Kenmore – Now that is how the post office messes things up. The drive-in always had a house or building to the east and always faced the old hwy 24. To drive up to the ticket booth you turned off old hwy 24. There was never a connection to CR 4510 unless they connected it sometime after I left Commerce. The post office has the house numbers where I live where mine is 533 and you would think the house across the street would be either 532 or 534 but it is 547. Who would have guess that and if someone was looking for 532 that have to drive almost a block to fine it. Anyway, thanks for the information. I would have never guess it would have the CR 4510 address.
The smaller building at the base of the screen held the marque letters and was used as storage for parts, etc. There used to be a small playground with swings at the base of the screen for children to play. Not sure when they were removed — maybe when the original screen blew down.
I am not aware of the Lyric Theatre ever existing, it was before my time apparently and I never heard anyone in Commerce refer to it. However Rowley United did not own or operate any theaters in Commerce until 1966. If the Lyric did exist, it was gone long before 1961. I moved to Commerce December 1961 and the only theaters at that time in Commerce was the Palace, downtown and the Commerce Drive-Inn west of town on then Hwy 24 and now the FM road that is Live Oak as it comes into Commerce on the West side of town. There was no closings of theaters in 1964.
Chuck, The two theaters that the Lilly family owned and Rowley United Theaters of Dallas purchased and operated was the Palace Theater downtown and the Commerce Drive-In (referred to on this site as High View Drive-In). I am not aware (or heard anything of) of any other inside theater besides the Palace.
Silcon Sam — you are at the wrong location for this theater. Commerce Drive-In (High View) is at this location. https://www.google.com/maps/place/FM2874,+Commerce,+TX+75428/Cinerama Dome and ArcLight Cinemas.2486252,-95.9352012,766m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x864bc6950fdebfcf:0xe3733aee75915355?hl=en
I do not know when this drive-in was opened but I worked there from 1966 – 1971 while attending college in Commerce. It was called Commerce Drive-In all of that time. I do not know when it was renamed to High View. The Lilly family owned it until about 1966-67 when Rowley United Theaters purchased both the drive-in and the Palace Theater from the family. The tower that you see in the picture is one that replaced the original screen when a small tornado / high winds destroyed the screen. This theater was located what at the time was Hwy 24 toward Greenville just past the Hillcrest Addition where I live at that time. My older brother also worked at the Commerce Drive-In as the manager while he was attending college also.
Place Theater was located 1207 Main St. The building that it was in burned sometime in the late 20th century. I worked for the Lilly family when they owned the theater. They owned the Palace Theater until 1965-66 and Rowley United purchased the theater and began ownership. I worked for Rowley United while I was attending the university in Commerce. I also worked at their drive-in that was called Commerce Drive-In and sometime was changed to High View Drive-In. Rowley United operated both theater until at least 1971 when I left Commerce after graduating from the university graduate school. All of the dates and location are incorrect posted above. I was working there from 1965 until 1971 and was working there when Rowley United took over the operation and remodeled the theater. The theater was located downtown and the drive-in was located at the time on Hwy 24 west of Commerce in the Hillcrest Addition.
This theater was located in the University Shopping Center on the Northwest corner of Hwy 50 and Live Oak. It is diagonal from Texas A&M – Commerce Memorial Stadium.
Kenmore – Now that is how the post office messes things up. The drive-in always had a house or building to the east and always faced the old hwy 24. To drive up to the ticket booth you turned off old hwy 24. There was never a connection to CR 4510 unless they connected it sometime after I left Commerce. The post office has the house numbers where I live where mine is 533 and you would think the house across the street would be either 532 or 534 but it is 547. Who would have guess that and if someone was looking for 532 that have to drive almost a block to fine it. Anyway, thanks for the information. I would have never guess it would have the CR 4510 address.
The smaller building at the base of the screen held the marque letters and was used as storage for parts, etc. There used to be a small playground with swings at the base of the screen for children to play. Not sure when they were removed — maybe when the original screen blew down.
I am not aware of the Lyric Theatre ever existing, it was before my time apparently and I never heard anyone in Commerce refer to it. However Rowley United did not own or operate any theaters in Commerce until 1966. If the Lyric did exist, it was gone long before 1961. I moved to Commerce December 1961 and the only theaters at that time in Commerce was the Palace, downtown and the Commerce Drive-Inn west of town on then Hwy 24 and now the FM road that is Live Oak as it comes into Commerce on the West side of town. There was no closings of theaters in 1964.
Don Lewis, the map shows the drive-in on hwy 11 north of town. It is located on current FM 2874 just to the west of FM4510.
Chuck, The two theaters that the Lilly family owned and Rowley United Theaters of Dallas purchased and operated was the Palace Theater downtown and the Commerce Drive-In (referred to on this site as High View Drive-In). I am not aware (or heard anything of) of any other inside theater besides the Palace.
Silcon Sam — you are at the wrong location for this theater. Commerce Drive-In (High View) is at this location. https://www.google.com/maps/place/FM2874,+Commerce,+TX+75428/Cinerama Dome and ArcLight Cinemas.2486252,-95.9352012,766m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x864bc6950fdebfcf:0xe3733aee75915355?hl=en
I do not know when this drive-in was opened but I worked there from 1966 – 1971 while attending college in Commerce. It was called Commerce Drive-In all of that time. I do not know when it was renamed to High View. The Lilly family owned it until about 1966-67 when Rowley United Theaters purchased both the drive-in and the Palace Theater from the family. The tower that you see in the picture is one that replaced the original screen when a small tornado / high winds destroyed the screen. This theater was located what at the time was Hwy 24 toward Greenville just past the Hillcrest Addition where I live at that time. My older brother also worked at the Commerce Drive-In as the manager while he was attending college also.
Place Theater was located 1207 Main St. The building that it was in burned sometime in the late 20th century. I worked for the Lilly family when they owned the theater. They owned the Palace Theater until 1965-66 and Rowley United purchased the theater and began ownership. I worked for Rowley United while I was attending the university in Commerce. I also worked at their drive-in that was called Commerce Drive-In and sometime was changed to High View Drive-In. Rowley United operated both theater until at least 1971 when I left Commerce after graduating from the university graduate school. All of the dates and location are incorrect posted above. I was working there from 1965 until 1971 and was working there when Rowley United took over the operation and remodeled the theater. The theater was located downtown and the drive-in was located at the time on Hwy 24 west of Commerce in the Hillcrest Addition.
This theater was located in the University Shopping Center on the Northwest corner of Hwy 50 and Live Oak. It is diagonal from Texas A&M – Commerce Memorial Stadium.