N. Penn Twin Drive-In

whorton on October 28, 2026 at 11:01 am

From the thread about the NE 66 drive in theatres…

This is WHAT HAPPENED TO THE BARTON DRIVE-IN THEATRES:

“MichealKilgore asks about the relationship of the Thomases and R.L. Barton. . they were related, but the Thomas family BUILT and sold the 66 to the Barton’s in the period where R.L. Barton was acquiring all the drive-in theatres in the greater OKC area.

And save for Charlie Shadid’s efforts at the Hillcrest and Cinema 70, as well as Roy Stanton (owner of Springlake park) / George Grube’s efforts with the 14 flags in the late 60’s he would have.

But then, R.L. Barton sold/leased all of his theatre interests in 1966 to Greater Oklahoma City Amusement (headed by Lewis Ingram). After R.L. Bartons death in 75 the properties went to his eldest son, Gerald (who had recently bought into the United Founders life insurance company).

All the drive-in properties were mortagaged to the hilt, and sold to United Founders Life company. Gerald Barton was investigated by the state, and moved to California.

So ENDED all of the Barton Drive in theatres:

-The Airline

-The Bomber/Soldier Creek (Midwest City)

-The Circle (Bethany)

-The Del (Del city)

-The Lakeside DI (OKC)

-The North Penn Twin

-The NW Hiway DI (OKC)

-The Sooner Twin (Midwest City)

-The 66 Drive-in (The old N.E. 66 THIS THEATRE)

-The 77 Drive-in

-The old Tinker DI property (Midwest City)

The only theatre to survive into the 70’s was the Sooner Twin and 77. The Sooner Twin survived into the early 80’s while the 77 showed porn until about ‘74 and closed for good. All the others were closed."

-Wesely Horton

lrostochil on July 30, 2016 at 8:18 am

Here’s a history of the theater — lots of photos, too:

http://okcmod.com/?p=9059

whorton on July 13, 2012 at 10:51 am

It opened May 22, 1963. It closed for good at the end of the 1974 season, and never reopened for the 75 season. Kencmcintyre is correct in that the opening of a sewage plant near the theatre was the main thing leading to it’s failure. R.L. Barton attempted to sue the city, as well as spraying pleasant smelling fragrances around the perimeter before the shows.

Sewage treatment plants killed two drive in theatres in OKC, the Fairpark and the North Penn Twin.

Wesley Horton AIDA