaut Lake, Pa.”
Variety, June 22, 1949: “Leonard Tischler acquired Colonial, Coverdale, Pa., from Sam Yakish, who will devote all his time to Lakeside drive-in at Conneaut Lake which he and Elmer Hasley, East Pittsburgh exhib, are opening soon.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 11, 1961: “Something different and fascinating is the early evening projection at Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Hasley’s Lakeside Drive-In Theatre, Conneaut Lake, Pa. Starting just before dusk, a cartoon is projected via special lens to make a strong 12x16 picture and then, in turn, each following film subject becomes larger via change of machines, change of lens and change of aperatures. After about six different sizes, each one progressively larger, darkness has set in and the feature picture is projected wide-screen on the giant concrete screen tower. The Hasleys, veterans in exhibition, have remodeled and outfitted the concessions.”
Boxoffice, Nov. 12, 1962: “Elmer Hasley closed the Lakeside Drive-In at Conneaut Lake several weeks ago, when one weekend night not one car entered the property, and he knew the season was over. His season was three weeks late opening this year and three weeks earlier in closing.”
Boxoffice, Dec. 12, 1966: “Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Hasley are installing a complete sewage system at their Lakeside Drive-In at Conneaut Lake. The septic system will be removed”
Boxoffice, Sept. 23, 1968: “Exhibitor F. Elmer Hasley sr., 66, a member of the motion picture industry for nearly half a century, died Thursday (12) while en route to a Shrine ceremonial at Atlantic City. Hasley, together with his wife Mildred, owned and managed the Lake Side Drive-In at Conneaut Lake.”
Boxoffice, May 19, 1969: “Chester DeMarsh Theatres acquired the LakeSide Drive-In, Conneaut Lake, the transfer being made from Mrs. F. Elmer Hasley”
Boxoffice, June 9, 1969: “Chester DeMarsh Theatres opened the Lakeside Drive-In at Conneaut Lake, recently leased from Mrs. F. Elmer Hasley.”
Boxoffice, March 22, 1971: “Sam Yakish, in many years past an exhibitor at Coverdale, now Bethel Park, … was a partner in exhibition at a drive-in at Conneaut Lake with the late Frederick Elmer Hasley”
Boxoffice, Jan. 1, 1973: “PITTSBURGH - Cinemette Corp. of America, with headquarters in the Fulton Building here, has brought its total screens to 80 with the acquisition of 12 theatres from the Chester DeMarsh circuit … units acquired by Cinemette include: … Lakeside Drive-In, Conneaut Lake, Pa.”
The 1966 aerial photo of the site showed a racing oval, later repeated on those slow-to-update topo maps. So it looks like the Downs Auto was built in 1967.
Boxoffice, May 29, 1967: “George Pappas, general manager of Manos Theatres, reports his circuit will take over the Hazelwood Theatre at Chardon Wednesday (31). Manos' new drive-in at Wheeling, W. Va., has been named Downs Auto.”
Boxoffice, June 25, 1962: “Geauga County’s only indoor theatre, the local Geauga, went into new hands recently with a real estate transfer of .17 acres from Mr. and Mrs. Carl Brinkman to the Chardon Theatre Enterprises. The new owners are Lester Miller, president; William Shiffler, vice-president, and Robert Marshall, treasurer … Brinkman, retiring owner and manager, bought the theatre July 1, 1946, after leasing it in 1945 … The (new) owners have had no previous experience with the motion picture industry”
Please add a note that this was once known as the Hazelwood Drive-In.
The June 25, 1953 Chadron Record included an ad that mentioned “GOODBYE
MOSQUITOES! /
The Hazelwood Drive-In Is Now
Being Fogged Each Night For
Mosquitoes. /
WATCH US KILL THEM”
That was still its name in 1962, per this article in the June 25, 1962 issue of Boxoffice about Mr. and Mrs. Carl Brinkman’s sale of the indoor Geauga to Chardon Theatre Enterprises. “Brinkman, retiring owner and manager … will continue to operate the Hazelwood Drive-In which was not sold.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 18, 1969: “De Kalb County’s only outdoor theatre, the De-Val Drive-In, located behind the shopping center of the same name on Sycamore Road, reopened Friday (11) after being closed for several years. The airer will be operated by Valos Theatres, which also has the Egyptian in De Kalb, and will run on an 11-month schedule utilizing in-car heaters during the winter months.”
Russellville News-Democrat, June 9, 1949: “Construction of a 700-car drive-in theatre, located on the Russellville Road about 1¼ miles west of Franklin, began a week ago. Mr. G. C. Jones and Mr. T. H. Jones, owners and operators of the Liberty Theatre and partners in the new enterprize, have announced. The drive-in theatre is expected to be in operation by early fall.”
This photo ran in a 1981 issue of the Daily Oklahoman. You can find it today at the Oklahoma Historical Society, which says that its copyright status is undetermined.
Bob Albright took this photo on Aug. 19, 1960, for the Oklahoma Times. You can find it at the Oklahoma Historical Society, which says that its copyright status is undetermined.
I’ve uploaded the top of the Fair Park’s grand opening ad. It shows that the first program was the Glenn Ford movie “Framed,” plus a two-reel comedy and cartoon. There were two complete shows at 8:10 pm and 10 pm - quick turnaround!
There was a small drive-in almost three miles northwest of Coalgate on US 75. I wouldn’t describe that as “just outside” of town, but I’d still guess it’s the Skyview.
A 1955 aerial photo showed the drive-in there. Topo maps continued to show its outline through at least 1984, but a 1981 aerial photo showed only traces of the old drive-in. I’m having a heck of a time getting a decent address for the site out of Google Maps, so I’ll leave that piece to our other experts here.
This 1982 photo by John Margolies is part of the John Margolies Roadside America photograph archive (1972-2008), Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division. It’s effectively in the public domain.
The version I found online had an Oklahoma Historical Society© watermark on the upper left corner. It’s part of the Griffith Amusement Company Collection there.
Wesley Horton is right again. The N'Eastern opened on the first Friday in August 1950. He only mistyped the number - it was August 4, 1950.
The N'Eastern ad the day before said it would open on Friday. And then…
Confusing for the future researcher, the N'Eastern ran the same ad on Saturday, Aug. 5. From Aug. 6 through at least the 20th, its ad said it was “Open Tonite”; one of those is in the photo section.
That looks like a blurry, cropped version of a circa-1960 photo by M. H. Millard, Sky Signs Aerial Advertising, that can be found at the Tulsa Historical Society.
This circa-1960 photo by M. H. Millard, Sky Signs Aerial Advertising, can be found at the Tulsa Historical Society.
That 1962 photo by Howard Hopkins, Hopkins Photography Company, can be found at the Tulsa Historical Society.
That circa-1960 photo by M. H. Millard of Sky Signs Aerial Advertising can be found at the Tulsa Historical Society.
The May 20, 1950 issue of BoxOffice reported that Video Theatres planned to open the Lariat on May 30. And three weeks later, BoxOffice wrote that the Lariat had opened in May.
But once again, Boxoffice reported an opening before it happened. An ad in the June 8, 1950 Vinita Leader said ““Opening Postponed due to weather delaying paving of the parking area. Opening Date June 14th” I couldn’t find any confirmation of that date, but it’s a better choice than May.
This was taken Dec. 9, 1957, per MDOT files.
What happened to that formatting? Weird! Anyway, it was J. B. Beeson who started the caption.
This News-Gazette photo from “1950-59” is part of the Champaign County Historical Archives, found at the Illinois Digital Archives site. It’s free to use for education purposes; all others are supposed to check with The Urbana Free Library.
My dear friends and colleagues,
I deeply appreciate the wealth of information I find at CinemaTreasures. I hope that we are working together, not in competition, to pool information and uncover the historical facts of these theaters.
It would be very helpful for us all to cite sources of information. If you were there in person, mention that. If you’re quoting the Motion Picture Almanac, we’ve learned that it was often slow to notice changes. If the source is Boxoffice, we know that it sometimes prematurely announced openings. And so forth.
I spot-checked the Pettit-owned theater ads in July issues of Ava’s Douglas County Herald. Listings for “the drive-in” there continued in 1955 and 1956. That was not included in the July 1957 and 1958 issues I checked.
Independent Film Journal, April 30, 1955: “New Owen ozoner at Seymour, Mo., owned by Harold Owen, is scheduled for a May opening.”
The Exhibitor, April 23, 1952: “Harold Owen, airport owner at Seymour, Mo., and his partner, Lloyd Schmidt are planning to build a drive-in.”
1955-56 Theatre Catalog: “Mansfield, Mo., Owen D. I., Exec: Harold Owen. (100)”
Just sayin', the use of the one-word Lakeside in this drive-in’s name vs. two words was about 10-1 in Boxoffice. Its ads in the Conneautville Courier and Greenville Record-Argus used the one-word name. And yes, I’m a little ashamed to care about which is correct. Here’s a data dump:
Boxoffice, April 16, 1949: “Conneaut Lake, Pa. - 425-car drive-in planned by F. E. Hasley, East Pittsburgh operator, and Sam Yakins (sic), Coverdale exhibitor.”
Boxoffice, May 14, 1949: “Conneaut Lake, Pa. - Lakeside Drive-In, 425 cars, to open soon for F. E. Hasley, East Pittsburgh, and Sam Yakish, Coverdale.”
Boxoffice, June 4, 1949: “Two Pittsburgh exhibitors, F. E. Hasley and Sam Yakish, are making plans for the opening of their new Lakeside Drive-In near Conneaut Lake, Pa.”
Variety, June 22, 1949: “Leonard Tischler acquired Colonial, Coverdale, Pa., from Sam Yakish, who will devote all his time to Lakeside drive-in at Conneaut Lake which he and Elmer Hasley, East Pittsburgh exhib, are opening soon.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 11, 1961: “Something different and fascinating is the early evening projection at Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Hasley’s Lakeside Drive-In Theatre, Conneaut Lake, Pa. Starting just before dusk, a cartoon is projected via special lens to make a strong 12x16 picture and then, in turn, each following film subject becomes larger via change of machines, change of lens and change of aperatures. After about six different sizes, each one progressively larger, darkness has set in and the feature picture is projected wide-screen on the giant concrete screen tower. The Hasleys, veterans in exhibition, have remodeled and outfitted the concessions.”
Boxoffice, Nov. 12, 1962: “Elmer Hasley closed the Lakeside Drive-In at Conneaut Lake several weeks ago, when one weekend night not one car entered the property, and he knew the season was over. His season was three weeks late opening this year and three weeks earlier in closing.”
Boxoffice, Dec. 12, 1966: “Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Hasley are installing a complete sewage system at their Lakeside Drive-In at Conneaut Lake. The septic system will be removed”
Boxoffice, Sept. 23, 1968: “Exhibitor F. Elmer Hasley sr., 66, a member of the motion picture industry for nearly half a century, died Thursday (12) while en route to a Shrine ceremonial at Atlantic City. Hasley, together with his wife Mildred, owned and managed the Lake Side Drive-In at Conneaut Lake.”
Boxoffice, May 19, 1969: “Chester DeMarsh Theatres acquired the LakeSide Drive-In, Conneaut Lake, the transfer being made from Mrs. F. Elmer Hasley”
Boxoffice, June 9, 1969: “Chester DeMarsh Theatres opened the Lakeside Drive-In at Conneaut Lake, recently leased from Mrs. F. Elmer Hasley.”
Boxoffice, March 22, 1971: “Sam Yakish, in many years past an exhibitor at Coverdale, now Bethel Park, … was a partner in exhibition at a drive-in at Conneaut Lake with the late Frederick Elmer Hasley”
Boxoffice, Jan. 1, 1973: “PITTSBURGH - Cinemette Corp. of America, with headquarters in the Fulton Building here, has brought its total screens to 80 with the acquisition of 12 theatres from the Chester DeMarsh circuit … units acquired by Cinemette include: … Lakeside Drive-In, Conneaut Lake, Pa.”
The 1966 aerial photo of the site showed a racing oval, later repeated on those slow-to-update topo maps. So it looks like the Downs Auto was built in 1967.
Boxoffice, May 29, 1967: “George Pappas, general manager of Manos Theatres, reports his circuit will take over the Hazelwood Theatre at Chardon Wednesday (31). Manos' new drive-in at Wheeling, W. Va., has been named Downs Auto.”
Boxoffice, June 25, 1962: “Geauga County’s only indoor theatre, the local Geauga, went into new hands recently with a real estate transfer of .17 acres from Mr. and Mrs. Carl Brinkman to the Chardon Theatre Enterprises. The new owners are Lester Miller, president; William Shiffler, vice-president, and Robert Marshall, treasurer … Brinkman, retiring owner and manager, bought the theatre July 1, 1946, after leasing it in 1945 … The (new) owners have had no previous experience with the motion picture industry”
Please add a note that this was once known as the Hazelwood Drive-In.
The June 25, 1953 Chadron Record included an ad that mentioned “GOODBYE MOSQUITOES! / The Hazelwood Drive-In Is Now Being Fogged Each Night For Mosquitoes. / WATCH US KILL THEM”
That was still its name in 1962, per this article in the June 25, 1962 issue of Boxoffice about Mr. and Mrs. Carl Brinkman’s sale of the indoor Geauga to Chardon Theatre Enterprises. “Brinkman, retiring owner and manager … will continue to operate the Hazelwood Drive-In which was not sold.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 18, 1969: “De Kalb County’s only outdoor theatre, the De-Val Drive-In, located behind the shopping center of the same name on Sycamore Road, reopened Friday (11) after being closed for several years. The airer will be operated by Valos Theatres, which also has the Egyptian in De Kalb, and will run on an 11-month schedule utilizing in-car heaters during the winter months.”
This sure sounds like the same drive-in.
Russellville News-Democrat, June 9, 1949: “Construction of a 700-car drive-in theatre, located on the Russellville Road about 1¼ miles west of Franklin, began a week ago. Mr. G. C. Jones and Mr. T. H. Jones, owners and operators of the Liberty Theatre and partners in the new enterprize, have announced. The drive-in theatre is expected to be in operation by early fall.”