Elk Drive-In
1665 US-60,
Friona,
TX
79035
1665 US-60,
Friona,
TX
79035
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“The old Elk Drive-in Theater was located west of Friona on Hwy 60, on the little hill top where Raymond Hamilton family has their home. Bill McGlothin had his movie theater blow down several times. The Elk Drive-in took a direct hit in the October 1960 tornado. In 1955, Bill McGlothin had decorated the front of his movie theater with a painting depicting a pair of elk coming down to drink at a stream, with mountains and trees in the background. There was an area artist who went all over the Texas Panhandle painting these scenes on drive-in theaters. In 1962, Bill McGlothin had just rebuilt the theater one more time and the front of the structure was blank. He had tried to get in touch with the lady who painted drive-in theaters but she had retired. Bill McGlothin never did get the front of the Elk drive-in painted with another landscape.” - Carol Ellis, Friona Star - September 10, 1999.
(Farwell) State Line Tribune, July 30, 1953: “Friona is to have a new business west of town. W. E. McGlothin is moving a building and equipment for a new Drive-in theater.”
(Farwell) State Line Tribune, Aug. 6, 1953: “Bill McLaughlin, operator of the local downtown theatre, said this week that he is making progress on the erection of a drive-in theatre on Highway 60 just west of Friona. Asked as to when the theatre might be in operation, McLaughlin admitted that it might be possible he would not open this fall, but added that he was going ahead on the work. The drive-in, second in Friona, will accommodate 240-250 cars, McLaughlin said, adding he was moving these up here from another location. (Huh?) Ramps have been run already, and erection on the tower is expected to begin soon."
A USGS photo taken Sept. 16, 1954 showed two drive-ins on opposite sides of US 60 west of Friona. Another USGS photo 24 years later showed only the drive-in on the west side intact; there was no trace of the drive-in on the east side of US 60.
Based on accounts of the tornado that hit Friona on Oct. 11, 1960, the Chief had already closed, but its neighbor to the west, the Elk was still active.
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram wrote the next day, “The first funnel struck about 4:40 p.m. at the Elk Drive-In Theater, knocking down speaker posts and toppling the screen. … The funnel then moved across U. S. Highway 60 into an old drive-in theater being used as a trailer parking lot, where it lashed the six trailers.” The Monitor of McAllen TX agreed.
The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal reported the opposite sequence. “One of the theaters demolished was an abandoned one … The twister crossed U. S. Hwy. 60 and slammed into the Elk Drive-In Theater, scattering the pink theater as far as the eye could see. Only a few scattered steel speaker poles were left standing at the theater. Both the projector house and snack bar were destroyed.”
The 1977 Motion Picture Almanac’s drive-in list included just one active drive-in for Friona, the Elk, which stayed on the list through 1982 before dropping off in the 1983 edition.
An automotive center is on the site today, address 1665 US-60, Friona, TX.
There was a drive-in at U.S. 60 and State Loop 270. I don’t know if it’s the Chief or the Elks.