Colonial Drive-In
Highway 377,
Denton,
TX
76205
Highway 377,
Denton,
TX
76205
1 person
favorited this theater
Located mid-way between Denton and Argyll (south of Denton and often advertised as being located in Argyll). George Franklin opened the Colonial Drive-In on May 20, 1948, one week after Denton’s Rancho Drive-In opened. It was designed in a Colonial Revival style by Texas Manufacturing Company of Fort Worth, TX.
Around 1953 it was renamed Twin Vue Drive-In. Sadly, George Franklin and some of his workers were killed while trying to hold up one of the walls during a tornado on March 24, 1954. It was renamed Colonial Drive-In again and was operated in 1955 by Debbs Reynolds. It was still open in 1957. It was closed on June 21, 1963 when it was destroyed by a tornado.
Contributed by
Billy Holcomb / Billy Smith / Don Lewis, Debbie Ward McArdel
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Recent comments (view all 9 comments)
A view of the Colonial Drive-In at Denton Texas.
I believe I found it.
The drive-in was located at 9842 Fort Worth Drive, Argyle, TX. A 1968 aerial photo shows the remnants of a demolished drive-in at that location on the west side of the road.
Today, the property is occupied by at least one business and a residence. You can still make out the vague outline of the drive-in.
https://tinyurl.com/yartckwh
That should be “east” side of the road, not “west”.
From the June 4, 1955 issue of Billboard: “The Colonial Drive-In at Denton, Tex., closed since last June, has been re-opened by Debs Reynolds of Dallas, who has leased it from its owners, Mr. and Mrs. George Franklin.”
The Colonial Drive-In Was Closed In Early 1963 After The Entire Colonial Was Completely Destroyed By (Yet Again) Another Tornado. In The Afternoon Of June 22nd, 1963, The Remains Of The Screen Tower Was Caught On Fire And Was Completely Demolished On That Day.
A 1968 aerial shows only the ramps and foundation of the projection booth/concession stand.
Billboard, June 14, 1952: “George Franklin, owner-operator of Colonial Drive-In, Argyle, Tex., has completed plans to make the spot a twin drive-in. A second screen, which will increase the capacity from 300 to 600 cars, is being added. The drive-in observed its fifth anniversary June 3.”
There may have been plans to turn the Colonial into a two-screen drive-in, but there is no physical evidence that it happened. At least from the 1968 aerial photo which only shows the remnants of the ramps and outline for one screen.
Closed for the final time on June 21, 1963 after being destroyed by another tornado.