Oak Hills Drive-In

3101 Arlington Street,
Ada, OK 74820

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dallasmovietheaters
dallasmovietheaters on January 23, 2022 at 7:49 am

Frank Little did originally have this ozoner on the drawing boards in 1954 as the Circle 12 Drive-In for the former stretch of Highway 12 that became Highway 1 on the Eastside of Ada. Video Independent Circuit and Little did open this venue with 500 speakers on June 8, 1956 with Tom Ewell in “The Lieutenant Wore Skirts”. The ozoner was located about a mile away from the Oak Hills Golf & Country Club established 40 years prior to the drive-in. It launched as the Oak Hills Drive-In and Charley Fletcher managed the Oak Hills along with the hardtop Ritz from opening in 1956 to his retirement in 1963.

The venue had an annual fireworks show and operated seasonally - generally April until November. Its annual opening was a sign of Spring to local patrons. The film “No Greater Sin” - the exploitation film about syphilis - supported by “Not Wanted (aka Shame)” about the mother of an out-of-wedlock baby - was said to have been the biggest hit for the drive-in to that point.

Fred Brewer took over management of the Oak Hills from Fletcher. He also managed the McSwain and Mini. Brewer then became a member of the Board of Directors for the United Theatre Owners of Oklahoma and the Panhandle of Texas. He was still running the theatre in the 1970s.

MichaelKilgore
MichaelKilgore on October 20, 2021 at 6:29 pm

Same drive-in? Ada Weekly News, Dec. 30, 1954: “Frank Little, manager of the McSwain, Ritz, Kiva and Tower Drive-In Theatres in Ada announced today that the Circle 12 Drive-In Theatre on Highway 12 east of the city will open in the spring.”

davidcoppock
davidcoppock on February 26, 2019 at 5:16 am

The site is now possibly units or an apartment?

jwmovies
jwmovies on February 26, 2019 at 4:40 am

A more accurate address for this theater is 3101 Arlington St, Ada, OK 74820. This points directly to the drive in itself.

rivest266
rivest266 on March 30, 2014 at 12:12 pm

June 8th, 1956 grand opening ad in photo section.

NYozoner
NYozoner on January 18, 2011 at 8:52 pm

Mike,

The Tower was another drive-in, on Broadway in the north part of town. The Tower is already listed on CT: /theaters/20849/

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on January 18, 2011 at 5:07 pm

There was a Tower Drive-in in Ada in 1956.Name change?

NYozoner
NYozoner on January 18, 2011 at 3:51 am

Arlington St & N Monte Vista St, Ada, OK 74820

The above address will map accurately to the location of the drive-in, which was located at the southeast corner of the intersection.

Here is a 1957 aerial photo of the drive-in, courtesy of Earth Explorer and USGS:

http://flic.kr/p/9bc2oT