Skyvue Drive-In

50sSNIPES on February 20, 2021 at 3:29 pm

UPDATE: The Sky-Vue Drive-In Is Formerly The Blount Drive-In And Opened In Early April 1951 With Errol Flynn In “Montana” As One Of Their First Few Films.

In 1947 or 1948, Mr. Lesley Neely of Marion (born in Boaz, grew up in Gadsden, formerly worked at the Strand Theatre in Oneonta since December 26, 1922, survived a deadly vehicle wreck along with his wife Mrs. Lester Marlin Neely, Sr. and secretary Ms. Lowery on the morning of November 15, 1943 which left one unknown person dead, opened up the Neely Theatre since its opening on September 25, 1946, and was the one who formed the Neely Theatres Corporation of Alabama) had planned to build a Drive-In for the Oneonta and Blount County area but due to 3 crop failures, construction for the site was delayed immediately. But conditions, making it mandatory, really wanted the work to immediately start in business.

Mr. Neely’s wife, Mrs. Lester Marlin Neely, Sr. of Marion, who opened the Strand Theatre in Oneonta in 1922, decided to make his plan come true on October 29, 1950. Mrs. Neely along with the Wells Brothers of Boaz are affiliated in the new outdoor theatre and began construction when November passes by. Construction began on November 1, 1950 and will be known as the Blount Drive-In. The Blount Drive-In was located 1 mile from downtown Oneonta on the Albertville Highway 32 next to an airport. The equipment was bought by constructors and the location is progressing rapidly. She hopes that the theater will be ready for opening by the middle of December of that year but that didn’t happen at all until months later. Woodrow Wells of unknown was announced as the local manager.

Their original opening date of the theater was March 15, 1951 but due to weather conditions and being unable to surface their parking area, it is once again rescheduled. The theater finally opened during the week of March 30 to April 5, 1951. Apparently the grand opening date still remains lost, but I recalled “Montana” starring Errol Flynn with an unknown cartoon as one of the first few features the Blount Drive-In picked up for. This was listed as follows afterwards: After “Montana”, it was followed by “Fighting Man of the Plains” starring Randolph Scott in Cinecolor with no selected short subjects, Van Johnson along with Judy Garland with no selected short subjects added in “In The Good Old Summertime”, Dagwood and the Family themselves in “Blondie’s Secret” along with an unknown cartoon and the short “Breezy Little Bears”, and the 1948 film version of “The Three Musketeers”, also with no selected short subjects. That list was notable for the first few features that started up the Blount Drive-In.

The manager of the theater was later then taken over by John Plummer of unknown, who announced on May 6, 1954 before a showing of “Count the Hours” starring Teresa Wright that a typical Dialing for Dollars format event would take place there. It was notable for being notice as “Blount Car Night” with a feature at 7:00 P.M. EDT, and the drawing 1 hour and 30 minutes later at 8:30 P.M. A boatload of 2 big jackpots began drawing there with the first night $150 and $75. The money that is not won accumulates, which will increase each week until a winner is announced.

It was announced on April 1, 1955, that the Blount Drive-In closed its gates and would end its run and began to remodel. The original screen was replaced by a 70ft screen and new speakers being replaced. Reflecto tape and paint have been reused throughout the parking area by leaving small parking lights to locate the speaker of choice abilities.

This literally becomes the Sky-Vue Drive-In which opened on May 13, 1955 with Lucille Ball in “The Long Long Trailer”.

jwmovies on October 10, 2016 at 11:02 pm

The address for this drive in is 1600 2nd Ave E, Oneonta, AL 35121.

Now O'Reilly Auto Parts, Marvin’s Hardware and Tractor Supply Company.

Please update.