Boxoffice, July 19, 1952: “COFFEYVILLE, KAS. - The Skyliner Drive-In has opened, according to Tal Richardson, owner. Richardson also operates another airer.”
Boxoffice, July 19, 1952: “Commonwealth Theatres has begun work on a new drive-in in Monett, Mo. The 300-car airer is expected to be open in about seven weeks.”
Boxoffice, July 19, 1952: “BELOIT, KAS. - Construction of Midcentral’s Beloit Drive-In will be completed soon, according to Manager Chett Posey. The airer is located east of here on Highway 24.”
Boxoffice, July 12, 1952: “ROCKPORT, TEX. - The new Tarpon Drive-In, located on the Aransas Pass-Ingleside highway, opened July 3. It is owned and operated by C. L. Walker and E. F. Falgout, and has capacity for 350 cars.”
Even earlier. Boxoffice, July 12, 1952: “HENRIETTA, TEX. - This city’s first drive-in, the Tower, has been opened by Jim Bailey, formerly of Odessa. It accommodates 200 cars and is located one-half mile east of town.”
Boxoffice, July 12, 1952: “MONTGOMERY, ALA. - John R. Moffitt of Moffitt Theatres has announced plans to build his second drive-in exclusively for Negroes. Moffitt said that he hoped to have the $75,000, 500-car airer which will be located on the Mobile Highway near here, open in 90 days. The first Moffitt drive-in for Negroes is located in Tuskegee.”
Boxoffice, July 5, 1952: “Cecil Ward of Bassett, Va., named his new drive-in at Madison, N.C., the Lakeside. This situation even has a stage and is a good example of what can be done under federal building restrictions.”
Boxoffice, July 5, 1952: “POTOSI, MO. - Harry Blount opened his 350-car drive-in near here Wednesday (2). He also operates the 500-seat Plaza here and is part owner of the Rolla Drive-In on U.S. 66 near Rolla, Mo.”
Boxoffice, July 5, 1952: “LOUISIANA, MO. - The Clark Drive-In was opened Wednesday (2) by the Armentrout circuit, headed by Russell Armentrout of this city, on U.S. 54 across the Mississippi river south of Pittsfield. It is named after Clark Armentrout, founder of the circuit.”
According to a Dec. 17, 1973 note in the Kansas City Star, a district court judge banned the drive-in in Fort Scott and its owner, George Techlenburg, from showing X-rated movies if they could be seen from public streets. “There will be no big fence to hide the screen from under-age viewers,” Techlenburg said. “I’ll just wait until next year when the theater reopens to decide what to do.”
Boxoffice, July 5, 1952: “The Valuskis in Willowbrook, recently purchased from Lorraine Valuskis by Mrs. J. Clark, is undergoing a facelifting job and will henceforth by known as the Clark”
Despite that note, the 1956 Film Daily Year Book continued to call this theater the “Valuskkis”.
Boxoffice, July 5, 1952: “Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Froehlich have opened their new Rustic Theatre, a 260-seater, in this mountain resort. The cement block structure faces the Idyllwild Inn.”
Boxoffice, Jan. 26, 1952: “The Starvue Drive-In on South Highway 61, Blytheville, Ark., has been sold by W. L. Moxley of Blytheville to E. A. Mooney of Bloomfield (MO). The latter has taken over the theatre and expects to open it in March, Moxley said. The Starvue has been operated by Moxley since it opened in 1949. He said he planned to purchase a theatre in Memphis but that he would continue to reside in Blytheville, where he also owns the Mex and Savoy theatres.”
Boxoffice, Jan. 26, 1952: “CLATSKANIE, ORE. - The Westport Theatre was sold by Mr. and Mrs. Leslie G. Noble to Mr. and Mrs. R. C. Nietzel of Seaside, who took possession this month.”
Boxoffice, Jan. 26, 1952: “Sutherlin, Ore. - Theatregoers here were somewhat confused when advertising began appearing everywhere for a Grand Theatre. It all started when Lloyd Wood, local theatre manager, made arrangements to have the sign on the front changed from Rand to Grand. The switch was to have been made by a certain date and Wood, assuming it would be, started listed the Rand as the Grand in all his advertising. Patrons looking for the Grand couldn’t find it because the front wasn’t changed until later. Explaining the change, Wood said, "The name ‘Rand’ had little or no meaning to anyone in this community after the former owners had sold their interests. That, coupled with the fact that a ‘G’ could be added to the present sign at little cost, was our main reason for the change.” Wood also operates the Jewel here."
Boxoffice, Jan. 26, 1952: “The former Basin Community Theatre has been taken over from the Chamber of Commerce by the town of Basin. The chamber sought the change to permit it to conduct other activities beneficial to the town. The city fathers immediately began booking pictures.”
Boxoffice, March 15, 1952: “NORTON, KAS. - Fred Munson, owner of drive-ins in Winfield, Arkansas City and Scott City, has started construction of a new 300-car drive-in here. Construction actually started March 1, Munson said, and opening is slated for late spring.”
Boxoffice, March 15, 1952: (Kansas City notes) “Paul McCarty, formerly with Shreve Theatre Equipment Co. here, and who purchased the Starlite Drive-In at Algona, Iowa, about one year ago, was in town last week and said he had completed negotiations for the sale of the drive-in. McCarty would not disclose the name of the purchaser”
Boxoffice, March 15, 1952: “W. H. Eichhorn, Mounds, is taking over the 51 Drive-In outside of Cairo, operated the last few years by Harry Young and Fred Sullivan”
Boxoffice, March 15, 1952: “Jack Butler, owner of the Skyway Drive-In south of Danville, … lost a drive-in screen and building on his Hoopeston location in the fall in 1950.”
Boxoffice, March 15, 1952: “Jack Butler, owner of the Skyway Drive-In south of Danville, estimated $15,000 to $20,000 as the cost to replace his screen blown down in the February windstorm. The figure represents replacing the damaged screen with a larger one 70 feet high. The three-year-old structure was 56 feet in height. Burler said he anticipated opening for business during the first or second week of March despite the loss. At that time he expects to have the car capacity increased from 600 to 1,200. The installation was partly covered by insurance, he said. Butler lost a drive-in screen and building on his Hoopeston location in the fall in 1950.”
Boxoffice, March 15, 1952: “An expansion program at the Parsons Drive-In was announced by Louis Stein, owner. He said one of the major improvements will be a new ramp designed to increase car capacity 20 per cent. The old ramps will be regraded. Some new projection equipment has been installed and the screen is being enlarged and resurfaced. Snack bar and additional playground equipment will be added. Other improvements will include repainting and redecorating.”
Boxoffice, July 19, 1952: “Mrs. Edith Major has opened her Major Drive-In on Route 24 near Paris, Mo.”
Boxoffice, July 19, 1952: “COFFEYVILLE, KAS. - The Skyliner Drive-In has opened, according to Tal Richardson, owner. Richardson also operates another airer.”
Boxoffice, July 19, 1952: “Commonwealth Theatres has begun work on a new drive-in in Monett, Mo. The 300-car airer is expected to be open in about seven weeks.”
Boxoffice, July 19, 1952: “BELOIT, KAS. - Construction of Midcentral’s Beloit Drive-In will be completed soon, according to Manager Chett Posey. The airer is located east of here on Highway 24.”
Boxoffice, July 19, 1952: “Ed Johnson … owns the Garland Theatre in Spokane and also the new drive-in, the West End, which opened Wednesday (16)”
Same drive-in?
Boxoffice, July 12, 1952: “ROCKPORT, TEX. - The new Tarpon Drive-In, located on the Aransas Pass-Ingleside highway, opened July 3. It is owned and operated by C. L. Walker and E. F. Falgout, and has capacity for 350 cars.”
Even earlier. Boxoffice, July 12, 1952: “HENRIETTA, TEX. - This city’s first drive-in, the Tower, has been opened by Jim Bailey, formerly of Odessa. It accommodates 200 cars and is located one-half mile east of town.”
Boxoffice, July 12, 1952: “MONTGOMERY, ALA. - John R. Moffitt of Moffitt Theatres has announced plans to build his second drive-in exclusively for Negroes. Moffitt said that he hoped to have the $75,000, 500-car airer which will be located on the Mobile Highway near here, open in 90 days. The first Moffitt drive-in for Negroes is located in Tuskegee.”
Boxoffice, July 5, 1952: “Cecil Ward of Bassett, Va., named his new drive-in at Madison, N.C., the Lakeside. This situation even has a stage and is a good example of what can be done under federal building restrictions.”
A date!
Boxoffice, July 5, 1952: “POTOSI, MO. - Harry Blount opened his 350-car drive-in near here Wednesday (2). He also operates the 500-seat Plaza here and is part owner of the Rolla Drive-In on U.S. 66 near Rolla, Mo.”
A date! A reason for the name!
Boxoffice, July 5, 1952: “LOUISIANA, MO. - The Clark Drive-In was opened Wednesday (2) by the Armentrout circuit, headed by Russell Armentrout of this city, on U.S. 54 across the Mississippi river south of Pittsfield. It is named after Clark Armentrout, founder of the circuit.”
According to a Dec. 17, 1973 note in the Kansas City Star, a district court judge banned the drive-in in Fort Scott and its owner, George Techlenburg, from showing X-rated movies if they could be seen from public streets. “There will be no big fence to hide the screen from under-age viewers,” Techlenburg said. “I’ll just wait until next year when the theater reopens to decide what to do.”
Boxoffice, July 5, 1952: “The Valuskis in Willowbrook, recently purchased from Lorraine Valuskis by Mrs. J. Clark, is undergoing a facelifting job and will henceforth by known as the Clark”
Despite that note, the 1956 Film Daily Year Book continued to call this theater the “Valuskkis”.
Boxoffice, July 5, 1952: “Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Froehlich have opened their new Rustic Theatre, a 260-seater, in this mountain resort. The cement block structure faces the Idyllwild Inn.”
Boxoffice, Jan. 26, 1952: “The Starvue Drive-In on South Highway 61, Blytheville, Ark., has been sold by W. L. Moxley of Blytheville to E. A. Mooney of Bloomfield (MO). The latter has taken over the theatre and expects to open it in March, Moxley said. The Starvue has been operated by Moxley since it opened in 1949. He said he planned to purchase a theatre in Memphis but that he would continue to reside in Blytheville, where he also owns the Mex and Savoy theatres.”
Boxoffice, Jan. 26, 1952: “CLATSKANIE, ORE. - The Westport Theatre was sold by Mr. and Mrs. Leslie G. Noble to Mr. and Mrs. R. C. Nietzel of Seaside, who took possession this month.”
Boxoffice, Jan. 26, 1952: “Sutherlin, Ore. - Theatregoers here were somewhat confused when advertising began appearing everywhere for a Grand Theatre. It all started when Lloyd Wood, local theatre manager, made arrangements to have the sign on the front changed from Rand to Grand. The switch was to have been made by a certain date and Wood, assuming it would be, started listed the Rand as the Grand in all his advertising. Patrons looking for the Grand couldn’t find it because the front wasn’t changed until later. Explaining the change, Wood said, "The name ‘Rand’ had little or no meaning to anyone in this community after the former owners had sold their interests. That, coupled with the fact that a ‘G’ could be added to the present sign at little cost, was our main reason for the change.” Wood also operates the Jewel here."
Boxoffice, Jan. 26, 1952: “The former Basin Community Theatre has been taken over from the Chamber of Commerce by the town of Basin. The chamber sought the change to permit it to conduct other activities beneficial to the town. The city fathers immediately began booking pictures.”
Boxoffice, March 15, 1952: “NORTON, KAS. - Fred Munson, owner of drive-ins in Winfield, Arkansas City and Scott City, has started construction of a new 300-car drive-in here. Construction actually started March 1, Munson said, and opening is slated for late spring.”
Boxoffice, March 15, 1952: (Kansas City notes) “Paul McCarty, formerly with Shreve Theatre Equipment Co. here, and who purchased the Starlite Drive-In at Algona, Iowa, about one year ago, was in town last week and said he had completed negotiations for the sale of the drive-in. McCarty would not disclose the name of the purchaser”
I can’t find any references to this being named the “Willow Springs” Drive-In. Everything I see points to just “Willow”.
Boxoffice, March 15, 1952: “R. D. Fischer, Willow Springs, plans to call his drive-in near that city the Willow. He hopes to open about May 1”
Theatre Catalog, 1955-56: “Willow D. I., Exec: R. D. Fisher, capacity 184”
Boxoffice, March 15, 1952: “W. H. Eichhorn, Mounds, is taking over the 51 Drive-In outside of Cairo, operated the last few years by Harry Young and Fred Sullivan”
Boxoffice, March 15, 1952: “Jack Butler, owner of the Skyway Drive-In south of Danville, … lost a drive-in screen and building on his Hoopeston location in the fall in 1950.”
Boxoffice, March 15, 1952: “Jack Butler, owner of the Skyway Drive-In south of Danville, estimated $15,000 to $20,000 as the cost to replace his screen blown down in the February windstorm. The figure represents replacing the damaged screen with a larger one 70 feet high. The three-year-old structure was 56 feet in height. Burler said he anticipated opening for business during the first or second week of March despite the loss. At that time he expects to have the car capacity increased from 600 to 1,200. The installation was partly covered by insurance, he said. Butler lost a drive-in screen and building on his Hoopeston location in the fall in 1950.”
Boxoffice, March 15, 1952: “An expansion program at the Parsons Drive-In was announced by Louis Stein, owner. He said one of the major improvements will be a new ramp designed to increase car capacity 20 per cent. The old ramps will be regraded. Some new projection equipment has been installed and the screen is being enlarged and resurfaced. Snack bar and additional playground equipment will be added. Other improvements will include repainting and redecorating.”