Today I started digging into the history of the People’s Forest Drive-In, only to realize that it was (probably) the future Pleasant Valley.
Film Daily wrote on May 27, 1947 that the People’s Drive-In Theater Corp. had formed, Vincent W. Youmatz of Winsted, president.
The People’s Forest Drive-In, owned by Youmatz, was described as between Hartford and Winsted on US 44. On May 22, 1948, Boxoffice wrote that Youmatz would “reopen his People’s Forest” in a few weeks. One week later, it wrote that he had opened it.
The Exhibitor magazine wrote in August 1948 that Youmatz had made a deal with a Torrington radio station to give away People’s Forest tickets. In September, it wrote that the “Rogers Corner” drive-in had settled with neighbors objecting to the drive-in’s loudspeaker noise, agreeing to close on Oct. 16.
In February 1949, the Exhibitor wrote, “When the Rogers Corner Drive-In reopens, in-car speakers will be in use.” Billboard reported two months later that it had reopened.
In 1951, Youmatz shifted his focus, building the Sky-Vue in Torrington and moving there to manage it, although the People’s corporation still ran the Rogers Corner.
The 1950-51 Theatre Catalog listed the People’s Dr. under Winsted.
In August 1966, Motion Picture Exhibitor announced, “The People’s Drive-In is the new name for the Rogers' Corner Drive-In, Pleasant Valley”. And if the above note from the 2017-owner is to be believed, it switched back again to Rogers Corner in the 1970s.
Boxoffice, May 8, 1948: “Russ Tweedy has built a drive-in at Jerome, Ida.”
Boxoffice, May 22, 1948: “Jerome, Ida. — Russ Tweedy chose a spot in the center of this community to build a drive-in theatre. The area was fringed by homes and the screen tower was plainly visible from the windows. Fearful that the neighbors might protest his location, Tweedy decided to let them in on the act. He installed in-car speakers at their windows.”
Boxoffice, May 8, 1948: “SAN RAFAEL, CALIF. - Sheriff’s deputies recovered a battered safe from the shallows of San Pablo bay recently. It was the safe which had been stolen several months earlier from the Enean Theatre in Pittsburg.”
Boxoffice, May 8, 1948: “Opening of the Bountiful Motor-Vu Drive-In just north of Salt Lake City this week highlighted announcements of openings and plans for several more outdoor theatres in this area. The Bountiful Drive-In, which has a capacity of 650 cars, is owned and operated by J. N. Bills who also runs the Bountiful Theatre. It is situated off the state’s main north and south highway. It was equipped by Service Theatre Supply; designed by Paul K. Evans, their architect, and constructed by Cartwright and Wilson, builders.”
Boxoffice, May 1, 1948: “ROEBUCK, ALA. — The Roebuck Drive-In Theatre, now under construction between Roebuck and Huffman, will be completed and opened in the near future, according to J. B. Waters Theatre Co., owner. The drive-in will have a 550-car capacity.”
Boxoffice, April 24, 1948: “YAKIMA, WASH. — The 800-car drive-in theatre built by the Mercy theatre interests on south First street is expected to open May 1. The ozoner will have a screen 50x56 feet, mounted on a 70-foot tower, and is equipped with in-car speakers, according to Frederick Mercy jr.”
Boxoffice, April 24, 1948: “FRESNO, CALIF.— Lloyd C. Miller of Bakersfield has applied for a permit to build a $100,000 drive-in theatre on a ten-acre site at Fresno and Gettysburg avenues. Miller represents a company, whose identity was not disclosed, which operates several large open air theatres in California, one of them at San Jose. If the Fresno county planning commission and the Fresno county board of supervisors approve the issuance of a permit. Miller proposes to start construction immediately and have the show ready for business in about 90 days. Construction of such a project in the area proposed is not now prohibited by zoning regulations, but it must be approved by the board of supervisors to insure public safety and welfare.”
Boxoffice, April 2, 1949: “FRESNO, CALIF. – The $110,000 Starlite Drive-In, being constructed on North Fresno street between Gettysburg and Shaw avenues here, is scheduled to open between May 1 and May 15. Built on an eight-acre site with space for approximately 600 cars, the Starlite is a Robert L. Lippert Co. project”
Possibly the second screen opener…
Boxoffice, July 4, 1953: “FRESNO, CALIF. – The new Starlite Drive-In Theatre was opened recently at Fresno and Shaw avenues, claiming to be the largest ozoner on the west coast. It has two screens visible from any location, has spaces for 1,500 cars, and features first run pictures. The Starlite twin-view airer is a Robert L. Lippert project. It has two boxoffices and two entrance roads.”
Boxoffice, April 17, 1948: “The Saco Drive-In, Saco, Me., which has the distinction of being the Pine Tree state’s only open air theatre, has been sold to Eugene Boragine of New York City. George O’Neill, who operated the theatre since it was built, returned it to its original owner last month, and he, in turn, sold it to Boragine. Included in the sale, which consists of 54 acres, is a hotel and restaurant. The new owner plans to operate the entire property, although the theatre buying and booking will be handled by Herbert Higgins. Boragine is in the interior decorating business in New York but he will spend the summer months on his new project. He is not a newcomer to the industry as 30 years ago he was the manager of a theatre in Providence for Martin Toohey, who brought his friend into the district to introduce him to the exchanges.”
Boxoffice, April 10, 1948: “NAMPA, IDAHO — Construction of a drive-in theatre at the junction of Karcher road and highway 30, west of Nampa, is moving along and Northwest Theatres, Inc., hopes to have the 400-car layout ready by the middle of April. Incorporators of Northwest Theatres are Dr. L. E. Jewell, A. D. Scrivner, Herb Chriswisser and V. R. Botkin, all of Meridian.”
The drive-in, now spelled Tee Pee, is scheduled to hold its Grand Opening on April 15. See https://www.teepeedrivein.com/tickets
(According to the Tulsa World, the then-unfinished Tee Pee actually showed some movies in October 2022.)
Google Street View now shows the Rock Creek Bridge as reopened but weight-restricted and single-lane.
Aha! There’s a new side-street that Google Earth/Maps hasn’t noticed yet but Street View has: https://goo.gl/maps/kc5EgSTSneqpVLHdA It continues Highway 117 a block north to Ozark Trail, looping around the back of the Tee Pee.
Joe Osborne, former owner and operator of the Lycinda Drive-In Theatre and Joe’s Lycinda grocery at Viper, died at the age of 80 on March 28, 1995, based on a short obituary the next day in the Lexington Herald-Leader. Joe Lycinda True Value hardware in Viper still exists today.
As for the drive-in, looks like it opened in the summer of 1955.
Independent Film Journal, May 14, 1955: “Noah Campbell’s new Lycinda Drive-In, going up in Fusonia, Ky., is expected to be ready by the 1st of June. Located between Whitesburg and Hazard, it will be equipped for CinemaScope and hold 300 cars.”
Motion Picture Exhibitor, June 1, 1955: “According to Floyd Morrow, Morrow Theatre Service, a buying and booking service for drive-in theatres, he will handle the buying and booking for Noah Campbell’s Lycinda Drive-In, Fusonia, Ky., which was scheduled to open on May 27.”
Boxoffice, April 30, 1955: “The Gravois Mills Drive-In … was reopened April 1 for its third season by Mr. and Mrs. Glen Jones with an automatic lawnmower advertised as a giveaway. That night, the winner was ready to take his "mower” home in his car, but he hadn’t figured it was April Fool’s Day - the automatic lawnmower was a donkey! At last report the animal was still at the drive-in with the dozen or so other donkeys owned by Jones, which he has kept following his retirement from the donkey baseball business. Jones spent more than 20 years in the novel trade, putting on benefits with Junior Chambers of Commerce and other organizations. He built the 100-car situation at Gravois Mills in 1952."
Boxoffice, April 30, 1955: “C. C. Creamer, partner in Minneapolis Theatre Supply and president of Mile High Corp., building a drive-in at Deadwood, was in (Denver) to confer with Jack Rose, buyer and booker for the new ozoner, which will be named the Mile High. The drive-in will have a capacity for 600 cars. To open about June 1, the theatre will be managed by Leonard Steele, one of the partners in the ozoner”
Boxoffice, April 30, 1955: “The Crescent Drive-In, Vallejo, has been taken over by the United California circuit. Guy Meeks formally owned the theatre”
Boxoffice, March 17, 1951: “LEBANON, ORE. - Mild Weather brought on an early reopening of the Motor Vu Drive-In. Tadd Nelson is manager.”
Boxoffice, April 21, 1951: “LEBANON, ORE. - During a recent showing at the Lebanon Motor Vue, flames followed two explosions in the projection booth when films caught fire. Projectionist Carrol Courtnier fought the fire while throwing all electrical switches, then crawled from the rear door of the booth. Firemen arrived to control the blaze. New equipment was flown to Salem overnight from Salt Lake City and the following evening the place was again in operation.”
Boxoffice, April 15, 1950: “EMMET (sic), IDA. – Virgil Odell and Preston Capell of Nampa have purchased the Emmet Drive-In on South Johns and will open it after completing extensive improvements. The theatre was purchased from Paul Charters. Improvements at the ozoner will include new restrooms, new projection booth and new equipment.”
Boxoffice, March 17, 1951: “Virgil Odell, operator of the Emmett Drive-In, opened the outdoorer (for the season) March 9. The screen tower has been remodeled and new lens installed.”
You may be right, Kenmore. My evidence is weak - the size is right for 100 cars, it became an auto junkyard at about the right time, and somebody cleared this fenced square for something. For all I know, Cavasos might have been living at that house. The concession stand could have been either corner building, and the screen might have been makeshift and temporary.
You’re better at scanning photos than I am. Maybe you could download the 1950 aerials from EarthExplorer and help me find a more satisfying candidate for this mystery drive-in.
Just asking: Since there were two drive-ins in Vivian at the same time, how do we know which is which? Is there a mention somewhere of the Wakea sitting just south of Chapelwood Cemetery, or of the Gay “just another 2000 feet north” like that?
Found it! It was on the east side of town on US 90, of course, and it looked intact in April 1953. The approximate Google Maps address is 4045 East Main Street, Uvalde, TX. There’s an electrical substation on the site today.
Just before the Korean War indirectly caused a pause in most drive-in construction…
Boxoffice, Oct. 14, 1950: “Charlott, Mich. - Cash R. Beechler, proprietor of the two theatres here and the New Rapids Theatre in Eaton Rapids, is again expanding his business activities by building a drive-in south of town. Beechler has bought about 16 acres of the former Parm Whitcomb farm on U.S. 27. The surveying work has been done, also the engineering work on the ramps. It is planned to complete the theatre this fall and have it ready for opening in the spring.”
Boxoffice, Oct. 14, 1950: “Four months late in opening due to delays and shortage in needed materials, the Tusca-Glen Drive-In on the Tuscarawas road was opened recently. The new ozoner is situated six and one-half miles from Beaver and seven and one-half miles from Midland. Capacity at opening is 450 automobiles, with room for an increase to 650. Owners include local business and professional men, including Joseph Taylor of the Taylor Milk Co., Ambridge; Dr. Lewis Urling jr., Attorney Richard H. West, Raymond M. Lewis and Dr. Lewis Urling. Concession is managed by the Taylor Milk Co.”
Today I started digging into the history of the People’s Forest Drive-In, only to realize that it was (probably) the future Pleasant Valley.
Film Daily wrote on May 27, 1947 that the People’s Drive-In Theater Corp. had formed, Vincent W. Youmatz of Winsted, president.
The People’s Forest Drive-In, owned by Youmatz, was described as between Hartford and Winsted on US 44. On May 22, 1948, Boxoffice wrote that Youmatz would “reopen his People’s Forest” in a few weeks. One week later, it wrote that he had opened it.
The Exhibitor magazine wrote in August 1948 that Youmatz had made a deal with a Torrington radio station to give away People’s Forest tickets. In September, it wrote that the “Rogers Corner” drive-in had settled with neighbors objecting to the drive-in’s loudspeaker noise, agreeing to close on Oct. 16.
In February 1949, the Exhibitor wrote, “When the Rogers Corner Drive-In reopens, in-car speakers will be in use.” Billboard reported two months later that it had reopened.
In 1951, Youmatz shifted his focus, building the Sky-Vue in Torrington and moving there to manage it, although the People’s corporation still ran the Rogers Corner.
The 1950-51 Theatre Catalog listed the People’s Dr. under Winsted.
In August 1966, Motion Picture Exhibitor announced, “The People’s Drive-In is the new name for the Rogers' Corner Drive-In, Pleasant Valley”. And if the above note from the 2017-owner is to be believed, it switched back again to Rogers Corner in the 1970s.
Boxoffice, May 8, 1948: “Russ Tweedy has built a drive-in at Jerome, Ida.”
Boxoffice, May 22, 1948: “Jerome, Ida. — Russ Tweedy chose a spot in the center of this community to build a drive-in theatre. The area was fringed by homes and the screen tower was plainly visible from the windows. Fearful that the neighbors might protest his location, Tweedy decided to let them in on the act. He installed in-car speakers at their windows.”
Boxoffice, May 8, 1948: “SAN RAFAEL, CALIF. - Sheriff’s deputies recovered a battered safe from the shallows of San Pablo bay recently. It was the safe which had been stolen several months earlier from the Enean Theatre in Pittsburg.”
Boxoffice, May 8, 1948: “Opening of the Bountiful Motor-Vu Drive-In just north of Salt Lake City this week highlighted announcements of openings and plans for several more outdoor theatres in this area. The Bountiful Drive-In, which has a capacity of 650 cars, is owned and operated by J. N. Bills who also runs the Bountiful Theatre. It is situated off the state’s main north and south highway. It was equipped by Service Theatre Supply; designed by Paul K. Evans, their architect, and constructed by Cartwright and Wilson, builders.”
Boxoffice, May 1, 1948: “ROEBUCK, ALA. — The Roebuck Drive-In Theatre, now under construction between Roebuck and Huffman, will be completed and opened in the near future, according to J. B. Waters Theatre Co., owner. The drive-in will have a 550-car capacity.”
Boxoffice, April 24, 1948: “YAKIMA, WASH. — The 800-car drive-in theatre built by the Mercy theatre interests on south First street is expected to open May 1. The ozoner will have a screen 50x56 feet, mounted on a 70-foot tower, and is equipped with in-car speakers, according to Frederick Mercy jr.”
Adding and consolidating Boxoffice notes…
Boxoffice, April 24, 1948: “FRESNO, CALIF.— Lloyd C. Miller of Bakersfield has applied for a permit to build a $100,000 drive-in theatre on a ten-acre site at Fresno and Gettysburg avenues. Miller represents a company, whose identity was not disclosed, which operates several large open air theatres in California, one of them at San Jose. If the Fresno county planning commission and the Fresno county board of supervisors approve the issuance of a permit. Miller proposes to start construction immediately and have the show ready for business in about 90 days. Construction of such a project in the area proposed is not now prohibited by zoning regulations, but it must be approved by the board of supervisors to insure public safety and welfare.”
Boxoffice, April 2, 1949: “FRESNO, CALIF. – The $110,000 Starlite Drive-In, being constructed on North Fresno street between Gettysburg and Shaw avenues here, is scheduled to open between May 1 and May 15. Built on an eight-acre site with space for approximately 600 cars, the Starlite is a Robert L. Lippert Co. project”
Possibly the second screen opener…
Boxoffice, July 4, 1953: “FRESNO, CALIF. – The new Starlite Drive-In Theatre was opened recently at Fresno and Shaw avenues, claiming to be the largest ozoner on the west coast. It has two screens visible from any location, has spaces for 1,500 cars, and features first run pictures. The Starlite twin-view airer is a Robert L. Lippert project. It has two boxoffices and two entrance roads.”
Boxoffice, April 17, 1948: “The Saco Drive-In, Saco, Me., which has the distinction of being the Pine Tree state’s only open air theatre, has been sold to Eugene Boragine of New York City. George O’Neill, who operated the theatre since it was built, returned it to its original owner last month, and he, in turn, sold it to Boragine. Included in the sale, which consists of 54 acres, is a hotel and restaurant. The new owner plans to operate the entire property, although the theatre buying and booking will be handled by Herbert Higgins. Boragine is in the interior decorating business in New York but he will spend the summer months on his new project. He is not a newcomer to the industry as 30 years ago he was the manager of a theatre in Providence for Martin Toohey, who brought his friend into the district to introduce him to the exchanges.”
Boxoffice, April 10, 1948: “NAMPA, IDAHO — Construction of a drive-in theatre at the junction of Karcher road and highway 30, west of Nampa, is moving along and Northwest Theatres, Inc., hopes to have the 400-car layout ready by the middle of April. Incorporators of Northwest Theatres are Dr. L. E. Jewell, A. D. Scrivner, Herb Chriswisser and V. R. Botkin, all of Meridian.”
The drive-in, now spelled Tee Pee, is scheduled to hold its Grand Opening on April 15. See https://www.teepeedrivein.com/tickets
(According to the Tulsa World, the then-unfinished Tee Pee actually showed some movies in October 2022.)
Google Street View now shows the Rock Creek Bridge as reopened but weight-restricted and single-lane.
Aha! There’s a new side-street that Google Earth/Maps hasn’t noticed yet but Street View has: https://goo.gl/maps/kc5EgSTSneqpVLHdA It continues Highway 117 a block north to Ozark Trail, looping around the back of the Tee Pee.
Joe Osborne, former owner and operator of the Lycinda Drive-In Theatre and Joe’s Lycinda grocery at Viper, died at the age of 80 on March 28, 1995, based on a short obituary the next day in the Lexington Herald-Leader. Joe Lycinda True Value hardware in Viper still exists today.
As for the drive-in, looks like it opened in the summer of 1955.
Independent Film Journal, May 14, 1955: “Noah Campbell’s new Lycinda Drive-In, going up in Fusonia, Ky., is expected to be ready by the 1st of June. Located between Whitesburg and Hazard, it will be equipped for CinemaScope and hold 300 cars.”
Motion Picture Exhibitor, June 1, 1955: “According to Floyd Morrow, Morrow Theatre Service, a buying and booking service for drive-in theatres, he will handle the buying and booking for Noah Campbell’s Lycinda Drive-In, Fusonia, Ky., which was scheduled to open on May 27.”
Boxoffice, April 30, 1955: “The Gravois Mills Drive-In … was reopened April 1 for its third season by Mr. and Mrs. Glen Jones with an automatic lawnmower advertised as a giveaway. That night, the winner was ready to take his "mower” home in his car, but he hadn’t figured it was April Fool’s Day - the automatic lawnmower was a donkey! At last report the animal was still at the drive-in with the dozen or so other donkeys owned by Jones, which he has kept following his retirement from the donkey baseball business. Jones spent more than 20 years in the novel trade, putting on benefits with Junior Chambers of Commerce and other organizations. He built the 100-car situation at Gravois Mills in 1952."
Boxoffice, April 30, 1955: “Louis Groy installed a new RCA screen and Panatar lenses in his 300-seat Ute, Sagauche”
Boxoffice, April 30, 1955: “C. C. Creamer, partner in Minneapolis Theatre Supply and president of Mile High Corp., building a drive-in at Deadwood, was in (Denver) to confer with Jack Rose, buyer and booker for the new ozoner, which will be named the Mile High. The drive-in will have a capacity for 600 cars. To open about June 1, the theatre will be managed by Leonard Steele, one of the partners in the ozoner”
Boxoffice, April 30, 1955: “The Crescent Drive-In, Vallejo, has been taken over by the United California circuit. Guy Meeks formally owned the theatre”
The Motor Vu opened before 1951.
Boxoffice, March 17, 1951: “LEBANON, ORE. - Mild Weather brought on an early reopening of the Motor Vu Drive-In. Tadd Nelson is manager.”
Boxoffice, April 21, 1951: “LEBANON, ORE. - During a recent showing at the Lebanon Motor Vue, flames followed two explosions in the projection booth when films caught fire. Projectionist Carrol Courtnier fought the fire while throwing all electrical switches, then crawled from the rear door of the booth. Firemen arrived to control the blaze. New equipment was flown to Salem overnight from Salt Lake City and the following evening the place was again in operation.”
Boxoffice, April 15, 1950: “EMMET (sic), IDA. – Virgil Odell and Preston Capell of Nampa have purchased the Emmet Drive-In on South Johns and will open it after completing extensive improvements. The theatre was purchased from Paul Charters. Improvements at the ozoner will include new restrooms, new projection booth and new equipment.”
Boxoffice, March 17, 1951: “Virgil Odell, operator of the Emmett Drive-In, opened the outdoorer (for the season) March 9. The screen tower has been remodeled and new lens installed.”
From its 1966 aerial photo, the Ponce de Leon looks like it added another ramp between the year it opened and then.
You may be right, Kenmore. My evidence is weak - the size is right for 100 cars, it became an auto junkyard at about the right time, and somebody cleared this fenced square for something. For all I know, Cavasos might have been living at that house. The concession stand could have been either corner building, and the screen might have been makeshift and temporary.
You’re better at scanning photos than I am. Maybe you could download the 1950 aerials from EarthExplorer and help me find a more satisfying candidate for this mystery drive-in.
Just asking: Since there were two drive-ins in Vivian at the same time, how do we know which is which? Is there a mention somewhere of the Wakea sitting just south of Chapelwood Cemetery, or of the Gay “just another 2000 feet north” like that?
To narrow down the opening date, the Stardust was in the 1952 Theatre Catalog, owner R. I. Payne with Theater Enterprises, with a capacity of 450.
And it looked ready for a show in the USGS photo from April 1953 that I just uploaded.
Found it! It was on the east side of town on US 90, of course, and it looked intact in April 1953. The approximate Google Maps address is 4045 East Main Street, Uvalde, TX. There’s an electrical substation on the site today.
Just before the Korean War indirectly caused a pause in most drive-in construction…
Boxoffice, Oct. 14, 1950: “Charlott, Mich. - Cash R. Beechler, proprietor of the two theatres here and the New Rapids Theatre in Eaton Rapids, is again expanding his business activities by building a drive-in south of town. Beechler has bought about 16 acres of the former Parm Whitcomb farm on U.S. 27. The surveying work has been done, also the engineering work on the ramps. It is planned to complete the theatre this fall and have it ready for opening in the spring.”
Boxoffice, Oct. 14, 1950: “Four months late in opening due to delays and shortage in needed materials, the Tusca-Glen Drive-In on the Tuscarawas road was opened recently. The new ozoner is situated six and one-half miles from Beaver and seven and one-half miles from Midland. Capacity at opening is 450 automobiles, with room for an increase to 650. Owners include local business and professional men, including Joseph Taylor of the Taylor Milk Co., Ambridge; Dr. Lewis Urling jr., Attorney Richard H. West, Raymond M. Lewis and Dr. Lewis Urling. Concession is managed by the Taylor Milk Co.”
Boxoffice, Oct. 14, 1950: “The Midway Drive-In on Route 37, three miles south of Benton, has been opened by Joe Sullivan and Bob Strauss”