Once operated by ABC Southeast Theatres, later by Plitt, and finally by NEI. The theater closed in January 1998 after it failed to gain its audience after switching its format to discount during its final years of operation.
At the time of the Twinlake’s opening, it was his 26th year in the theater business.
Novak started his life as a doorman for the Strand Theatre in Jonesboro in 1952, which at the time was a Malco theater. Shortly after the first couple of drive-ins opened in Jonesboro, Malco transferred the manager to Jonesboro from Memphis and he called Novak that if he will be interested on running a drive-in. At the time, Jonesboro had three drive-in theaters (the Starlite, the Skyvue, and the Indian; all Malco theaters). He once remembered that one of the drive-ins there jammed over the number of cars on Saturday nights, also adding that we got an 800-car capacity once-a-week. At the time, it is a year-round drive-in and he said that it was the first drive-in in Arkansas to give out free in-car heaters. Novak would later have a partnership with the Imperial Theatre in Pocahontas and would later build and open the Cherokee Drive-In in Ash Flat. At the time while Novak worked at the Skyvue Drive-In in Jonesboro in the mid-1970s, that’s when Novak brought the idea of the Twinlake Tri-Cinema.
On August 22, 1997, Novak passed away from an undergoing heart surgery at St. Bernard’s Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro.
The Ohio Valley Mall Cinema opened theater-less on October 4, 1978, and was built next to the former Shia’s Hilltop/St. Clairsville/70-40 Drive-In.
Less than a year later, a new theater was built inside the mall and the Ohio Valley Mall Cinema held its grand opening on July 13, 1979 as 4-screen theater. The theater opened with 007’s “Moonraker” at Screen 1, “The Main Event” at Screen 2, Disney’s “101 Dalmatians” at Screen 3, and “Bloodline” at Screen 4.
In October 1985, one of the four screens closed for extensive remodeling, which at the time, five more screens were added and it became a 9-screen theater in December 1985. Two more screens were added in the 2000s bringing a total to 11 screens.
The Ohio Valley Mall Cinema throughout its history was first operated by Cinemette Corporation of America, then by Cinema World in January 1987, then Carmike after it took over Cinema World in April 1994, and finally AMC.
The Sunset Beach Drive-in opened its gates on May 30, 1948 with Ginger Rogers in “Magnificent Doll” with no extra short subjects. However, what’s unique about the Sunset Beach Drive-In is that one of its original installations is a swimming pool according to the Wheeling News-Register. Unfortunately I cannot find where on earth the pool sits in the theater property.
Opened on July 1, 1949 with Anthony Quinn in “Black Gold” (unclear if any short subjects were added) with an original installation of a mammoth screen.
The Winchester Drive-In is one out of two drive-ins in Winchester, with the other one being the Royal Drive-In (1949-Mid 1970s; which will have its own Cinema Treasures page soon). Also, special thanks to the archives of the Winchester Evening Star, I made a mistake on the year the Royal closed.
In December 1982, the Manos Cinema VI (now AMC Apple Blossom 12) opened its doors as the adjacent to the Apple Blossom Mall. The Winchester Drive-In had no choice but to switch its format to X-rated features either around the same time or a shorter time later in connection to the opening of the Manos Cinema VI.
The Somerville Drive-In closed its gates for the 1988 season on September 4, 1988 with “Nightmare On Elm Street IV”, but it later turned out to be the Somerville Drive-In’s final night of operation, because right after closure comes a very unexpected tragedy.
On October 10, 1988 (one month and six days after closure), the abandoned Somerville Drive-In became local headlines after a 35-year-old local man was found dead inside the concession stand building. During investigation, one officer saw the body after checking his abandoned vehicle parked at one of the traces near the building. Officials reported that the man committed suicide by hanging inside the concession stand, and was identified as a former employee for the United Artists chain. Police said that he left a suicide note but declined to reveal its contents, and later confirmed that the man who killed himself lived 300 feet away from the theater.
At the time of the suicide, the Somerville Drive-In was originally scheduled to be closed for the season, but because of the former UA employee’s suicide, the Somerville Drive-In never reopened for the 1989 season and beyond. It was demolished in August 1992 to make way for its current Golf Range @ Branchburg site.
Once operated by ABC Southeast Theatres, later by Plitt, and finally by NEI. The theater closed in January 1998 after it failed to gain its audience after switching its format to discount during its final years of operation.
This is taken shortly before his death from surgery in Jonesboro.
This is taken shortly before his death from surgery in Jonesboro.
At the time of the Twinlake’s opening, it was his 26th year in the theater business.
Novak started his life as a doorman for the Strand Theatre in Jonesboro in 1952, which at the time was a Malco theater. Shortly after the first couple of drive-ins opened in Jonesboro, Malco transferred the manager to Jonesboro from Memphis and he called Novak that if he will be interested on running a drive-in. At the time, Jonesboro had three drive-in theaters (the Starlite, the Skyvue, and the Indian; all Malco theaters). He once remembered that one of the drive-ins there jammed over the number of cars on Saturday nights, also adding that we got an 800-car capacity once-a-week. At the time, it is a year-round drive-in and he said that it was the first drive-in in Arkansas to give out free in-car heaters. Novak would later have a partnership with the Imperial Theatre in Pocahontas and would later build and open the Cherokee Drive-In in Ash Flat. At the time while Novak worked at the Skyvue Drive-In in Jonesboro in the mid-1970s, that’s when Novak brought the idea of the Twinlake Tri-Cinema.
On August 22, 1997, Novak passed away from an undergoing heart surgery at St. Bernard’s Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro.
The Cinema became a triplex in 1979, and closed on December 31, 1988.
Closed in November 1971.
The Lincoln flipped its format from mainstream to adult films in 1979. The Lincoln closed for the final time on September 15, 1984.
Edited from my October 8, 2022 comment:
The Ohio Valley Mall Cinema opened theater-less on October 4, 1978, and was built next to the former Shia’s Hilltop/St. Clairsville/70-40 Drive-In.
Less than a year later, a new theater was built inside the mall and the Ohio Valley Mall Cinema held its grand opening on July 13, 1979 as 4-screen theater. The theater opened with 007’s “Moonraker” at Screen 1, “The Main Event” at Screen 2, Disney’s “101 Dalmatians” at Screen 3, and “Bloodline” at Screen 4.
In October 1985, one of the four screens closed for extensive remodeling, which at the time, five more screens were added and it became a 9-screen theater in December 1985. Two more screens were added in the 2000s bringing a total to 11 screens.
The Ohio Valley Mall Cinema throughout its history was first operated by Cinemette Corporation of America, then by Cinema World in January 1987, then Carmike after it took over Cinema World in April 1994, and finally AMC.
Opened on June 2, 1967 with “The Tall Woman” and “Bikini Paradise”, and closed after the 1977 season.
Correction: Both the Coronet and the Warwood received multiple struggles during the mid-1980s.
The Starlite was renamed Airport Drive-In at the start of the 1956 season, and was closed in November 1983.
Ah I see, and right next to the pool is the screen still standing in decent condition as of 2023.
The Sunset Beach Drive-in opened its gates on May 30, 1948 with Ginger Rogers in “Magnificent Doll” with no extra short subjects. However, what’s unique about the Sunset Beach Drive-In is that one of its original installations is a swimming pool according to the Wheeling News-Register. Unfortunately I cannot find where on earth the pool sits in the theater property.
So this is probably the first drive-in theater in Erie.
Opened on July 1, 1949 with Anthony Quinn in “Black Gold” (unclear if any short subjects were added) with an original installation of a mammoth screen.
This was first known as the Starlite Drive-In, opening on July 20, 1950 with Joel McCrae in “Ramrod” along with a cartoon and a couple short subjects.
Opened on May 28, 1949 with Ronald Reagan in “Stallion Road” along with an unnamed cartoon and a newsreel. The Grove closed after the 1982 season.
Opened on July 14, 1949 with Randolph Scott in “Gunfighters” along with a cartoon, a couple short subjects, and a fireworks show.
Opened in mid-September 1947 and closed in September 1982.
Opened during the week of May 22, 1968.
The Winchester Drive-In is one out of two drive-ins in Winchester, with the other one being the Royal Drive-In (1949-Mid 1970s; which will have its own Cinema Treasures page soon). Also, special thanks to the archives of the Winchester Evening Star, I made a mistake on the year the Royal closed.
In December 1982, the Manos Cinema VI (now AMC Apple Blossom 12) opened its doors as the adjacent to the Apple Blossom Mall. The Winchester Drive-In had no choice but to switch its format to X-rated features either around the same time or a shorter time later in connection to the opening of the Manos Cinema VI.
Closed on October 22, 1995.
The Somerville Drive-In closed its gates for the 1988 season on September 4, 1988 with “Nightmare On Elm Street IV”, but it later turned out to be the Somerville Drive-In’s final night of operation, because right after closure comes a very unexpected tragedy.
On October 10, 1988 (one month and six days after closure), the abandoned Somerville Drive-In became local headlines after a 35-year-old local man was found dead inside the concession stand building. During investigation, one officer saw the body after checking his abandoned vehicle parked at one of the traces near the building. Officials reported that the man committed suicide by hanging inside the concession stand, and was identified as a former employee for the United Artists chain. Police said that he left a suicide note but declined to reveal its contents, and later confirmed that the man who killed himself lived 300 feet away from the theater.
At the time of the suicide, the Somerville Drive-In was originally scheduled to be closed for the season, but because of the former UA employee’s suicide, the Somerville Drive-In never reopened for the 1989 season and beyond. It was demolished in August 1992 to make way for its current Golf Range @ Branchburg site.
It appears that the screen was removed around 2013, however the concession building stands a little bit longer until around 2015.
Opened on December 10, 1982 by Manos Quality Theatres.