Boxoffice, Oct. 29, 1955: “Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Wilson have leased the Hi-Way Theatre … from W. H. Hibbert. Ralph Watson has been manager … for the last three years.”
Boxoffice jumped the gun again. Boxoffice, July 30, 1955: “Great Falls, Mont. – Clarence Golder, operator of the Civic Center Theatre, has opened this city’s third drive-in in a period of six weeks. The new drive-in is located just south of Tenth avenue between Fourth and Fifth streets and has a capacity of 400 cars … The screen is 90 feet wide.
But two weeks later, Boxoffice, Aug. 13, 1955: “Great Falls, Mont. – Clarence Golder, owner of the Civic Center Theatre, will open his new Tenth Avenue Drive-In here in September. It will be the third drive-in here. The new drive-in will have a capacity of 400 cars, and the parking plan will more closely resemble an indoor theatre than an outdoor one. The screen will be 90 feet wide to accommodate CinemaScope.”
It finally opened, but in September or October? Boxoffice, Oct. 29, 1955: “Great Falls, Mont. - Clarence Golder, owner of the Civic Center Theatre here, has opened this community’s newest drive-in, the 450-car Tenth Avenue.”
This photo was part of the Adler Silhouette Letter ad in the Oct. 22, 1955 issue of Boxoffice and probably elsewhere. As such, it should be in the public domain.
In 1955, the Tulane Advance-Register was advertising the “Motor-In on Mooney Blvd. between Tulare and Visalia,” so I think this is the right drive-in for this note.
Boxoffice, Oct. 8, 1955: “The Harvey Amusement Co., San Francisco, has bought the 576-car Tulare Motor-In from the Robert L. Lippert theatre chain, also of San Francisco.”
One more name in Boxoffice, Oct. 1, 1955: “Early in the summer we reported the opening of the Grove, Okla., drive-in. Recently one of the former partners, Stanley James Sullins, filed a bankruptcy petition”
Boxoffice, Oct. 1, 1955: “The Quincy Drive-In on Route 24 operated under lease by Mayor Ray Parker of Brentwood, Mo., was closed Sunday (18) because highway construction activities in the vicinity made it difficult for patrons to attend the theatre. The early closing was unfortunate because the drive-in had enjoyed nice business, and weather conditions now are ideal for drive-in operations.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 10, 1955: “The Juno Theatre here has been sold by Mrs. Ethel Neitzel to Mr. and Mrs. John Hellstrom of Wittenberg, Wis. The theatre has 365 seats.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 10, 1955: “Port Lavaca, Tex. - The new 850-car drive-in under construction here was expected to be ready for opening early this month. The ozoner will have twin screens and a dual-operation concession building. The screens will be curved and will measure about 50x80 feet. The concession building is 80 feet long and 40 feet wide.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 10, 1955: “One of the Gulf coast’s most modern and de luxe drive-ins, the new Tidwell, had its formal opening at Tidwell and Homestead roads here Thursday (1) under the management of H. D. "Cotton” Griffith. The Tidwell is owned by Griffith with H. N. Mitchamore and Associates. Mitchamore is owner of the Market Street Drive-In of which Griffith has been manager the last six years. The new Tidwell has a 900-car capacity and a 90x20-foot patio with seating capacity for 200 persons. There are 17 ramps, slag-topped with steel waste from the Sheffield Steel Co. The tower is built 20 telephone poles with asbestos siding … The screen measures 110x50 feet and projection throw is 420 feet."
A few more, earlier details. Boxoffice, Sept. 10, 1955: “Mrs. Winona Allen of Springfield, Mo., widow of ? Allen, for many years the Dallas manager of National Screen, is a partner with John Castner of Mountain Grove in the ownership of the 60 Drive-In on Route 60 and the Cameo Theatre, which they purchased recently from William Dean Davis of West Plains. The management and ownership of the drive-in and theatre was formally assumed by Mrs. Allen and Castner on Sunday (4).”
Boxoffice, Sept. 10, 1955: “Fox Wasatch Corp., a subsidiary of National Theatres, Inc., took over operation of Joseph L. Lawrence theatres this week. National purchased the showhouses in Utah from Lawrence after receiving permission from the federal court in New York to do so. Theatres involved are the Uptown, Villa, Rialto, Southeast, Murray and Oak Hills Drive-In in Salt Lake and the Academy in Provo.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 10, 1955: “The Blue Mouse Theatre, a local entertainment center since 1912, is being razed to make way for a ra? garage to serve the adjoining new Medical Center. The three-story theatre was the scene of the showing of Portland’s first talking picture.”
A two-page article, with photos, in the Sept. 3, 1955 issue of Boxoffice marvelled at the speed in which the 84th & O was built. It opened “fifty-three days after the first ground was broken.”
The same picture, except showing a little more ofthe employees' uniforms, appeared in the Modern Theatre section of the Sept. 5, 1955 issue of Boxoffice, which is in the public domain.
Same drive-in? Boxoffice, Sept. 3, 1955: “Mr. and Mrs. Clayton Moschelle are operating a new drive-in at Big Timber. Public response has been excellent to the theatre’s features on the wide CinemaScope-type screen.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 27, 1955: “End of the 45-day strike at Kennecott Copper Co.’s Bingham, Utah, mine was welcome news to theatre owners this week. Especially happy (was) … George Smith (who) … opened his new 440-car drive-in at Magna in the middle of the strike. Business, he said, wasn’t what it would have been had he opened in normal times, but it’s now coming back. His ozoner gives the area 11 drive-ins within the confines of the metropolitan district.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 27, 1955: “Elida, N. M. - J. R. "Bob” Francis, owner of the Rialto Theatre in Melrose, recently acquired the Apache Theatre here. Managing for him are Mr. and Mrs. Milton Barron. Barron is a student at Eastern New Mexico University here and formerly worked at the Rialto in Melrose."
Boxoffice, Aug. 20, 1955: “Northfield, Minn. - When a bus accident caused a missout on delivery of "Violent Saturday,” the Grand Theatre was dark for the first time in eight years, not counting Christmas Eve or Day."
Boxoffice, Aug. 20, 1955: “Clarence McNeil opened his new Chief Drive-In about a mile west of town on U. S. 277. The new theatre will accommodate 450 cars.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 20, 1955: “Stewart Cluster of Johnston City, Ill., has tentatively set August 29 as the grand opening date for his 500-car Marion Drive-In on Highway 37 a mile and a half north of Marion”
Motion Picture Herald, Sept. 24, 1955: “The new Marion drive-in near Marion, Ill., has opened. It is owned by Stewart Cluster of Johnston City, Ill. The theatre lot has room for 500 automobiles.”
Boxoffice, Oct. 29, 1955: “Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Wilson have leased the Hi-Way Theatre … from W. H. Hibbert. Ralph Watson has been manager … for the last three years.”
Boxoffice jumped the gun again. Boxoffice, July 30, 1955: “Great Falls, Mont. – Clarence Golder, operator of the Civic Center Theatre, has opened this city’s third drive-in in a period of six weeks. The new drive-in is located just south of Tenth avenue between Fourth and Fifth streets and has a capacity of 400 cars … The screen is 90 feet wide.
But two weeks later, Boxoffice, Aug. 13, 1955: “Great Falls, Mont. – Clarence Golder, owner of the Civic Center Theatre, will open his new Tenth Avenue Drive-In here in September. It will be the third drive-in here. The new drive-in will have a capacity of 400 cars, and the parking plan will more closely resemble an indoor theatre than an outdoor one. The screen will be 90 feet wide to accommodate CinemaScope.”
It finally opened, but in September or October? Boxoffice, Oct. 29, 1955: “Great Falls, Mont. - Clarence Golder, owner of the Civic Center Theatre here, has opened this community’s newest drive-in, the 450-car Tenth Avenue.”
This photo was part of the Adler Silhouette Letter ad in the Oct. 22, 1955 issue of Boxoffice and probably elsewhere. As such, it should be in the public domain.
In 1955, the Tulane Advance-Register was advertising the “Motor-In on Mooney Blvd. between Tulare and Visalia,” so I think this is the right drive-in for this note.
Boxoffice, Oct. 8, 1955: “The Harvey Amusement Co., San Francisco, has bought the 576-car Tulare Motor-In from the Robert L. Lippert theatre chain, also of San Francisco.”
One more name in Boxoffice, Oct. 1, 1955: “Early in the summer we reported the opening of the Grove, Okla., drive-in. Recently one of the former partners, Stanley James Sullins, filed a bankruptcy petition”
Boxoffice, Oct. 1, 1955: “The Quincy Drive-In on Route 24 operated under lease by Mayor Ray Parker of Brentwood, Mo., was closed Sunday (18) because highway construction activities in the vicinity made it difficult for patrons to attend the theatre. The early closing was unfortunate because the drive-in had enjoyed nice business, and weather conditions now are ideal for drive-in operations.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 10, 1955: “The Juno Theatre here has been sold by Mrs. Ethel Neitzel to Mr. and Mrs. John Hellstrom of Wittenberg, Wis. The theatre has 365 seats.”
Alternate name? Boxoffice, Sept. 10, 1955: “The Chocolate Bayou Drive-In is listed in the telephone book as the Sunnyside Drive-In”
Boxoffice, Sept. 10, 1955: “Port Lavaca, Tex. - The new 850-car drive-in under construction here was expected to be ready for opening early this month. The ozoner will have twin screens and a dual-operation concession building. The screens will be curved and will measure about 50x80 feet. The concession building is 80 feet long and 40 feet wide.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 10, 1955: “One of the Gulf coast’s most modern and de luxe drive-ins, the new Tidwell, had its formal opening at Tidwell and Homestead roads here Thursday (1) under the management of H. D. "Cotton” Griffith. The Tidwell is owned by Griffith with H. N. Mitchamore and Associates. Mitchamore is owner of the Market Street Drive-In of which Griffith has been manager the last six years. The new Tidwell has a 900-car capacity and a 90x20-foot patio with seating capacity for 200 persons. There are 17 ramps, slag-topped with steel waste from the Sheffield Steel Co. The tower is built 20 telephone poles with asbestos siding … The screen measures 110x50 feet and projection throw is 420 feet."
A few more, earlier details. Boxoffice, Sept. 10, 1955: “Mrs. Winona Allen of Springfield, Mo., widow of ? Allen, for many years the Dallas manager of National Screen, is a partner with John Castner of Mountain Grove in the ownership of the 60 Drive-In on Route 60 and the Cameo Theatre, which they purchased recently from William Dean Davis of West Plains. The management and ownership of the drive-in and theatre was formally assumed by Mrs. Allen and Castner on Sunday (4).”
Boxoffice, Sept. 10, 1955: “Fox Wasatch Corp., a subsidiary of National Theatres, Inc., took over operation of Joseph L. Lawrence theatres this week. National purchased the showhouses in Utah from Lawrence after receiving permission from the federal court in New York to do so. Theatres involved are the Uptown, Villa, Rialto, Southeast, Murray and Oak Hills Drive-In in Salt Lake and the Academy in Provo.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 10, 1955: “The Blue Mouse Theatre, a local entertainment center since 1912, is being razed to make way for a ra? garage to serve the adjoining new Medical Center. The three-story theatre was the scene of the showing of Portland’s first talking picture.”
A two-page article, with photos, in the Sept. 3, 1955 issue of Boxoffice marvelled at the speed in which the 84th & O was built. It opened “fifty-three days after the first ground was broken.”
The same picture, except showing a little more ofthe employees' uniforms, appeared in the Modern Theatre section of the Sept. 5, 1955 issue of Boxoffice, which is in the public domain.
This photo appeared in the Sept. 3, 1955 issue of Boxoffice, which is in the public domain.
A wider crop of this picture appeared in the Modern Theatre section of the Sept. 3, 1955 issue of Boxoffice.
Same drive-in? Boxoffice, Sept. 3, 1955: “Mr. and Mrs. Clayton Moschelle are operating a new drive-in at Big Timber. Public response has been excellent to the theatre’s features on the wide CinemaScope-type screen.”
This photo also appeared on the cover of the Sept. 5, 1955 issue of Boxoffice. Both issues are now in the public domain.
Boxoffice, Aug. 27, 1955: “End of the 45-day strike at Kennecott Copper Co.’s Bingham, Utah, mine was welcome news to theatre owners this week. Especially happy (was) … George Smith (who) … opened his new 440-car drive-in at Magna in the middle of the strike. Business, he said, wasn’t what it would have been had he opened in normal times, but it’s now coming back. His ozoner gives the area 11 drive-ins within the confines of the metropolitan district.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 27, 1955: “Elida, N. M. - J. R. "Bob” Francis, owner of the Rialto Theatre in Melrose, recently acquired the Apache Theatre here. Managing for him are Mr. and Mrs. Milton Barron. Barron is a student at Eastern New Mexico University here and formerly worked at the Rialto in Melrose."
Boxoffice, Aug. 20, 1955: “Northfield, Minn. - When a bus accident caused a missout on delivery of "Violent Saturday,” the Grand Theatre was dark for the first time in eight years, not counting Christmas Eve or Day."
Boxoffice, Aug. 20, 1955: “Clarence McNeil opened his new Chief Drive-In about a mile west of town on U. S. 277. The new theatre will accommodate 450 cars.”
The 1955-56 Theatre Catalog included the Palm under Largo, owner H. J. Knight, capacity 400 cars.
Boxoffice, Aug. 20, 1955: “George E. Smith is the new owner of the Palm Drive-In. He purchased it from H. J. Knight.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 20, 1955: “Stewart Cluster of Johnston City, Ill., has tentatively set August 29 as the grand opening date for his 500-car Marion Drive-In on Highway 37 a mile and a half north of Marion”
Motion Picture Herald, Sept. 24, 1955: “The new Marion drive-in near Marion, Ill., has opened. It is owned by Stewart Cluster of Johnston City, Ill. The theatre lot has room for 500 automobiles.”