Pioneer Drive-In
TX-36 and Co Road 251,
Cross Plains,
TX
76443
TX-36 and Co Road 251,
Cross Plains,
TX
76443
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Located east of town on Route 36. The Pioneer Drive-In was opened in November 1954. It was still open in 1961. When photographed in mid-1986, the Pioneer Drive-In was already closed and becoming overgrown with weeds and brush. As with so many old drive-ins, it was was refusing to go down easily. The back of the screen appeared to have been covered with faded green tin and "Pioneer" painted in block letters across the top. There was an additional vertical Pioneer sign on the left side. The box office was in bad shape, but still standing.
Contributed by
Billy Smith / Don Lewis
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Recent comments (view all 8 comments)
The old PIONEER DRIVE-in parked in 1956, 200 cars and was owned by R. Vaughtand & H. Millington.
Thanks Mike.
From 1986 in Cross Plains a photo of the Pioneer Drive-In Theater.
I’ve driven through Cross Plains many times. Last trip, the lady curator at the Robert E. Howard House said the Pioneer was “East on Route 36,” but I never could find anything resembling a former drive-in on any of the map apps. Finally I saw a note somewhere that it was “…about seven miles East, halfway to Rising Star,” implying that it served both communities. There’s a small lot on the south side of 36 about 1 km East of the “Pioneer Cemetery” with curved ridges looking like a drive-in parking area. This also fits with another description I saw, “containing a trailer house and a few unidentified structures.” I think this is the most likely location.
The address is TX-36 & Co Rd 251, Cross Plains, TX.
Today, it is private property with a small store on the front of the lot, but you can still see the ramps.
https://tinyurl.com/y72ml7f9
Billboard, Aug. 21, 1954: “R. L. Vaught and High Millington are building a 300-car capacity drive-in at a site between Rising Star and Cross Plains, Tex. It is expected to be completed by September.”
Billboard, Nov. 20, 1954: “Bob Vaught and Hugh Millington have opened the new Pioneer Drive-In between Rising Star and Cross Hains, Tex. It is equipped with CinemaScope.”
Motion Picture Exhibitor, Dec. 20, 1961: “Buford Kanz, Pioneer Drive-In, Cross Plains, Tex., has accepted a position in Mount Carmel, Ill., and his parents will operate the drive-in during his absence.”
Another date hint. Variety, Nov. 3, 1954: “Pioneer Drive-In opened between Cross Plains and Rising Star by Bob Vaught and Hugh Millingion. The ozoner is C’Scope-equipped.”