This drive-in’s ownership got complicated in its final decade or so. By 1968, Gulf States Theatres had taken over all of Barton’s Oklahoma drive-ins on a lease-purchase agreement. The NW Hi-Way appears to have been closed in 1973, then Galaxy Theatres ran it in 1974. Caporal Theatres, which also had the Riviera, bought it and reopened in spring 1975. For some reason, Boxoffice then (May 12, 1975) referred to the drive-in as “the long-shuttered Northwest Highway”.
The Aug. 28, 1983 issue of the Daily Oklahoman had a long article on drive-ins, quoting Volney Hamm, another Lawton drive-in owner:
“The first one in the state was right here in Lawton,” he says. “It was built by the Austin brothers and the whole thing was concrete - the fence, the tower (screen), everything. The Austin Drive-In. They were concrete boys and they used the stuff like a carpenter uses wood.”
The Austin also had the old-fashioned central speaker, Hamm says. He remembers that “when the wind was out of the northwest I could hear it a mile away.”
The Aug. 28, 1983 issue of the Daily Oklahoman had a long article on drive-ins, beginning with the story of Volney Hamm, who “got into the drive-in business in Lawton in the late 1940s, opening the Mount Scott Drive-In, which is still in business today.” Unlike some others of the period, Hamm’s drive-in opened with in-car speakers.
What year did the Zuni close? A list of Commonwealth managers in the July 28, 1980 issue of Boxoffice included Clinton McKinley at the Zuni, and a 1981 aerial photo showed the drive-in intact.
Commonwealth continued to include it in its Motion Picture Almanac circuit list entry (more reliable than the drive-in list) through the 1985 edition, dropping it in 1986. Since the MPA was published around the beginning of the stated year, that suggests that the Zuni may have been active in 1984.
Boxoffice, March 3, 1969: “CAVE CITY, ARK. - Gene "Shorty” Thompson, owner of the Stone Theatre and Stone Drive-In, has installed heaters at the drive-in."
Boxoffice, Oct. 9, 1978: “The historic Rex Theatre in Nowata is being dismantled to make space for an office building, according to Leo Woodall who operates the Skyvue Drive-In there.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 16, 1974: “The new owners of the Westside Drive-In at Tahlequah are M. D. and Doris Gourley. Jim O'Donnell of Theatre Booking Service will continue to do booking and buying for the Tahlequah airer.”
Same drive-in? A 1972 aerial photo showed the same site as intact, so maybe?
Boxoffice, Sept. 16, 1974: “In to buy and book at Oklahoma City film exchanges were … Mr. and Mrs. Eddie Kelly, Mini-Car Drive-In, Henryetta, who also have the Kelly’s Monuments business in the same Oklahoma community”
Boxoffice, Oct. 28, 1974: “Georgia Kelly advised that they are closing the Henryetta Mini-Car Drive-In the last of the month.” (for the season?)
Boxoffice, Sept. 6, 1947: “WICHITA— This city’s second drive-in theatre, the Air Port Drive-In, opened last Friday night to a near-capacity crowd. The 700-car open-airer, located within a few minutes of the municipal air terminal, is owned by Peerless Theatres, Inc., representing C. C. McCollister and associates. Merle Barnes is managing director of the theatre. Constructed under the Louis Josserand patents, claiming 30 percent more capacity for a given area, the double-ramp drive-in was equipped by National Theatre Supply Co., Kansas City. Features are Simplex E-7 projectors with Hy-Candescent lamps for the 52-foot screen and Simplex in-car speakers. Power for booth equipment is furnished by a 40-horsepower generator. Signs were built by the Rich Signs Co. of this city. McCollister also owns and operates the Odom Drive-In in Oklahoma City and the Nomar Theatre here. Wichita’s other drive-in, a Sullivan location, opened a year ago. The Sullivan firm is building this city’s third open-airer, to open soon on highway 54.”
Tough question: WHY was this drive-in named the Odom? When it was built, the future Odom Road didn’t exist.
The easy answer would be that the Sullivan Theatre chain, which opened the NW Hi-Way the same night as the Odom’s debut, had something to do with it, since the head of that chain was Odom Farrell (O.F.) Sullivan. That theory would say that Sullivan sold it to Barton during the first off-season, and that’s why he renamed it Barton’s 77.
If only I hadn’t found the June 21, 1947 BoxOffice note above, which clearly shows that Barton finished the Odom. BUT look who started it before Barton bought it.
Motion Picture Herald, Feb. 15, 1947: “First drive-in theatre for this area has been announced for opening about April 15 with construction started last week on a 1,000-car unit to cost $100,000, as announced by C. C. McCollister of Wichita, Kan., president of Peerless Theatres, Inc., Sanford Swim is vice-president and Merle L. Barnes is secretary-treasurer of the company. The new theatre will be called the Odom.”
I’ll keep looking, but right now I’d say that O.F. Sullivan probably had a piece of Peerless.
Thanks to the amazing help of the New Mexico State Library, I now know that the Canal held its Grand Opening on Friday, April 20, 1951. Its first movie was “Kansas Raiders” starring Audie Murphy.
Based on previous MPH and Boxoffice notes, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Canal really had a soft open on Easter Sunday, March 25, but I haven’t found anything to prove that theory one way or the other.
Maybe this sale didn’t take? The Exhibitor, April 28, 1954: “The Regent and Nile, Winfield, Kans., have been purchased by Ray Winch from O. F. Sullivan.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 21, 1948: “MUSKOGEE, OKLA. — A new 600-car capacity drive-in, covering an area of 12 acres four miles south of here on Highway 64, has been completed by O. F. Sullivan, Wichita theatre operator.”
(That was former Wichita mayor Odom Farrell Sullivan, BTW.)
The Exhibitor, June 3, 1953: “O. F. Sullivan, general manager, Sullivan Independent Theatres, announced that he and his wife, Mrs. O. F. Sullivan, had completed a deal with Fox Midwest for the Palace, Wichita, Kans. The theatre closed for three days for refurbishing, and reopened under the new management. The Palace makes the eighth theatre in Wichita acquired by Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan, who came there 28 years ago, and opened the West, first and only suburban theatre in that city at that time. The Palace will be under the management of Phil Silvernail under the supervision of Leonard Kane in his capacity as city manager. Kane has been with Sullivan Theatres for over 20 years, and Mrs. O. F. Sullivan is now secretary-treasurer of the circuit. Sullivan also operates several theatres outside of Wichita, Kans., and is one of the pioneer drive-in builders in Oklahoma. He has always been active in exhibitor organization circles, and helped form Allied Independent Theatre Owners of Kansas and Missouri in 1948. He was president of this Allied unit for three years, and was a member of the national beard of directors of Allied States Association for four years.”
The Exhibitor, Jan. 27, 1954: “It was announced by O. F. Sullivan, general manager, Sullivan Independent Theatres, Wichita, Kans., that operation of his Wichita theatres will be transferred to Consolidated Agencies, Kansas City, which is a buying, booking, and theatre management corporation. A sale, lease, and “option to purchase” agreement was completed, after two years of negotiation, with Nu-Vu Theatres, Inc., and a subsidiary corporation, Multi-Scope Theatres, Inc. C. A. Schultz, president, purchasing and leasing corporation, is also president. Consolidated Agencies, the corporation which will be actively operating the theatres. The theatres will continue to operate under the banner of Sullivan Independent Theatres, at least until after the “option to purchase” is exercised. Nick Sonday will assume the duties of general manager for this group of theatres, while Leonard Kane, associated in Wichita with Sullivan Theatres for over 20 years, will remain in the capacity of city manager. The complete theatre’s sale and lease and option agreement was handled by W. F. Brasch and Company. Sullivan Independent Theatres consists of eight Wichita theatres, the Crest, Palace, Crawford, Civic, Tower, West, 54 Drive-In, and 81 Drive-In, acquired by Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan over a period of 28 years. Sullivan was largely responsible for the forming of the Allied Independent Theatre Owners organization of Kansas and Missouri and was president for three years, 1948-1950.”
Motion Picture Herald, Aug. 12, 1950: “Howard Larsen, manager and co-owner of the Civic and Junior theatres at Webb City, has purchased the Dickinson theater. The Dickinson now will be known as the Larsen theatre.”
The Thomases built the N'Eastern 66, I think, and they managed the place for years, but I also think they must have sold or leased it to the Barton theater chain very early on.
Motion Picture Herald, March 10, 1951: “Three of the Barton Drive-In Theatres were formally opened March 1. They are the Air Line drive-in, N. Eastern 66 drive-in, and Barton’s 77 drive-in.”
A close look at the grand opening ad that dallasmovietheaters uploaded (thanks!) shows that the Lone Star opened on Feb. 3, 1951. That goes along with a note in the March 3, 1951 Motion Picture Herald: “E. L. Pack opened his new Lone Star drive-in theatre recently. The newest ozoner has RCA in-car speakers, and M. L. Burns is the manager.”
Google Maps says that the site is now within the Centralia city limits. Maybe that’s accurate.
Boxoffice, Feb. 17, 1951: “Ed Auer and Howard Barber, both of Seattle, have sold their Twin City Drive-In Theatre located between Centralia and Chehalis. Buying the showcase were the three Gamble brothers, Ron, Roy and Williard of Centralia, Wash. The sale price was estimated at $80,000. The outdoorer is slated to be improved and reopened in the spring”.
Motion Picture Herald, Feb. 24, 1951: “The Mayfield, owned by Westside theatres, at South Palo Alto, is undergoing complete renovation and will be renamed the Cardinal.”
Motion Picture Herald, Jan. 27, 1951: “The H & E Balaban circuit purchased two drive-ins, the 600 car Hilltop at Joliet and the 750 car Robbins at Rockford.”
Motion Picture Herald, Jan. 27, 1951: “The H & E Balaban circuit purchased two drive-ins, the 600 car Hilltop at Joliet and the 750 car Robbins (sic) at Rockford.”
This drive-in’s ownership got complicated in its final decade or so. By 1968, Gulf States Theatres had taken over all of Barton’s Oklahoma drive-ins on a lease-purchase agreement. The NW Hi-Way appears to have been closed in 1973, then Galaxy Theatres ran it in 1974. Caporal Theatres, which also had the Riviera, bought it and reopened in spring 1975. For some reason, Boxoffice then (May 12, 1975) referred to the drive-in as “the long-shuttered Northwest Highway”.
The Aug. 28, 1983 issue of the Daily Oklahoman had a long article on drive-ins, quoting Volney Hamm, another Lawton drive-in owner:
“The first one in the state was right here in Lawton,” he says. “It was built by the Austin brothers and the whole thing was concrete - the fence, the tower (screen), everything. The Austin Drive-In. They were concrete boys and they used the stuff like a carpenter uses wood.”
The Austin also had the old-fashioned central speaker, Hamm says. He remembers that “when the wind was out of the northwest I could hear it a mile away.”
The Aug. 28, 1983 issue of the Daily Oklahoman had a long article on drive-ins, beginning with the story of Volney Hamm, who “got into the drive-in business in Lawton in the late 1940s, opening the Mount Scott Drive-In, which is still in business today.” Unlike some others of the period, Hamm’s drive-in opened with in-car speakers.
What year did the Zuni close? A list of Commonwealth managers in the July 28, 1980 issue of Boxoffice included Clinton McKinley at the Zuni, and a 1981 aerial photo showed the drive-in intact.
Commonwealth continued to include it in its Motion Picture Almanac circuit list entry (more reliable than the drive-in list) through the 1985 edition, dropping it in 1986. Since the MPA was published around the beginning of the stated year, that suggests that the Zuni may have been active in 1984.
Boxoffice, March 3, 1969: “CAVE CITY, ARK. - Gene "Shorty” Thompson, owner of the Stone Theatre and Stone Drive-In, has installed heaters at the drive-in."
Boxoffice, Oct. 9, 1978: “The historic Rex Theatre in Nowata is being dismantled to make space for an office building, according to Leo Woodall who operates the Skyvue Drive-In there.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 16, 1974: “The new owners of the Westside Drive-In at Tahlequah are M. D. and Doris Gourley. Jim O'Donnell of Theatre Booking Service will continue to do booking and buying for the Tahlequah airer.”
Same drive-in? A 1972 aerial photo showed the same site as intact, so maybe?
Boxoffice, Sept. 16, 1974: “In to buy and book at Oklahoma City film exchanges were … Mr. and Mrs. Eddie Kelly, Mini-Car Drive-In, Henryetta, who also have the Kelly’s Monuments business in the same Oklahoma community”
Boxoffice, Oct. 28, 1974: “Georgia Kelly advised that they are closing the Henryetta Mini-Car Drive-In the last of the month.” (for the season?)
Boxoffice, Sept. 6, 1947: “WICHITA— This city’s second drive-in theatre, the Air Port Drive-In, opened last Friday night to a near-capacity crowd. The 700-car open-airer, located within a few minutes of the municipal air terminal, is owned by Peerless Theatres, Inc., representing C. C. McCollister and associates. Merle Barnes is managing director of the theatre. Constructed under the Louis Josserand patents, claiming 30 percent more capacity for a given area, the double-ramp drive-in was equipped by National Theatre Supply Co., Kansas City. Features are Simplex E-7 projectors with Hy-Candescent lamps for the 52-foot screen and Simplex in-car speakers. Power for booth equipment is furnished by a 40-horsepower generator. Signs were built by the Rich Signs Co. of this city. McCollister also owns and operates the Odom Drive-In in Oklahoma City and the Nomar Theatre here. Wichita’s other drive-in, a Sullivan location, opened a year ago. The Sullivan firm is building this city’s third open-airer, to open soon on highway 54.”
Tough question: WHY was this drive-in named the Odom? When it was built, the future Odom Road didn’t exist.
The easy answer would be that the Sullivan Theatre chain, which opened the NW Hi-Way the same night as the Odom’s debut, had something to do with it, since the head of that chain was Odom Farrell (O.F.) Sullivan. That theory would say that Sullivan sold it to Barton during the first off-season, and that’s why he renamed it Barton’s 77.
If only I hadn’t found the June 21, 1947 BoxOffice note above, which clearly shows that Barton finished the Odom. BUT look who started it before Barton bought it.
Motion Picture Herald, Feb. 15, 1947: “First drive-in theatre for this area has been announced for opening about April 15 with construction started last week on a 1,000-car unit to cost $100,000, as announced by C. C. McCollister of Wichita, Kan., president of Peerless Theatres, Inc., Sanford Swim is vice-president and Merle L. Barnes is secretary-treasurer of the company. The new theatre will be called the Odom.”
I’ll keep looking, but right now I’d say that O.F. Sullivan probably had a piece of Peerless.
Thanks to the amazing help of the New Mexico State Library, I now know that the Canal held its Grand Opening on Friday, April 20, 1951. Its first movie was “Kansas Raiders” starring Audie Murphy.
Based on previous MPH and Boxoffice notes, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Canal really had a soft open on Easter Sunday, March 25, but I haven’t found anything to prove that theory one way or the other.
Maybe this sale didn’t take? The Exhibitor, April 28, 1954: “The Regent and Nile, Winfield, Kans., have been purchased by Ray Winch from O. F. Sullivan.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 21, 1948: “MUSKOGEE, OKLA. — A new 600-car capacity drive-in, covering an area of 12 acres four miles south of here on Highway 64, has been completed by O. F. Sullivan, Wichita theatre operator.”
(That was former Wichita mayor Odom Farrell Sullivan, BTW.)
The Exhibitor, June 3, 1953: “O. F. Sullivan, general manager, Sullivan Independent Theatres, announced that he and his wife, Mrs. O. F. Sullivan, had completed a deal with Fox Midwest for the Palace, Wichita, Kans. The theatre closed for three days for refurbishing, and reopened under the new management. The Palace makes the eighth theatre in Wichita acquired by Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan, who came there 28 years ago, and opened the West, first and only suburban theatre in that city at that time. The Palace will be under the management of Phil Silvernail under the supervision of Leonard Kane in his capacity as city manager. Kane has been with Sullivan Theatres for over 20 years, and Mrs. O. F. Sullivan is now secretary-treasurer of the circuit. Sullivan also operates several theatres outside of Wichita, Kans., and is one of the pioneer drive-in builders in Oklahoma. He has always been active in exhibitor organization circles, and helped form Allied Independent Theatre Owners of Kansas and Missouri in 1948. He was president of this Allied unit for three years, and was a member of the national beard of directors of Allied States Association for four years.”
The Exhibitor, Jan. 27, 1954: “It was announced by O. F. Sullivan, general manager, Sullivan Independent Theatres, Wichita, Kans., that operation of his Wichita theatres will be transferred to Consolidated Agencies, Kansas City, which is a buying, booking, and theatre management corporation. A sale, lease, and “option to purchase” agreement was completed, after two years of negotiation, with Nu-Vu Theatres, Inc., and a subsidiary corporation, Multi-Scope Theatres, Inc. C. A. Schultz, president, purchasing and leasing corporation, is also president. Consolidated Agencies, the corporation which will be actively operating the theatres. The theatres will continue to operate under the banner of Sullivan Independent Theatres, at least until after the “option to purchase” is exercised. Nick Sonday will assume the duties of general manager for this group of theatres, while Leonard Kane, associated in Wichita with Sullivan Theatres for over 20 years, will remain in the capacity of city manager. The complete theatre’s sale and lease and option agreement was handled by W. F. Brasch and Company. Sullivan Independent Theatres consists of eight Wichita theatres, the Crest, Palace, Crawford, Civic, Tower, West, 54 Drive-In, and 81 Drive-In, acquired by Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan over a period of 28 years. Sullivan was largely responsible for the forming of the Allied Independent Theatre Owners organization of Kansas and Missouri and was president for three years, 1948-1950.”
Motion Picture Herald, April 7, 1951: “Milas Hurley has opened his 550-car, $125,000 Canal drive-in, Tucumcari, N. M.”
Motion Picture Herald, Sept. 23, 1950: “The State theatre at Harrah, Okla., was destroyed by fire September 9.”
Motion Picture Herald, Aug. 12, 1950: “Howard Larsen, manager and co-owner of the Civic and Junior theatres at Webb City, has purchased the Dickinson theater. The Dickinson now will be known as the Larsen theatre.”
The Thomases built the N'Eastern 66, I think, and they managed the place for years, but I also think they must have sold or leased it to the Barton theater chain very early on.
Motion Picture Herald, March 10, 1951: “Three of the Barton Drive-In Theatres were formally opened March 1. They are the Air Line drive-in, N. Eastern 66 drive-in, and Barton’s 77 drive-in.”
Motion Picture Herald, March 3, 1951: “Edward Terhune has bought the Fiesta theatre from Melvin B. Wilson and Harvey L. Stinson.”
A close look at the grand opening ad that dallasmovietheaters uploaded (thanks!) shows that the Lone Star opened on Feb. 3, 1951. That goes along with a note in the March 3, 1951 Motion Picture Herald: “E. L. Pack opened his new Lone Star drive-in theatre recently. The newest ozoner has RCA in-car speakers, and M. L. Burns is the manager.”
Google Maps says that the site is now within the Centralia city limits. Maybe that’s accurate.
Boxoffice, Feb. 17, 1951: “Ed Auer and Howard Barber, both of Seattle, have sold their Twin City Drive-In Theatre located between Centralia and Chehalis. Buying the showcase were the three Gamble brothers, Ron, Roy and Williard of Centralia, Wash. The sale price was estimated at $80,000. The outdoorer is slated to be improved and reopened in the spring”.
Motion Picture Herald, Feb. 24, 1951: “The Mayfield, owned by Westside theatres, at South Palo Alto, is undergoing complete renovation and will be renamed the Cardinal.”
That photo, cropped a little differently, appeared in the Feb. 3, 1951 issue of Motion Picture Herald, which should be in the public domain.
Motion Picture Herald, Jan. 27, 1951: “The H & E Balaban circuit purchased two drive-ins, the 600 car Hilltop at Joliet and the 750 car Robbins at Rockford.”
Motion Picture Herald, Jan. 27, 1951: “The H & E Balaban circuit purchased two drive-ins, the 600 car Hilltop at Joliet and the 750 car Robbins (sic) at Rockford.”