Twilite Drive-In
27780 SD-17,
Lennox,
SD
57039
27780 SD-17,
Lennox,
SD
57039
2 people
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If you are talking about the rectangular property just north of what appears to be a house and barn in the 1958 photo, it doesn’t look nearly big enough even for a 130 car drive-in. But then again I’ve seen so-called “official” information be wrong before, so it could have been smaller.
At least my guess about it being totally demolished before 1958 seems to be right. Which means that information should be added to the description.
I talked to somebody in Lennox and they said it was where Jerry’s Auto is at. Looking at 1958 aerial and 2018 Goggle map it was north of Jerry’s. So that would be it I believe.
If you look at the 1958 aerial of that location that might have been it..look south and you can see a outline of something..
At last, a location hint, from the July 16, 1949 BoxOffice:
LENNOX, S. D. – Arden Davidson, former operator of a theatre in Bridgewater, has purchased two and one-half acres of land at the northeast edge of town for construction of a 175-car drive-in. He plans a 20x30-foot screen and four large amplifiers. Two concession stands will also be erected.
And now that you know where to look, check out the entrance and exit driveways on the sharper 1958 aerial at about 27780 SD-17.
I think I’m going blind looking at the 1958 aerial photo of Lennox. Even a 130 car drive-in should stand out if it was anywhere in or near that small town.
Is it possible that it closed well before 1958 and was demolished or someone built something over it? Cause I’m thinking that is possible.
Perhaps it opened as the Lennox. From the July 2, 1949 issue of BoxOffice:
LENNOX, S. D. – H. E. Davidson plans to open the Lennox Drive-In about July 17. Population of the town is 1,164. Capacity of the drive-in will be 130 autos. Davidson formerly had theatres at Bridgewater and Marion, S. D.
I’ve seen “twilight, "Twi-Light”, and Twilite" spelled in different ways. Not all that uncommon with newspaper ads, especially when updating them on the phone.
As I said before, I’ve yet to locate the drive-in on a 1958 aerial. But my eyes are not the greatest, so it could be shining like a beacon for all I know. Any help in nailing down the location would be helpful in getting an address.
The Thursday, March 9, 1950 edition of the Sioux Falls SD Argus-Leader tells us a little. “Lennox, S. D., Mar. 9 – Strong winds Tuesday tore down and damaged the screen of the Twi-Light Drive-In theatre here. This is the second time the screen has been blown down since it was constructed early in 1949. Damage was greater this time than it was last year when it was blown down.”
The follow-up came on Friday, April 28, 1950. “Lennox, S. D. – The Twi-lite Drive-in theatre will be open for business Saturday. The screen has been reconstructed, after being completely demolished during the severe wind storm several weeks ago. It was the second time in a year that the screen has been demolished.”
The drive-in’s spelling was inconsistent even in its own for-sale ads in the Argus-Leader.
March 29 & 31, 1952: “SMALL Drive In Theatre. I am alone here and the reason for selling, can’t get good help. Theatre doing good, a very good buy for family. Write Twi-Lite Drive In Theatre, Lennox, South Dakota.”
May 26, 1952: “SMALL drive in theatre. In operation. Doing good. Reason for sale, can’t get help. Write Twilite Drive-in, Lennox.”
A 1958 aerial of the town does not reveal any drive-in theater nearby that I can see.
Of course it may be hiding in plain sight, so I’m not trying to say it doesn’t exist. But any information that can help nail down the address would be helpful.