Boxoffice, April 9, 1973: “Eldon Yergenson, owner of the Hyland Drive-In, Cedar City, announced recently that he’s going to expand his theatre. Plans call for installing EPRAD car heaters and the addition of a new theatre with a capacity of 200. Construction is to begin this spring.”
NYozoner is right. We need to add Thunderbird Drive-In as a previous name. Plus, its final name was the no-direction Lamont Drive-In, so CT style says that should be the name for this page.
The 1963 Los Angeles film exchange directory included the Thunderbird Drive-In in Lamont, run by Sero Amusement.
The drive-in was advertising in the Bakersfield Californian as the Thunderbird by September 1960, and those ads continued into September 1966. By December 1966, it was advertising as the Lamont Drive-In. The last Lamont ad I could find in the Californian was Nov. 1, 1968. That one featured Spanish-language films, so it’s possible that the drive-in continued to operate without advertising in an English-language newspaper.
The Motion Picture Almanac was often slow to respond to changes. The MPA drive-in list entries serving Lamont changed from Lamont (1950-54), to South Lamont (1955-62), to Thunderbird (1963-76). When the MPA rebooted its list in 1977, there was nothing active in Lamont.
The MPA listed owners as Karr & Kendig (1950-55), then spelled Karr & Kendic (1956-61), then C. E. Langford & Assoc. (1962), then Los Angeles Drive-In Thea. Co. (1963-66). MPA did not include owner info in its 1967-76 drive-in lists. All of these entries showed a capacity of 450 cars.
Boxoffice, Dec. 18, 1961: “Smellerama” came to Humboldt quite by accident during a recent showing of Paramount’s sports reel, “Speedway.” Sunday matinee patrons at the Humota Theatre were so impressed by the realism of the short, filmed during auto races at Daytona Beach, that they stopped by the theatre office on the way out to compliment Manager Fred Meyer. “So real,” several remarked, “you could even smell the rubber as the drivers gun around the track!” Others told Meyer it was “the greatest theatre stunt they ever had seen.” And they were going to recommend the show to all of their friends, because seeing it was “just like being in one of the cars, especially with that smell of hot tires!” Meyer agreed it was a good film, but lost no time investigating. He finally found the “realistic” scent of burning rubber was coming from a faulty fan belt on the furnace blower.
Boxoffice, Oct. 2, 1961: “Excellent turnouts greeted the reopening of the redecorated, remodeled Lemoore Theatre by the new owners, Mr. and Mrs. Earl Wood. Associated with the Woods in the operation of the theatre are Mr. and Mrs. Guy Scott. The Woods and Scotts are former residents of Salinas, where Wood also operated a motion picture theatre. The Woods purchased the theare from A. O. Leino last spring, after he had operated it for several years. Before opening, the Woods installed new seating.”
Boxoffice, Oct. 2, 1961: “Fourteen Walt Disney productions have been booked for showing this fall by Manager Charles Heitz of the Marcha Theatre. Heitz reopened the theatre late in the summer after closing for a thorough remodeling and renovation of the theatre’s interior. Improvements include 71 new loge seats, new wallpaper, new drapes and new booth equipment.”
Yet another transaction. Boxoffice, Sept. 4, 1961: “Ralph Stephany of Douglas, Wyo., has closed the Elite Theatre, Crawford, Neb., and does not anticipate reopening”
Boxoffice, Nov. 28, 1960: “Chris Gorder, Poplar, Mont., exhibitor who has a habit of successful promotions, leased his drive-in for one night to the local Chevrolet dealer, who then advertised free admission on that night to all Chevrolet owners, plus a chance to win a hunting car given by the dealer. Successful? Over 500 cars tried to get in the 185-car drive-in, and the Chevy dealer was obliged to lease the theatre for three additional nights.”
Boxoffice, Nov. 28, 1960: “TRINIDAD, COLO. - New seating installed at the Isis Theatre is proving immensely popular with customers, according to Ben Naccarato, the manager. The new International seats were installed on the wide center plan, and while theatre capacity was reduced, the comfort and convenience for patrons were increased. Naccarato also has placed new Mohawk carpeting throughout the theatre and carried out a painting program inside the theatre. Attractive murals of mountain and lake scenes have been added to the auditorium and lobby walls.”
Boxoffice, June 20, 1960: “CUSTER, WASH. - A $50,000 drive-in theatre is to be built at the corner of the Haynie and Birch Bay-Lynden roads north of here as the building boom in this section of Whatcom County continues. Whatcom is the most northwesterly county in the U. S. Building the theatre are Philip Cook, Arline Dent, Mrs. John Laxdarhl and Wallace Dent.”
Boxoffice, Nov. 2, 1959: “The Park Theatre, a south Denver subsequent-run situation prior to its closing several years ago, is undergoing a complete remodelling and renovation and will reopen soon as the new Capri Theatre.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 1, 1958: “Harold E. and Mayme C. Brown have closed and dismantled their Cactus Drive-In, Shoshone (sic), Wyo., and will not open the Regent in town this fall. They are devoting all of their time to their grocery business.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 1, 1958: “Harold E. and Mayme C. Brown have closed and dismantled their Cactus Drive-In, Shoshone (sic), Wyo., and will not open the Regent in town this fall. They are devoting all of their time to their grocery business.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 25, 1958: “KINSLEY, KAS. - Mrs. Maxine Dixon, manager of the Palace Theatre here for the past four months, has purchased the theatre from the Kinsley Development Corp., which had operated the movie house since February 2. The development group was formed specifically for taking over keeping the theatre open after former owners gave up the business. The Palace had been operated since 1918 by the late Dr. C. C. Sterrett who in 1932 sold a half interest to Commonwealth Amusement Corp. Upon Dr. Sterrett’s death in 1940 his son, Huston Sterrett, became manager of the house until it closed in February 1957.”
The Modern Theatre section of the July 3, 1954 issue of Boxoffice ran a two-page story (with photos) about the Peerlex’s basement “lounge”. Since the small lobby had no room for a snack bar, the owners built one in the basement and lured patrons to join the “Peerlex Theatre Club” with free hot dogs or popcorn. The two rooms were 40x15 feet, decorated with free airline travel posters. There was a radio “playing at all times” and two pinball machines.
Looking at HistoricAerials, I’d say that the modern-day address closest to the Sunrise screen tower is 6369 Brando Loop, Fair Oaks, CA 95628, between Welles and Astaire lanes.
Google Maps says that the entire Sunrise site is within its boundaries of Orangevale, a census-designated place, not Fair Oaks, an unincorporated community on the south side of Greenback Lane. Of course, the people who live there now get their mail from the Fair Oaks post office.
The Feb. 6, 1961 Modern Theatre section of Boxoffice magazine included a lengthy article about the process of moving the Post Oak three miles north of its original location, which closed at the end of November 1959. The 96x28-foot screen tower was broken down into three sections and transported by house movers. Speaker posts were chipped out of the concrete and were spaced farther apart - 20 feet instead of 17 feet. The playground used the old equipment but in a larger area. At the concession stand, the old pink face brick was discarded for cement blocks. The full moving project cost over $150,000. The Post Oak reopened in June 1960.
Boxoffice, March 23, 1957: “The Reel Joy Theatre will close April 2, according to Alvin "Ike” Hables, owner. The theatre has been showing films to King City residents 31 years. It was started by Les Hables, Ike’s father. Ike took over the business in 1922 and has operated it since. He stated that pictures will be shown until April 2, the final date of current scheduling."
Google Maps doesn’t like the old Knoll Street address. The closest I could find to the entrance is 42 N Knoll St, Cedar City, UT 84721.
The viewing field is adjacent to a car dealership which faces Main Street, but the old Hyland entrance is clearly on Knoll.
Boxoffice, April 9, 1973: “Eldon Yergenson, owner of the Hyland Drive-In, Cedar City, announced recently that he’s going to expand his theatre. Plans call for installing EPRAD car heaters and the addition of a new theatre with a capacity of 200. Construction is to begin this spring.”
Independent Film Journal, Nov. 5, 1960: “The Main Street, indoor theatre, and the Major Drive-In, Paris, Mo., have been closed.”
NYozoner is right. We need to add Thunderbird Drive-In as a previous name. Plus, its final name was the no-direction Lamont Drive-In, so CT style says that should be the name for this page.
The 1963 Los Angeles film exchange directory included the Thunderbird Drive-In in Lamont, run by Sero Amusement.
The drive-in was advertising in the Bakersfield Californian as the Thunderbird by September 1960, and those ads continued into September 1966. By December 1966, it was advertising as the Lamont Drive-In. The last Lamont ad I could find in the Californian was Nov. 1, 1968. That one featured Spanish-language films, so it’s possible that the drive-in continued to operate without advertising in an English-language newspaper.
The Motion Picture Almanac was often slow to respond to changes. The MPA drive-in list entries serving Lamont changed from Lamont (1950-54), to South Lamont (1955-62), to Thunderbird (1963-76). When the MPA rebooted its list in 1977, there was nothing active in Lamont.
The MPA listed owners as Karr & Kendig (1950-55), then spelled Karr & Kendic (1956-61), then C. E. Langford & Assoc. (1962), then Los Angeles Drive-In Thea. Co. (1963-66). MPA did not include owner info in its 1967-76 drive-in lists. All of these entries showed a capacity of 450 cars.
From the Jan. 1, 1962 issue of Boxoffice, which appears to be in the public domain.
Boxoffice, Dec. 18, 1961: “Smellerama” came to Humboldt quite by accident during a recent showing of Paramount’s sports reel, “Speedway.” Sunday matinee patrons at the Humota Theatre were so impressed by the realism of the short, filmed during auto races at Daytona Beach, that they stopped by the theatre office on the way out to compliment Manager Fred Meyer. “So real,” several remarked, “you could even smell the rubber as the drivers gun around the track!” Others told Meyer it was “the greatest theatre stunt they ever had seen.” And they were going to recommend the show to all of their friends, because seeing it was “just like being in one of the cars, especially with that smell of hot tires!” Meyer agreed it was a good film, but lost no time investigating. He finally found the “realistic” scent of burning rubber was coming from a faulty fan belt on the furnace blower.
Boxoffice, Oct. 2, 1961: “Excellent turnouts greeted the reopening of the redecorated, remodeled Lemoore Theatre by the new owners, Mr. and Mrs. Earl Wood. Associated with the Woods in the operation of the theatre are Mr. and Mrs. Guy Scott. The Woods and Scotts are former residents of Salinas, where Wood also operated a motion picture theatre. The Woods purchased the theare from A. O. Leino last spring, after he had operated it for several years. Before opening, the Woods installed new seating.”
Boxoffice, Oct. 2, 1961: “Fourteen Walt Disney productions have been booked for showing this fall by Manager Charles Heitz of the Marcha Theatre. Heitz reopened the theatre late in the summer after closing for a thorough remodeling and renovation of the theatre’s interior. Improvements include 71 new loge seats, new wallpaper, new drapes and new booth equipment.”
Yet another transaction. Boxoffice, Sept. 4, 1961: “Ralph Stephany of Douglas, Wyo., has closed the Elite Theatre, Crawford, Neb., and does not anticipate reopening”
Boxoffice, Nov. 28, 1960: “Chris Gorder, Poplar, Mont., exhibitor who has a habit of successful promotions, leased his drive-in for one night to the local Chevrolet dealer, who then advertised free admission on that night to all Chevrolet owners, plus a chance to win a hunting car given by the dealer. Successful? Over 500 cars tried to get in the 185-car drive-in, and the Chevy dealer was obliged to lease the theatre for three additional nights.”
Boxoffice, Nov. 28, 1960: “TRINIDAD, COLO. - New seating installed at the Isis Theatre is proving immensely popular with customers, according to Ben Naccarato, the manager. The new International seats were installed on the wide center plan, and while theatre capacity was reduced, the comfort and convenience for patrons were increased. Naccarato also has placed new Mohawk carpeting throughout the theatre and carried out a painting program inside the theatre. Attractive murals of mountain and lake scenes have been added to the auditorium and lobby walls.”
Boxoffice, June 20, 1960: “CUSTER, WASH. - A $50,000 drive-in theatre is to be built at the corner of the Haynie and Birch Bay-Lynden roads north of here as the building boom in this section of Whatcom County continues. Whatcom is the most northwesterly county in the U. S. Building the theatre are Philip Cook, Arline Dent, Mrs. John Laxdarhl and Wallace Dent.”
Boxoffice, Nov. 2, 1959: “The Park Theatre, a south Denver subsequent-run situation prior to its closing several years ago, is undergoing a complete remodelling and renovation and will reopen soon as the new Capri Theatre.”
Boxoffice, Nov. 2, 1959: “Frank and Lorraine Valuskis sold their Valuskis Theatre in Buena Park to the Orange County Furniture Co.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 18, 1954: “Glenn Harper has sold his Arrow and Fontana theatres in Fontana to Paul Mart.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 17, 1959: “Al O'Keefe and Associates closed the Arrow Theatre in Fontana due to lack of business”
Boxoffice, Sept. 1, 1958: “Harold E. and Mayme C. Brown have closed and dismantled their Cactus Drive-In, Shoshone (sic), Wyo., and will not open the Regent in town this fall. They are devoting all of their time to their grocery business.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 1, 1958: “Harold E. and Mayme C. Brown have closed and dismantled their Cactus Drive-In, Shoshone (sic), Wyo., and will not open the Regent in town this fall. They are devoting all of their time to their grocery business.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 25, 1958: “KINSLEY, KAS. - Mrs. Maxine Dixon, manager of the Palace Theatre here for the past four months, has purchased the theatre from the Kinsley Development Corp., which had operated the movie house since February 2. The development group was formed specifically for taking over keeping the theatre open after former owners gave up the business. The Palace had been operated since 1918 by the late Dr. C. C. Sterrett who in 1932 sold a half interest to Commonwealth Amusement Corp. Upon Dr. Sterrett’s death in 1940 his son, Huston Sterrett, became manager of the house until it closed in February 1957.”
The Modern Theatre section of the July 3, 1954 issue of Boxoffice ran a two-page story (with photos) about the Peerlex’s basement “lounge”. Since the small lobby had no room for a snack bar, the owners built one in the basement and lured patrons to join the “Peerlex Theatre Club” with free hot dogs or popcorn. The two rooms were 40x15 feet, decorated with free airline travel posters. There was a radio “playing at all times” and two pinball machines.
Looking at HistoricAerials, I’d say that the modern-day address closest to the Sunrise screen tower is 6369 Brando Loop, Fair Oaks, CA 95628, between Welles and Astaire lanes.
Google Maps says that the entire Sunrise site is within its boundaries of Orangevale, a census-designated place, not Fair Oaks, an unincorporated community on the south side of Greenback Lane. Of course, the people who live there now get their mail from the Fair Oaks post office.
A cropped version of this photo appeared in the Modern Theatre section of the Nov. 14, 1936 issue of Boxoffice, which is in the public domain.
From the Modern Theatre section of the Nov. 14, 1936 issue of Boxoffice, which is in the public domain.
The Feb. 6, 1961 Modern Theatre section of Boxoffice magazine included a lengthy article about the process of moving the Post Oak three miles north of its original location, which closed at the end of November 1959. The 96x28-foot screen tower was broken down into three sections and transported by house movers. Speaker posts were chipped out of the concrete and were spaced farther apart - 20 feet instead of 17 feet. The playground used the old equipment but in a larger area. At the concession stand, the old pink face brick was discarded for cement blocks. The full moving project cost over $150,000. The Post Oak reopened in June 1960.
This is from the Feb. 6, 1961 issue of Boxoffice’s Modern Theatre supplement.
Boxoffice, March 23, 1957: “The Reel Joy Theatre will close April 2, according to Alvin "Ike” Hables, owner. The theatre has been showing films to King City residents 31 years. It was started by Les Hables, Ike’s father. Ike took over the business in 1922 and has operated it since. He stated that pictures will be shown until April 2, the final date of current scheduling."