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 Jan. 3, 1948 issue of Showmen’s Trade Review had a photo roundup of 1947 theater construction. It mentioned “Louis Arru’s Skyway, Buechel, Kentucky, … has in-car speakers, Motiograph projectors and sound, Strong Mogul high intensity lamps and Strong rectifiers.” Buechel is the name of a census-designated place that was incorporated into Louisville in 2003, so it seems to be the same drive-in.
Boxoffice, Sept. 22, 1956: “Goodyear, Ariz. - The Oasis Drive-In here, managed by Donald Gordon, has repaired major storm damages inflicted by recent heavy winds. Winds bent over loudspeaker supports and wrecked the screen tower. Gordon said that numerous eight-inch I-beam columns were twisted like licorice sticks. When the screen went over, he said, it barely dented the ground and only one electric light bulb on the tower was broken. Gordon said the structure was a total loss and estimated damage at $8,000 to $10,000. The theatre is owned and operated by Nace, Kline & Murphy.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 8, 1956: “The Fox Theatre on East Main got a facelifting when a new marquee was added to the front of the building recently. Of streamlined, contemporary design, the marquee has been described by the management as "a real eye-catcher.” "
The Modern Theatre Section of the Aug. 6, 1955 issue of Boxoffice had a half-page article about the North Loup, including a couple of small photos. “So, in December 1954, having marked off a 670x270-foot corner of a farm he operates, (Ed) Burrows contacted theatre equipment companies … North Loup’s drive-in theatre opened as a Burrows family operation. Burrows is general service man for the theatre, his wife runs the concession stand, and another member of the family sells tickets … The layout includes a children’s playground in front of the 70-foot wide screen tower, a concession stand-projection booth combination, and boxoffice. April 28 was the official opening of the drive-in”
I’ve uploaded the Motor Movies' grand opening ad and a USGS aerial to the photos section.
The drive-in’s final entry in the San Francisco Examiner’s movie listings was on Sunday, Nov. 25, 1956. On June 11, 1957, the Oakland Tribune reported that construction work had begun on a $6 million Capwell’s department store “primarily on the section of land formerly occupied by the El Cerrito Motor Movies.”
This is a 1987 photo by John Margolies, part of the John Margolies Roadside America photograph archive (1972-2008), Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division. It’s effectively in the public domain, and you can download it here.
The Sunset was on the northeast corner of what was then the intersection of US highways 10 and 12. Considering that there were sewage ponds on the other side of 10, I’m surprised that the drive-in survived for such a long time.
As its name suggested, the North Star was north of town on the west side of US 91, now Business I-15, where the Lewis & Clark RV Park is today at 1535 Oilfield Ave.
No drive-in was there in a 1953 USGS photo of the area, but it was there in a 1975 photo I uploaded. A 1984 aerial photo showed the screen down and much of the viewing field torn up, so once again, the Motion Picture Almanac was slow to recognize the demise of a drive-in.
In the 1955-56 Theatre Catalog, the only drive-in listed under Shelby was the Prairie, Exec: Tom Grady, capacity 210. The 1956 Motion Picture Almanac’s only Shelby entry was also the Prairie, 250 cars, owners Orpheum Thea. Corp.; Theo Kluth.
The 1958 MPA added the North Star next to the Prairie. The newer drive-in had a 300-car capacity and was owned by Orpheum Theatre Co. However, the circuit listing for Orpheum showed only the North Star in Shelby, plus the indoor Roxy, so it’s possible that Orpheum renamed the Prairie the North Star.
In 1977, when the MPA rebooted its drive-in list, there was only the North Star, capacity 250, owned by R. Roper. The owner changed to Interstate Amu. in the 1980 MPA, and that’s how it stayed through the final drive-in list in 1988.
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.
The Jan. 3, 1948 issue of Showmen’s Trade Review had a photo roundup of 1947 theater construction. It mentioned “Louis Arru’s Skyway, Buechel, Kentucky, … has in-car speakers, Motiograph projectors and sound, Strong Mogul high intensity lamps and Strong rectifiers.” Buechel is the name of a census-designated place that was incorporated into Louisville in 2003, so it seems to be the same drive-in.
Boxoffice, Sept. 22, 1956: “Goodyear, Ariz. - The Oasis Drive-In here, managed by Donald Gordon, has repaired major storm damages inflicted by recent heavy winds. Winds bent over loudspeaker supports and wrecked the screen tower. Gordon said that numerous eight-inch I-beam columns were twisted like licorice sticks. When the screen went over, he said, it barely dented the ground and only one electric light bulb on the tower was broken. Gordon said the structure was a total loss and estimated damage at $8,000 to $10,000. The theatre is owned and operated by Nace, Kline & Murphy.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 8, 1956: “The Fox Theatre on East Main got a facelifting when a new marquee was added to the front of the building recently. Of streamlined, contemporary design, the marquee has been described by the management as "a real eye-catcher.” "
The Modern Theatre Section of the Aug. 6, 1955 issue of Boxoffice had a half-page article about the North Loup, including a couple of small photos. “So, in December 1954, having marked off a 670x270-foot corner of a farm he operates, (Ed) Burrows contacted theatre equipment companies … North Loup’s drive-in theatre opened as a Burrows family operation. Burrows is general service man for the theatre, his wife runs the concession stand, and another member of the family sells tickets … The layout includes a children’s playground in front of the 70-foot wide screen tower, a concession stand-projection booth combination, and boxoffice. April 28 was the official opening of the drive-in”
I’ve uploaded the Motor Movies' grand opening ad and a USGS aerial to the photos section.
The drive-in’s final entry in the San Francisco Examiner’s movie listings was on Sunday, Nov. 25, 1956. On June 11, 1957, the Oakland Tribune reported that construction work had begun on a $6 million Capwell’s department store “primarily on the section of land formerly occupied by the El Cerrito Motor Movies.”
This is a 1987 photo by John Margolies, part of the John Margolies Roadside America photograph archive (1972-2008), Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division. It’s effectively in the public domain, and you can download it here.
The Sunset was on the northeast corner of what was then the intersection of US highways 10 and 12. Considering that there were sewage ponds on the other side of 10, I’m surprised that the drive-in survived for such a long time.
As its name suggested, the North Star was north of town on the west side of US 91, now Business I-15, where the Lewis & Clark RV Park is today at 1535 Oilfield Ave.
No drive-in was there in a 1953 USGS photo of the area, but it was there in a 1975 photo I uploaded. A 1984 aerial photo showed the screen down and much of the viewing field torn up, so once again, the Motion Picture Almanac was slow to recognize the demise of a drive-in.
In the 1955-56 Theatre Catalog, the only drive-in listed under Shelby was the Prairie, Exec: Tom Grady, capacity 210. The 1956 Motion Picture Almanac’s only Shelby entry was also the Prairie, 250 cars, owners Orpheum Thea. Corp.; Theo Kluth.
The 1958 MPA added the North Star next to the Prairie. The newer drive-in had a 300-car capacity and was owned by Orpheum Theatre Co. However, the circuit listing for Orpheum showed only the North Star in Shelby, plus the indoor Roxy, so it’s possible that Orpheum renamed the Prairie the North Star.
In 1977, when the MPA rebooted its drive-in list, there was only the North Star, capacity 250, owned by R. Roper. The owner changed to Interstate Amu. in the 1980 MPA, and that’s how it stayed through the final drive-in list in 1988.