Clark 54 Drive-In

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CLARK DRIVE-IN THEATRE TO OPEN WEDNESDAY NIGHT
1952

Announcement was made Wednesday by Rex Fenton, manager of the Clark Drive-In Theatre located on Route 54 south of Summer Hill, that the drive-in will open Wednesday July 2nd.

The starting time is at sundown with the doors opening at 6:30pm. Special recorded music will start at 7pm with a master of ceremony. This music will be heard over the regular sound system with each car having its own individual speaker.

The very latest RCA sound and projection equipment is being used. Extra-large lamphouses are used so that a clear white picture will be given at all times on a screen tower 60x50 feet. The building which houses the projection booth, located in the middle of this ten-acre plot of land, also holds the concession room. There candy, popcorn, hot dogs, ice cream and drinks can be purchased. The restrooms are also located in the projection room building.

Upon first impression the average person will wonder why it took seven weeks to complete. But the greater part of the work is underground. First a well had to be drilled to a depth of 190 feet before water of sufficient quality and quantity was obtained.

An ordinary septic tank could not be used because the ground around it would become soft from moisture. An entirely different type had to be constructed with concrete. The screen tower had to have concrete piers underground large enough that the tower will withstand a 100 mile an hour wind.

Each speaker post had to be anchored with concrete and all connected together by underground cable. Even the lighting is run underground to the projection building by REA so that no wires will interfere with anyone’s vision of the screen.

It will take considerable larger personnel to operate a drive-in theatre than the conventional house. In addition to Mr. Fenton, the manager, a force of twelve or fourteen people will be needed.

DESIGNED BY TED DELL

This drive-in theatre was designed under direct supervision of Ted Dell. The carpenter contract was by Wayne Peebles. John Grimes had the plumbing contract and Gilbert O’Leary of Barry had the grading contract. Everett Willard and Ira Dyer handled the maintenance and spreading of the gravel. One of the largest jobs was the hauling of more than eight thousand tons of gravel which was under contract to Victor Callendar. Pittsfield’s new firm, Pike County Glass Shop, had the contract for the glasswork.

The opening picture will be the Technicolor attraction “Tomahawk” with Van Heflin, Yvonne De Carlo. The policy to be maintained will be fifty cents admission for adults, but all children under 12 years of age will be admitted free.

Every Tuesday will be “Dollar Night” with the admission being one dollar for each car regardless of the number of people in each car.

The drive-in was originally going to be built west of Detroit (Pike County Illinois).