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Billiken Drive-In
3101 Muldoon Road,
Anchorage,
AK
99504
3101 Muldoon Road,
Anchorage,
AK
99504
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Opened on 9/1/1963.
I put this on last week but somehow never made it here.In 1964 the Billiken Drive-in installed Golden Hot-Shot car heaters,which did make alot of sense,they were supplied by Eprad Theatre Supply out of Toledo,Ohio.Boxoffice,Sept 7 1964.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billiken
look at bottom for section about AK figures.
A Billiken is an Eskimo carved character, pretty popular trinkets in Alaska back in the day. Most people who live there now have probably never heard of them.
Great shots Ed, Thanks! I remember going there many times as a kid in our ‘67 Saab, with the speaker and heater hanging on the window. Classic, and definitely an “only in Alaska” theater experience.
I think the last drive in movie I saw in Anchorage was “Enter the Dragon” at the Sundowner.
Great photos Ed Thanks I always loved Brenkart Projectors, and Ashcraft Lamps were the best…. My Dad had Ashcraft, Super Core Lites, behind Simplex XLs
My family and I knew the hanby’s. My sister worked briefly there at the snack bar..I spent many a summer night watching movies there. I have great memories of that theater and of the hanbys..thanks so much for the photos..
Here is a link to photos of the Billiken drive in during the first season it was open. See also my post above.
Ed Sharp
View link
Hello
My name is Edward Sharp. I was the first projectionist hired by Ed and Marie when the Billiken drive in opened in 1963. Working at the Billiken was my second job as I was in the military at the time. We all had a good time working together. Getting the equipment back up and running was a challenge following the earthquake. I’ve got a few pictures from when we were in operation..if I can find them, I will try to post a few at a later date. I am willing to converse with anyone on the subject of the Billiken Drive In.
email me at:
Here is an item in Boxoffice magazine, October 1963:
The Billiken, a new 550-car drive-in operated by Ed and Marie Hanby, opened in Anchorage, Alaska on September 1.