Evergreen Drive-In
309 Drive-In Lane,
Scottdale,
PA
15666
309 Drive-In Lane,
Scottdale,
PA
15666
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Launched June 19, 1947 with “Salty O'Rourke” with Alan Ladd. Original not Ruthorne but Ruthorn combining owners Donald J. Ruth and R. M. Thorn’s last names.
The Ruthorn became the Evergreen on April 11, 1949
Drive-in Lane, how approprite!!
From The Daily Courier of Connellsville, June 20 1947: The Ruthorn Drive-In Theatre, the first in Westmoreland county, opened Thursday night. Cars came from all points of Westmoreland and Fayette counties to witness and experience the newest type of entertainment.
Owned and operated by Donald J. Ruth of Mount Pleasant and R. M. Thorn of Scottdale, the theater is located midway between Pennsville and Mount Pleasant. … Plenty of ushers were on hand to escort each car to its “seat” and all cars are escorted out after the show to avoid a jam at the exit.
That was Robert M. Thorn, whose March 18 1966 obituary said he was the former partner in the “Everygreen” Drive-In. Which means that the original name is a portmanteau of the two owners' names, and therefore suggests that Ruth might have been by himself when inspired to change the drive-in’s name.
The 1948-50 Theatre Catalogs listed the Ruthorn in Scottdale, owner Donald J. Ruth, capacity 300. The Catalogs later noticed the name change to Evergreen.
The 1952-59 Motion Picture Almanacs also had the Evergreen in Scottdale, the “owner or booker” was Co-op, capacity 400. By the 1966 edition, the owner had changed to S-Hanna Co-op Thea. Serv. The 1978-84 editions had the owner as H. Michael. The Evergreen fell off the MPA list by 1986, never to return. Considering that one family owned it during that period, I wonder if it was ever closed.
From a history page: The Evergreen Drive-In originally opened on June 19, 1947 as the Ruthorn Drive-In. It was built by Donald J. Ruth, owner of Ruth Lumber and Builders Supplies of Scottdale, Pa.
The Drive-In was renamed the Evergreen Drive-In sometime in 1949.
In 1961 the theatre was sold to the Michael’s family of Pittsburgh, Pa. The Michael’s family owned and operated the theatre until 1998. In 1999 the theatre was purchased by Warren Theatres. In the fall of 2001 two new screens were added and in 2002 the drive-in opened as a first run 3 screen theatre. The Warren family has been in the drive in business since 1949 The Evergreen has made the conversion to digital projection.
This is from Boxoffice magazine in April 1962:
Homer and Rita Michael returned to the theater business when they reopened the Evergreen Drive-In in the Mount Pleasant-Scottsdale area. They acquired the drive-in from Mrs. Donald Ruth, widow of the original owner who managed this ozoner last year.
The Michaels, former operators of the Liberty Theater on Pittsburgh’s south side, have modernized the Evergreen, first with a complete fresh paint job, including screen resurfacing, and also with installation of new in-car speakers. The concession building, with various new features and equipment, has been turned into a self-service operation under management of Rita Michael.
Here is an ad from July 1949. Note the alternate spelling for Ruth Horne:
EVERGREEN DRIVE-IN THEATER
2 Miles South of Mount Pleasant
Mount Pleasant-Connellsville Road
(Formerly Ruthorn Drive-In Theatre)
TONIGHT and TOMORROW
“THE OTHER LOVE"
With Barbara Stanwyck and David Niven
CARTOON AND SHORT