Comments from whorton

Showing 51 - 66 of 66 comments

whorton
whorton commented about N. Penn Twin Drive-In on Jul 13, 2012 at 6:51 pm

It opened May 22, 1963. It closed for good at the end of the 1974 season, and never reopened for the 75 season. Kencmcintyre is correct in that the opening of a sewage plant near the theatre was the main thing leading to it’s failure. R.L. Barton attempted to sue the city, as well as spraying pleasant smelling fragrances around the perimeter before the shows.

Sewage treatment plants killed two drive in theatres in OKC, the Fairpark and the North Penn Twin.

Wesley Horton AIDA

whorton
whorton commented about Wilburton Auto Theatre on Jul 13, 2012 at 6:43 pm

Had to have been the:

Sunset Drive-in

Unable to locate on topo map or satellite photo

1955 Theatre Catalog lists K. Lee Williams of Sevier Theatres bldg. De Queen Ark. C150

Not a big drive in, to be sure. Given the only listing I found was the 55 theatre catalog, I doubt it was around long. .

Wesley Horton AIDA

whorton
whorton commented about Moonlite Drive-In on Jul 13, 2012 at 6:38 pm

From the American Institute of Drive-in Archaeology database:

Moonlight Drive-in Theatre (article, ad)

Location given as North on Main

Location: N 36° 7.66' W 97° 3.42'

Satellite photography shows no remains and unknown building on site

Grand opening 15 Jun 1949

Newspaper account lists Claude E. Leachman as managing director of Griffith-Leachman theatres.

Operated By Video Theatres from 16 Jun 1949 until 7 Feb 1968

1949-50 Theatre Catalog lists Video theatres as oner M9-C400-D7

1955 Theatre Catalog lists Video Theatres as owner C327

1965 IMPA lists Video Theatres as owner 1965 IMPA lists capacity as 400

Side note, Lostmemory mentions that IMPA actually gets something right. I have to confirm as a long time Drive in researcher, I discovered that back before the days of the EVIL SAMS DRIVE-IN THEATRE GUIDE…Seems that IMPA listed something and rarely if ever updated it. And it was typical that a theatre might have been closed 10 years and still be listed in the IMPA.

The notation at the top, (article, ad) indicates that I have located and copied both the original opening ad for the theatre, and a short newspaper article about it.

Wesley Horton AIDA. .

If anyone is wondering “who the heck this guy is” Randell Kunkell mentions it at the bottom of his Drive in theaters of the Mid atlantic at:

http://www.driveins.org/thanks.htm

He even continues to list the columns I wrote for the old Evil Sam’s site here:

http://www.driveins.org/aida1.htm

http://www.driveins.org/aida2.htm

http://www.driveins.org/aida3.htm

http://www.driveins.org/aida4.html

whorton
whorton commented about Cinema Mayflower on Jul 13, 2012 at 6:20 pm

The Mayflower theatre was a soft core porn theatre until the end. They had tried to convert to showing video presentations, as the 35mm soft porn supply had dried up and died. They did a scant business for about a year before going belly up.

I was the last union projectionist there for (IATSE local 380).

Their business was not very good, as on a good day, they might sell 30 tickets.

Wesley Horton AIDA

whorton
whorton commented about May Theatre on Jul 13, 2012 at 6:15 pm

Just for the record, the May theatre had been purchased by George Shanbour (former owner, Tower theatre, and Winchester DI).

The twinning and rehabbing of the theatre was completed by George Onyschczak, who was the projectionist at the Winchester until his death. The current projectionist as of 2012, is Jon Johns, George’s son.

whorton
whorton commented about Lynn Family Drive-In on Jul 13, 2012 at 6:10 pm

From the American Institute of Drive-in archaeology database:

HOLLIS (Harmon county)

Hollis Drive-in Theatre (Lynn Family Drive-in)

No ad found 55 or 56 In Hollis Weekly news

Location N 34° 41.59', W 99° 54.70'W

Seen on topo map, but not recognizable on satellite picture

1955 Theatre Catalog lists Watt Long as Exec C235

1965 IMPA lists Watt Long

1965 IMPA lists capacity as 300

1979 IMPA, lists capacity as 200, Owned by J. Barnett

1984 IMPA lists Lynn Teeter as owner

Wesley Horton AIDA

whorton
whorton commented about Kiamichi Drive-In on Jul 13, 2012 at 6:05 pm

From the American Institute of Drive-in Archaeology Database:

Kiamichi Drive-in (Article, ad, Topo map with di located)

Grand opening Thursday, Aug 6 1953

Location: N 34° 11.17' , W 95° 37.30' (Northeast corner)

Article on Aug 6, 1953

Location given as 3 miles South of Antlers on Highway 271

Listed in 1955 Theatre Catalog, Exec J.L. Cooper,

Capacity 240 Cars

Listed in 1960 International Motion Picture Almanac,

Owner Mrs. E. Jess Cooper Capacity 275

Listed in 1979 IMPA, owned by J. N. Cooper, Capacity 200

1984 IMPA lists J.N. Jones as owner Study of aerial photos dated 10 Mar 95, show no trace of theatre remains.

Wesley Horton AIDA

whorton
whorton commented about Joyce Drive-In on Jul 13, 2012 at 6:02 pm

from the infamous American Institute of Drive-in Archaeology database:

Joyce Drive-in (Pryor Drive-in)

Location: N 36° 15.58', W 95° 19.96'

Satellite photograph shows new building on site. Few if any remains

1955 Theatre Catalog lists Taylor Joyce as owner C225

1965 IMPA lists Betty Cook as owner

1965 IMPA lists capacity as 250

1979 IMPA, Capacity not given. Owner listed as C. Townsend

1984 IMPA lists C. Townsend as owner

C. Townsend was Charlie Townsend. Former partner of Danny Wolfenbarger partners in the final operation of the 14 flags drive in of Oklahoma city.

Wesley Horton AIDA

whorton
whorton commented about Hankins Drive-In on Jul 13, 2012 at 5:52 pm

From my database:

Hankins Drive-in Theatre (closing article, opening ad)

Opened 30 Sept 1950

Address listed as Hiway 277 at Airport

Address listed in closing article as SW Bishop road and 11th

Location: N 34° 33.86', W 98° 24.19' (South east corner)

Last Drive-in to close in Lawton, closed in Oct 1986

1955 Theatre Catalog lists Ned and Jack Hankins as Exec C600

1965 IMPA lists Volney Hamm as Exec.

1965 IMPA lists capacity as 640

1979 IMPA, lists capacity as 300, Owned by Volney Hamm

1984 IMPA lists Volney Hamm as owner

Wesley Horton AIDA

whorton
whorton commented about Clinton Drive-In on Jul 13, 2012 at 3:35 pm

From my database:

Clinton Drive-in (Article, ad)

Operated by Video Theatres 17 Aug 1949 until 3 May 1983

Location: N 35° 28.77', W 98° 59.08'

Location given as 3 Mi. South on Highway 66 (Next to Neptune Park)

Listed in 1949-50 Theatre Catalog. Video Theatres M9-C400-D7

Listed in 1955 Theatre Catalog, capacity given at 256 cars

Listed in the 1960 International Motion Picture Almanac as having 400 car capacity.

Listed in 1979 IMPA, owned by Video Theatres, capacity at 200

1984 IMPA lists Video Theatres as owner

As of March 1996, the Concession/projection building remains, the field is being used for cattle and the building is in poor shape.

Wesley Horton AIDA

whorton
whorton commented about Cleveland Drive-In on Jul 13, 2012 at 3:32 pm

Just for the record, here is what I know about this theatre:

CLEVELAND (Osage Co.) Cleveland Drive-in May still be standing as of 2000 “On hiway 99 NW of Tulsa” Location: N 36° 17.16', W 96° 26.95' No newspaper found for Cleveland Oklahoma Listed in 1955 Theatre Catalog, Exec Jack Crain, Capacity 350 Listed in 1960 International Motion Picture Almanac, Owner John Sanders, Capacity 350 Listed in 1979 IMPA, owned by Woodall, Capacity not given 1984 IMPA lists Woodall as owner Aerial photograph suggests remains may be present.

This is from my database on Oklahoma drive in theatres. The fact that there was no newspaper listing means that I had gone to the newspaper archives at the Oklahoma Historical society and looked for any paper, with any listing for the drive in. NONE was found.

Wesley Horton

whorton
whorton commented about Oklahoma Opry on Oct 2, 2011 at 1:32 pm

Oklahoma Opry, formerly the Knob Hill theatre. Resurrected by the Oklahoma Opry

whorton
whorton commented about Winchester Drive In, Oklahoma City OK 1994 on Oct 2, 2011 at 1:30 pm

Opened July 3, 1968. One day ahead of the 14 flags drive-in down the street at 99th and South Western. Amazingly, it has continued to pull in good business to this day. (It is Oklahoma Cities last drive in.) Today (2011) the projection is professionally done by Jon Johns, who is the son of long time projectionist George Onychzhack (projectionist there from ‘79 until his death in 2006).

This one is definitely worth a trip if you are in the area. Its a well maintained GEM!

whorton
whorton commented about Almonte 6, Oklahoma City OK Summer 1988 on Oct 2, 2011 at 1:26 pm

Sad story on this theatre. It was THE PLACE to go back in the 80’s. Then Commonwealth theatres was sold (In 87 IIRC) and it was a downhill course since then. Not sure when it finally closed, but I believe the theatre is still shuttered and empty today (2011)

whorton
whorton commented about Plaza Theatre Oklahoma City, OK 1994 on Oct 2, 2011 at 1:22 pm

The first theatre I worked at as a Union projectionist (Local 380) back in 1981. We showed Vietnamese movies Friday night, Chinese Saturday and Mexican on Wednesday.

Had two projectors and still had to do 20 min changeovers.

Quite a place back then, owned by George Shanbour who also owned the Winchester Drive-in. I am not sure when he sold it.

whorton
whorton commented about Riviera Drive In, Oklahoma City OK 1994 on Oct 2, 2011 at 1:12 pm

I worked there as a projectionist back in 1985 and 86. After the owner George Caporal died, the drive in became the property of his son, Sam Caporal. While Sam was a fine person, he never really had any interest in running the drive in. After the screen fell over (it’s base rusted out and fell over in a storm in 97) it just sat until it was vandalized heavily and never reopened.

To see some excellent pics of the vandalism and end, look here:

http://www.abandonedok.com/riviera-drive-in/

Very sad ending for a drive-in. I especially remember the horror and rogue biker movies (like Glory Stompers, Hells Angles unchained) in the 70’s and the exploitation movies in the late 70’s. Good stuff like “Candy Strip nurses.” Of course that was before cable!

The Riveria opened on Aug 22, 1967, with a capacity of 1000 cars. The first movies shown were:

Beyond space The Terrornauts The Projected man plus 3 stooge and pink panther cartoons