Elinda Ann Drive-In
1505 Jenkins Road,
Whitesburg,
KY
41858
1505 Jenkins Road,
Whitesburg,
KY
41858
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The Elinda Ann Drive-In opened June 15, 1949 with “Black Gold.” The original screen was destroyed by high winds in December of 1953. It was rebuilt as a CinemaScope screen when it relaunched in 1954. It closed for the season in 1965. Billy Wayne Wright converted the main building to a laundromat the following spring in 1966.
So the theater was named after their family’s sister, and his father made a model out of his wife’s different types of salad bowls? That’s very unique!
Within roughly 15 seconds doing an internet search, I was able to determine the reasoning behind the name.
it’s really not a difficult task and it baffles me to no end why it’s not done.
https://www.cinematour.com/tour/us/33902.html
So now I don’t know who came up with the “Elinda Ann” name. I know it’s name after someone long before opening on June 15, 1949, but I don’t know who Elinda Ann is.
Boxoffice, July 9, 1949: (under Theatre Openings) Whitesburg, Ky. - Elinda Ann Drive-In, 300 cars, 360 walk-in seats, opened by Dr. B. F. Wright June 15.
Boxoffice, July 23, 1949: “Our (The Exhibitor Has His Say) contributor, Art V. Phillips, … is very proud of his employer’s new Elinda Ann Theatre (Drive-In) on State Highway 15 within the city limits of Whitesburg, Ky. This opened June 15, to quote Phillips, "with a bang!” He proudly details its capacity of 332 cars, with RCA in-car speakers, but mentions that the most unique thing is the special enclosed, roofed and well ventilated “seat-in section.” This seats 360 patrons and has newly installed International leather-cushioned seats."
He might be wrong. Because if you look at the 1983 aerial, the Dairy Queen and the Letcher County Recreational Center was at the theater’s site already.
Local historian told me closure was in the 1990s. No matter. Closed.
Probably the owner. It opened as early as 1952 and closed in the 1960s it looks like.
Why the name Elinda-ann?