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.”
Russellville News-Democrat, May 20, 1971: “A Cincinnati based firm, Holiday Amusement, Inc., this week purchased the Russellville Drive-In and the downtown Logan Theater … from Charles Bowles, whose theaters have been plagued by fires during the past year … Fred Douglas, general manager of the company … announced that the downtown theater will be completely re-worked with new chairs, carpeting and air-conditioning added, and will reopen this fall. A new front will be constructed on the building … Last summer the drive-in screen was damaged by fire and this winter the downtown location was the scene of an explosion-fire which heavily damaged the facility.”
Russellville News-Democrat, May 9, 1952: (display ad) “Notice is hereby given that on May 3, 1952, an application was filed in the office of the Clerk of the Logan County Court by Shelby McCallum, R. E. Foust, Homer Soloman and George Lilly, doing business as Russellville Drive-In Theatre for a permit to operate a place of public entertainment and a drive-in moving picture theatre in Logan County, Kentucky, about 1½ miles South of Russellville on the West side of Highway No. 75.”
The Russellville Drive-In was advertising in the News-Democrat by July 11, 1952. No mention of a grand opening.
Boxoffice, Nov. 28, 1953: (Classified ad, under Theatres For Sale) “Only Logan county drive-in, Russellville, Ky. 300 speakers, latest Century equipment. Shelby McCallum, Benton, Ky.” (The ad continued off and on through at least May 8, 1954.)
The Motion Picture Almanac listed this as the Russellville Drive-In from its first appearance in the 1953-54 edition until 1977.
Theatre Catalog, 1955-56: “Russellville, Ky., Drive In. Exec: S. McCollum. (300)”
Russellville News-Democrat, May 20, 1971: “A Cincinnati based firm, Holiday Amusement, Inc., this week purchased the Russellville Drive-In and the downtown Logan Theater … from Charles Bowles, whose theaters have been plagued by fires during the past year … The drive-in, which has been renamed The Jesse James Drive-In, will open full time, Wednesday, May 27 … Last summer the drive-in screen was damaged by fire and this winter the downtown location was the scene of an explosion-fire which heavily damaged the facility.”
Commonwealth included “The Pines” in its circuit listing in the 1959 Motion Picture Almanac, but dropped it for the 1960 edition.
The last mention of the Pines (or was it the The Pines?) I could find with my limited online newspapers was the Aug. 21, 1958 Lathrop Optimist, a note about a group who attended the movie there. That and the Commonwealth timing suggest the drive-in didn’t reopen in 1959.
I had to go to the USGS site to find a photo, but there it was. By 1970, it had been replaced by a car dealership at 1910 W Jesse James Rd. Google Earth and Google Street View show no trace of the old screen or ramps.
(And dallasmovietheatres, I sent an email about my book to your Yahoo address.)
Boxoffice, Jan. 5, 1952: “The Tri-States circuit is giving up eight theatres in the Iowa-Nebraska area … They are the Hastings, Neb., Strand and Hastings Drive-In, the Grand at Grand Island, Neb., and the Hollywood, Victory, Iowa, State and Sioux City Drive-In at Sioux City, Iowa. Fred Teller, former manager of Tri-State’s Omaha Theatre, will run both Hastings setups. He is vice-president of the Strand Amusement Co.”
Bringing William’s 2005 comment up to date, the poorly-received 1978 comedy “Loose Shoes” (sometimes called “Coming Attractions”) ends with a lengthy shot of the Gilmore. It starts with the final frame of the final skit projected on the Gilmore’s screen, then a helicopter view sweeps around the darkened drive-in, ending on the front sign lettered with “The End.”
The good news, if you can call it that, is that the movie is now available on YouTube. The closing credit sequence begins around 1:10:35.
Boxofice, Dec. 1, 1951: “After 13 years as a United Artists salesman, Jack Drumm has resigned to take over the operation and management of the Big Sky Drive-In near Monrovia, in which he is a partner with Lou Berman. The latter is heading for Ventura to manage the 101 Drive-In, which he and Drumm have acquired from Reeves Espy.”
Boxofice, Dec. 22, 1951: “Lou Berman has disposed of his interests in the Big Sky Drive-In near Monrovia to Jack Drumm and a group of associates, and has purchased Reeves Espy’s interest in the 101 Drive-In in Ventura. Berman will have J. Arthur Drielsma, theatrical architect, and Job Sanderson as partners in the latter venture.”
Boxofice, Dec. 1, 1951: “After 13 years as a United Artists salesman, Jack Drumm has resigned to take over the operation and management of the Big Sky Drive-In near Monrovia, in which he is a partner with Lou Berman. The latter is heading for Ventura to manage the 101 Drive-In, which he and Drumm have acquired from Reeves Espy.”
Boxofice, Dec. 22, 1951: “Lou Berman has disposed of his interests in the Big Sky Drive-In near Monrovia to Jack Drumm and a group of associates, and has purchased Reeves Espy’s interest in the 101 Drive-In in Ventura. Berman will have J. Arthur Drielsma, theatrical architect, and Job Sanderson as partners in the latter venture.”
Boxoffice, Nov. 14, 1966: “The Lamont Drive-In Theatre, Lamont, Calif., has been taken over by Cecil Carlton, who has been operating the Crest Drive-In, Bakersfield, for the past 15 years. Also in his chain are the Mount Baldy Drive-In, Pomona; Magnolia Drive-In, Riverside, and others in Arizona and California.”
Boxoffice, July 14, 1958: “Beaver Falls, Pa. - Beaver Valley’s Hi-Way 51 Drive-In has been transferred from the New Castle operating company headed by Al Tate and the widow of John Wincek to Cook & Anderson Theatre Enterprises of this city.”
Boxoffice, July 14, 1958: “The University of Pittsburgh confirmed it has purchased the Schenley Theatre in Oakland from the Stanley Warner Corp., and it closed this week, permanently ending the Forbes street theatre’s entertainment after 44 years. The Schenley was built in 1914 for presentation of musical comedies, dramas and operettas, and in 1922 it became a film house. The property was acquired in 1924 by the forerunners of the present SW Corp. No sale price was mentioned.”
Boxoffice, July 14, 1958: “Very popular with parents and kiddies at the Blue Dell Drive-In is the 7:30 p.m. cartoon show on the daylight screen. This is rear-screen projection rigged up at the screen frame near the playground.”
Boxoffice, July 14, 1958: “Dr. and Mrs. C. P. Church … recently sold the Blackshere Drive-In … to Joe Carunchia and O. S. Carpenter, both former employes with Ted Laskey outdoor theatres at Fairmont and Morgantown.”
I’d like to know what source suggested that was a grand opening photo. When it ran in the 1949-50 Theatre Catalog, it was illustrating a way to winterize drive-in speakers. “Waterproof speaker covers from Central States Paper and Bag Company are in use at Ronnie’s Drive-In, St. Louis, Mo., by Fred Wehrenberg circuit. Coverings are weather resistant, easy to install.” Plus, those trees on the horizon look more like December than June.
Aerial photos suggest that the Tu-Vu scaled back to keep only its west screen active by the late 1960s. Irregularities (weeds?) were starting to grow on the east ramps in 1966, and had taken over wide sections in 1972. Also, the 1970 topo map for the area outlined only the west field as “Drive-In Theater”.
Boxoffice, June 27, 1953: “After a quarter-century in show business with her late husband, Mrs. Roy Hunt has sold her Rubidoux Drive-In near Riverside to the Sero Amusement Co., which takes over the property July 1.”
The Exhibitor, Dec. 23, 1953: “Announcement has been made of the leasing of the Gem, by Consolidated Theatres to Sero Amusement Company, Los Angeles. The Gem, closed for renovations, will open on Jan. 1. Sero Amusement Company plans to operate the former second run and art house on a first-run basis.”
The Exhibitor, Jan. 27, 1954: “The Gem, operated by Sero Amusement Company Los Angeles, opened after being remodeled.”
Motion Picture Daily, Oct. 13, 1954: “Hartford, Oct. 12 - Groton Open Air Theatre, Inc., has opened Connecticut’s newest drive-in, the 600-car capacity Groton Drive-In, on Route 12. Principals include J. Lawrence Peters, Anthony Albino, Harry F. Picazzio, Jr., and Isadore Fishbone.”
Chiming in as the spelling stickler. There’s a lot of evidence for alternate spellings, but I’d go with R. G. Flanary, Jr. From 1953 forward, that was the consistent spelling from Boxoffice and Motion Picture Daily as the theater owner was repeatedly named as part of the Virginia Motion Picture Theatres Association. Also, the Richmond Times Dispatch reported on Oct. 2, 1978, that one Robert Guy Flanary III, 22, of Richlands, uh, made the news.
Two notes (with different spellings) that suggest a September opening for the Guy Drive-In:
The Exhibitor, Sept. 6, 1950: “(new equipment) in Guy Flannery’s completely remodelled Star, Richlands, Va. Flannery has also started construction of a new 300-car drive-in at Richlands named the Guy in memory of his father.”
The Exhibitor, Sept. 20, 1950: “Buddy Flanary’s ozoner in Richlands, Va., made its debut.”
The July 30, 1989 San Bernardino County Sun gave a reason for the shutdown. “Rialto’s Foothill Drive-In also closed down last year when its owner failed to renew the lease.”
Thanks to help from the great folks at the New Mexico Department of Transportation, I have one more data point. I’ve uploaded a photo showing that Kelly’s was intact, apparently open, in October 1961.
The Placita Hills first showed up in the 1980 edition of the Motion Picture Almanac, owner W. Edge, capacity 200. Its final appearance, with the same information, was in the 1982 edition.
Aerial photos show empty land at the site in 1963, an intact drive-in in 1981 and 1982, and the screen missing by 1996.
I’ve looked but failed to find any corroboration that the Hill existed. Anyone have any good evidence that this wasn’t just a Film Daily Year Book typo?
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.”
Russellville News-Democrat, May 20, 1971: “A Cincinnati based firm, Holiday Amusement, Inc., this week purchased the Russellville Drive-In and the downtown Logan Theater … from Charles Bowles, whose theaters have been plagued by fires during the past year … Fred Douglas, general manager of the company … announced that the downtown theater will be completely re-worked with new chairs, carpeting and air-conditioning added, and will reopen this fall. A new front will be constructed on the building … Last summer the drive-in screen was damaged by fire and this winter the downtown location was the scene of an explosion-fire which heavily damaged the facility.”
Russellville News-Democrat, May 9, 1952: (display ad) “Notice is hereby given that on May 3, 1952, an application was filed in the office of the Clerk of the Logan County Court by Shelby McCallum, R. E. Foust, Homer Soloman and George Lilly, doing business as Russellville Drive-In Theatre for a permit to operate a place of public entertainment and a drive-in moving picture theatre in Logan County, Kentucky, about 1½ miles South of Russellville on the West side of Highway No. 75.”
The Russellville Drive-In was advertising in the News-Democrat by July 11, 1952. No mention of a grand opening.
Boxoffice, Nov. 28, 1953: (Classified ad, under Theatres For Sale) “Only Logan county drive-in, Russellville, Ky. 300 speakers, latest Century equipment. Shelby McCallum, Benton, Ky.” (The ad continued off and on through at least May 8, 1954.)
The Motion Picture Almanac listed this as the Russellville Drive-In from its first appearance in the 1953-54 edition until 1977.
Theatre Catalog, 1955-56: “Russellville, Ky., Drive In. Exec: S. McCollum. (300)”
Russellville News-Democrat, May 20, 1971: “A Cincinnati based firm, Holiday Amusement, Inc., this week purchased the Russellville Drive-In and the downtown Logan Theater … from Charles Bowles, whose theaters have been plagued by fires during the past year … The drive-in, which has been renamed The Jesse James Drive-In, will open full time, Wednesday, May 27 … Last summer the drive-in screen was damaged by fire and this winter the downtown location was the scene of an explosion-fire which heavily damaged the facility.”
Commonwealth included “The Pines” in its circuit listing in the 1959 Motion Picture Almanac, but dropped it for the 1960 edition.
The last mention of the Pines (or was it the The Pines?) I could find with my limited online newspapers was the Aug. 21, 1958 Lathrop Optimist, a note about a group who attended the movie there. That and the Commonwealth timing suggest the drive-in didn’t reopen in 1959.
I had to go to the USGS site to find a photo, but there it was. By 1970, it had been replaced by a car dealership at 1910 W Jesse James Rd. Google Earth and Google Street View show no trace of the old screen or ramps.
(And dallasmovietheatres, I sent an email about my book to your Yahoo address.)
Boxoffice, Jan. 5, 1952: “The Tri-States circuit is giving up eight theatres in the Iowa-Nebraska area … They are the Hastings, Neb., Strand and Hastings Drive-In, the Grand at Grand Island, Neb., and the Hollywood, Victory, Iowa, State and Sioux City Drive-In at Sioux City, Iowa. Fred Teller, former manager of Tri-State’s Omaha Theatre, will run both Hastings setups. He is vice-president of the Strand Amusement Co.”
Bringing William’s 2005 comment up to date, the poorly-received 1978 comedy “Loose Shoes” (sometimes called “Coming Attractions”) ends with a lengthy shot of the Gilmore. It starts with the final frame of the final skit projected on the Gilmore’s screen, then a helicopter view sweeps around the darkened drive-in, ending on the front sign lettered with “The End.”
The good news, if you can call it that, is that the movie is now available on YouTube. The closing credit sequence begins around 1:10:35.
Boxoffice, Nov. 5, 1962: “Fred Stein’s Statewide Theatres has refurnished the Lyric Theatre, Monrovia. The new edifice will then be renamed the Crest”
Boxofice, Dec. 1, 1951: “After 13 years as a United Artists salesman, Jack Drumm has resigned to take over the operation and management of the Big Sky Drive-In near Monrovia, in which he is a partner with Lou Berman. The latter is heading for Ventura to manage the 101 Drive-In, which he and Drumm have acquired from Reeves Espy.”
Boxofice, Dec. 22, 1951: “Lou Berman has disposed of his interests in the Big Sky Drive-In near Monrovia to Jack Drumm and a group of associates, and has purchased Reeves Espy’s interest in the 101 Drive-In in Ventura. Berman will have J. Arthur Drielsma, theatrical architect, and Job Sanderson as partners in the latter venture.”
Boxofice, Dec. 1, 1951: “After 13 years as a United Artists salesman, Jack Drumm has resigned to take over the operation and management of the Big Sky Drive-In near Monrovia, in which he is a partner with Lou Berman. The latter is heading for Ventura to manage the 101 Drive-In, which he and Drumm have acquired from Reeves Espy.”
Boxofice, Dec. 22, 1951: “Lou Berman has disposed of his interests in the Big Sky Drive-In near Monrovia to Jack Drumm and a group of associates, and has purchased Reeves Espy’s interest in the 101 Drive-In in Ventura. Berman will have J. Arthur Drielsma, theatrical architect, and Job Sanderson as partners in the latter venture.”
Boxoffice, Nov. 14, 1966: “The Lamont Drive-In Theatre, Lamont, Calif., has been taken over by Cecil Carlton, who has been operating the Crest Drive-In, Bakersfield, for the past 15 years. Also in his chain are the Mount Baldy Drive-In, Pomona; Magnolia Drive-In, Riverside, and others in Arizona and California.”
Boxoffice, July 14, 1958: “Beaver Falls, Pa. - Beaver Valley’s Hi-Way 51 Drive-In has been transferred from the New Castle operating company headed by Al Tate and the widow of John Wincek to Cook & Anderson Theatre Enterprises of this city.”
Boxoffice, July 14, 1958: “The University of Pittsburgh confirmed it has purchased the Schenley Theatre in Oakland from the Stanley Warner Corp., and it closed this week, permanently ending the Forbes street theatre’s entertainment after 44 years. The Schenley was built in 1914 for presentation of musical comedies, dramas and operettas, and in 1922 it became a film house. The property was acquired in 1924 by the forerunners of the present SW Corp. No sale price was mentioned.”
Boxoffice, July 14, 1958: “Very popular with parents and kiddies at the Blue Dell Drive-In is the 7:30 p.m. cartoon show on the daylight screen. This is rear-screen projection rigged up at the screen frame near the playground.”
Boxoffice, July 14, 1958: “Dr. and Mrs. C. P. Church … recently sold the Blackshere Drive-In … to Joe Carunchia and O. S. Carpenter, both former employes with Ted Laskey outdoor theatres at Fairmont and Morgantown.”
I’d like to know what source suggested that was a grand opening photo. When it ran in the 1949-50 Theatre Catalog, it was illustrating a way to winterize drive-in speakers. “Waterproof speaker covers from Central States Paper and Bag Company are in use at Ronnie’s Drive-In, St. Louis, Mo., by Fred Wehrenberg circuit. Coverings are weather resistant, easy to install.” Plus, those trees on the horizon look more like December than June.
Aerial photos suggest that the Tu-Vu scaled back to keep only its west screen active by the late 1960s. Irregularities (weeds?) were starting to grow on the east ramps in 1966, and had taken over wide sections in 1972. Also, the 1970 topo map for the area outlined only the west field as “Drive-In Theater”.
Boxoffice, June 27, 1953: “After a quarter-century in show business with her late husband, Mrs. Roy Hunt has sold her Rubidoux Drive-In near Riverside to the Sero Amusement Co., which takes over the property July 1.”
The photo also appeared, cropped slightly, in the Sept. 10, 1949 Boxoffice in a story on theaters in the Los Angeles area.
The Exhibitor, Dec. 23, 1953: “Announcement has been made of the leasing of the Gem, by Consolidated Theatres to Sero Amusement Company, Los Angeles. The Gem, closed for renovations, will open on Jan. 1. Sero Amusement Company plans to operate the former second run and art house on a first-run basis.”
The Exhibitor, Jan. 27, 1954: “The Gem, operated by Sero Amusement Company Los Angeles, opened after being remodeled.”
Motion Picture Daily, Oct. 13, 1954: “Hartford, Oct. 12 - Groton Open Air Theatre, Inc., has opened Connecticut’s newest drive-in, the 600-car capacity Groton Drive-In, on Route 12. Principals include J. Lawrence Peters, Anthony Albino, Harry F. Picazzio, Jr., and Isadore Fishbone.”
Chiming in as the spelling stickler. There’s a lot of evidence for alternate spellings, but I’d go with R. G. Flanary, Jr. From 1953 forward, that was the consistent spelling from Boxoffice and Motion Picture Daily as the theater owner was repeatedly named as part of the Virginia Motion Picture Theatres Association. Also, the Richmond Times Dispatch reported on Oct. 2, 1978, that one Robert Guy Flanary III, 22, of Richlands, uh, made the news.
Two notes (with different spellings) that suggest a September opening for the Guy Drive-In:
The Exhibitor, Sept. 6, 1950: “(new equipment) in Guy Flannery’s completely remodelled Star, Richlands, Va. Flannery has also started construction of a new 300-car drive-in at Richlands named the Guy in memory of his father.”
The Exhibitor, Sept. 20, 1950: “Buddy Flanary’s ozoner in Richlands, Va., made its debut.”
The July 30, 1989 San Bernardino County Sun gave a reason for the shutdown. “Rialto’s Foothill Drive-In also closed down last year when its owner failed to renew the lease.”
Thanks to help from the great folks at the New Mexico Department of Transportation, I have one more data point. I’ve uploaded a photo showing that Kelly’s was intact, apparently open, in October 1961.
The Placita Hills first showed up in the 1980 edition of the Motion Picture Almanac, owner W. Edge, capacity 200. Its final appearance, with the same information, was in the 1982 edition.
Aerial photos show empty land at the site in 1963, an intact drive-in in 1981 and 1982, and the screen missing by 1996.
I’ve looked but failed to find any corroboration that the Hill existed. Anyone have any good evidence that this wasn’t just a Film Daily Year Book typo?