Bearcat Drive-In
12284 OK-30,
Erick,
OK
73645
12284 OK-30,
Erick,
OK
73645
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(Thanks to the work of the Oklahoma Historical Society)
Beckham County Democrat, May 29, 1952: “The new Bearcat Drive-In Theatre, which is located just north of Erick on Highway 20, will open June 16th, according to Mr. Lamar Guthrie, owner. Their opening picture will be “Carson City,” starring Randolph Scott … The new theatre’s capacity is 106 cars, with individual speakers for each car.”
After advertising regularly in early 1964, the Bearcat’s ads abruptly ceased after the June 11 issue of the Democrat. That ad included movies through Monday, June 15. That might be its final show - it matches the Boxoffice note later that said it had been closed “a few months” before being dismantled in October/November.
Motion Picture Exhibitor, June 13, 1962: “Amos Page has taken over the operation of the Capada Drive In, Floydada, Tex. He operates the Avalon and Derby Drive-In at McLean, Tex. In addition page buys and books for the Rogue and Mustange (sic), Wheeler, and the Rogue and Matador Drive In at Matador, Tex. and the Bearcat Drive In at Erock (sic), Okla.”
A roundup in the July 26, 1952 issue of Boxoffice mentioned: “The new Bearcat Drive-In has been opened by Lamar Guthrie.”
July 29, 1963: “Mr. and Mrs. Garland Dobson will close their Bearcat Drive-In (for the season?) in Erick October 31 with a Halloween show.”
And the final note, on Nov. 2, 1964: “Lamar Guthrie, who operated the Rogue Theatre and the Bearcat Drive-In for many years, has announced the dismantling of the drive-in. … For the last few years, Garland Dobson and his wife have been operating the drive-in, but they closed it a few months ago and Guthrie was unsuccessful in getting another operator to take it over … The land has been purchased by a nearby farmer.”
The Bearcat first showed up in the Motion Picture Almanac’s drive-in lists in the 1953-54 edition under “Erie”. That was corrected to Erick in the 1955 edition.
All mentions in the MPA lists:
A more accurate address for this theater is 12284 OK-30, Erick, OK 73645. This points directly to the entrance road. Now an oilfield supply store.
Please update.
Found it! The Bearcat Drive-In was located just over a mile north of the town at the intersection of HWY 30 and E1230 Road on the NE side. The property now holds businesses and most of it has been paved over. However, you can just see a trace of the old ramps at the top. http://tinyurl.com/ogramf7