Boxoffice, Feb. 13, 1954: “The Rimrock Drive-In was sold at a sheriff’s sale to Aldrich and Co. and Marshall Wells. The business will be resold to settle the bills due these two firms and other local business firms.”
Boxoffice, May 15, 1954: “BRIDGER, MONT. - Construction of a new screen tower got under way at the Bridger Drive-In here immediately following its sale to Ed DeRudder by Aldrich & Co. and Marshall Wells store, the two firms which bought the business earlier at a sheriff’s sale. Replacement of the screen tower was necessitated after a heavy windstorm last summer destroyed the old tower. George DeRudder, son of the owner, will manage the ozoner and two other sons, August and Frank, will assist.”
Boxoffice, April 24, 1954: “Alvah B. Stockdale, 56, owner of the Vista Theatre and Gay Drive-In at Enterprise in eastern Oregon, died after suffering a heart attack. Stockdale … in 1933 moved to Enterprise where he and his wife operated the Vista. They built the 350-car Gay Drive-In in 1953.”
Boxoffice, April 24, 1954: “Representatives of the Kaiser Co., the Aluminum Co. of America, the U. S. Plywood Corp. and representatives from a number of other companies as well as theatremen have been in attendance at the Terrace Drive-In in the last few weeks, giving their attention to the new Mirra-scope screen invented by Virgil Odell, Emmett inventor. The screen, which is a quarter of a city block wide, is made up of some 648 separate sheets of shiny, fluted aluminum, fitted together so expertly that no seam shows. The aluminum itself has been hand-made to specifications by a Portland firm. The patent which Odell has is for a "light distribution system for controlling of reflected light.” Experts predicted that trying to fit the hundreds of aluminum pieces together on such a huge scale could not be done, but the new screen, all in one piece at last and scrubbed down to a shining luster, is now spreading its reflection over a 90-degree area and is not only mirror bright but reflects depth also. The screen requires no repainting or refinishing, Odell says."
The Hazel Dell Drive-In held its grand opening on July 23, 1953, based on a short article in the previous day’s Vancouver Columbian. It was the third drive-in and fourth theater in the Adamson chain. The Hazel Dell could hold 500 cars.
The opening program was “The Battle at Apache Pass” and “Bonzo Goes to College”.
Motion Picture Herald, Aug. 14, 1954: “Roy B. Case sold his Maribel at Weott, August 1, to W. B. Davis. George Archibald of the Arch Booking and Buying, will continue to service the house.”
Motion Picture Herald, June 12, 1954: “C. E. Davis is owner of the new Three-Way drive-in, which is being readied for the opening June 16 in Clifton, Ariz. Ozoner will have a capacity of 500 cars, and will be handled by the Earl Johnson office.”
Yup. Motion Picture Herald, May 29, 1954: “Three new drive-ins in the territory opened this week. They are … and the Paul Bunyon at International Falls, Minn., operated by Eugene Tacke.”
Motion Picture Herald, May 29, 1954: “The Harper theatre in Fontana, which was shuttered for the past few years, has been converted into a roller rink by Jim and Ernie Harper.”
Aerial photos indicate that the second screen was added between 1971 and 1978, inclusive. This week’s retrospective in the Times of San Diego said that the date was 1972.
Boxoffice, Nov. 21, 1953: “H. H. Flesher sold his Ojai Theatre, 370-seater in Ojai, to Fred N. Bower, formerly of Fargo, N.D. Flesher had operated the showcase since 1946.”
Boxoffice, Nov. 21, 1953: “Fire destroyed the Twisp Theatre, landmark since 1904 when it was constructed by a stock company of Twisp business men and ranchers. The building was of wood frame construction. Apparently the fire started in the second story apartment of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Nelson, owners and operators of the theatre. The Nelsons were out of town at the time of the fire, visiting their daughter Miki in Ellensburg, where she attends college.”
Moving these over from Glendive’s Skylark page. I haven’t seen any owner info that wasn’t the Johnsons.
Boxoffice, June 3, 1950: “GLENDIVE, MONT. – Bob and Bill Johnson have opened the new Star-Lit Drive-In, first local outdoor theatre. The theatre accommodates 300 cars.”
Boxoffice, May 19, 1958: “GLENDIVE, MONT. – Bill Johnson, owner of the Star-Lit Drive-In announced the purchase of the theatre by Henry Hochhalter of Hardin for about $45,000.”
The 1951 Film Daily Year Book listed both the Skylark and the “Star-Lite” under Glendive.
The Oct. 5, 1952 edition of the Glendive Daily Ranger noted that “The San Francisco Story” was playing at the Star-Lit Drive-in Theater, and “Room For One More” was showing at the Skylark Outdoor Theatre.
A vandalism report put the Star-Lit’s neon sign “just west of the Yellowstone River bridge”. That matches the position of a drive-in shown in a 1956 aerial photo. By 1965, it had been razed. Its modern-day position is just east of the parking lot of a grocery store at 307 Harmon St.
Billings (MT) Gazette, Sept. 16, 1953: “Carbon County authorities are investigating the dynamiting of a $12,500 sign at a drive-in theater. The Skyline Drive-In sign was wrecked sometime after the theatre closed last Friday night. Owner Bob Adams estimated the damage to the sign at $5,000. He has posted a $100 reward for information leading to the arrest of the persons damaging the sign.”
There were two drive-ins in Glendive, the Skylark and the Star-Lit, later shortened to Starlit.
The 1951 Film Daily Year Book listed both the Skylark and the “Star-Lite” under Glendive.
The Oct. 5, 1952 edition of the Glendive Daily Ranger noted that “The San Francisco Story” was playing at the Star-Lit Drive-in Theater, and “Room For One More” was showing at the Skylark Outdoor Theatre.
An accident report put the Skylark near then-US 10 and a county road, and a speed limit change mentioned that it was in West Glendive. Both match the 2726 W. Towne Street address.
A vandalism report put the Star-Lit’s neon sign “just west of the Yellowstone River bridge”. That matches the position of a drive-in shown in a 1956 aerial photo. By 1965, it had been razed. Its modern-day position is just east of the parking lot of a grocery store at 307 Harmon St.
Boxoffice, Sept. 19, 1953: “The Cinema Park Drive-In has been purchased by Bennie Berger, Minnesota circuit operator, from Fred Crockett.”
Boxoffice, Oct. 3, 1953: “the Cinema Park Drive-In … Arizona’s largest ozoner was bought by Ted Karatz of Minneapolis, whose son Stanley will manage the showcase.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 11, 1956: “Pacific Drive-In Theatres of California has purchased an interest in the Cinema Park Drive-In at 5500 North Seventh St. from Ted Karatz, who remains as stockholder in the operation.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 29, 1953: (with photo) “CAMERON, MO. - Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Conyers, who live just behind the Patio Drive-In here, tell their friends and fellow citizens they have "the world’s largest television screen.” The elderly couple can sit on their front porch and enjoy the pictures being shown at the 250-car Patio. W. A. Silvers, owner and operator, had a speaker line run to the Conyers home when he constructed the drive-in earlier in the summer, and now the Conyers enjoy the shows nightly without leaving the house, thanks to the neighborly showman."
Boxoffice, Aug. 22, 1953: “Eminence, Mo. - The opening of the Smalley Drive-In between here and Winona was held. Carter Smalley of Van Buren, Ark., is owner and manager.”
As NYozoner implied, the drive-in site was roughly bounded by modern-day J & L streets and 2nd & 3rd streets. I uploaded a 1954 UGSG aerial photo that shows it just outside the edge of town back then.
Boxoffice, Aug. 15, 1953: “Chuck Leonard, operator of the Babbit Theatre in Nevada, opened his new drive-in at Hartshorne (sic) July 31”
This photo just ran in a retrospective from the Decatur Herald & Review, which credited it as an H&R File Photo. (Caption: 1948: A steady stream of cars passed through the ticket windows of the Decatur Drive-In. An estimated 200 cars were turned away on opening night.) Is it still copyrighted? Is it in the public domain? Beats me, but I doubt that it’s CC-licensed.
This photo just ran in a retrospective from the Decatur Herald & Review, which labeled it an H&R File Photo. Is it still copyrighted? Is it in the public domain? Beats me, but I doubt that it’s CC-licensed.
Boxoffice, Aug. 1, 1953: “PULLMAN, WASH. - Weskil & Sons, operator of theatres at Colfax, Sandpoint and Pullman, has opened the Big Sky Drive-In at the edge of town. J. M. Hone, manager of the Cordova Theatre here, also will manage the Big Sky.”
Boxoffice, Feb. 13, 1954: “The Rimrock Drive-In was sold at a sheriff’s sale to Aldrich and Co. and Marshall Wells. The business will be resold to settle the bills due these two firms and other local business firms.”
Boxoffice, May 15, 1954: “BRIDGER, MONT. - Construction of a new screen tower got under way at the Bridger Drive-In here immediately following its sale to Ed DeRudder by Aldrich & Co. and Marshall Wells store, the two firms which bought the business earlier at a sheriff’s sale. Replacement of the screen tower was necessitated after a heavy windstorm last summer destroyed the old tower. George DeRudder, son of the owner, will manage the ozoner and two other sons, August and Frank, will assist.”
Boxoffice, April 24, 1954: “Alvah B. Stockdale, 56, owner of the Vista Theatre and Gay Drive-In at Enterprise in eastern Oregon, died after suffering a heart attack. Stockdale … in 1933 moved to Enterprise where he and his wife operated the Vista. They built the 350-car Gay Drive-In in 1953.”
Boxoffice, April 24, 1954: “Representatives of the Kaiser Co., the Aluminum Co. of America, the U. S. Plywood Corp. and representatives from a number of other companies as well as theatremen have been in attendance at the Terrace Drive-In in the last few weeks, giving their attention to the new Mirra-scope screen invented by Virgil Odell, Emmett inventor. The screen, which is a quarter of a city block wide, is made up of some 648 separate sheets of shiny, fluted aluminum, fitted together so expertly that no seam shows. The aluminum itself has been hand-made to specifications by a Portland firm. The patent which Odell has is for a "light distribution system for controlling of reflected light.” Experts predicted that trying to fit the hundreds of aluminum pieces together on such a huge scale could not be done, but the new screen, all in one piece at last and scrubbed down to a shining luster, is now spreading its reflection over a 90-degree area and is not only mirror bright but reflects depth also. The screen requires no repainting or refinishing, Odell says."
The Hazel Dell Drive-In held its grand opening on July 23, 1953, based on a short article in the previous day’s Vancouver Columbian. It was the third drive-in and fourth theater in the Adamson chain. The Hazel Dell could hold 500 cars.
The opening program was “The Battle at Apache Pass” and “Bonzo Goes to College”.
Boxoffice, Jan. 16, 1954: “The 600-seat Banning Theatre has reopened as the new Fox after a major remodeling and redecorating.”
So many owner names in such a brief period!
Boxoffice, March 1, 1952: “Lorine Willard has sold the El Rancho Theatre here to Charles Tisdale, formerly an exhibitor in Camarillo, Calif.”
Boxoffice, Nov. 1, 1952: “Mrs. Rebecca Carrillo has taken over the El Rancho Theatre in Moorpark from Ed Hunter”
Motion Picture Herald, Dec. 25, 1954: “John Hatcher has taken over the operation of the El Rancho theatre in Moor Park from Sherwood Lowe.”
Motion Picture Herald, Aug. 14, 1954: “Closing this week were two houses in the Panero Circuit: the American, Kingsburg and the McFarland, McFarland."
Motion Picture Herald, Aug. 14, 1954: “Roy B. Case sold his Maribel at Weott, August 1, to W. B. Davis. George Archibald of the Arch Booking and Buying, will continue to service the house.”
Motion Picture Herald, June 12, 1954: “C. E. Davis is owner of the new Three-Way drive-in, which is being readied for the opening June 16 in Clifton, Ariz. Ozoner will have a capacity of 500 cars, and will be handled by the Earl Johnson office.”
Yup. Motion Picture Herald, May 29, 1954: “Three new drive-ins in the territory opened this week. They are … and the Paul Bunyon at International Falls, Minn., operated by Eugene Tacke.”
Motion Picture Herald, May 29, 1954: “The Harper theatre in Fontana, which was shuttered for the past few years, has been converted into a roller rink by Jim and Ernie Harper.”
Aerial photos indicate that the second screen was added between 1971 and 1978, inclusive. This week’s retrospective in the Times of San Diego said that the date was 1972.
Boxoffice, Nov. 21, 1953: “H. H. Flesher sold his Ojai Theatre, 370-seater in Ojai, to Fred N. Bower, formerly of Fargo, N.D. Flesher had operated the showcase since 1946.”
Boxoffice, Nov. 21, 1953: “Fire destroyed the Twisp Theatre, landmark since 1904 when it was constructed by a stock company of Twisp business men and ranchers. The building was of wood frame construction. Apparently the fire started in the second story apartment of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Nelson, owners and operators of the theatre. The Nelsons were out of town at the time of the fire, visiting their daughter Miki in Ellensburg, where she attends college.”
Moving these over from Glendive’s Skylark page. I haven’t seen any owner info that wasn’t the Johnsons.
Boxoffice, June 3, 1950: “GLENDIVE, MONT. – Bob and Bill Johnson have opened the new Star-Lit Drive-In, first local outdoor theatre. The theatre accommodates 300 cars.”
Boxoffice, May 19, 1958: “GLENDIVE, MONT. – Bill Johnson, owner of the Star-Lit Drive-In announced the purchase of the theatre by Henry Hochhalter of Hardin for about $45,000.”
The 1951 Film Daily Year Book listed both the Skylark and the “Star-Lite” under Glendive.
The Oct. 5, 1952 edition of the Glendive Daily Ranger noted that “The San Francisco Story” was playing at the Star-Lit Drive-in Theater, and “Room For One More” was showing at the Skylark Outdoor Theatre.
A vandalism report put the Star-Lit’s neon sign “just west of the Yellowstone River bridge”. That matches the position of a drive-in shown in a 1956 aerial photo. By 1965, it had been razed. Its modern-day position is just east of the parking lot of a grocery store at 307 Harmon St.
Billings (MT) Gazette, Sept. 16, 1953: “Carbon County authorities are investigating the dynamiting of a $12,500 sign at a drive-in theater. The Skyline Drive-In sign was wrecked sometime after the theatre closed last Friday night. Owner Bob Adams estimated the damage to the sign at $5,000. He has posted a $100 reward for information leading to the arrest of the persons damaging the sign.”
There were two drive-ins in Glendive, the Skylark and the Star-Lit, later shortened to Starlit.
The 1951 Film Daily Year Book listed both the Skylark and the “Star-Lite” under Glendive.
The Oct. 5, 1952 edition of the Glendive Daily Ranger noted that “The San Francisco Story” was playing at the Star-Lit Drive-in Theater, and “Room For One More” was showing at the Skylark Outdoor Theatre.
An accident report put the Skylark near then-US 10 and a county road, and a speed limit change mentioned that it was in West Glendive. Both match the 2726 W. Towne Street address.
A vandalism report put the Star-Lit’s neon sign “just west of the Yellowstone River bridge”. That matches the position of a drive-in shown in a 1956 aerial photo. By 1965, it had been razed. Its modern-day position is just east of the parking lot of a grocery store at 307 Harmon St.
Boxoffice, Sept. 19, 1953: “The Cinema Park Drive-In has been purchased by Bennie Berger, Minnesota circuit operator, from Fred Crockett.”
Boxoffice, Oct. 3, 1953: “the Cinema Park Drive-In … Arizona’s largest ozoner was bought by Ted Karatz of Minneapolis, whose son Stanley will manage the showcase.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 11, 1956: “Pacific Drive-In Theatres of California has purchased an interest in the Cinema Park Drive-In at 5500 North Seventh St. from Ted Karatz, who remains as stockholder in the operation.”
Boxoffice, Aug. 29, 1953: (with photo) “CAMERON, MO. - Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Conyers, who live just behind the Patio Drive-In here, tell their friends and fellow citizens they have "the world’s largest television screen.” The elderly couple can sit on their front porch and enjoy the pictures being shown at the 250-car Patio. W. A. Silvers, owner and operator, had a speaker line run to the Conyers home when he constructed the drive-in earlier in the summer, and now the Conyers enjoy the shows nightly without leaving the house, thanks to the neighborly showman."
Boxoffice, Aug. 22, 1953: “Eminence, Mo. - The opening of the Smalley Drive-In between here and Winona was held. Carter Smalley of Van Buren, Ark., is owner and manager.”
As NYozoner implied, the drive-in site was roughly bounded by modern-day J & L streets and 2nd & 3rd streets. I uploaded a 1954 UGSG aerial photo that shows it just outside the edge of town back then.
Boxoffice, Aug. 15, 1953: “Chuck Leonard, operator of the Babbit Theatre in Nevada, opened his new drive-in at Hartshorne (sic) July 31”
Boxoffice, Aug. 15, 1953: “The Fallon Drive-In at Fallon, Nev., was opened July 31 by Fritz & Whittaker”
This photo just ran in a retrospective from the Decatur Herald & Review, which credited it as an H&R File Photo. (Caption: 1948: A steady stream of cars passed through the ticket windows of the Decatur Drive-In. An estimated 200 cars were turned away on opening night.) Is it still copyrighted? Is it in the public domain? Beats me, but I doubt that it’s CC-licensed.
This photo just ran in a retrospective from the Decatur Herald & Review, which labeled it an H&R File Photo. Is it still copyrighted? Is it in the public domain? Beats me, but I doubt that it’s CC-licensed.
Boxoffice, Aug. 1, 1953: “PULLMAN, WASH. - Weskil & Sons, operator of theatres at Colfax, Sandpoint and Pullman, has opened the Big Sky Drive-In at the edge of town. J. M. Hone, manager of the Cordova Theatre here, also will manage the Big Sky.”