The Hobbs News-Sun had a lengthy story about the Panther, picked by the AP and printed in the March 26, 1984 Carlsbad Current-Angus. It said that the Panther opened “more than 30 years ago,” and was purchased by Larry Stapler in 1977 “on the spur of the moment.” Stapler jerry-rigged an AM radio broadcasting system and took down the speaker poles. The drive-in’s only real problem was caused “about 15 years ago by a tornado that blew down the screen and knocked out the concession windows.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 6, 1962: “Word received on the (Dallas Film) Row that a fire destroyed the Rex Theatre in Jal, N. M. Bruce Wilkerson, owner, said he could attribute the fire only to faulty wiring.”
Boxoffice, July 23, 1973: “Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Norman Pender, Rex Theatre, Jal., N.M., whose daughter Lonna Ree Pender has nearly doubled her weight since her recent birth.”
Could it be that the Tarpon opened on July 3, 1962?
Boxoffice, Aug. 6, 1962: “Aransas Pass, Tex. - E. F. Falgout, mayor of Aransas Pass, and C. L. Walker, well-known local businessman, have opened their new Tarpon Drive-In on Farm Road 632, south of town. The massive tilted screen overlooks a parking area which will accommodate 377 cars. The ramp area has been hard surfaced to permit easy access and terracing has been employed to permit full view by patrons in cars. In front of the screen is a well-equipped playground.”
Looks like the Panther opened around Nov. 1, 1953.
Variety, Oct. 28, 1953: “Charlie Wise, general manager for Phil Isley Theatres announced the circuit’s new Panther Drive-In will be opened this week at Lufkin.”
The Exhibitor, Nov. 4, 1953: “Mr. and Mrs. Phil R. Isley drove to Lufkin, Tex., for the opening of their new Panther Drive-In, accompanied by W. H. O’Bryan, a partner, and Virginia Harper, both of Oklahoma City. O’Bryan is auditor for the circuit. Paul Short, NSS, also attended the opening with them.”
The Exhibitor, Nov. 11, 1953: “The Panther Drive-In, Lufkin, Tex., was officially opened by Phil Isley and executives of the Phil Isley Theatres, along with the mayor and other civic dignitaries. This 650-car ozoner played to a vast audience of more than 2,500.”
The Aug. 28, 2015 issue of the Sierra County Sentinel ran a long “Meet Your Neighbor” article on Joyce Whetzel. It said that Joyce and her husband Ken, vacationing in Truth ot Consequences in 1972, learned that the El Rio was in financial trouble, so they decided “on the spur of the moment” to go into the theater business. They ran the place “until 1993, when an unfortunate fire consumed the three-story building and sadly rendered the structure unsalvageable.”
The Sentinel said the El Rio had been “on property now occupied by the Fire Water Lodge,” which would make its address 279 N Broadway St.
The last ad I could find for the Sky-Vue Twin was Aug. 17, 1974.
Silver City Daily Press, Nov. 18, 1975: “Planning and Zoning Commission officials … will be eyeing a tract of 8.362 acres at the site of the old Silver Sky-Vue drive in theatre demolished earlier this year. K-Mart representatives say they want to build on this location.”
Boxoffice, July 21, 1951: “Ray and Herbert Johnson have opened their new 400-car, $60,000 drive-in at Silver City, N. M.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 8, 1951: “SILVER CITY, N. M. – Ray Johnson and Herbert Johnson have opened the first drive-in theatre in Grant county. It is located on the Silver City-Central highway, about four miles east of here.”
Boxoffice, Jan. 5, 1952: “Herbert and Ray Johnson have opened their new 450-car Copper Drive-In at Silver City, N. Mex., and hope to make it a year-round operation.”
Theatre Catalog, 1952: “Copper D. I. Exec: Herbert and Ray Johnson. (400)”
Boxoffice, April 4, 1953: “George Dowdle has bought the Copper Drive-In, Silver City, N.M., from Herbert Johnson.”
Boxoffice, July 6, 1957: “The screen tower at the Copper Drive-In, Silver City, N. M., was blown down. The ozoner will be closed about a month while the tower and screen are being replaced”
Boxoffice, Aug. 24, 1957: “SILVER CITY, N.M. – The Copper Drive-In here has been reopened after considerable renovation and reconstruction. Jack Dunn, manager, said a number of smaller improvements also had been made. The theatre is owned by Dollison Theatres of Santa Rosa, N.M., and Sherman, Tex., headed by L. R. “Les” Dollison.”
Silver City Daily Press, April 11, 1966: “The former Copper Drive-In will henceforth be known as the Sundowner, according to Darrell Spurgur, manager of the outdoor theater on U. S. Highway 180 in Arenas Valley … Les Dollison, president of Dollison Theaters, expressed pleasure with the interest shown in the contest, evidenced by over 1,600 entries, and the capacity audience on hand for the opening Sunday (10) night. Dollison plans to spend several weeks in Grant County arranging for erection of a new display sign using the new name, plus other improvements to place the Sundowner in top operating condition, he said.”
Boxoffice, Nov, 24, 1975: “James Moss, doing business as Moss Theatres, has taken over the operation of the Gila and Sundowner drive-ins, Silver City, N.M., from Les Dollison of Dollison Theatres, headquartered in El Paso, Tex.”
Motion Picture Almanac, 1977: “Silver City: Sundowner, J. Moss, 400”
Tip of the hat to the Reference Desk at New Mexico State Library in Santa Fe. Now we have a solid opening date - Oct. 13, 1946.
Hatch Reporter, Oct. 11, 1946: “The Drive-in theatre which is being erected by Dick Allen, owner of the Mission Theatre, just east of the McCullough Tourist Court on Highway 85 east of Hatch will be opened to the public Sunday, October 13th, according to Mr. Allen. The theatre will be a 150 capacity; the screen is 30 feet high and the screening will be a 25 foot square picture; the speaking system will have four large speakers and will use De Vey machinery RCA sound system … next summer there will be a lawn and lawn chairs for those who wish to sit in the open. Showings will be made Sunday and Monday, Wednesday and Fridays and Saturdays, and the prices will be 40c for adults and 10c for children.”
Boxoffice, July 17, 1948: “John Bohannon, owner of the Bohannon Theatre, Hatch, N. M., … has announced that the house which bears his name will be remodeled. The house is to include a cry room and will be enlarged.”
Variety, May 8, 1934: “J. B. McMahan will open up Hatch, N. M., and G. G. Herrington has leased the theatre at Estancia, N. M. Both closed since silent.”
Motion Picture Herald, March 28, 1936: “J. B. McMahon is building a new house at Hatch, N. M., to replace the Palace, destroyed by fire.”
Film Daily, Aug. 8, 1941: “J. B. McMahan has sold the Mission, Hatch, N. M., to Mrs. S. E. Allen, who also operates the Palace, Lordsburg, N. M.”
Motion Picture Daily, Oct. 25, 1947: “Marlin Butler, owner Albuquerque, N. M., theatres, buys Hatch (sic) and Drive In, Hatch, N. M., from Mrs. S. E. Allen.”
Boxoffice, July 17, 1948: “John Bohannon, owner of the Bohannon Theatre, Hatch, N. M., has announced the purchase of the Mission Theatre from Wilson and Marlin Butler of Albuquerque. Bohannon has announced that the house which bears his name will be remodeled. The house is to include a cry room and will be enlarged.”
Hmm. Showmen’s Trade Review, March 28, 1942: “Lordsburg, N. M. — Work has been started on the Palace Theatre being built here by Mr. and Mrs. S. E. Allen, who also operate a theatre in Hatch, N. M.”
Showmen’s Trade Review, July 13, 1946: “Hatch, N. M. — The new Bohannon Theatre here is nearing completion. The Bohannon brothers, owners, have just purchased complete new Motiograph projection booth equipment from Service Theatre Supply Co. The house will seat 400.”
Showmen’s Trade Review, Sept. 7, 1946: “Bohannon Bros, expect to have their new Bohannon 450-seat $30,000 theatre at Hatch, N. M., open by Oct. 1.”
The Flying Cloud’s last ads in the Minneapolis Star Tribune were on the weekend of April 29, 1989. The following week, the drive-in ad section did not include it.
The May 17, 1989, issue of the Eden Prairie News reported, “The Flying Cloud Drive-In Theatre may soon be replaced by a garbage recycling facility to be built and owned by Browning-Ferris Industries Inc.” BFI bought the drive-in site from Eden Amusement Co. earlier that month.
Showmen’s Trade Review, Jan. 10, 1953: “The Royal, Royalton, Ill., was sold by Mr. and Mrs. Roy Lingenfelton, of Marion, Ill., to Clifton King of Mt. Vernon, same state.”
Showmen’s Trade Review, Jan. 10, 1953: “Clyde Nihiser, who operates the Star and Limberlost Drive-ins at Geneva, Ind., has acquired the Palace, Fairmount, Ind.”
Showmen’s Trade Review, Jan. 10, 1953: “Clyde Nihiser, who operates the Star and Limberlost Drive-ins at Geneva, Ind., has acquired the Palace, Fairmount, Ind.”
Showmen’s Trade Review, Jan. 10, 1953: “Fox Mid-West opened the 1,100-seat Capitol at Benton, Ill., following technical and structural changes and remodelling. Theatre now has a cry room, air conditioning, special speakers”
The Hobbs News-Sun had a lengthy story about the Panther, picked by the AP and printed in the March 26, 1984 Carlsbad Current-Angus. It said that the Panther opened “more than 30 years ago,” and was purchased by Larry Stapler in 1977 “on the spur of the moment.” Stapler jerry-rigged an AM radio broadcasting system and took down the speaker poles. The drive-in’s only real problem was caused “about 15 years ago by a tornado that blew down the screen and knocked out the concession windows.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 6, 1962: “Word received on the (Dallas Film) Row that a fire destroyed the Rex Theatre in Jal, N. M. Bruce Wilkerson, owner, said he could attribute the fire only to faulty wiring.”
Boxoffice, July 23, 1973: “Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Norman Pender, Rex Theatre, Jal., N.M., whose daughter Lonna Ree Pender has nearly doubled her weight since her recent birth.”
Could it be that the Tarpon opened on July 3, 1962?
Boxoffice, Aug. 6, 1962: “Aransas Pass, Tex. - E. F. Falgout, mayor of Aransas Pass, and C. L. Walker, well-known local businessman, have opened their new Tarpon Drive-In on Farm Road 632, south of town. The massive tilted screen overlooks a parking area which will accommodate 377 cars. The ramp area has been hard surfaced to permit easy access and terracing has been employed to permit full view by patrons in cars. In front of the screen is a well-equipped playground.”
Looks like the Panther opened around Nov. 1, 1953.
Variety, Oct. 28, 1953: “Charlie Wise, general manager for Phil Isley Theatres announced the circuit’s new Panther Drive-In will be opened this week at Lufkin.”
The Exhibitor, Nov. 4, 1953: “Mr. and Mrs. Phil R. Isley drove to Lufkin, Tex., for the opening of their new Panther Drive-In, accompanied by W. H. O’Bryan, a partner, and Virginia Harper, both of Oklahoma City. O’Bryan is auditor for the circuit. Paul Short, NSS, also attended the opening with them.”
The Exhibitor, Nov. 11, 1953: “The Panther Drive-In, Lufkin, Tex., was officially opened by Phil Isley and executives of the Phil Isley Theatres, along with the mayor and other civic dignitaries. This 650-car ozoner played to a vast audience of more than 2,500.”
The Aug. 28, 2015 issue of the Sierra County Sentinel ran a long “Meet Your Neighbor” article on Joyce Whetzel. It said that Joyce and her husband Ken, vacationing in Truth ot Consequences in 1972, learned that the El Rio was in financial trouble, so they decided “on the spur of the moment” to go into the theater business. They ran the place “until 1993, when an unfortunate fire consumed the three-story building and sadly rendered the structure unsalvageable.”
The Sentinel said the El Rio had been “on property now occupied by the Fire Water Lodge,” which would make its address 279 N Broadway St.
The last ad I could find for the Sky-Vue Twin was Aug. 17, 1974.
Silver City Daily Press, Nov. 18, 1975: “Planning and Zoning Commission officials … will be eyeing a tract of 8.362 acres at the site of the old Silver Sky-Vue drive in theatre demolished earlier this year. K-Mart representatives say they want to build on this location.”
The Sundowner logo wasn’t used very long, but this was it in 1966:
A typical Copper ad:
Boxoffice, July 21, 1951: “Ray and Herbert Johnson have opened their new 400-car, $60,000 drive-in at Silver City, N. M.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 8, 1951: “SILVER CITY, N. M. – Ray Johnson and Herbert Johnson have opened the first drive-in theatre in Grant county. It is located on the Silver City-Central highway, about four miles east of here.”
Boxoffice, Jan. 5, 1952: “Herbert and Ray Johnson have opened their new 450-car Copper Drive-In at Silver City, N. Mex., and hope to make it a year-round operation.”
Theatre Catalog, 1952: “Copper D. I. Exec: Herbert and Ray Johnson. (400)”
Boxoffice, April 4, 1953: “George Dowdle has bought the Copper Drive-In, Silver City, N.M., from Herbert Johnson.”
Boxoffice, July 6, 1957: “The screen tower at the Copper Drive-In, Silver City, N. M., was blown down. The ozoner will be closed about a month while the tower and screen are being replaced”
Boxoffice, Aug. 24, 1957: “SILVER CITY, N.M. – The Copper Drive-In here has been reopened after considerable renovation and reconstruction. Jack Dunn, manager, said a number of smaller improvements also had been made. The theatre is owned by Dollison Theatres of Santa Rosa, N.M., and Sherman, Tex., headed by L. R. “Les” Dollison.”
Silver City Daily Press, April 11, 1966: “The former Copper Drive-In will henceforth be known as the Sundowner, according to Darrell Spurgur, manager of the outdoor theater on U. S. Highway 180 in Arenas Valley … Les Dollison, president of Dollison Theaters, expressed pleasure with the interest shown in the contest, evidenced by over 1,600 entries, and the capacity audience on hand for the opening Sunday (10) night. Dollison plans to spend several weeks in Grant County arranging for erection of a new display sign using the new name, plus other improvements to place the Sundowner in top operating condition, he said.”
Boxoffice, Nov, 24, 1975: “James Moss, doing business as Moss Theatres, has taken over the operation of the Gila and Sundowner drive-ins, Silver City, N.M., from Les Dollison of Dollison Theatres, headquartered in El Paso, Tex.”
Motion Picture Almanac, 1977: “Silver City: Sundowner, J. Moss, 400”
Tip of the hat to the Reference Desk at New Mexico State Library in Santa Fe. Now we have a solid opening date - Oct. 13, 1946.
Hatch Reporter, Oct. 11, 1946: “The Drive-in theatre which is being erected by Dick Allen, owner of the Mission Theatre, just east of the McCullough Tourist Court on Highway 85 east of Hatch will be opened to the public Sunday, October 13th, according to Mr. Allen. The theatre will be a 150 capacity; the screen is 30 feet high and the screening will be a 25 foot square picture; the speaking system will have four large speakers and will use De Vey machinery RCA sound system … next summer there will be a lawn and lawn chairs for those who wish to sit in the open. Showings will be made Sunday and Monday, Wednesday and Fridays and Saturdays, and the prices will be 40c for adults and 10c for children.”
Boxoffice, July 17, 1948: “John Bohannon, owner of the Bohannon Theatre, Hatch, N. M., … has announced that the house which bears his name will be remodeled. The house is to include a cry room and will be enlarged.”
Variety, May 8, 1934: “J. B. McMahan will open up Hatch, N. M., and G. G. Herrington has leased the theatre at Estancia, N. M. Both closed since silent.”
Motion Picture Herald, March 28, 1936: “J. B. McMahon is building a new house at Hatch, N. M., to replace the Palace, destroyed by fire.”
Film Daily, Aug. 8, 1941: “J. B. McMahan has sold the Mission, Hatch, N. M., to Mrs. S. E. Allen, who also operates the Palace, Lordsburg, N. M.”
Motion Picture Daily, Oct. 25, 1947: “Marlin Butler, owner Albuquerque, N. M., theatres, buys Hatch (sic) and Drive In, Hatch, N. M., from Mrs. S. E. Allen.”
Boxoffice, July 17, 1948: “John Bohannon, owner of the Bohannon Theatre, Hatch, N. M., has announced the purchase of the Mission Theatre from Wilson and Marlin Butler of Albuquerque. Bohannon has announced that the house which bears his name will be remodeled. The house is to include a cry room and will be enlarged.”
Hmm. Showmen’s Trade Review, March 28, 1942: “Lordsburg, N. M. — Work has been started on the Palace Theatre being built here by Mr. and Mrs. S. E. Allen, who also operate a theatre in Hatch, N. M.”
Showmen’s Trade Review, July 13, 1946: “Hatch, N. M. — The new Bohannon Theatre here is nearing completion. The Bohannon brothers, owners, have just purchased complete new Motiograph projection booth equipment from Service Theatre Supply Co. The house will seat 400.”
Showmen’s Trade Review, Sept. 7, 1946: “Bohannon Bros, expect to have their new Bohannon 450-seat $30,000 theatre at Hatch, N. M., open by Oct. 1.”
The Flying Cloud’s last ads in the Minneapolis Star Tribune were on the weekend of April 29, 1989. The following week, the drive-in ad section did not include it.
The May 17, 1989, issue of the Eden Prairie News reported, “The Flying Cloud Drive-In Theatre may soon be replaced by a garbage recycling facility to be built and owned by Browning-Ferris Industries Inc.” BFI bought the drive-in site from Eden Amusement Co. earlier that month.
Showmen’s Trade Review, Jan. 10, 1953: “The Royal, Royalton, Ill., was sold by Mr. and Mrs. Roy Lingenfelton, of Marion, Ill., to Clifton King of Mt. Vernon, same state.”
Showmen’s Trade Review, Jan. 10, 1953: “Syndicate Theatre of Indianapolis has acquired the Elwood Drive-in.”
Showmen’s Trade Review, Jan. 10, 1953: “C. A. McGowan is reported having taken over the Starlite Drive-In, Canton, Miss., from L. C. Malone.”
Showmen’s Trade Review, Jan. 10, 1953: “(C. G.) Roaden disposed of his Park, Middlesboro, Ky., to Price Coomer.”
Showmen’s Trade Review, Jan. 10, 1953: “Clyde Nihiser, who operates the Star and Limberlost Drive-ins at Geneva, Ind., has acquired the Palace, Fairmount, Ind.”
Showmen’s Trade Review, Jan. 10, 1953: “Clyde Nihiser, who operates the Star and Limberlost Drive-ins at Geneva, Ind., has acquired the Palace, Fairmount, Ind.”
Showmen’s Trade Review, Jan. 10, 1953: “The Y. and W. Management Corp. of Indianapolis has acquired the Roxy, Bloomington, Ind., from Doyle Carter.”
Showmen’s Trade Review, Jan. 10, 1953: “C. K. Wuttke and Elmer Hoffer have bought the Lakeside Drive-In at Regent, N.D., from Milton Osmundson.”
Showmen’s Trade Review, Jan. 10, 1953: “Fox Mid-West opened the 1,100-seat Capitol at Benton, Ill., following technical and structural changes and remodelling. Theatre now has a cry room, air conditioning, special speakers”
Although it might have appeared elsewhere, that photo was part of Wagner’s ad in the Jan. 8, 1949 issue of Showmen’s Trade Review.