The Modern Theatre section of the Sept. 8, 1958 issue of Boxoffice had a two-page feature on the Carlin Drive-In. Its top feature was its paved viewing area, for which the “cost for this excellent surface was approximately $1 per square yard.”
My favorite sentence: “The theatre is surrounded by a seven-foot redwood picket fence topped with three strands of barbed wire.”
The article never used the apostrophe-s with the name. At a minimum, “Carlin Drive-In” should be an alternate name for this record.
Boxoffice, Sept. 8, 1958: “The Triangle Theatre in East Liberty, which was a well-patronized theatre for most of its two score years, has closed. Located on teeming Frankstown avenue, it had been a Negro patronage house for many years. A few years ago Abe Joseph turned over the operation to the Mervis brothers. They tried a foreign film policy but it didn’t click; then they returned to a last-run east-end policy, then had to go to weekends only. Being dismantled this week, the old Triangle reportedly will be remodeled into a bingo parlor and amusement center.”
The Merryland first appeared in the Motion Picture Almanac in the 1967 edition (capacity 500) as one of two Marietta drive-ins, along with the Starlite. That persisted through the 1976 edition. In 1977, the MPA rebooted its drive-in list, and the Starlite was the only Marietta drive-in.
A reasonably thorough search of the 1967 MPA circuit list failed to turn up the Merryland. JUR Theatre Circuit owned the Starlite and the Riverside, which was listed under Constitution OH. Shea Enterprises owned two local indoor houses, the Colony and the Putnam. As always, I would love to know the source of the assertion that the Merryland was open from at least 1968-70.
Temporary? The Exhibitor, Nov. 14, 1951: “The Seligman, Seligman, Ariz., closed its doors. The house was managed by Mrs. J. B. Knadler, and was operated by Harry L. Nace.”
I found a name. Boxoffice, Nov. 2, 1940: (Dallas Filmrow visitors) “Wick Johnson, Comfort, conferring with equipment and film firms for his new drive-in at Alamo”
It must have died in the mid-1940s. The Film Daily Year Book’s drive-in list included the Rio Grande Valley through the 1948 edition, then dropped it in 1949. The more reliable Theatre Catalog, which started its drive-in list later, never included the Rio Grande Valley. Looking at 1955 aerial photos, I can’t find any trace of a drive-in between Alamo and San Juan.
2003 photo by John Margolies. Part of the John Margolies Roadside America photograph archive (1972-2008), Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division.
Boxoffice, Sept. 15, 1958: “Closed several years, the State Theatre at Meyersdale is being modernized by owner Phil Reich. Daily operation, except Sunday, is planned, starting September 29.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 15, 1958: “William and Chester DeMarsh, who recently opened their new Pioneer Drive-In on Route 8 about five miles north of Butler, are moving their Grove City Firestone store the the concrete screen tower building at their Larkfield Drive-In near Grove City. The father-and-son team has operated a recapping plant near the Larkfield for some time. The DeMarshes said that they will have their Firestone business in three floors of the Larkfield screen building before Christmas.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 15, 1958: “William and Chester Demarsh, who recently opened their new Pioneer Drive-In on Route 8 about five miles north of Butler, are moving their Grove City Firestone store the the concrete screen tower building at their Larkfield Drive-In near Grove City. The father-and-son team has operated a recapping plant near the Larkfield for some time … Their Pioneer screen building near Butler may be offered for rent”
Adding to Joe Vogel’s note, the April 23, 1934 Film Daily wrote that the Grand had been transferred to E. T. Schnur by Jim Rocco and W. V. Woodford.
Film Daily, July 27, 1938: “The Belington Theater, Belington, W. Va., operated by O. O. Peling, is closing indefinitely.”
Boxoffice, Oct. 1, 1938: “John Panopoulos, former New Cumberland, W. Va., exhibitor, was a (Pittsburgh) Filmrow booker the other day, reporting that he has opened at his new stand, the old Grand, at Belington, W. Va., which he has named the Belington”
The Dec. 10, 1938 Motion Picture Herald, in a roundup of equipment purchases, noted that “John Panopulous” bought new sound tech for the Grand.
Boxoffice, April 27, 1940: “John Panopoulos, Belington, W. Va., theatre owner, is remodeling his apartment on the second floor of the Seneca”
Boxoffice, Sept. 22, 1958: “Reopening of the Seneca Theatre, Belington, W. Va., was short lived. After one night, the house went dark again”
Boxoffice, Oct. 13, 1958: “Sam Yakish, Titusville outdoor exhibitor, who visited (Pittsburgh) Filmrow, said he and Mrs. Yakish will be returning soon to their Bethel Park home for the winter. During the outdoor season they reside in their apartment in the screen tower of their Auto Drive-In.”
Boxoffice, Oct. 13, 1958: “Workmen have started to raze the Park Theatre in Medina, a landmark there. The theatre was built in 1915 by the Seylee Cook estate to provide a place for high school recreation programs. When the high school was built in 1922, Ernest Reynolds took it over and converted it into a theatre. It was closed around 1935 and remained vacant until three years ago when it was used as a church for a while. Because of taxes and the cost of putting it into shape, Dipson Theatres of Batavia decided to raze the building for a parking area.”
Boxoffice, Nov. 3, 1958: “Meadowbrook, W. Va. - After a series of explorations, water has been found on the Sunset Drive-In property, according to owner John Ellis. Former owners Alex Silay and Steve Medve jr. gave up in their search for water at the ozoner and sold out several years ago.”
The Trail had a soft opening in the first week of July 1963, showing “The Courtship of Eddie’s Father” on Friday the 5th, but had a “gala grand opening” on Wed., July 10. The movies that night were “Gypsy” and “It Happened at the World’s Fair.” Admission price for adults was 65 cents, but children 12 and under were free.
Note that the 1963 movie version of “The Courtship of Eddie’s Father” starred Glenn Ford and Shirley Jones.
A Parade magazine slideshow listed the credit for this photo as just “Getty Images.” On one hand, Getty sometimes (accidentally?) claims public domain images, and unlike other slides in the deck, there was no primary source mentioned. On the other hand, I don’t want to mess with Getty Images.
JimRoss66 is correct to point out that the Mt. Vernon was never on Route 66. (One more reason to replace the misleading novelty matchbook cover as its front image, BTW.) According to the official 1948 California Division of Highways map, it was 1.3 miles south of US 66.
Then again, in my book “Drive-Ins of Route 66,” I include every drive-in within three miles of the Mother Road, (2.5 miles in the 1st edition), partly to avoid omitting ozoners that happened to be on the other side of small towns. So the Mt. Vernon is there, close enough. :)
Mr. Horton, I completely agree. I’m frankly annoyed at folks who don’t source their pictures and (perhaps accidentally) claim ownership through the Creative Commons license that’s chosen by default. That’s why I provide as much background and links as I can when I’m posting someone else’s photo, and I try to add that info when I find it on previously posted photos such as this one.
Now then, if you found this picture in 1990, can tell us where you found it? And if you’ve got any more notes about the Fair Park, you’ll be doing better than the Oklahoma Historical Society searchers I commissioned. Please write.
This photo by A. Y. Owen appeared in the May 7, 1947 issue of the Oklahoma Times. It’s part of the Oklahoma Publishing Company Photography Collection at the Oklahoma Historical Society, which says that it’s copyright status is undetermined.
This photo was published somewhere on June 19, 1947. It’s part of the Oklahoma Publishing Company Photography Collection, provided by the Oklahoma Historical Society to The Gateway to Oklahoma History, which says that its copyright status is undetermined.
This photo is from the William B. Turk Collection in the Oklahoma Historical Society Photograph Collection at The Gateway to Oklahoma History, which says that its copyright status is undetermined.
The Modern Theatre section of the Sept. 8, 1958 issue of Boxoffice had a two-page feature on the Carlin Drive-In. Its top feature was its paved viewing area, for which the “cost for this excellent surface was approximately $1 per square yard.”
My favorite sentence: “The theatre is surrounded by a seven-foot redwood picket fence topped with three strands of barbed wire.”
The article never used the apostrophe-s with the name. At a minimum, “Carlin Drive-In” should be an alternate name for this record.
Boxoffice, Sept. 8, 1958: “The Triangle Theatre in East Liberty, which was a well-patronized theatre for most of its two score years, has closed. Located on teeming Frankstown avenue, it had been a Negro patronage house for many years. A few years ago Abe Joseph turned over the operation to the Mervis brothers. They tried a foreign film policy but it didn’t click; then they returned to a last-run east-end policy, then had to go to weekends only. Being dismantled this week, the old Triangle reportedly will be remodeled into a bingo parlor and amusement center.”
The Merryland first appeared in the Motion Picture Almanac in the 1967 edition (capacity 500) as one of two Marietta drive-ins, along with the Starlite. That persisted through the 1976 edition. In 1977, the MPA rebooted its drive-in list, and the Starlite was the only Marietta drive-in.
A reasonably thorough search of the 1967 MPA circuit list failed to turn up the Merryland. JUR Theatre Circuit owned the Starlite and the Riverside, which was listed under Constitution OH. Shea Enterprises owned two local indoor houses, the Colony and the Putnam. As always, I would love to know the source of the assertion that the Merryland was open from at least 1968-70.
Temporary? The Exhibitor, Nov. 14, 1951: “The Seligman, Seligman, Ariz., closed its doors. The house was managed by Mrs. J. B. Knadler, and was operated by Harry L. Nace.”
I found a name. Boxoffice, Nov. 2, 1940: (Dallas Filmrow visitors) “Wick Johnson, Comfort, conferring with equipment and film firms for his new drive-in at Alamo”
It must have died in the mid-1940s. The Film Daily Year Book’s drive-in list included the Rio Grande Valley through the 1948 edition, then dropped it in 1949. The more reliable Theatre Catalog, which started its drive-in list later, never included the Rio Grande Valley. Looking at 1955 aerial photos, I can’t find any trace of a drive-in between Alamo and San Juan.
2003 photo by John Margolies. Part of the John Margolies Roadside America photograph archive (1972-2008), Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division.
Boxoffice, Sept. 15, 1958: “Closed several years, the State Theatre at Meyersdale is being modernized by owner Phil Reich. Daily operation, except Sunday, is planned, starting September 29.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 15, 1958: “William and Chester DeMarsh, who recently opened their new Pioneer Drive-In on Route 8 about five miles north of Butler, are moving their Grove City Firestone store the the concrete screen tower building at their Larkfield Drive-In near Grove City. The father-and-son team has operated a recapping plant near the Larkfield for some time. The DeMarshes said that they will have their Firestone business in three floors of the Larkfield screen building before Christmas.”
Yes, the Pioneer opened in 1958.
Boxoffice, Sept. 15, 1958: “William and Chester Demarsh, who recently opened their new Pioneer Drive-In on Route 8 about five miles north of Butler, are moving their Grove City Firestone store the the concrete screen tower building at their Larkfield Drive-In near Grove City. The father-and-son team has operated a recapping plant near the Larkfield for some time … Their Pioneer screen building near Butler may be offered for rent”
Adding to Joe Vogel’s note, the April 23, 1934 Film Daily wrote that the Grand had been transferred to E. T. Schnur by Jim Rocco and W. V. Woodford.
Film Daily, July 27, 1938: “The Belington Theater, Belington, W. Va., operated by O. O. Peling, is closing indefinitely.”
Boxoffice, Oct. 1, 1938: “John Panopoulos, former New Cumberland, W. Va., exhibitor, was a (Pittsburgh) Filmrow booker the other day, reporting that he has opened at his new stand, the old Grand, at Belington, W. Va., which he has named the Belington”
The Dec. 10, 1938 Motion Picture Herald, in a roundup of equipment purchases, noted that “John Panopulous” bought new sound tech for the Grand.
Boxoffice, April 27, 1940: “John Panopoulos, Belington, W. Va., theatre owner, is remodeling his apartment on the second floor of the Seneca”
Boxoffice, Sept. 22, 1958: “Reopening of the Seneca Theatre, Belington, W. Va., was short lived. After one night, the house went dark again”
Boxoffice, Oct. 13, 1958: “Sam Yakish, Titusville outdoor exhibitor, who visited (Pittsburgh) Filmrow, said he and Mrs. Yakish will be returning soon to their Bethel Park home for the winter. During the outdoor season they reside in their apartment in the screen tower of their Auto Drive-In.”
Boxoffice, Oct. 13, 1958: “Workmen have started to raze the Park Theatre in Medina, a landmark there. The theatre was built in 1915 by the Seylee Cook estate to provide a place for high school recreation programs. When the high school was built in 1922, Ernest Reynolds took it over and converted it into a theatre. It was closed around 1935 and remained vacant until three years ago when it was used as a church for a while. Because of taxes and the cost of putting it into shape, Dipson Theatres of Batavia decided to raze the building for a parking area.”
Boxoffice, Oct. 27, 1958: “Herv Keator, Lee Hiway Drive-In manager, reports Bernz-O-Matic in-car heaters have been installed.”
Boxoffice, Nov. 3, 1958: “Meadowbrook, W. Va. - After a series of explorations, water has been found on the Sunset Drive-In property, according to owner John Ellis. Former owners Alex Silay and Steve Medve jr. gave up in their search for water at the ozoner and sold out several years ago.”
This 1977 photo by John Margolies is part of the Library of Congress’s John Margolies Roadside America photograph archive (1972-2008), and is effectively in the public domain.
TinEye.com points to 123rf.com selling this as a stock photo by Shannon Drawe, user name sdrawe. TinEye first noticed it on Nov. 8, 2009.
The Trail had a soft opening in the first week of July 1963, showing “The Courtship of Eddie’s Father” on Friday the 5th, but had a “gala grand opening” on Wed., July 10. The movies that night were “Gypsy” and “It Happened at the World’s Fair.” Admission price for adults was 65 cents, but children 12 and under were free.
Note that the 1963 movie version of “The Courtship of Eddie’s Father” starred Glenn Ford and Shirley Jones.
A Parade magazine slideshow listed the credit for this photo as just “Getty Images.” On one hand, Getty sometimes (accidentally?) claims public domain images, and unlike other slides in the deck, there was no primary source mentioned. On the other hand, I don’t want to mess with Getty Images.
JimRoss66 is correct to point out that the Mt. Vernon was never on Route 66. (One more reason to replace the misleading novelty matchbook cover as its front image, BTW.) According to the official 1948 California Division of Highways map, it was 1.3 miles south of US 66.
Then again, in my book “Drive-Ins of Route 66,” I include every drive-in within three miles of the Mother Road, (2.5 miles in the 1st edition), partly to avoid omitting ozoners that happened to be on the other side of small towns. So the Mt. Vernon is there, close enough. :)
I just checked Google Street View. As of March 2021, the sign frame was completely gone.
This is a cropped version of a photo in the Z.P. Meyers/Barney Hillerman Photographic Collection of the Oklahoma Historical Society, which says that its copyright status is undetermined.
Mr. Horton, I completely agree. I’m frankly annoyed at folks who don’t source their pictures and (perhaps accidentally) claim ownership through the Creative Commons license that’s chosen by default. That’s why I provide as much background and links as I can when I’m posting someone else’s photo, and I try to add that info when I find it on previously posted photos such as this one.
Now then, if you found this picture in 1990, can tell us where you found it? And if you’ve got any more notes about the Fair Park, you’ll be doing better than the Oklahoma Historical Society searchers I commissioned. Please write.
This photo by A. Y. Owen appeared in the May 7, 1947 issue of the Oklahoma Times. It’s part of the Oklahoma Publishing Company Photography Collection at the Oklahoma Historical Society, which says that it’s copyright status is undetermined.
This photo was published somewhere on June 19, 1947. It’s part of the Oklahoma Publishing Company Photography Collection, provided by the Oklahoma Historical Society to The Gateway to Oklahoma History, which says that its copyright status is undetermined.
This photo is from the William B. Turk Collection in the Oklahoma Historical Society Photograph Collection at The Gateway to Oklahoma History, which says that its copyright status is undetermined.