Whitetail Drive-In
810 Theatre Road,
Lemmon,
SD
57638
810 Theatre Road,
Lemmon,
SD
57638
2 people
favorited this theater
Showing 5 comments
A closer address is 810 Theatre Rd, Lemmon, SD.
Google Maps has updated their addresses and this puts it right on the property.
The drive-in is intact in 1973, although trees and shrubs virtually surround the screen. By 1983, the drive-in was demolished with the projection booth being the only remnant still standing today.
https://tinyurl.com/muwtdzfe
Sounds like this drive-in opened in June 1951, although the note doesn’t name it.
Boxoffice, July 14, 1951: “Owner Lloyd T. Dressly rushed the new drive-in at Lemmon to completion for a June opening. All underground wiring was laid, ramps completed and projection booth ready at the junction of Highways 73 and 12, a mile west of Lemmon, for the opening and other construction was finished the week after the premiere.”
Boxoffice, March 8, 1976: “Randall Thornsley of Chugatch Entertainment Co., headquartered in Sturgis, S.D., has taken over operation of the Sundowner Drive-In, Bowman, N.D.; the Wagon Wheel Drive-In, Hettinger, N.D., and the Whitetail Drive-In, Lemmon, S.D.”
Boxoffice, July 18, 1977: “The White Tail Drive-In, Lennon, S.D., and the Sundowner Drive-In, Bowman, N.D., have been transferred to the Minneapolis Paramount territory from Denver. They were originally in the Minneapolis branch territory but were switched to Denver a couple of years ago. Both screens are owned by J. M. Svihovec.”
When I Google “Whitetail”, the first result is deer. I’m guessing that was the inspiration for the name.
Per a note in Motion Picture Daily, Ernie Borud bought the drive-in in April 1955 along with the Kressley-owned drive-in in Mobridge SD.
Is Whitetail a Native American name?