Red Oak Drive-In
1665 200th Street,
Red Oak,
IA
51566
1665 200th Street,
Red Oak,
IA
51566
1 person
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The Red Oak Drive-In opened its gates on June 3, 1949 with Ray Milland in “California” (unclear if any short subjects were added). It was first operated by Alfred “Ed” Haal of Aubudon, Iowa, and the original screen tower measures 50x50ft while the screen plate measures 32x44ft.
On the evening of May 8, 1950, the entire drive-in theater and the nearby Skyway Inn both escaped damage from a tornado that severely damaged the Red Oak airport as well as 12 to 14 planes (only two managed to escape). Despite the $28,000 in damages, nobody was injured or killed. Since 8:20 PM that evening, the entire town of Red Oak was left without power until the following afternoon. In other portions of the town’s damage includes a large tree being toppled from 60 MPH wind gusts nearby on power lines, and a fire broke out at someone’s house caused by a lightning strike that struck the switchboard.
The Red Oak Drive-In became the last operating drive-in theater in Southwest Iowa until closing for the final time in mid-July 1987 due to property issues.
Fun note from the May 20, 1950 issue of BoxOffice: “There was quite a little talk in Red Oak, Iowa, about the twister that came down the road and struck and severely damaged the Red Oak airport. On the opposite side of the road stood Alfred Haals' Red Oak Drive-In which escaped damage.”
300 cars.
was open as early as 1950!
Thanks MajorMajor.
The address of the business currently located on the site is 1665 200th Street.