The Exhibitor, June 28, 1950: “According to Samuel Horenstein, New England franchise holder, Manley’s Inc., Manley’s popcorn machines are fast taking hold in drive-ins throughout New England. Installations recently completed for the E. M. Loew Circuit include: … Sanford Drive-In, Sanford, Me.”
The Independent Film Journal, Nov. 1, 1952: “E. M. Loew has taken over lease on the Sanford Drive-In, Sanford, Me from Russell Martin.”
Boxoffice, July 15, 1968: “SANFORD, ME. - Police in this southern Maine town ordered the closing of the Sanford Drive-In because a motion picture, "Mondo Freudo,” could be seen from the highway. Police Chief John C. Pride said the showing was ordered removed because it could be seen from the highway and was considered adult entertainment only."
Biddeford Journal Tribune, Dec. 21, 2002: (reviewing Will Anderson’s Maine history book “Those Were the Days!”) “Other notable York County drive-ins included in the book are … the Sanford Drive-In on Route 109, begun by Russell Martin in 1950 and run by the E.M. Loew’s Theaters chain until 1971, when it gave way to the Breary Farms apartment complex”
Boxoffice, Sept. 22, 1969: “George Brehm, general manager of Edmondson and Elkridge drive-ins, has discontinued running dusk-to-dawn shows at both drive-ins.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 22, 1969: “George Brehm, general manager of Edmondson and Elkridge drive-ins, has discontinued running dusk-to-dawn shows at both drive-ins.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 22, 1969: “Herbert Goldstein, younger brother of Howard, reported the General Warren Drive-In, Castleton, Vt., enjoyed a pretty good summer despite rain and product shortage. "The Love Bug” proved among the top grossers, Herb added. A fourth grade teacher in the Troy public school system, the articulate, quiet-spoken partner in the Vermont ozoner now lives in Niskayuna with his wife (ex-instructor at Shaker Ridge School, Colonie) and their two children"
Boxoffice, Sept. 22, 1969: “ALBANY - The postponement of the opening of Fabian’s new Latham Drive-In on Route 9, Albany-Saratoga Road was apparently caused by a shortage of labor and building materials. The contractor has encountered difficulty in finding a sufficient number of carpenters and electricians, lumber for the projection booth did not arrive as scheduled and a shortage of electrical power is alleged to have hampered progress. Construction engineer for the 850-car Fabian ozoner is Fred Haas. Industry men express differing opinions about the situation. Some feel the drive-in can premiere this fall but others indicate the debut will have to be deferred until spring. Bill With, former Palace manager, supervises area Fabian drive-ins from an office at the Mohawk, Albany-Schenectady Road.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 22, 1969: “HUDSON, N. Y. - A fall opening is planned for the new 360-seat Brandt Theatre now under construction on Fairview Avenue Extension next to the Jamesway Shopping Center.”
I doubt that this was unique, but it’s the first story I’ve read of an ozoner garden.
Boxoffice, Aug. 26, 1968: “Bill Meyers, owner of the Pocomoke Drive-In sent George Brehm, general manager of the Westview Cinema, some tomatoes he raised in his garden at the airer.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 26, 1968: “Starlite Drive-In, Fairmount, W. Va., sustained the loss of its concession building via fire some weeks ago, and has since been rebuilt and reopened.”
This appeared in the Wagner Sign Service ad in the Oct. 16, 1967 issue of Boxoffice (and possibly elsewhere). I can’t find a copyright notice in that issue; if true, that would put its contents in the public domain.
One more note. Boxoffice, Nov. 13, 1961: “A. L. Royal Theatres acquired the operations of the East Forest Drive-In, Petal, Miss., and renamed it the Royal”
Boxoffice ran an article on Oct. 18, 1976 about officer elections for the Southern Independent Theatre Exhibitors. One of the vice presidents was Larry Daniels, Nancy Cinema, Forsyth, Ga.
The Nancy was included in Boxoffice’s “For Sale or Lease” classified ads for several weeks in January 1977. “Central Georgia - 296 seats, two years old, 5,000 city population, 20,000 drawing area. Only theatre in town. Owner retiring, terms to suit. 100% first class. Nancy Cinema, P.O. Box 846, Forsyth, Ga. 31029. (912) 994-9467.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 1, 1977: “Southern Independent Theatres reported that they will begin doing the booking and buying for the Nancy Cinema, Forsyth”
The Independent Film Journal, July 24, 1954: “D. A. Olson has opened his new 400-car Green Lake Drive-In at Spicer, Minn.”
Boxoffice, June 26, 1961: “SPICER, MINN. — Richard R. Henderson has purchased the Green Lake Drive-In from D. A. Olson. To assist him in efficient operation of his new property, Henderson has entered a long term subscription to Boxoffice.”
Boxoffice ran an article on Oct. 18, 1976 about officer elections for the Southern Independent Theatre Exhibitors. One of the vice presidents was Larry Daniels, Nancy Cinema, Forsyth, Ga.
The Nancy was included in Boxoffice’s “For Sale or Lease” classified ads for several weeks in January 1977. “Central Georgia - 296 seats, two years old, 5,000 city population, 20,000 drawing area. Only theatre in town. Owner retiring, terms to suit. 100% first class. Nancy Cinema, P.O. Box 846, Forsyth, Ga. 31029. (912) 994-9467.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 1, 1977: “Southern Independent Theatres reported that they will begin doing the booking and buying for the Nancy Cinema, Forsyth”
Motion Picture Herald, June 11, 1955: “Drive-In Theatre Co. of Sioux Falls, S. D., will build a 650-car drive-in at Faribault, Minn. John Watters of Fairmont, Minn., will manage the project.”
Years earlier, Nash-Watters built Fairmont’s Family Drive-In. I guess they liked the name.
John Watters of the Nash-Watters Theatre Company appeared in an ad in the Nov. 3, 1951 issue of Boxoffice. At the time, Nash-Watters operated the Family Drive-In in Fairmont and the State Theatre in Jackson MN.
Here’s the ad that 50sSnipes probably found, the first I saw in the Daily World. The only previous mention I found in that newspaper was a front-page note on July 25, 1949, saying that the Fourth Street Drive-in Movie, Inc., could open August 1, weather permitting. It had incorporated by Sam Anderson, Ed Blair, Mrs. Irene Blair, and Mrs. Juanita Anderson.
In a roundup of theater openings, the Sept. 17, 1949 issue of Boxoffice reported, under Memphis, Tenn., that the Fourth Street Drive-In, with a capacity of 300 cars, had been “opened by Ed Blair.” That was the same name that the magazine mentioned on Oct. 7, 1950 in a list of visitors to Memphis' Film Row.
Boxoffice, Sept. 12, 1953: “Commerce, Ga. - James E. Jarrell, owner of the Roxy Theatre here, has purchased a site on the Commerce-Athens highway for construction of a drive-in, hoping to open next spring.”
US 441 was (and is) the highway between Commerce and Athens.
A 1956 aerial photo showed a drive-in about a mile southeast of Commerce on the west side of the highway, approximately where 627 GA-15 (then US 441) is today. There were dozens of cars parked there (a used parts lot?) in 1963. By 1981, the ramps were barely visible, and I can see no trace of the drive-in today.
Based on HistoricAerials and that hand-drawn, west-on-top map, I would choose the modern-day address as either 2145 5th Ave, the office building that sits where the Mesa had been, or 888 Mitchell Ave, the exact spot of the Mesa’s entrance. Both are Zip Code 95965.
The Denver Post reported today that the Oriental’s owners were trying again to restore the marquee. General manager Scott Happel said, “We’ve had it done twice, apparently by people that weren’t quite sure how to do it correctly.“ This time the work is being done by Morry Weseloh’s company, Morry’s Neon Signs. Full story with pictures here
A few quick clips:
The Exhibitor, June 28, 1950: “According to Samuel Horenstein, New England franchise holder, Manley’s Inc., Manley’s popcorn machines are fast taking hold in drive-ins throughout New England. Installations recently completed for the E. M. Loew Circuit include: … Sanford Drive-In, Sanford, Me.”
The Independent Film Journal, Nov. 1, 1952: “E. M. Loew has taken over lease on the Sanford Drive-In, Sanford, Me from Russell Martin.”
Boxoffice, July 15, 1968: “SANFORD, ME. - Police in this southern Maine town ordered the closing of the Sanford Drive-In because a motion picture, "Mondo Freudo,” could be seen from the highway. Police Chief John C. Pride said the showing was ordered removed because it could be seen from the highway and was considered adult entertainment only."
Biddeford Journal Tribune, Dec. 21, 2002: (reviewing Will Anderson’s Maine history book “Those Were the Days!”) “Other notable York County drive-ins included in the book are … the Sanford Drive-In on Route 109, begun by Russell Martin in 1950 and run by the E.M. Loew’s Theaters chain until 1971, when it gave way to the Breary Farms apartment complex”
Looks like the Starlite opened in the late summer of 1949.
Boxoffice, Aug. 6, 1949: “Another drive-in is scheduled to open soon in Rock Springs, Wyo.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 13, 1949: (Construction:) “Rock Springs, Wyo. - $50,000 drive-in to be built for Star Lite Theatre Co.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 10, 1949: (Openings:) “Rock Springs, Wyo. - Starlite Drive-In opened.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 22, 1969: “George Brehm, general manager of Edmondson and Elkridge drive-ins, has discontinued running dusk-to-dawn shows at both drive-ins.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 22, 1969: “George Brehm, general manager of Edmondson and Elkridge drive-ins, has discontinued running dusk-to-dawn shows at both drive-ins.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 22, 1969: “Herbert Goldstein, younger brother of Howard, reported the General Warren Drive-In, Castleton, Vt., enjoyed a pretty good summer despite rain and product shortage. "The Love Bug” proved among the top grossers, Herb added. A fourth grade teacher in the Troy public school system, the articulate, quiet-spoken partner in the Vermont ozoner now lives in Niskayuna with his wife (ex-instructor at Shaker Ridge School, Colonie) and their two children"
Boxoffice, Sept. 22, 1969: “ALBANY - The postponement of the opening of Fabian’s new Latham Drive-In on Route 9, Albany-Saratoga Road was apparently caused by a shortage of labor and building materials. The contractor has encountered difficulty in finding a sufficient number of carpenters and electricians, lumber for the projection booth did not arrive as scheduled and a shortage of electrical power is alleged to have hampered progress. Construction engineer for the 850-car Fabian ozoner is Fred Haas. Industry men express differing opinions about the situation. Some feel the drive-in can premiere this fall but others indicate the debut will have to be deferred until spring. Bill With, former Palace manager, supervises area Fabian drive-ins from an office at the Mohawk, Albany-Schenectady Road.”
Same theater, with a delayed/renamed opening?
Boxoffice, Sept. 22, 1969: “HUDSON, N. Y. - A fall opening is planned for the new 360-seat Brandt Theatre now under construction on Fairview Avenue Extension next to the Jamesway Shopping Center.”
I doubt that this was unique, but it’s the first story I’ve read of an ozoner garden.
Boxoffice, Aug. 26, 1968: “Bill Meyers, owner of the Pocomoke Drive-In sent George Brehm, general manager of the Westview Cinema, some tomatoes he raised in his garden at the airer.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 26, 1968: “Starlite Drive-In, Fairmount, W. Va., sustained the loss of its concession building via fire some weeks ago, and has since been rebuilt and reopened.”
Part of the Adler Silhouette Letter Co. ad in that issue.
This appeared in the Wagner Sign Service ad in the Oct. 16, 1967 issue of Boxoffice (and possibly elsewhere). I can’t find a copyright notice in that issue; if true, that would put its contents in the public domain.
One more note. Boxoffice, Nov. 13, 1961: “A. L. Royal Theatres acquired the operations of the East Forest Drive-In, Petal, Miss., and renamed it the Royal”
Boxoffice, Nov. 13, 1961: “Leroy LeBlanc has taken over the management-operations of the Bayouland Drive-In, Barton (Donaldsville) La.”
Boxoffice ran an article on Oct. 18, 1976 about officer elections for the Southern Independent Theatre Exhibitors. One of the vice presidents was Larry Daniels, Nancy Cinema, Forsyth, Ga.
The Nancy was included in Boxoffice’s “For Sale or Lease” classified ads for several weeks in January 1977. “Central Georgia - 296 seats, two years old, 5,000 city population, 20,000 drawing area. Only theatre in town. Owner retiring, terms to suit. 100% first class. Nancy Cinema, P.O. Box 846, Forsyth, Ga. 31029. (912) 994-9467.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 1, 1977: “Southern Independent Theatres reported that they will begin doing the booking and buying for the Nancy Cinema, Forsyth”
The Independent Film Journal, July 24, 1954: “D. A. Olson has opened his new 400-car Green Lake Drive-In at Spicer, Minn.”
Boxoffice, June 26, 1961: “SPICER, MINN. — Richard R. Henderson has purchased the Green Lake Drive-In from D. A. Olson. To assist him in efficient operation of his new property, Henderson has entered a long term subscription to Boxoffice.”
Boxoffice ran an article on Oct. 18, 1976 about officer elections for the Southern Independent Theatre Exhibitors. One of the vice presidents was Larry Daniels, Nancy Cinema, Forsyth, Ga.
The Nancy was included in Boxoffice’s “For Sale or Lease” classified ads for several weeks in January 1977. “Central Georgia - 296 seats, two years old, 5,000 city population, 20,000 drawing area. Only theatre in town. Owner retiring, terms to suit. 100% first class. Nancy Cinema, P.O. Box 846, Forsyth, Ga. 31029. (912) 994-9467.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 1, 1977: “Southern Independent Theatres reported that they will begin doing the booking and buying for the Nancy Cinema, Forsyth”
Motion Picture Herald, June 11, 1955: “Drive-In Theatre Co. of Sioux Falls, S. D., will build a 650-car drive-in at Faribault, Minn. John Watters of Fairmont, Minn., will manage the project.”
Years earlier, Nash-Watters built Fairmont’s Family Drive-In. I guess they liked the name.
John Watters of the Nash-Watters Theatre Company appeared in an ad in the Nov. 3, 1951 issue of Boxoffice. At the time, Nash-Watters operated the Family Drive-In in Fairmont and the State Theatre in Jackson MN.
Here’s the ad that 50sSnipes probably found, the first I saw in the Daily World. The only previous mention I found in that newspaper was a front-page note on July 25, 1949, saying that the Fourth Street Drive-in Movie, Inc., could open August 1, weather permitting. It had incorporated by Sam Anderson, Ed Blair, Mrs. Irene Blair, and Mrs. Juanita Anderson.
In a roundup of theater openings, the Sept. 17, 1949 issue of Boxoffice reported, under Memphis, Tenn., that the Fourth Street Drive-In, with a capacity of 300 cars, had been “opened by Ed Blair.” That was the same name that the magazine mentioned on Oct. 7, 1950 in a list of visitors to Memphis' Film Row.
Boxoffice, Sept. 12, 1953: “Commerce, Ga. - James E. Jarrell, owner of the Roxy Theatre here, has purchased a site on the Commerce-Athens highway for construction of a drive-in, hoping to open next spring.”
US 441 was (and is) the highway between Commerce and Athens.
A 1956 aerial photo showed a drive-in about a mile southeast of Commerce on the west side of the highway, approximately where 627 GA-15 (then US 441) is today. There were dozens of cars parked there (a used parts lot?) in 1963. By 1981, the ramps were barely visible, and I can see no trace of the drive-in today.
Based on HistoricAerials and that hand-drawn, west-on-top map, I would choose the modern-day address as either 2145 5th Ave, the office building that sits where the Mesa had been, or 888 Mitchell Ave, the exact spot of the Mesa’s entrance. Both are Zip Code 95965.
The Denver Post reported today that the Oriental’s owners were trying again to restore the marquee. General manager Scott Happel said, “We’ve had it done twice, apparently by people that weren’t quite sure how to do it correctly.“ This time the work is being done by Morry Weseloh’s company, Morry’s Neon Signs. Full story with pictures here