More Corrections: The Highway Theatre was the first seasonal indoor movie theater in Jefferson City, and the State Theatre is not a dominate mainstream theater. Only the Capitol Theatre is the dominant mainstream movie house in Jefferson City.
As of 1947, the State Theatre does show only a minimum of first-run features. The State Theatre is primarily a double-feature second-run house (sometimes third-run) with B things on weekends. Right after the Highway Theatre closed, the Roxy Theatre launched with a similar policy to the Highway Theatre and was also operated seasonally. The Roxy ran a mix of first-run and second-run features. Some first-run features the Roxy ran include “Fun and Fancy Free” but the Roxy did brought back some films that either came from the Highway or the Capitol, such as “It’s A Wonderful Life” and “Song Of The South”. Speaking of Disney, Disney films were very spotty at the time. “Fun and Fancy Free” ran at the Roxy while “Melody Time” ran at the Capitol. Two first-runs in two theaters does make sense for a city with 43,000 people.
Cecil Hoffman was the first manager of the Skylark.
Hoffman, a native of Topeka, Kansas who lived in Jefferson City as a young boy, was lucky to be alive at the age of 18 after he accidentally swallowed a large three-inch pin into his throat while cleaning his new car on October 15, 1935. He was transported by ambulance to St. Louis where surgeons removed the pin from his throat at Barnes Hospital.
Corrections: The Highway Theatre is an indoor movie house, not a drive-in theater. It was very confusing because of its name. It was located on 700 W Dunklin St, Jefferson City, MO 65101.
Also, the Highway Theatre ran primarily first-run features, but it can sometimes do either a second-run, a rerelease, or a weekend double-feature of a second-run/B thing in once in a while. In portions of its history, some of the first-run features the Highway Theatre played would’ve been shown at either the Capitol Theatre or the State Theatre, such as “Ceasar and Cleopatra” and “It’s A Wonderful Life” (the Capitol would’ve picked up both titles nonetheless, but its surprising to see both titles running in a short-lived theater).
The Highway Theatre did not appear as much in advertisements, some of which including opening date were unclear due to lost info. Showtimes for the Highway Theatre as I surfaced only appeared during the middle of both years, meaning that the Highway Theatre could be a seasonal movie house (possibly from May to September).
The Highway Theatre closed after 1947 following reconstruction on Highway 50 in May 1948 which the Kieselbach Corporation company had granted two permits for improvements on Highway 50. The theater was demolished the following month to make way for a used car lot for Sexton Motors.
Any other additional information on the Highway Theatre would be greatly appreciated, and will be updated as soon as we get information.
Some of its original installations include a 50x46ft screen, a 40x30ft concession/projection building, and a capacity of 300 cars. it was first owned by Lester Soule, and was later operated by Daytz Theatre Enterprises Corporation.
Throughout its history, the theater area has a long history of vehicle accidents, even during the theater’s construction.
The Norway Drive-In closed after the 1985 season, and was last owned by Kenneth Kilgore of Paris, Maine.
It was once operated by Peter J. Marrone, who joined Affiliated Theatres by 1952. A few years later, it was operated by the Daytz Theatre Enterprises Corporation.
The Sturbridge Drive-In closed in 1968, and was demolished a few years later to make way for another racetrack but the screen was still standing. The racetrack was demolished several years later.
The Sturbridge Host Hotel and Conference Center now occupies the former theater site.
The Pioneer Valley Drive-In opened its gates on September 9, 1951 with “Petty Girl” and “Branded” (unknown if any short subjects added). It was first operated by John Whitney, and his brother Oakley who was the projectionist.
It was renamed simply the “Pioneer Drive-In” at the start of the 1972 season. When the 1980s rolled along, the Pioneer Drive-In received a number of incidents.
On May 17, 1980, both the Orange Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police dispersed an unruly crowd inside the theater. A 19-year-old Athol man was arrested on a charge of disorderly conduct and released on personal recognizance at the Athol police station. A similar incident happened on April 7, 1984 but not much info.
On May 15, 1981, a Class A brush fire was extinguished near the Pioneer Drive-In, which the theater itself received no damage.
On June 12, 1982, the snack bar was closed for one evening following the manager reported to police that a number of kids were throwing objects and cursing near the snack bar. The kids vanished by the time police arrived. The theater also received trouble in May 1984 following concerns over several suspicious kids.
On August 5, 1982, police investigated a report of two men coming out of the woods near the theater carrying backpacks and sleeping bags. They were spotted heading for the railroad tracks, but the suspects fled after an officer spotted him, and both were never found.
On August 18, 1983, the operator of the theater was picking blueberries when he turned around and finds several police officers notifying him that he parked his car illegally.
On October 17, 1983, three speaker posts were knocked over during a vandalism report.
On September 3, 1984, police were called after reports of a person riding his bike inside the concession stand. Police immediately took the bike to the station. This came one week after a break-in at the theater.
The Pioneer Drive-In closed after the 1985 season and was demolished in mid-1986.
The Joy Theatre closed for the final time on October 1, 1980 with “Revenge Of The Bushido Blade” and “Dolemite”. It originally closed due to repairs, but later confirmed as its final closing.
More Corrections: The Highway Theatre was the first seasonal indoor movie theater in Jefferson City, and the State Theatre is not a dominate mainstream theater. Only the Capitol Theatre is the dominant mainstream movie house in Jefferson City.
The actual opening date is May 28, 1949.
Where’s the projection/concession booth(s)?
Cecil Hoffman was the first manager of the Skylark.
The actual opening date is September 20, 1949, featuring an original 50x60ft screen.
Once operated by Commonwealth Theatres.
Corrections: The Highway Theatre is an indoor movie house, not a drive-in theater. It was very confusing because of its name. It was located on 700 W Dunklin St, Jefferson City, MO 65101.
Also, the Highway Theatre ran primarily first-run features, but it can sometimes do either a second-run, a rerelease, or a weekend double-feature of a second-run/B thing in once in a while. In portions of its history, some of the first-run features the Highway Theatre played would’ve been shown at either the Capitol Theatre or the State Theatre, such as “Ceasar and Cleopatra” and “It’s A Wonderful Life” (the Capitol would’ve picked up both titles nonetheless, but its surprising to see both titles running in a short-lived theater).
The Highway Theatre did not appear as much in advertisements, some of which including opening date were unclear due to lost info. Showtimes for the Highway Theatre as I surfaced only appeared during the middle of both years, meaning that the Highway Theatre could be a seasonal movie house (possibly from May to September).
The Highway Theatre closed after 1947 following reconstruction on Highway 50 in May 1948 which the Kieselbach Corporation company had granted two permits for improvements on Highway 50. The theater was demolished the following month to make way for a used car lot for Sexton Motors.
Opened in 1997.
First operated by K-Theatres Corporation, later by Commonwealth Theatres, and finally United Artists.
First operated by K-Theatres Corporation, later by Commonwealth Theatres, and finally United Artists. The actual closing date is September 7, 1999.
August 1958.
Closed on September 4, 1980 with Walt Disney’s “Herbie Goes Bananas” due to lack of quality films.
It was renamed the Elmira Theatre on September 26, 1952 after major remodeling. The Elmira Theatre closed as a movie house in late 1974.
The actual closing date is September 18, 2002. The theater closed due to parking problems associated with the nearby Coach USA Center.
Closed in the mid-1980s.
I’m very sure that this started life as the West Springfield Drive-In.
Actually, that’s the Vaudette Theatre in Salem, Oregon.
The actual opening date is March 4, 1908.
Some of its original installations include a 50x46ft screen, a 40x30ft concession/projection building, and a capacity of 300 cars. it was first owned by Lester Soule, and was later operated by Daytz Theatre Enterprises Corporation.
The Norway Drive-In closed after the 1985 season, and was last owned by Kenneth Kilgore of Paris, Maine.
Correction: It opened with “The Petty Girl” and “Branded”, not “Pretty Girl”.
It was once operated by Peter J. Marrone, who joined Affiliated Theatres by 1952. A few years later, it was operated by the Daytz Theatre Enterprises Corporation.
The Sturbridge Drive-In closed in 1968, and was demolished a few years later to make way for another racetrack but the screen was still standing. The racetrack was demolished several years later.
The Sturbridge Host Hotel and Conference Center now occupies the former theater site.
Edited from my July 19, 2020 (11:51 am) comment:
The Pioneer Valley Drive-In opened its gates on September 9, 1951 with “Petty Girl” and “Branded” (unknown if any short subjects added). It was first operated by John Whitney, and his brother Oakley who was the projectionist.
It was renamed simply the “Pioneer Drive-In” at the start of the 1972 season. When the 1980s rolled along, the Pioneer Drive-In received a number of incidents.
On May 17, 1980, both the Orange Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police dispersed an unruly crowd inside the theater. A 19-year-old Athol man was arrested on a charge of disorderly conduct and released on personal recognizance at the Athol police station. A similar incident happened on April 7, 1984 but not much info.
On May 15, 1981, a Class A brush fire was extinguished near the Pioneer Drive-In, which the theater itself received no damage.
On June 12, 1982, the snack bar was closed for one evening following the manager reported to police that a number of kids were throwing objects and cursing near the snack bar. The kids vanished by the time police arrived. The theater also received trouble in May 1984 following concerns over several suspicious kids.
On August 5, 1982, police investigated a report of two men coming out of the woods near the theater carrying backpacks and sleeping bags. They were spotted heading for the railroad tracks, but the suspects fled after an officer spotted him, and both were never found.
On August 18, 1983, the operator of the theater was picking blueberries when he turned around and finds several police officers notifying him that he parked his car illegally.
On October 17, 1983, three speaker posts were knocked over during a vandalism report.
On September 3, 1984, police were called after reports of a person riding his bike inside the concession stand. Police immediately took the bike to the station. This came one week after a break-in at the theater.
The Pioneer Drive-In closed after the 1985 season and was demolished in mid-1986.
Closed after the 1980 season.
The Joy Theatre closed for the final time on October 1, 1980 with “Revenge Of The Bushido Blade” and “Dolemite”. It originally closed due to repairs, but later confirmed as its final closing.
On March 24, 2024, Round Lake Beach Police and Fire officials responded to a break-in after reports of someone breaking inside the abandoned theater.