Motion Picture Exhibitor, Aug. 24, 1966: “Speaking editorially in its current edition, the Amherst Bee says: "With the announcement that the Wehrle Drive-In Theatre at Transit Road and Wehrle Drive is under new management, residents of the area have high hopes that a better class of pictures will be shown, and the actions of many of the younger viewers will be improved.” The new management has changed the name too. It is now the Wehrle Outdoor Theatre and is being remodeled for the convenience and comfort of patrons … The Wehrle recently was leased by John Martina and Morris Slotnick of Jo-Mor Enterprises, Inc., Rochester, and Herbert Slotnick, Syracuse."
One mention said that the Fort Madison was built in 1952.
The Independent Film Journal, July 23, 1955: “Wide screens were installed in the Fort Madison Drive-In and the Uptown Theatre in Gladbrook.”
Boxoffice, June 3, 1963: “After losing a hard fight to daylight savings time, Herbert Hoglan has announced he will close his Fort Madison Drive-In permanently at the end of the current season. Hoglan had been successful in obtaining a temporary injunction against the city council’s fast time resolution only to have most offices and merchants go on "summer hours,” opening and closing an hour earlier without changing the clock. In later court action, District Judge W. L. Huiskamp refused to cite the council for contempt in connection with the earlier injunction."
Boxoffice, Aug. 16, 1965: “The Fort Madison Drive-In has been purchased by Dominic Frisina, president of Frisina Amusement Co., from Herbert Hoaglin, who built the airer in 1952. Frisina at once announced plans for renovating the property, the initial change to be installation of new booth equipment.”
Boxoffice, June 3, 1963: “The Iowa Theatre at Winterset has closed after 52 years. Mr. and Mrs. Eben Hays, who have operated the theatre since 1951, said receipts have declined to a point where they felt unable to continue the operation.”
According to the Oct. 28, 2016 obituary for Lucille Turner in the Athens Daily Review, she married Clifton C. Turner Jr. in Corsicana in 1949. “In 1950, they moved to Mexia, Texas where they built and operated the Parkway Drive-In Theater.”
According to the Oct. 28, 2016 obituary for Lucille Turner in the Athens Daily Review, she married Clifton C. Turner Jr. in Corsicana in 1949. “In 1957, they moved to Athens, Texas where they built and operated the Trail Drive-In Theater. Later, they bought the Texan Theater in Athens and they owned and operated several theaters in east Texas but they always made their home in Athens.”
Motion Picture Exhibitor, July 15, 1964: “Jack Tishkoff, who with his mother, Mrs. Dorothy Tishkoff, have operated the Central Drive-In, Rochester, recently leased to the General Cinema Corp. of Boston, now hopes to enter the teaching profession, specializing in mathematics.”
Motion Picture Exhibitor, July 15, 1964: “Menands Drive-In, at Menands-Troy Bridge, reopened under the "new ownership and management” of Carl Roupp and William Thompson, formerly two of the four partners in Menands Drive-In Theatre, Inc. There had been a corporate dispute since last summer, and the automobiler did not reight (sp?) this spring for its 15th season."
A note in the April 17, 1954 issue of Boxoffice said that Mrs. John Edmundson had recently sold the Jackson Drive-In (along with the Advance Theatre) to J. C. Crites and Harry McDonald of Jackson.
Landmark announced this week that Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, will be the Chez Artiste’s final day. Patrons were urged to visit other nearby Landmark theaters. :(
Mr. B. B. Russell opened Jala’s Drive-In in Belmont MS on Sept. 1, 1963, per a note in Boxoffice a couple of weeks later. Jala’s advertised in the 1969 Belmont High School yearbook, the Belmontian.
The drive-in was still included in the 1976 Motion Picture Almanac, although misspelled as Sala’s, with a capacity of 190 cars. The rebooted MPA list in 1977 listed the Starlite, capacity 200, owner J. Curtis. Belmont’s Starlite persisted through the end of the MPA drive-in list in 1988.
Boxoffice, May 14, 1955: “The Midway Drive-In reopened recently with a new widescreen … Manager James B. Bell reports that the speakers also have been overhauled, a new playground area provided and the snack bar enlarged.”
Looks like this drive-in was once called the Westwood. That’s the name that Aberdeen’s drive-in had in the 1955-56 Theatre Catalog and the 1961 Motion Picture Almanac, capacity 300 cars, owner Charles Treas.
Here’s the note on the name/ownership change.
Motion Picture Exhibitor, Aug. 24, 1966: “Speaking editorially in its current edition, the Amherst Bee says: "With the announcement that the Wehrle Drive-In Theatre at Transit Road and Wehrle Drive is under new management, residents of the area have high hopes that a better class of pictures will be shown, and the actions of many of the younger viewers will be improved.” The new management has changed the name too. It is now the Wehrle Outdoor Theatre and is being remodeled for the convenience and comfort of patrons … The Wehrle recently was leased by John Martina and Morris Slotnick of Jo-Mor Enterprises, Inc., Rochester, and Herbert Slotnick, Syracuse."
One mention said that the Fort Madison was built in 1952.
The Independent Film Journal, July 23, 1955: “Wide screens were installed in the Fort Madison Drive-In and the Uptown Theatre in Gladbrook.”
Boxoffice, June 3, 1963: “After losing a hard fight to daylight savings time, Herbert Hoglan has announced he will close his Fort Madison Drive-In permanently at the end of the current season. Hoglan had been successful in obtaining a temporary injunction against the city council’s fast time resolution only to have most offices and merchants go on "summer hours,” opening and closing an hour earlier without changing the clock. In later court action, District Judge W. L. Huiskamp refused to cite the council for contempt in connection with the earlier injunction."
Boxoffice, Aug. 16, 1965: “The Fort Madison Drive-In has been purchased by Dominic Frisina, president of Frisina Amusement Co., from Herbert Hoaglin, who built the airer in 1952. Frisina at once announced plans for renovating the property, the initial change to be installation of new booth equipment.”
Boxoffice, June 3, 1963: “The Iowa Theatre at Winterset has closed after 52 years. Mr. and Mrs. Eben Hays, who have operated the theatre since 1951, said receipts have declined to a point where they felt unable to continue the operation.”
According to the Oct. 28, 2016 obituary for Lucille Turner in the Athens Daily Review, she married Clifton C. Turner Jr. in Corsicana in 1949. “In 1950, they moved to Mexia, Texas where they built and operated the Parkway Drive-In Theater.”
According to the Oct. 28, 2016 obituary for Lucille Turner in the Athens Daily Review, she married Clifton C. Turner Jr. in Corsicana in 1949. “In 1957, they moved to Athens, Texas where they built and operated the Trail Drive-In Theater. Later, they bought the Texan Theater in Athens and they owned and operated several theaters in east Texas but they always made their home in Athens.”
Motion Picture Exhibitor, July 15, 1964: “Jack Tishkoff, who with his mother, Mrs. Dorothy Tishkoff, have operated the Central Drive-In, Rochester, recently leased to the General Cinema Corp. of Boston, now hopes to enter the teaching profession, specializing in mathematics.”
Motion Picture Exhibitor, July 15, 1964: “Hyman Krenovitz opened the new Super 87 Drive-In, at Exit 22, Northway, in Plattsburgh.”
Motion Picture Exhibitor, July 15, 1964: “Menands Drive-In, at Menands-Troy Bridge, reopened under the "new ownership and management” of Carl Roupp and William Thompson, formerly two of the four partners in Menands Drive-In Theatre, Inc. There had been a corporate dispute since last summer, and the automobiler did not reight (sp?) this spring for its 15th season."
I believe dallasmovietheaters, but I just found this note.
Motion Picture Herald, July 12, 1952: “Joe Sikes opened his new 250-car, $50,000 Stockade drive-in at Chadron, Neb., on July 5.”
A note in the April 17, 1954 issue of Boxoffice said that Mrs. John Edmundson had recently sold the Jackson Drive-In (along with the Advance Theatre) to J. C. Crites and Harry McDonald of Jackson.
I found this postcard (right?) on Pinterest, and it’s easier to make out the signboard there. It says:
My Dear Secretary with / Loraine Day & Kirk Douglas / Comedy & Free Pony Rides / Continuous Show Starting ?? PM
Landmark announced this week that Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, will be the Chez Artiste’s final day. Patrons were urged to visit other nearby Landmark theaters. :(
Denver Post story
Last year, the New Mexico State Library sent me another Hatch Reporter ad that had drive-in dates through Nov. 9, 1948.
The drive-in also looked pretty intact in that 1955 aerial photo, though the desert air is good at preserving such things.
Motion Picture Exhibitor, June 8, 1960: “The Roxy Drive-In has been closed and is being dismantled.”
On June 8, 1960, Motion Picture Exhibitor listed the Skylark of Newport AR as one of many drive-in theaters that reopened for the season.
Please note that all the advertisements that we see for this drive-in used the correct spelling: Capital, with a second A.
Rule of thumb: the -ol only refers to the building. In every other case, from Piketty’s book to the capital city, use -al.
Mr. B. B. Russell opened Jala’s Drive-In in Belmont MS on Sept. 1, 1963, per a note in Boxoffice a couple of weeks later. Jala’s advertised in the 1969 Belmont High School yearbook, the Belmontian.
The drive-in was still included in the 1976 Motion Picture Almanac, although misspelled as Sala’s, with a capacity of 190 cars. The rebooted MPA list in 1977 listed the Starlite, capacity 200, owner J. Curtis. Belmont’s Starlite persisted through the end of the MPA drive-in list in 1988.
This ad belongs with the Starlite Automovie in Belmont, California. CT page here.
The Whitehaven advertised in the 1964 Rundle High School yearbook.
Boxoffice, May 14, 1955: “The Midway Drive-In reopened recently with a new widescreen … Manager James B. Bell reports that the speakers also have been overhauled, a new playground area provided and the snack bar enlarged.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 20, 1952: “Covington, Tenn. - Raco Enterprises, Inc., opened its Raco Drive-In on Highway 51 north.”
The last Boxoffice note I could find was that Bill Ruffin of Ruffin Amusement Co. had closed the Raco for the season in late September 1977.
In June 1960, Motion Picture Examiner noted that the Midway had reopened for the season.
Looks like this drive-in was once called the Westwood. That’s the name that Aberdeen’s drive-in had in the 1955-56 Theatre Catalog and the 1961 Motion Picture Almanac, capacity 300 cars, owner Charles Treas.
Looks like Nicholson changed his new drive-in’s name.
Boxoffice, March 2, 1964: “Visiting exhibitors in Memphis included … Howard Nicholson, Shelby Drive-In, Millington”
The Theatre Catalog first included the West Point in its 1955-56 edition, capacity 280 cars, owner Finley Moss.