Comments about Hi-Road Drive-In in Kenton, OH

MichaelKilgore on August 9, 2017 at 4:35 pm

Newspaper notes:

The Lima News: The Grand Opening was scheduled for Saturday, June 11, 1949.

The Lima News: “A heavy windstorm” blew down the screen on Jan. 22, 1952. “Robert Hipp, manager,” said the damages were $12k-15k.

The Lima News: In June 1958, Robert Hipp filed charges against two 19-year-olds for burglarizing the Hi-Road.

The Marion Star: In June 1961, “Merle E. Horst, manager of the Kenton Theatre and Hi Road Drive In Theatre” corrected an odd story of someone claiming to be with the theatres filming a city council meeting.

An ad for the Hi Road Flea Market (at the Hi Road Drive-In) appears in several June 1977 issues of The Courier of Findlay OH. But not a movie listings ad.

The Greenville Daily Advocate, Oct. 13, 1984: “Attorney’s (sic) and realtors have filed notices with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Dayton listing fees they wish to charge D.F. John and Diane Tabor, owners of … the Hi-Road Drive-In of Kenton” and nine other area theatres.

The Hi Road apparently began advertising in The Marion Star in August 1998.

MichaelKilgore on August 9, 2017 at 3:01 pm

rdoitmiller et al, back in the day, when a drive-in was doing really well, sometimes its owners would buy a chunk of adjoining land to expand. That might well be what happened at the Hi-Road.

Data dump from my Theatre Catalogs and Motion Picture Almanacs.

1949-50 TC: Bob Hipp, capacity 325

1952 TC: Robert W. Kipp (sic), 325

1953-54 MPA: Ohio Theatre Service Corp., 325

1955-56 TC: Robert W. Hipp, 400

1959 MPA: Ohio Theatre Service Corp., 325

1963 MPA: General Theatres, 325

1969-76 MPA: 325

1982-88 MPA: not listed

Drive-In 54 on September 14, 2013 at 5:42 am

The Hi Road now has digital!!

Drive-In 54 on June 21, 2013 at 4:11 pm

Stopped in today and took a few pictures. Still screening in 35MM yet. Digital is on the way.

rdoitmiller on December 8, 2011 at 11:46 am

Not sure what Almanac you are talking about but the HI-Road Drive In uses a double ramp system and parks 600 cars. In 2011 I added a second screen. So Screen 1 parks about 300 and Screen 2 about 250

Mike Rogers on July 29, 2010 at 7:50 pm

yeah,it gets hard to take that big Almanac out and give info,but so many people want it.Sometimes it is wrong and boy do they let you know.

TLSLOEWS on April 12, 2010 at 5:23 pm

Thanks again Mike.

Mike Rogers on April 12, 2010 at 4:52 pm

In 1956 it parked 325 cars! Someone must have added on to the HI-ROAD DRIVE-IN. It was owned by Ohio Theatre Service Corp.

millsbranch on February 19, 2009 at 5:10 am

The High Road was opened the 3rd weekend of April, 1950
Billy Holcomb

kencmcintyre on August 28, 2007 at 7:52 pm

Operator in 1963 was General Theaters.

Hi-Road Drive-In

8059 US Route 68, Kenton, OH 43326

8059 US Route 68,
Kenton, OH 43326