Cherokee Drive-In
1200 W. Cherokee Street,
Wagoner,
OK
74467
1200 W. Cherokee Street,
Wagoner,
OK
74467
2 people
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The Cherokee Drive-In was opened on April 1, 1953 with Jean Peters in “Anne of the Indies”. It was operated by Glen Thompson of Thompson Theatres based in Oklahoma City. Southwestern styling accentuated the Cherokee Drive-In. Landscaping was lush and well groomed. For those who arrived early a courtesy windshield cleaning was included with price of admission. It was still open in 1960.
Contributed by
Jeff Chapman
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Recent comments (view all 4 comments)
The Cherokee, operated by Charles Ralls, was mentioned in the May 16, 1960 issue of Boxoffice as one of three Oklahoma drive-ins whose screen towers “were destroyed and other damage sustained” by storms on May 4 & 5 that year.
The Cherokee Drive-In opened its gates on April 1, 1953 with Jean Peters in “Anne of the Indies” with no extra short subjects. The Cherokee was first operated by town’s favorite Charles Ralls, who also operated the town’s Cosy, and was managed by Bill Dilbeck of Marlow, Oklahoma.
Only a bit of information serves as the Cherokee Drive-In’s marquee at the front featured a huge Indian (or Chief based on Oklahoma tribe), with the installations of RCA Sound Systems and a mammoth screen.
A closer address is US-69 & OK-51, Wagoner, OK.
A grand opening poster in the photo section indicates the location of the drive-in was at the intersection. That makes sense given the large amount of traffic, particularly on HWY 69.
The exact location remains in doubt. A 1973 aerial shows no remnants of a drive-in nearby. A guess is that the property might have become the home of the Wagoner Hospital, which was fairly new in 1973 at least at that location.
https://tinyurl.com/2tn7ff2b
An even closer address is 1200 W Cherokee St, Wagoner, OK.
A 1958 aerial shows the drive-in located where the Wagoner Community Hospital now resides. The drive-in connected to both HWY-51 and HWY-69 using what is today North Hayes Avenue.
https://tinyurl.com/37bvm5ee