This just came in a hour ago: The Apollo Theatre AC is now closed due to a roof and marquee collapse from damaging winds while all of Boone County at the time was under a Tornado Warning, along with Northern DeKalb and Western McHenry Counties. Multiple people were reported injured when the Apollo’s roof collapsed during a Morbid Angel concert, while the marquee suddenly falls to its side on the sidewalk possibly undamaged from the gust.
Update from my September 14, 2022 comment: The McKinney Drive-In was demolished in the late-1970s or early-1980s. A 1981 aerial view shows either the screen being removed or severely damaged and traces from the theater were overgrown, but the concession/projection booth was still there.
Correction: I made a huge mistake! The Branson Movies 4 continued running movies until early 2005, and closed its doors as a movie theater at that same time. It reopened as a live performance theater a short time later as the “Nova Theatre”, and in early 2007, it changed its name to the “God and Country Theatres”.
The 53 Drive-In opened its gates on April 29, 1960 with Yul Brynner in “Solomon And Sheba” and Van Johnson in “Subway In The Sky” along with an unnamed cartoon.
During most of the 53 Drive-In’s life, the 53 plays nearly everything such as X films, Z films, art films, and other random content. But right when the early-1980s rolled along, the 53 Drive-In began slowly focusing towards first-run films. It was also a site of the Swap-O-Rama Flea Market at the time, along with four other drive-ins in the Chicago Metropolitan Area.
The 53 Drive-In closed for the final time after the 1986 season, and was actually demolished in either 1989 or 1990 to make way for its current UPS facility. I can tell judging by a 1988 aerial view does show almost the entire theater still standing.
This theater first opened as the “Table Rock Twin Cinema” in September 1975 as a twin with a capacity of 476 seats. It was first operated under the manager of Dennis Schafer, a local resident. The theater expanded to four screens in 1986, renaming it the “Table Rock Cinemas 4”. In early 1999, the theater was renamed “Branson Movies 4” after being taken over by Dickinson Theatres.
The theater was later taken over by Nova Theatres and later by Goodrich Quality Theatres. Goodrich last operated the theater, before the Branson Movies 4 closed for the final time on May 16, 2002 with “Star Wars: Episode II” playing in all four auditoriums as a stunt.
I don’t think so. I think it was the same fault as other places in America that had 2+ drive-in theaters close to each other. For example in Lexington, South Carolina, there were two drive-ins very close to each other (probably in a 100 to 200-foot radius), but unfortunately, it does not have a mention involving them close to each other as I am aware of judging by various papers in Columbia.
I cannot find this theater at all, but I found some clues on its history. This goofy-named theater was either short-lived or probably closed after a decade, because I saw no sign of the drive-in with the except of the Stardust in the 1983 aerial. However, there is a possibility that the drive-in may be located on 90. Although I found nothing there, there were paths that remind me of entrance and exit ramps just west of town on 90, but a 1974 topo says nothing about it. Otherwise, I clearly see nothing on 90 in the remainder of the west and all of east though.
The Heisman Cinema 4 was later operated by Commonwealth Theatres and lastly by United Artists before closing its doors for the final time on October 24, 1991. It was left abandoned for six-and-a-half years before converting a video store in April 1998 although it was originally scheduled for a conversion into a laundromat place.
The Sky-Vu opened on August 20, 1950 with Randolph Scott in “Fighting Men of the Plains” with no extra short subjects. It features the original installations of RCA speakers and a 40x50 screen.
General Cinema opened the GCC Chestnut Hill Cinema I & II on Christmas Day 1975 with “Lucky Lady” at Screen 1 and “The Man Who Would Be King” at Screen 2. In December 1979, both auditoriums split and became a quad. A few months later in June 1980, Screen #2 was split again (but this time it created narrow rooms), and became a five-screen theater. In May 1989, Screen #1 became the official THX auditorium in the theater. General Cinema operated the GCC Chestnut Hill 5 until being taken over by AMC after GCC’s defunction in 2002.
The tornado was confirmed as an EF1. There were now 40 reported injuries.
I’m pretty sure that this first went under the name “Airway Drive-In” before becoming the “Razorback Drive-In” by 1953.
This just came in a hour ago: The Apollo Theatre AC is now closed due to a roof and marquee collapse from damaging winds while all of Boone County at the time was under a Tornado Warning, along with Northern DeKalb and Western McHenry Counties. Multiple people were reported injured when the Apollo’s roof collapsed during a Morbid Angel concert, while the marquee suddenly falls to its side on the sidewalk possibly undamaged from the gust.
https://www.mystateline.com/news/local-news/first-responders-called-to-belvideres-apollo-theater-on-reports-of-collapsed-roof-due-to-powerful-storm/
Edited from my July 1, 2019 comment: The cartoon shown here is “Slicked-Up Pup” (1951).
Update from my September 14, 2022 comment: The McKinney Drive-In was demolished in the late-1970s or early-1980s. A 1981 aerial view shows either the screen being removed or severely damaged and traces from the theater were overgrown, but the concession/projection booth was still there.
Correction: It was last operated by Nova Cinemas. Nova took over from Goodrich a few years later after purchase.
The fire occurred on the actual date of January 11, 1943.
It was completely gone by 1971, so it may’ve closed in the mid-1960s.
Correction: I made a huge mistake! The Branson Movies 4 continued running movies until early 2005, and closed its doors as a movie theater at that same time. It reopened as a live performance theater a short time later as the “Nova Theatre”, and in early 2007, it changed its name to the “God and Country Theatres”.
The 53 Drive-In opened its gates on April 29, 1960 with Yul Brynner in “Solomon And Sheba” and Van Johnson in “Subway In The Sky” along with an unnamed cartoon.
During most of the 53 Drive-In’s life, the 53 plays nearly everything such as X films, Z films, art films, and other random content. But right when the early-1980s rolled along, the 53 Drive-In began slowly focusing towards first-run films. It was also a site of the Swap-O-Rama Flea Market at the time, along with four other drive-ins in the Chicago Metropolitan Area.
The 53 Drive-In closed for the final time after the 1986 season, and was actually demolished in either 1989 or 1990 to make way for its current UPS facility. I can tell judging by a 1988 aerial view does show almost the entire theater still standing.
This theater first opened as the “Table Rock Twin Cinema” in September 1975 as a twin with a capacity of 476 seats. It was first operated under the manager of Dennis Schafer, a local resident. The theater expanded to four screens in 1986, renaming it the “Table Rock Cinemas 4”. In early 1999, the theater was renamed “Branson Movies 4” after being taken over by Dickinson Theatres.
The theater was later taken over by Nova Theatres and later by Goodrich Quality Theatres. Goodrich last operated the theater, before the Branson Movies 4 closed for the final time on May 16, 2002 with “Star Wars: Episode II” playing in all four auditoriums as a stunt.
I don’t think so. I think it was the same fault as other places in America that had 2+ drive-in theaters close to each other. For example in Lexington, South Carolina, there were two drive-ins very close to each other (probably in a 100 to 200-foot radius), but unfortunately, it does not have a mention involving them close to each other as I am aware of judging by various papers in Columbia.
The theater was completely gone in a 1983 aerial, so it was either short-lived or it operated for a decade or two.
Opened on February 6, 2002, the Holiday Village 4 replaced the Holiday Village 3 which operated from February 1, 1980 until July 22, 2001.
Actual opening date is January 16, 2004.
There is another small drive-in theater just north of the Wakea Drive-In called the Gay Drive-In. It would have its own page soon.
KNCB signed on the air on April 9, 1966, so the theater was probably demolished sometime in 1965.
I cannot find this theater at all, but I found some clues on its history. This goofy-named theater was either short-lived or probably closed after a decade, because I saw no sign of the drive-in with the except of the Stardust in the 1983 aerial. However, there is a possibility that the drive-in may be located on 90. Although I found nothing there, there were paths that remind me of entrance and exit ramps just west of town on 90, but a 1974 topo says nothing about it. Otherwise, I clearly see nothing on 90 in the remainder of the west and all of east though.
Closed on September 17, 1995.
Opened on June 30, 1950 with “The Big Cat” along with a few unnamed short subjects. It was closed in 1983 and demolished the following year.
The Heisman Cinema 4 was later operated by Commonwealth Theatres and lastly by United Artists before closing its doors for the final time on October 24, 1991. It was left abandoned for six-and-a-half years before converting a video store in April 1998 although it was originally scheduled for a conversion into a laundromat place.
The Highway 270 Drive-In opened its gates on May 17, 1949 with Red Skelton in “The Fuller-Brush Man” along with an unnamed cartoon.
The Sky-Vu opened on August 20, 1950 with Randolph Scott in “Fighting Men of the Plains” with no extra short subjects. It features the original installations of RCA speakers and a 40x50 screen.
Judging from various papers, the Village was actually both a first and second-run theater since its a single-screener.
General Cinema opened the GCC Chestnut Hill Cinema I & II on Christmas Day 1975 with “Lucky Lady” at Screen 1 and “The Man Who Would Be King” at Screen 2. In December 1979, both auditoriums split and became a quad. A few months later in June 1980, Screen #2 was split again (but this time it created narrow rooms), and became a five-screen theater. In May 1989, Screen #1 became the official THX auditorium in the theater. General Cinema operated the GCC Chestnut Hill 5 until being taken over by AMC after GCC’s defunction in 2002.