Boxoffice, May 16, 1953: “San Mateo’s largest theatre, the Baywood, which has been showing first run films since it was constructed in 1933 (sic), has been closed permanently. The structure will be torn down to be replaced by offices for a nationally known drug firm, according to Vernon Brown, local manager for Fox West Coast Theatres. This leaves San Mateo, a city of some 50,000 population, with only three theatres.”
Boxoffice, May 9, 1953: “One of the first drive-in theatres between Chicago and Denver to feature a 3-D film is the Lyons ozoner, which presented "Man in the Dark” Thursday night (7). Max Davis and Jay Wooten are co-owners of the situation."
Boxoffice, May 9, 1953: “The new 800-car Silver Spur Drive-In near Yuma has been opened, with Bernie Leavitt and Eddie Ashkins as co-owners. Ashkins, who recently resigned as RKO salesman here, will also handle booking and buying for other Leavitt showcases, including houses in La Jolla and Phoenix.”
Boxoffice, May 9, 1953: “FALLON, NEV. - Work has begun on a 350-car ozoner on U.S. 95 and 50, six miles west of here. Barney Fritz and Walt Whitaker of the Fallon and Lawana theatres are the owners. The situation will be known as the Roper.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 15, 1953: “The Fallon Drive-In at Fallon, Nev., was opened July 31 by Fritz & Whittaker”
Boxoffice, May 9, 1953: “CAMAS, WASH. - Construction has begun here on the first drive-in theatre between Vancouver and Sunnyside. The 400-car situation will be known as the Auto-Vue. Owners of the project are George Stoller, cafe owner here, and Jack D. Braxton, manager of the United Artists Theatre in Portland. The airer, located on a 25-acre plot on Prune Hill, will be opened this summer.”
Boxoffice, June 27, 1953: “Jack Braxton and George Stoller expect early completion of their 500-space Autovue Drive-In near Camas, Wash.”
Boxoffice, May 9, 1953: “Colfax and Pullman patrons will have two additional drive-ins to attend in the next two months, according to LaVance Weskil. Work on the 500-car Pullman airer is expected to be completed by the last of this month, while the 350-car Colfax situation will not be ready until June.”
Boxoffice, May 9, 1953: “HELENA - Rain and snow greeted patrons at the reopening of the Sunset Drive-In here Easter Sunday. Easter eggs were given to all children attending the reopening by operator E. R. "Chub” Munger."
Boxoffice, May 2, 1953: “The new Powell Boulevard airer opened Wednesday (29) with Bruce R. Keller as manager. The theatre features walk-in facilities. It will be equipped to show both 3-D and CinemaScope type films. Keller, who is a secretary of the firm operating the situation, has been a member of the industry since 1907. Officers of the corporation are Guy E. Mathews, Ernest V. Harris, H. C. Kurasch and Cecil Willis.”
Boxoffice, April 25, 1953: “The Grove Drive-In, owned by L. A. Moore, has opened for its fifth season. A free box of popcorn was given to each customer on the opening weekend - Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The Grove is equipped with a sprinkler system which is used each evening to cool the ramps just before the show. It is heralded as the Grove’s air conditioning system.”
Boxoffice, April 18, 1953: “DAVENPORT - A new open-air theatre is going up one mile east of here on Highway 66. It is being built by J. E. Stribling jr. who has operated theatres in Davenport and Stroud for many years. The new drive-in will be named the Rig, which is an ideal name because you can sit in your car and see no less than ten mammoth oil rigs near the theatre site. One feature, not seen in many drive-ins, it the method of surfacing ramps and drives. Stribling is using roofing tabs - short ends trimmed from asphalt shingles - which are made in the nearby city of Stroud by the Fry Roofing Co. Those roofing tabs are free for the hauling and should make a very find, durable surface for a drive-in. There will be 200 speakers to start. An extra large screen is being installed and the concession stand is of the cafeteria style, housed in a room measuring 16x16 feet. The first ramp is only 90 feet from the screen, somewhat closer than most drive-ins. Water is obtained from an 85-foot well. The theatre will be ready to open about June 1.”
Boxoffice, April 18, 1953: “The new Coeur d'Alene Drive-In here, located just north of Apple Way on Highway 95, is ready to open. Owners are Roy Dahl, Bert Hudson and H. M. Hudson, who will operate the concession stand.”
Boxoffice, April 18, 1953: “COLUMBIA FALLS, MONT. - The Midway Drive-In on Route 40 between here and Whitefish, will open about May 1. It has 225 speakers and spacce to expand to 275 more cars later. It has moonglow lighting. A. E. Massman here and Walter Thompson of Whitefish are owners. They own the Park Theatre here and the Orpheum and Lake in Whitefish.”
Boxoffice, April 18, 1953: “The new Skyline Drive-In, costing $125,000 and with space for 700 cars, has been opened on George Washington Way at Spengler road, about halfway to North Richland by the Skyline Theatres, Inc., of Newport. Ray DiLorenzo, former instrument technician for GE, is manager. A 100-foot self-service snack bar is featured, with double service lines. The ultramodern refreshment bar covers 2,500 feet of floor space. Atop the concession stand is a full patio for patrons for enjoyment of snacks while watching the show. A. V. Shanks and Charles Bishop of Newport and Fielden Lewis sr. of Blanchard head the Skyline company.”
Boxoffice, Aparil 18, 1953: “ELLENBURG, WASH. - Ed Metzgar of Moscow, Ida., recently announced that only one of the two drive-ins on which construction had been started a day apart, would be built. He and his partner Andy Walyer of Selah have abandoned plans to erect a drive-in on the Vantage highway, three miles east. His statement said that having assured that the Allen Amusement Co. definitely is going to construct a drive-in just south of the city, he and Walyer had reconsidered. The Allen Amusement Co. is affiliated with the Midstate Amusement Corp. Another drive-in is in prospect for this area. Jim and Clarence Farrell of the Liberty Theatre here purchased in 1951 part of the Old Dominion farm on the Kittitas cutoff and have obtained architect’s plans for construction of a 500-car installation.”
Boxoffice, April 18, 1953: “Louis Veltre has leased the Starlite Drive-In and the Esquire Theatre at Dragerton to Bernard W. Cline and Phillip Turner.”
Boxoffice, April 11, 1953: “Chris Gorder, owner and manager of the Fort Theatre in Poplar, will build a 200-car drive-in about a mile and a half east of Poplar on Highway 2. Construction will begin this month, depending upon weather conditions. A summer debut is planned. Equipment will be supplied by the National Theatre Supply of Denver.”
Boxoffice, April 4, 1953: “PLYMOUTH, IND. - A new 550-car drive-in, to cost about $75,000, is being built four and one-half miles north of here by the Indiana Auto Theatre, Inc., headed by Marc Wolf, president. The theatre will occupy about ten acres and a tentative opening date has been set for late this month. Wolf’s firm, with M. Marcus as secretary-treasurer, operated 42 theatres in Indiana, 12 drive-ins and three amusement parks.”
Boxoffice, April 4, 1953: “Teno Roncalio has announced the sale of the Rock Springs Drive-In to C. E. Bradshaw, W. H. Wills and R. D. "Russ” Bradshaw. R. D. Bradshaw, who manages the situation, said that over $7,000 worth of new equipment has been purchased for the ozoner. An early April debut is scheduled."
Boxoffice, April 4, 1953: “ENTERPRISE, ORE. - Mr. and Mrs. A. B. Stockdale, owners of the Vista Theatre here, will build a 350 to 500-car drive-in here, with construction starting as soon as weather permits. It is hoped the drive-in will be ready for opening by June 1.”
Boxoffice, April 4, 1953: “May 1 has been set as the tentative opening fate for the new Kenmore Drive-In located on 68th N.E. here. The 900-car drive-in is being built by Dwight Spracher and his associates and will have a capacity of 900 cars. The drive-in is situated on an 11-acre tract and will represent an investment of more than $275,000.”
The April 4, 1953 issue of Boxoffice said that construction on a new drive-in in Gresham OR would start “as soon as the new Powell Boulevard Drive-In is completed at 112th avenue. That drive-in was slated to open immediately.” Owners were Guy E. Mathews of Gresham, Ernest Harris of Sandy “and their associates.”
Boxoffice, April 4, 1953: “The Rodeo Drive-In, located at Henshaw Road and 12th street, was opened Friday (27) by J. B. McCormick jr., longtime Arizona exhibitor; Wade F. Allen, Detroit theatre operator, and Weldon Girard, owner of a local theatrical supply company. The 550-car ozoner also has 400 walk-in seats. Admittance is $1 a car.”
Boxoffice, Oct. 31, 1953: “Park Drive-In on west U.S. 80 has been sold by L. R. Manor to J. T. Carty and Ray Wilson, both of El Paso. They renamed the theatre the Mustang in honor of the high school football team.”
Boxoffice, Oct. 24, 1953: “Mr. and Mrs. C. Wallace of Oklahoma City have purchased the Madill Drive-In from T. H. Vaughn. A complete renovation of the drive-in is planned by the new owners, who have moved to 906 West Francis St. here.”
Boxoffice, May 16, 1953: “San Mateo’s largest theatre, the Baywood, which has been showing first run films since it was constructed in 1933 (sic), has been closed permanently. The structure will be torn down to be replaced by offices for a nationally known drug firm, according to Vernon Brown, local manager for Fox West Coast Theatres. This leaves San Mateo, a city of some 50,000 population, with only three theatres.”
Boxoffice, May 9, 1953: “One of the first drive-in theatres between Chicago and Denver to feature a 3-D film is the Lyons ozoner, which presented "Man in the Dark” Thursday night (7). Max Davis and Jay Wooten are co-owners of the situation."
Boxoffice, May 9, 1953: “The new 800-car Silver Spur Drive-In near Yuma has been opened, with Bernie Leavitt and Eddie Ashkins as co-owners. Ashkins, who recently resigned as RKO salesman here, will also handle booking and buying for other Leavitt showcases, including houses in La Jolla and Phoenix.”
Boxoffice, May 9, 1953: “FALLON, NEV. - Work has begun on a 350-car ozoner on U.S. 95 and 50, six miles west of here. Barney Fritz and Walt Whitaker of the Fallon and Lawana theatres are the owners. The situation will be known as the Roper.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 15, 1953: “The Fallon Drive-In at Fallon, Nev., was opened July 31 by Fritz & Whittaker”
Boxoffice, May 9, 1953: “CAMAS, WASH. - Construction has begun here on the first drive-in theatre between Vancouver and Sunnyside. The 400-car situation will be known as the Auto-Vue. Owners of the project are George Stoller, cafe owner here, and Jack D. Braxton, manager of the United Artists Theatre in Portland. The airer, located on a 25-acre plot on Prune Hill, will be opened this summer.”
Boxoffice, June 27, 1953: “Jack Braxton and George Stoller expect early completion of their 500-space Autovue Drive-In near Camas, Wash.”
Boxoffice, May 9, 1953: “Colfax and Pullman patrons will have two additional drive-ins to attend in the next two months, according to LaVance Weskil. Work on the 500-car Pullman airer is expected to be completed by the last of this month, while the 350-car Colfax situation will not be ready until June.”
Boxoffice, May 9, 1953: “HELENA - Rain and snow greeted patrons at the reopening of the Sunset Drive-In here Easter Sunday. Easter eggs were given to all children attending the reopening by operator E. R. "Chub” Munger."
Boxoffice, May 2, 1953: “The new Powell Boulevard airer opened Wednesday (29) with Bruce R. Keller as manager. The theatre features walk-in facilities. It will be equipped to show both 3-D and CinemaScope type films. Keller, who is a secretary of the firm operating the situation, has been a member of the industry since 1907. Officers of the corporation are Guy E. Mathews, Ernest V. Harris, H. C. Kurasch and Cecil Willis.”
Boxoffice, April 25, 1953: “The Grove Drive-In, owned by L. A. Moore, has opened for its fifth season. A free box of popcorn was given to each customer on the opening weekend - Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The Grove is equipped with a sprinkler system which is used each evening to cool the ramps just before the show. It is heralded as the Grove’s air conditioning system.”
Boxoffice, April 18, 1953: “DAVENPORT - A new open-air theatre is going up one mile east of here on Highway 66. It is being built by J. E. Stribling jr. who has operated theatres in Davenport and Stroud for many years. The new drive-in will be named the Rig, which is an ideal name because you can sit in your car and see no less than ten mammoth oil rigs near the theatre site. One feature, not seen in many drive-ins, it the method of surfacing ramps and drives. Stribling is using roofing tabs - short ends trimmed from asphalt shingles - which are made in the nearby city of Stroud by the Fry Roofing Co. Those roofing tabs are free for the hauling and should make a very find, durable surface for a drive-in. There will be 200 speakers to start. An extra large screen is being installed and the concession stand is of the cafeteria style, housed in a room measuring 16x16 feet. The first ramp is only 90 feet from the screen, somewhat closer than most drive-ins. Water is obtained from an 85-foot well. The theatre will be ready to open about June 1.”
Boxoffice, April 18, 1953: “The new Coeur d'Alene Drive-In here, located just north of Apple Way on Highway 95, is ready to open. Owners are Roy Dahl, Bert Hudson and H. M. Hudson, who will operate the concession stand.”
Boxoffice, April 18, 1953: “COLUMBIA FALLS, MONT. - The Midway Drive-In on Route 40 between here and Whitefish, will open about May 1. It has 225 speakers and spacce to expand to 275 more cars later. It has moonglow lighting. A. E. Massman here and Walter Thompson of Whitefish are owners. They own the Park Theatre here and the Orpheum and Lake in Whitefish.”
Boxoffice, April 18, 1953: “The new Skyline Drive-In, costing $125,000 and with space for 700 cars, has been opened on George Washington Way at Spengler road, about halfway to North Richland by the Skyline Theatres, Inc., of Newport. Ray DiLorenzo, former instrument technician for GE, is manager. A 100-foot self-service snack bar is featured, with double service lines. The ultramodern refreshment bar covers 2,500 feet of floor space. Atop the concession stand is a full patio for patrons for enjoyment of snacks while watching the show. A. V. Shanks and Charles Bishop of Newport and Fielden Lewis sr. of Blanchard head the Skyline company.”
Boxoffice, Aparil 18, 1953: “ELLENBURG, WASH. - Ed Metzgar of Moscow, Ida., recently announced that only one of the two drive-ins on which construction had been started a day apart, would be built. He and his partner Andy Walyer of Selah have abandoned plans to erect a drive-in on the Vantage highway, three miles east. His statement said that having assured that the Allen Amusement Co. definitely is going to construct a drive-in just south of the city, he and Walyer had reconsidered. The Allen Amusement Co. is affiliated with the Midstate Amusement Corp. Another drive-in is in prospect for this area. Jim and Clarence Farrell of the Liberty Theatre here purchased in 1951 part of the Old Dominion farm on the Kittitas cutoff and have obtained architect’s plans for construction of a 500-car installation.”
Boxoffice, April 18, 1953: “Louis Veltre has leased the Starlite Drive-In and the Esquire Theatre at Dragerton to Bernard W. Cline and Phillip Turner.”
Boxoffice, April 11, 1953: “Chris Gorder, owner and manager of the Fort Theatre in Poplar, will build a 200-car drive-in about a mile and a half east of Poplar on Highway 2. Construction will begin this month, depending upon weather conditions. A summer debut is planned. Equipment will be supplied by the National Theatre Supply of Denver.”
Boxoffice, April 4, 1953: “PLYMOUTH, IND. - A new 550-car drive-in, to cost about $75,000, is being built four and one-half miles north of here by the Indiana Auto Theatre, Inc., headed by Marc Wolf, president. The theatre will occupy about ten acres and a tentative opening date has been set for late this month. Wolf’s firm, with M. Marcus as secretary-treasurer, operated 42 theatres in Indiana, 12 drive-ins and three amusement parks.”
Boxoffice, April 4, 1953: “The Valley at Anderson is going back to its original owners, Ken Loomis and Lee Zwiebel.”
More details on that 1953 sale.
Boxoffice, April 4, 1953: “Teno Roncalio has announced the sale of the Rock Springs Drive-In to C. E. Bradshaw, W. H. Wills and R. D. "Russ” Bradshaw. R. D. Bradshaw, who manages the situation, said that over $7,000 worth of new equipment has been purchased for the ozoner. An early April debut is scheduled."
Boxoffice, April 4, 1953: “ENTERPRISE, ORE. - Mr. and Mrs. A. B. Stockdale, owners of the Vista Theatre here, will build a 350 to 500-car drive-in here, with construction starting as soon as weather permits. It is hoped the drive-in will be ready for opening by June 1.”
A few more details.
Boxoffice, April 4, 1953: “May 1 has been set as the tentative opening fate for the new Kenmore Drive-In located on 68th N.E. here. The 900-car drive-in is being built by Dwight Spracher and his associates and will have a capacity of 900 cars. The drive-in is situated on an 11-acre tract and will represent an investment of more than $275,000.”
The April 4, 1953 issue of Boxoffice said that construction on a new drive-in in Gresham OR would start “as soon as the new Powell Boulevard Drive-In is completed at 112th avenue. That drive-in was slated to open immediately.” Owners were Guy E. Mathews of Gresham, Ernest Harris of Sandy “and their associates.”
Boxoffice, April 4, 1953: “The Rodeo Drive-In, located at Henshaw Road and 12th street, was opened Friday (27) by J. B. McCormick jr., longtime Arizona exhibitor; Wade F. Allen, Detroit theatre operator, and Weldon Girard, owner of a local theatrical supply company. The 550-car ozoner also has 400 walk-in seats. Admittance is $1 a car.”
Boxoffice, Oct. 31, 1953: “Park Drive-In on west U.S. 80 has been sold by L. R. Manor to J. T. Carty and Ray Wilson, both of El Paso. They renamed the theatre the Mustang in honor of the high school football team.”
Boxoffice, Oct. 24, 1953: “Mr. and Mrs. C. Wallace of Oklahoma City have purchased the Madill Drive-In from T. H. Vaughn. A complete renovation of the drive-in is planned by the new owners, who have moved to 906 West Francis St. here.”