Longhorn Drive-In
161432 Highway 81,
Marlow,
OK
73055
161432 Highway 81,
Marlow,
OK
73055
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The Longhorn Drive-In opened its gates on May 16, 1952 with Bob Crosby in “When You’re Smiling” (Unknown if extras added).
On December 12, 1953, the Grady County Sheriff’s Office received a call from manager O.L. Smith stating that every single theater item inside the Longhorn Drive-In was stolen. The case lasted for several months until all of its equipment were recovered in June 1954. Unfortunately all the equipment were badly damaged and was no longer in used. Police identified the person who stole everything at the Longhorn Drive-In as Dr. William T. Gyles of Rush Springs, Oklahoma. At that same time, Horace Clark, the owner of the Chief Drive-In in Chickasha, has filed a replevin action against Gyles for the $765 of equipment he stole from the theater. Despite no criminal charges were filed, he pleaded guilty on what he just did.
It was closed in the late-1960s.
There’s now a street address for this one on Google Maps, so please update to 161432 US-81, Marlow, OK.
Boxoffice, Feb. 15, 1965: “O. L. Smith is back in the harness after being out of the theatre business for some 17 months. He took over the Alamo Theatre and the Long Horn Drive-In in Marlow January 1. Both were badly run down so Smith closed the Alamo Monday (8) for four days to renovate it. He said that if he opens the Long Horn, it probably will be late in the spring.”
Not to be picky, but the actual location of the drive-in was about ¼ to ½ mile north of the intersection of HWY 81 and Ballpark Road as the old photo posted by NYozoner shows.
On the map, you can still see the old entrance and exit of the drive-in along with the very faint outline of the ramps.
The Longhorn Drive-In opened about 1955 at the NE corner of U.S. 81 and Ballpark Road in Marlow, Oklahoma. It is across the street from the Marlow High School baseball field.
There was indeed a drive-in on the east side of Hwy 81, north of Marlow.
Here is a 1974 aerial photo of the drive-in, courtesy of Earth Explorer and USGS:
http://flic.kr/p/9bEUV5