Sooner Drive-In
2415 N. Main Street,
Miami,
OK
74354
2415 N. Main Street,
Miami,
OK
74354
1 person
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Griffith Amusement Company, Video Independent Theaters Inc.
Previous Names: Tri-State Drive-In
Nearby Theaters
The Tri-State Drive-In was opened June 30, 1949 with Susan Hayward in “Tulsa”. It was operated by Griffith Theatres. Later operated by Video Independent Theaters Inc. out of Oklahoma City. On August 23, 1963 it was renamed Sooner Drive-In after the previous Sooner Drive-In in town. It operated into the 1980’s.
Contributed by
Harley Dawg
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Recent comments (view all 6 comments)
Approx. address for this drive-in was 2415 North Main Street. Now Safeway!
According to extensive notes at MiamiHistory.net, the Tri State had its Grand Opening on June 30, 1949, and had a capacity of 500 cars. “At some point between 1961 and 1965, the Tri-State was renamed to the Sooner. According to historian Fredas Cook, it was to take advantage of the much nicer Sooner sign formerly used south of town.”
The May 5, 1960 issue of BoxOffice marked the passing of John H. Griffin, former mayor, police and fire commissioner of Miami. “He was in charge of Miami’s three downtown theatres and the drive-in north of town when he died.”
According to ads in the Miami News-Record, the Tri-State didn’t change its name to the Sooner until after Aug. 21, 1963. It was the Sooner by Aug. 23, 1963.
On March 11, 1955, the Tri-State converted its tower to widescreen to accommodate CinemaScope films beginning that night with Robert Mitchum and Marilyn Monroe in “River of No Return.”
The Sooner Drive-In was still open in the 1980s, but was gone by the mid-1990s. Traces were left remaining until a relocated Walmart occupied the former drive-in across the street in 2001.