The Oct. 30, 1961 issue of Boxoffice had a full-page story on Sky manager William Jenkins' promotions. In particular, patrons who attended shows during the winter at the Sky, “Michigan’s Pioneer of In-Car Heaters,” received an Igloo Club card. After four visits, the fifth was free.
Boxoffice, April 15, 1974: “Officials of the Oak Drive-In in Royal Oak, Mich., a suburb of Detroit, were overwhelmed at the response to their early bird 7 a.m. showing recently. Even with a temperature of 11 degrees and heavy snowdrifts, it was reported that very few cars left before the movie was over … The owner of the drive-in, A. W. Smith, expressed the hope that none of the 350 cars that had to be turned away would hold any ill will … Smith was protesting DST, which he feels most drive-in managers oppose.”
Motion Picture Herald, May 24, 1952: “Charles DeCastro has bought the Moon, Stratton, Colo., from Irvin H. Jeppe.”
Boxoffice, April 30, 1973: “E. J. Buhr has taken over operation of the Moon Theatre, Stratton, from C. A. Decastro. The latter will continue to operate the Peerless in Holyoke and the newly opened Chaka in Julesburg”
Based on the preponderance of notes in Boxoffice, I’d guess that the theatre wasn’t named the Chaka until 1973. Here are a few of those clips.
Boxoffice, Feb. 28, 1966: “Marie Zorn, Hippodrome Theatre, Julesburg, traveled to Iowa for her parents' 50th wedding anniversary.”
Boxoffice, May 6, 1968: “Edward, son of Marie Zorn, Hippodrome Theatre, Julesburg, Colo., has been elected president of Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity at Colorado State University.”
Boxoffice, March 1, 1971: “JULESBURG, COLO. - Funeral services were held here at the Julesburg Methodist Church for Elizabeth K. Zorn … Along with her sister-in-law Marie Zorn, she operated the Zorn Theatre and was a true pioneer in the field of exhibition. She was active in the operation of the theater up until the time of her death.”
Boxoffice, March 22, 1971: “In town (Denver) to set dates were Marie Zorn, Hippodrome Theatre, Julesburg”
Boxoffice, Jan. 22, 1973: “Charles “Chad” DeCastro and his wife Kay, new owners of the Hippodrome Theatre in Julesburg, report that a major remodeling and redecorating program is being planned for the movie house. They hope to have the building ready for film exhibition early this spring. The DeCastros purchased the historic Hippodrome Theatre at auction from the Zorn estate. They also own and operate the Peerless Theatre at Holyoke, Colo. The updating will include new restrooms, a new concession stand and many other major improvements, DeCastro said.”
Boxoffice, April 30, 1973: “E. J. Buhr has taken over operation of the Moon Theatre, Stratton, from C. A. Decastro. The latter will continue to operate the Peerless in Holyoke and the newly opened Chaka in Julesburg”
A good address for the Starlite would be 2367 Statesville Rd, North Wilkesboro, NC 28659, the address of the Family Dollar store that sits where the viewing field had been.
And here’s a note I just had to share, from Boxoffice, May 23, 1953:
“Chicken night, staged in conjunction with bingo, once a week, is a real box-office stimulant at the Starlite Drive-In, North Wilkesboro, N.C. The attraction was introduced recently by Manager Jack Pardue and gives patrons a chance to take home a fresh chicken for their Sunday dinner. Before showtime, the chickens are released in the play area. All the patrons have to do is catch them, kill them, roast them and dinner’s ready - come'n get it.”
Boxoffice, Nov. 24, 1956: (after talking about his latest promotions) “Bob Tuttle, who started with the competing Sky Drive-In in 1950, sold out there to William G. Jenkins, his partner, and took over the Lenawee with Don Swenk.”
This drive-in, which was in Navarre (of course) when it opened, is now within the city limits of Orono, which absorbed it in 1955. Its postal service must come from Wayzata, about seven miles away.
The 1963 Assumption High School yearbook included a short story about junker car giveaways at the Oasis. One was a 1951 Nash, which the recipient had to push home. Another was a 1950 Dodge, for that, the winner elected to accept a $40 prize instead.
Boxoffice, Sept. 7, 1957: “The new North Vernon Drive-In officially opened recently. Howard L. Black, owner, reports he had an overcapacity attendance all that weekend with "Far Country” and “Johnny Dark.” The theatre accommodates 360 cars with space available for an additional 150. Black, a native of North Vernon, is new to the theatre business and will operate the drive-in along with his two sons."
The “Bayouland” advertised in the 1955 Donaldsonville High School yearbook. Please add the no-space, single-word alternative spelling to Previous Names.
The 1989 Nashville High School yearbook included a photo (uploaded here) and a short note:
“The Howard Auto Theater had been in business about 30 years. Mr. John Johnson had owned it for the past eight. Because it was more profitable, the drive-in remained open even after the Elberta Theater downtown was sold.”
I might have an answer from the Leo Theatre, Inc. ad in the 1954 Hooks High School yearbook. In addition to the “Loop Drive-In, North State Line Avenue,” it promoted the “Joy Drive-In, New Boston and Robinson Road.”
My guess is that this one was always the Joy until it closed, probably in 1963.
I’ve got to agree with Kenmore. The 1970 aerial shows a vacant lot.
OTOH, there was an old Joy Drive-In - it advertised in the 1954 (Texarkana) Texas High School yearbook. My guess is that the old one closed and this new twin drive-in was built farther out of town.
I’ve moved my remarks and notes to the new “Red River Drive-In” page here. Since I noticed a second drive-in on the Texas side in the 1960 topo map, my guess is that 7th Street drive-in was named Red River, leaving the New Boston Road drive-in’s name still unknown to me. Maybe it was the Joy, explaining this weird note:
Boxoffice, June 3, 1963: “Joy’s Theatres closed the Joy Drive-In, Texarkana, and reopened the Red River Drive-In, rechristened the Joy”
If you look at the 1960 topo map, there were two drive-in on the Texas side of the border. One was southwest on 7th Street (US 67), the other (this one) just west of town on US 82. Based on the ad below, I’d guess that the southwest drive-in was the Red River, leaving the name of this one still unknown. If someone wants to ask a Texarkana historian, we could probably get a quick answer.
Article from Feb 5, 1965 The Paris News (Paris, Texas)
Anyway, here’s my bag of clips for the Red River, wherever it was:
The Exhibitor, July 2, 1952: “Joel Bluestone will handle the buying and booking for Mrs. Paul Ketchum’s State and Red River Drive-In, Texarkana, Tex.” Then on Aug. 13 that year: “Mrs. Ruth Ketchum opened her new Red River Drive-In, Texarkana, Ark. (?), in grand style.”
The Exhibitor, April 6, 1955: “Horace Fall, H. R. Fall buying and booking service, Dallas, purchased the Red River Drive-In, Texarkana, Tex., from Mrs. Ruth Ketchum.”
Motion Picture Exhibitor, July 1, 1959: “E. L. Walker, Harry McKenna, and Horace Falls, are making repairs to the screen tower of the Red River Drive In at Texarkana, Tex., which suffered heavy damages in a heavy wind storm.”
Boxoffice, March 28, 1960: “TEXARKANA — Purchase of the Red River Drive-In on West Seventh by Houck & Powers Theatres has been announced by L. D. Powers. The new owners have closed the drive-in for remodeling and redecoration and will reopen around April 1. Movies booked will be the “latest and the best,” according to Powers, who has been in theatre business 21 years. His partner, Joy Houck, has been in exhibition 30 years and also produces pictures. They plan to redesign the concessions stand, repair speakers, repaint the building and improve the ramp area. The drive-in was built eight years ago, formerly owned by Eldon Peek of Oklahoma City. “We have faith in Texarkana and its future and in show business,” Powers said. He and Houck also own the Leo, the Joy Drive-In and a theatre in Prescott, Ark.”
There’s a confusing note in the June 3, 1963 edition of Boxoffice. “Joy’s Theatres closed the Joy Drive-In, Texarkana, and reopened the Red River Drive-In, rechristened the Joy”
Boxoffice, Dec. 7, 1964: “Corelite lamps were sold recently by National Theatre Supply to … Joy N. Houck for the Red River Drive-In, Texarkana”
The 1965 edition of the Motio Picture Almanac was the first to notice the Red River, owner Houck & Powers, Inc., capacity 525, listed under Texarkano. (sigh) A few years later, the MPA list went on autopilot for a decade, so it stayed that way through 1976. When the MPA rebooted its drive-in list for its 1977 edition, the Red River (or Joy) was gone, of course.
The Exhibitor, Nov. 26, 1952: “Engelbrecht and Wolf and Theatre Enterprises opened the new 300-car Red River Drive-In, Clarksville, Tex. Bert Holster, manager, Avalon and Texan, is in charge, and J. T. Roberts has been named drive-in manager.”
Just sayin', if this drive-in opened as the Red River and is later remembered as the Red River, what evidence do we have that it was ever the Rex?
The Oct. 30, 1961 issue of Boxoffice had a full-page story on Sky manager William Jenkins' promotions. In particular, patrons who attended shows during the winter at the Sky, “Michigan’s Pioneer of In-Car Heaters,” received an Igloo Club card. After four visits, the fifth was free.
Boxoffice, April 15, 1974: “Officials of the Oak Drive-In in Royal Oak, Mich., a suburb of Detroit, were overwhelmed at the response to their early bird 7 a.m. showing recently. Even with a temperature of 11 degrees and heavy snowdrifts, it was reported that very few cars left before the movie was over … The owner of the drive-in, A. W. Smith, expressed the hope that none of the 350 cars that had to be turned away would hold any ill will … Smith was protesting DST, which he feels most drive-in managers oppose.”
Motion Picture Herald, May 24, 1952: “Charles DeCastro has bought the Moon, Stratton, Colo., from Irvin H. Jeppe.”
Boxoffice, April 30, 1973: “E. J. Buhr has taken over operation of the Moon Theatre, Stratton, from C. A. Decastro. The latter will continue to operate the Peerless in Holyoke and the newly opened Chaka in Julesburg”
Based on the preponderance of notes in Boxoffice, I’d guess that the theatre wasn’t named the Chaka until 1973. Here are a few of those clips.
Boxoffice, Feb. 28, 1966: “Marie Zorn, Hippodrome Theatre, Julesburg, traveled to Iowa for her parents' 50th wedding anniversary.”
Boxoffice, May 6, 1968: “Edward, son of Marie Zorn, Hippodrome Theatre, Julesburg, Colo., has been elected president of Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity at Colorado State University.”
Boxoffice, March 1, 1971: “JULESBURG, COLO. - Funeral services were held here at the Julesburg Methodist Church for Elizabeth K. Zorn … Along with her sister-in-law Marie Zorn, she operated the Zorn Theatre and was a true pioneer in the field of exhibition. She was active in the operation of the theater up until the time of her death.”
Boxoffice, March 22, 1971: “In town (Denver) to set dates were Marie Zorn, Hippodrome Theatre, Julesburg”
Boxoffice, Jan. 22, 1973: “Charles “Chad” DeCastro and his wife Kay, new owners of the Hippodrome Theatre in Julesburg, report that a major remodeling and redecorating program is being planned for the movie house. They hope to have the building ready for film exhibition early this spring. The DeCastros purchased the historic Hippodrome Theatre at auction from the Zorn estate. They also own and operate the Peerless Theatre at Holyoke, Colo. The updating will include new restrooms, a new concession stand and many other major improvements, DeCastro said.”
Boxoffice, April 30, 1973: “E. J. Buhr has taken over operation of the Moon Theatre, Stratton, from C. A. Decastro. The latter will continue to operate the Peerless in Holyoke and the newly opened Chaka in Julesburg”
From the cover of the Modern Theatre section of the April 18, 1966 issue of Boxoffice.
A good address for the Starlite would be 2367 Statesville Rd, North Wilkesboro, NC 28659, the address of the Family Dollar store that sits where the viewing field had been.
And here’s a note I just had to share, from Boxoffice, May 23, 1953:
“Chicken night, staged in conjunction with bingo, once a week, is a real box-office stimulant at the Starlite Drive-In, North Wilkesboro, N.C. The attraction was introduced recently by Manager Jack Pardue and gives patrons a chance to take home a fresh chicken for their Sunday dinner. Before showtime, the chickens are released in the play area. All the patrons have to do is catch them, kill them, roast them and dinner’s ready - come'n get it.”
Boxoffice, Nov. 24, 1956: (after talking about his latest promotions) “Bob Tuttle, who started with the competing Sky Drive-In in 1950, sold out there to William G. Jenkins, his partner, and took over the Lenawee with Don Swenk.”
This drive-in, which was in Navarre (of course) when it opened, is now within the city limits of Orono, which absorbed it in 1955. Its postal service must come from Wayzata, about seven miles away.
The 1963 Assumption High School yearbook included a short story about junker car giveaways at the Oasis. One was a 1951 Nash, which the recipient had to push home. Another was a 1950 Dodge, for that, the winner elected to accept a $40 prize instead.
I hate myself for caring, but please note the spelling of the Hi-Vu. With hyphen, without E.
This appeared (left image stacked above the right) in the 1956 East High School yearbook, the Quill, which should be in the public domain.
Boxoffice, Sept. 7, 1957: “The new North Vernon Drive-In officially opened recently. Howard L. Black, owner, reports he had an overcapacity attendance all that weekend with "Far Country” and “Johnny Dark.” The theatre accommodates 360 cars with space available for an additional 150. Black, a native of North Vernon, is new to the theatre business and will operate the drive-in along with his two sons."
The “Bayouland” advertised in the 1955 Donaldsonville High School yearbook. Please add the no-space, single-word alternative spelling to Previous Names.
The 1989 Nashville High School yearbook included a photo (uploaded here) and a short note:
“The Howard Auto Theater had been in business about 30 years. Mr. John Johnson had owned it for the past eight. Because it was more profitable, the drive-in remained open even after the Elberta Theater downtown was sold.”
Boxoffice, Jan. 28, 1950: “CONSTRUCTION: Benton, Ark. - $50,000, 400-car Big 4 Drive-In under way for Big 4 Drive-In Corp.”
I might have an answer from the Leo Theatre, Inc. ad in the 1954 Hooks High School yearbook. In addition to the “Loop Drive-In, North State Line Avenue,” it promoted the “Joy Drive-In, New Boston and Robinson Road.”
My guess is that this one was always the Joy until it closed, probably in 1963.
I’ve got to agree with Kenmore. The 1970 aerial shows a vacant lot.
OTOH, there was an old Joy Drive-In - it advertised in the 1954 (Texarkana) Texas High School yearbook. My guess is that the old one closed and this new twin drive-in was built farther out of town.
I’ve moved my remarks and notes to the new “Red River Drive-In” page here. Since I noticed a second drive-in on the Texas side in the 1960 topo map, my guess is that 7th Street drive-in was named Red River, leaving the New Boston Road drive-in’s name still unknown to me. Maybe it was the Joy, explaining this weird note:
Boxoffice, June 3, 1963: “Joy’s Theatres closed the Joy Drive-In, Texarkana, and reopened the Red River Drive-In, rechristened the Joy”
If you look at the 1960 topo map, there were two drive-in on the Texas side of the border. One was southwest on 7th Street (US 67), the other (this one) just west of town on US 82. Based on the ad below, I’d guess that the southwest drive-in was the Red River, leaving the name of this one still unknown. If someone wants to ask a Texarkana historian, we could probably get a quick answer.
Anyway, here’s my bag of clips for the Red River, wherever it was:
The Exhibitor, July 2, 1952: “Joel Bluestone will handle the buying and booking for Mrs. Paul Ketchum’s State and Red River Drive-In, Texarkana, Tex.” Then on Aug. 13 that year: “Mrs. Ruth Ketchum opened her new Red River Drive-In, Texarkana, Ark. (?), in grand style.”
The Exhibitor, April 6, 1955: “Horace Fall, H. R. Fall buying and booking service, Dallas, purchased the Red River Drive-In, Texarkana, Tex., from Mrs. Ruth Ketchum.”
Motion Picture Exhibitor, July 1, 1959: “E. L. Walker, Harry McKenna, and Horace Falls, are making repairs to the screen tower of the Red River Drive In at Texarkana, Tex., which suffered heavy damages in a heavy wind storm.”
Boxoffice, March 28, 1960: “TEXARKANA — Purchase of the Red River Drive-In on West Seventh by Houck & Powers Theatres has been announced by L. D. Powers. The new owners have closed the drive-in for remodeling and redecoration and will reopen around April 1. Movies booked will be the “latest and the best,” according to Powers, who has been in theatre business 21 years. His partner, Joy Houck, has been in exhibition 30 years and also produces pictures. They plan to redesign the concessions stand, repair speakers, repaint the building and improve the ramp area. The drive-in was built eight years ago, formerly owned by Eldon Peek of Oklahoma City. “We have faith in Texarkana and its future and in show business,” Powers said. He and Houck also own the Leo, the Joy Drive-In and a theatre in Prescott, Ark.”
There’s a confusing note in the June 3, 1963 edition of Boxoffice. “Joy’s Theatres closed the Joy Drive-In, Texarkana, and reopened the Red River Drive-In, rechristened the Joy”
Boxoffice, Dec. 7, 1964: “Corelite lamps were sold recently by National Theatre Supply to … Joy N. Houck for the Red River Drive-In, Texarkana”
The 1965 edition of the Motio Picture Almanac was the first to notice the Red River, owner Houck & Powers, Inc., capacity 525, listed under Texarkano. (sigh) A few years later, the MPA list went on autopilot for a decade, so it stayed that way through 1976. When the MPA rebooted its drive-in list for its 1977 edition, the Red River (or Joy) was gone, of course.
I am so confused! As I type, the address for this drive-in is: 4411 W. 7th Street, Texarkana, AR 75501
But 4411 W 7th and Zip Code 75501 are both on the Texas side of the border.
The 1960 topo map shows the 7th Street drive-in as one of two on the Texas side in Texarkana. Was either of them ever the Loop?
The Exhibitor, Nov. 26, 1952: “Engelbrecht and Wolf and Theatre Enterprises opened the new 300-car Red River Drive-In, Clarksville, Tex. Bert Holster, manager, Avalon and Texan, is in charge, and J. T. Roberts has been named drive-in manager.”
Just sayin', if this drive-in opened as the Red River and is later remembered as the Red River, what evidence do we have that it was ever the Rex?
This article refers to Clarksville’s old drive-in as the Red River.
More specifically, from the 1956 Pleasant Grove High School yearbook, the Bobcat.
The drive-in still advertised in the 1983 Augusta High School yearbook, the Augustan.
Since the Hays High School yearbook was published without a copyright notice, its contents should be in the public domain.