Korean War materials restrictions paused a lot of drive-in development. For example…
Boxoffice, July 22, 1950: “BLYTHE, CALIF. – Construction has begun on a new 350-car drive-in by Dave Jarvis and Bob Dunagan, who already operate two conventional theatres here. Architect Howard Elwell has also provided facilities for 200 walk-in customers via a covered and air conditioned structure.”
Boxoffice, March 15, 1952: “Dave Jarvis, operator of the Hub Theatre in Blythe, has broken ground for a 500-car ozoner there.”
Boxoffice, March 15, 1952: “Wes Becker and associates, operators of the Cactus Drive-In at Tucson, have broken ground for another outdoor theatre in that city, which will book Spanish-language films.”
Boxoffice, March 15, 1952: “Set for a Sunday (23) opening is Joe Woods' new Mustang Drive-In in Chandler, while two days later George Diamos and associates will begin operations at their new 400-car Fort Apache ozoner in Bisbee.”
Boxoffice, March 15, 1952: “Extensive improvements in the Mesa Drive-In here increased its car capacity by more than 100. The addition of one full ramp and the completion of another half-ramp now makes it possible for the theatre to accommodate well over 600 cars, according to Manager Bob Klauer. A new restroom for women was added by building an addition to the south end of the administration building, and the former men’s and women’s restrooms have been combined to make an additional restroom for men.”
Boxoffice, March 22, 1952: “An improvement project has been completed at the Mesa Drive-In in Yuma, increasing the car capacity by more than 100. The ozoner is managed by Bob Klauer.”
Boxoffice, March 15, 1952: “The Granada Theatre Corp., organized by Gordon Gray and a group of associates, has purchased the Granada Theatre here from B. J. Leavitt, who operates other showcases in California and Arizona. Earle Johnson, head of a Los Angeles theatre service firm, will handle the booking and buying chores.”
This obituary for Betty Sue Owens Thompson says that “as a teen, she raised and sold her first group of calves and used the money to become part-owner of the Top Drive-In Theater.” Born in September 1931, her teen years were 1944-1951. If the obit is accurate, that limits the Top’s opening date. Its first appearance in the Motion Picture Almanac was in the 1952-53 edition, capacity 180 cars, owner J. C. Powell.
Boxoffice, Aug. 21, 1961: “The Fox West Coast Figueroa Theatre closed August 8 after 35 years of operation. The house will be demolished, according to new property owner Arthur F. Griffis, for commercial purposes.”
Boxoffice, Dec. 29, 1958: “Christmas trees were sold at the shuttered Plainville (Conn.) Drive-In, with salesmen distributing two free passes for the drive-in to each purchaser of a $2 tree."
Boxoffice, Dec. 29, 1958: “ "A Man Called Peter” was shown at the Rex Theatre by Mr. and Mrs. B. F. Sautter, owners, who donated the entire proceeds even to paying for the film itself, to the Methodist church."
Boxoffice, Nov. 23, 1959: “Patrons of the Bountiful Motor-Vue Theatre now watch outdoor movies in living-room comfort since Manager Julian Bills installed 300 heaters which plug into outlets on speaker posts. Bills plans to wire in 200 more heaters, as the need arises. The heaters are picked up at the boxoffice when patrons purchase their admission tickets. The Bountiful Motor-Vue, 6825 South Highway 91 in South Bountiful, is the third drive-in theatre in the Salt Lake Valley to be equipped with electric car heaters.”
Boxoffice, Jan. 5, 1959: “The Kiggins Theatre … closed since 1955, was put back into action again on Christmas Day and will follow a regular schedule of weekend operation until spring when Manager Francis Bakke hopes to put the theatre on a fulltime basis. With its reopening, the Kiggins joins the Broadway and the two drive-in theatres as enterprises of Vancouver Theatres. The Castle, closed since early November, eventually may be converted into another type of business, Bakke said.”
Boxoffice, May 16, 1953: “GLENDALE, ARIZ. - The 900-car Rancho Drive-In, opened here recently as the 39th Harry L. Nace theatre in Arizona. The airer will be managed by L. R. Eaglin, manager of the Glen and El Ray theatres. Simplex projection is being used.”
Boxoffice, May 16, 1953: “Designer Santacona is completing plans for a drive-in at Hawthorn, Nev., for Charles P. Leonard, exhibitor at Babbitt, Nev. According to Santacona, the ozoner will be "something quite special.” "
Boxoffice, May 16, 1953: “San Mateo’s largest theatre, the Baywood, which has been showing first run films since it was constructed in 1933 (sic), has been closed permanently. The structure will be torn down to be replaced by offices for a nationally known drug firm, according to Vernon Brown, local manager for Fox West Coast Theatres. This leaves San Mateo, a city of some 50,000 population, with only three theatres.”
Boxoffice, May 9, 1953: “One of the first drive-in theatres between Chicago and Denver to feature a 3-D film is the Lyons ozoner, which presented "Man in the Dark” Thursday night (7). Max Davis and Jay Wooten are co-owners of the situation."
Boxoffice, May 9, 1953: “The new 800-car Silver Spur Drive-In near Yuma has been opened, with Bernie Leavitt and Eddie Ashkins as co-owners. Ashkins, who recently resigned as RKO salesman here, will also handle booking and buying for other Leavitt showcases, including houses in La Jolla and Phoenix.”
Boxoffice, May 9, 1953: “FALLON, NEV. - Work has begun on a 350-car ozoner on U.S. 95 and 50, six miles west of here. Barney Fritz and Walt Whitaker of the Fallon and Lawana theatres are the owners. The situation will be known as the Roper.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 15, 1953: “The Fallon Drive-In at Fallon, Nev., was opened July 31 by Fritz & Whittaker”
Boxoffice, May 9, 1953: “CAMAS, WASH. - Construction has begun here on the first drive-in theatre between Vancouver and Sunnyside. The 400-car situation will be known as the Auto-Vue. Owners of the project are George Stoller, cafe owner here, and Jack D. Braxton, manager of the United Artists Theatre in Portland. The airer, located on a 25-acre plot on Prune Hill, will be opened this summer.”
Boxoffice, June 27, 1953: “Jack Braxton and George Stoller expect early completion of their 500-space Autovue Drive-In near Camas, Wash.”
Boxoffice, May 9, 1953: “Colfax and Pullman patrons will have two additional drive-ins to attend in the next two months, according to LaVance Weskil. Work on the 500-car Pullman airer is expected to be completed by the last of this month, while the 350-car Colfax situation will not be ready until June.”
Korean War materials restrictions paused a lot of drive-in development. For example…
Boxoffice, July 22, 1950: “BLYTHE, CALIF. – Construction has begun on a new 350-car drive-in by Dave Jarvis and Bob Dunagan, who already operate two conventional theatres here. Architect Howard Elwell has also provided facilities for 200 walk-in customers via a covered and air conditioned structure.”
Boxoffice, March 15, 1952: “Dave Jarvis, operator of the Hub Theatre in Blythe, has broken ground for a 500-car ozoner there.”
Boxoffice, March 15, 1952: “Wes Becker and associates, operators of the Cactus Drive-In at Tucson, have broken ground for another outdoor theatre in that city, which will book Spanish-language films.”
Boxoffice, March 15, 1952: “Set for a Sunday (23) opening is Joe Woods' new Mustang Drive-In in Chandler, while two days later George Diamos and associates will begin operations at their new 400-car Fort Apache ozoner in Bisbee.”
Always optimistic about the opening date.
Boxoffice, March 15, 1952: “Set for a Sunday (23) opening is Joe Woods' new Mustang Drive-In in Chandler”
Boxoffice, March 15, 1952: “Extensive improvements in the Mesa Drive-In here increased its car capacity by more than 100. The addition of one full ramp and the completion of another half-ramp now makes it possible for the theatre to accommodate well over 600 cars, according to Manager Bob Klauer. A new restroom for women was added by building an addition to the south end of the administration building, and the former men’s and women’s restrooms have been combined to make an additional restroom for men.”
Boxoffice, March 22, 1952: “An improvement project has been completed at the Mesa Drive-In in Yuma, increasing the car capacity by more than 100. The ozoner is managed by Bob Klauer.”
Looks like the Granada was reopened for a while.
Boxoffice, March 15, 1952: “The Granada Theatre Corp., organized by Gordon Gray and a group of associates, has purchased the Granada Theatre here from B. J. Leavitt, who operates other showcases in California and Arizona. Earle Johnson, head of a Los Angeles theatre service firm, will handle the booking and buying chores.”
Flickr says that this is a 1964 photo taken by the Keller family of Belleville, and is effectively in the public domain.
dansdriveintheater, I’d love to see a link to that article with the name of the congressman and non-profit.
Meanwhile, KTVN’s Nevada Backroads feature spent a couple of minutes looking around the Sage Crest in January 2026. Here’s their YouTube video.
This obituary for Betty Sue Owens Thompson says that “as a teen, she raised and sold her first group of calves and used the money to become part-owner of the Top Drive-In Theater.” Born in September 1931, her teen years were 1944-1951. If the obit is accurate, that limits the Top’s opening date. Its first appearance in the Motion Picture Almanac was in the 1952-53 edition, capacity 180 cars, owner J. C. Powell.
Boxoffice, Aug. 21, 1961: “The Fox West Coast Figueroa Theatre closed August 8 after 35 years of operation. The house will be demolished, according to new property owner Arthur F. Griffis, for commercial purposes.”
Boxoffice, Dec. 29, 1958: “Christmas trees were sold at the shuttered Plainville (Conn.) Drive-In, with salesmen distributing two free passes for the drive-in to each purchaser of a $2 tree."
Boxoffice, Dec. 29, 1958: “ "A Man Called Peter” was shown at the Rex Theatre by Mr. and Mrs. B. F. Sautter, owners, who donated the entire proceeds even to paying for the film itself, to the Methodist church."
Boxoffice, Nov. 23, 1959: “Patrons of the Bountiful Motor-Vue Theatre now watch outdoor movies in living-room comfort since Manager Julian Bills installed 300 heaters which plug into outlets on speaker posts. Bills plans to wire in 200 more heaters, as the need arises. The heaters are picked up at the boxoffice when patrons purchase their admission tickets. The Bountiful Motor-Vue, 6825 South Highway 91 in South Bountiful, is the third drive-in theatre in the Salt Lake Valley to be equipped with electric car heaters.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 31, 1959: “The American Theatre on Fillmore Street has been closed”
Boxoffice, Jan. 5, 1959: “The Kiggins Theatre … closed since 1955, was put back into action again on Christmas Day and will follow a regular schedule of weekend operation until spring when Manager Francis Bakke hopes to put the theatre on a fulltime basis. With its reopening, the Kiggins joins the Broadway and the two drive-in theatres as enterprises of Vancouver Theatres. The Castle, closed since early November, eventually may be converted into another type of business, Bakke said.”
Maybe a slightly earlier opening date?
Boxoffice, May 16, 1953: “National Theatre Supply … equipped the newly opened Rim Rock Drive-In at Bridger, Mont.”
Boxoffice, May 16, 1953: “The new Lacy (sic) Drive-In at Olympia opened April 29.”
The 1955-56 Theatre Catalog included the Lacey under Olympia. The owner was Robert S. Clark of Saffle Th. Serv., capacity 500 cars.
Boxoffice, May 16, 1953: “GLENDALE, ARIZ. - The 900-car Rancho Drive-In, opened here recently as the 39th Harry L. Nace theatre in Arizona. The airer will be managed by L. R. Eaglin, manager of the Glen and El Ray theatres. Simplex projection is being used.”
Boxoffice, May 16, 1953: “Designer Santacona is completing plans for a drive-in at Hawthorn, Nev., for Charles P. Leonard, exhibitor at Babbitt, Nev. According to Santacona, the ozoner will be "something quite special.” "
Boxoffice, May 16, 1953: “San Mateo’s largest theatre, the Baywood, which has been showing first run films since it was constructed in 1933 (sic), has been closed permanently. The structure will be torn down to be replaced by offices for a nationally known drug firm, according to Vernon Brown, local manager for Fox West Coast Theatres. This leaves San Mateo, a city of some 50,000 population, with only three theatres.”
Boxoffice, May 9, 1953: “One of the first drive-in theatres between Chicago and Denver to feature a 3-D film is the Lyons ozoner, which presented "Man in the Dark” Thursday night (7). Max Davis and Jay Wooten are co-owners of the situation."
Boxoffice, May 9, 1953: “The new 800-car Silver Spur Drive-In near Yuma has been opened, with Bernie Leavitt and Eddie Ashkins as co-owners. Ashkins, who recently resigned as RKO salesman here, will also handle booking and buying for other Leavitt showcases, including houses in La Jolla and Phoenix.”
Boxoffice, May 9, 1953: “FALLON, NEV. - Work has begun on a 350-car ozoner on U.S. 95 and 50, six miles west of here. Barney Fritz and Walt Whitaker of the Fallon and Lawana theatres are the owners. The situation will be known as the Roper.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 15, 1953: “The Fallon Drive-In at Fallon, Nev., was opened July 31 by Fritz & Whittaker”
Boxoffice, May 9, 1953: “CAMAS, WASH. - Construction has begun here on the first drive-in theatre between Vancouver and Sunnyside. The 400-car situation will be known as the Auto-Vue. Owners of the project are George Stoller, cafe owner here, and Jack D. Braxton, manager of the United Artists Theatre in Portland. The airer, located on a 25-acre plot on Prune Hill, will be opened this summer.”
Boxoffice, June 27, 1953: “Jack Braxton and George Stoller expect early completion of their 500-space Autovue Drive-In near Camas, Wash.”
Boxoffice, May 9, 1953: “Colfax and Pullman patrons will have two additional drive-ins to attend in the next two months, according to LaVance Weskil. Work on the 500-car Pullman airer is expected to be completed by the last of this month, while the 350-car Colfax situation will not be ready until June.”