Hilltop Kar Vu Drive-In
298 Fitch Drive,
Torrington,
WY
82240
298 Fitch Drive,
Torrington,
WY
82240
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Additional Info
Previous Names: KenMor Kar Vu Drive-In
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Seems like Wyoming gets left out a lot when it comes to theatres and drive-ins, so here is the Hilltop Kar Vu Drive-In located in Torrington, Wyoming. It was opened as the KenMor Kar Vu Drive-In on August 19, 1949. In April 1950 it was renamed Hilltop Kar Vu Drive-In
It parked 342 cars in the late-1950’s, making it the town’s largest drive-in by two cars! It was owned by the Hilltop Kar Vu Drive-In Inc. It was still open in 1975.
Contributed by
MikeRogers
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Recent comments (view all 8 comments)
Open for sure in 1967.
Could use an address, more info, and photos.
Approx. location for this drive-in was W C St. & Fitch Dr. The ramps are still there.
A closer address (at least for Google) is 298 Fitch Drive, Torrington, WY. Today, it is private property, but you can easily see the ramps. http://tinyurl.com/hfdswdd
From the Sept. 24, 1949 issue of BoxOffice:
TORRINGTON, WYO. – F. W. Chopping, Zube M. Chopping and Bob C. Otwell are operating the new Kar-Vue Drive-In Theatre recently opened here on the Van Tassel highway.
April 26, 1952 Boxoffice: Delbert Stewart has bought the Hill Top Drive-In, Torrington, Wyo., from James B. Nolan.
I wonder if it really parked 342 cars or if they just advertised it as such so they could claim the title as largest car capacity. Most drive-ins can fit more cars than their stated capacity. I’m sure back then they when by speakers. Today with FM sound I’m sure some Drive-ins cram dozens more in.
From historical imagery it appears the building that still exists in the lower south west corner could be original, maybe the ticket box building?
Boxoffice, Feb. 11, 1950: “TORRINGTON, WYO. – Charles D. Stewart of the U.S. air corps, originally of Riverton, Wyo., has purchased the Kar-Vu Drive-In here from Frank Sheffield of Denver and Bob C. Otwell and Bill Chopping of Riverton. The theatre first was opened last August 19, and has been operated as the KenMor Kar-Vu. It is located one mile north of Torrington and will be reopened in April as the Hilltop Kar-Vu”
Boxoffice, April 26, 1952: “Delbert Stewart has bought the Hill Top Drive-In, Torrington, Wyo., from James B. Nolan”
Boxoffice, Sept. 15, 1975: “Delbert and Pat Stewart have sold their Hilltop Drive-In, Torrington, Wyo., to Lester and Michael Maxfield of that city.”