South Ottumwa Drive-In
6779 Madison Avenue,
Ottumwa,
IA
52501
6779 Madison Avenue,
Ottumwa,
IA
52501
1 person
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Central States Theatres Corp, Tri-State Theaters
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The South Ottumwa Drive-In was opened prior to 1949 when it was operated by Tri-State Theaters. By 1952 it was operated by Central States Theatres Corp. By 1953 it was operated by the Ottumwa Drive-In Co. and Frank Rubel and Central States Theatres Corp. On June 29, 1963 the screen was blown down in a wind storm. It reopened and was still open in 1995, but had been demolished by the late-1990’s. Now Eastlick Trucking.
Contributed by
James Monroe
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Recent comments (view all 6 comments)
Most of the drive-in sat just to the south of where Eastlick Trucking is located. You can still see a few hints of ramps, the screen foundation, and the projection booth/concession stand appears to be intact.
This was still operating in 1995.
Demolished In The Late 1990s.
The South Ottumwa Drive-In opened its gates on July 14, 1953 with Joseph Cotton in “Untamed Frontier” along with a couple of cartoons. It started life under the name “South Drive-In”. It was first managed by Jake Cohen and first operated by Ottumwa Theatres Incorporated.
The South Ottumwa Drive-In closed for the final time after the 1995 season due to poor business, and the theater was torn down in May 1996.
the old entrance road is still there, being used by the trucking company which sits just north of the property.
The projection booth/concession stand is still intact. Although in the Google Street View you can’t see it because of the cornfield.
What’s more interesting is that one of the towers used to support the screen appears to still be standing.
Boxoffice, July 8, 1963: “Nature put on quite a performance with an early evening windstorm Friday, June 29 … two Central States airers lost their screen towers - at Grinnell and Ottumwa. Manager Earl Rolison rigged up a 30x50-foot canvas "screen” between two poles and Ottumwa was in operation despite the downed tower."