O'Neill Drive-In
49230 873 Road,
O'Neill,
NE
68763
49230 873 Road,
O'Neill,
NE
68763
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The O'Neill Drive-In was opened on June 5, 1952 with Dane Clark in “Fort Defiance”. It was operated by R.V. Fletcher and Theatre Booking Service. It was demolished 2021.
Contributed by
James Monroe
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Recent comments (view all 7 comments)
Apart from a couple of paddock bomb cars on the front ramps, everything still looks the same as of 2017.
Boxoffice, June 29, 1957: “Frank Sheffield of Denver, Colo., has contracted for the purchase of the O'Neill Drive-In … from R. V. Fletcher. The transaction has been pending for some time. The O'Neill Drive-In was built in 1950 by Fletcher and has been operated by him since that time.”
Same drive-in? Denver Post, June 16, 1952: “Near O'Neill, Neb., Sunday night (June 15), a freak twister destroyed a drive-in theater at an estimated loss of $8,000. The structure had been completed only two weeks ago.”
The O’Neill Drive-In launched June. 1, 1952 and operated two weeks before a windstorm closed it temporarily. The theater was rebuilt and continued for 30 years into the beginning of the home video era.
Built on the former spot of Danceland, the O'Neill Drive-In Theatre launched on June 5, 1952 with “Fort Defiance” supported by additional short subjects. Just ten days later, on June 15, 1952, a tornado destroyed the screen. It was soon rebuilt.
As of 2024, Google Satellite and street view show the ticket booth, concession and screen have all been completely demolished. Only thing remains is the general outline and indicator of the ramps.
I looked at Google Earth, and it appears that the theater was demolished in 2021. It was already demolished in 2022.