![]() ![]() ![]() In 1958, the theater bought in-car heaters so that it could operate in colder months on weekends. Also in 1954, the theater went into concessions on the premises in a more serious way incorporating a pizza oven as America was just beginning a nationwide pizza boom. It expanded to 400 cars and bought new projection equipment to start its 1954 season April 1st with “Battle of Rogue River.” and the screen was enlarged to 92 by 56 feet for the 1955 season to accommodate widescreen formats including CinemaScope. The theater hit is stride during the 1954 calendar year. The 4x8 On the final weekend of its 1952 season, a blaze caused by nitrate cartoons catching fire destroyed the projector building causing $8,000 damage, destroying the projectors and the season’s final feature. On June 23, 1952, a storm blew over the telephone-pole screen which closed the theater for nearly two months but did allow for a real screen to be built anchored in 80 tons of concrete. That concept was discontinued at year’s end when the theater installed individual speakers. There was a low power AM radio concept so that patrons could listen on their car radios. They used an indoor type of theater screen but still supported by telephone poles. ![]() They would expand to a 340-car capacity as their Chief Drive-In launched on Jwith “At War with the Army.” Much as the Hi-Land Drive-In had done, the central speaker concept was used instead of individual speakers. Johnson acquired property to conceive of a more modern drive-in theater concept for Estherville but it would take a couple of years. But that may have just been too much to consider for the operators. ![]() The drive-in theater and restaurant closed for the season on Octowith the theater promising a better experience for 1951. And the concession stand built on Highway 9 was open generally 5p-1a for anyone whether they went to the film. The 200-space drive-in was owned by three partners in Stan Richey, Lester Larsen and Merlyn Clark of Wallingford had a centralized speaker system. The Hi-Land Drive-In Theatre on Highway 9 scheduled its grand opening on with “The Spoilers.” A huge storm destroyed much of the theater just a week before the opening on including the attraction / welcome sign and knocking down the hastily constructed 30’ by 40’ canvas screen supported by telephone poles. The root beer and fast food stand opened in 1949 but the theater didn’t begin until 1950. But by 1949, a construction permit was authorized and the Hi-Land Drive-In Theatre was built and another permit allowed a nearby and disconnected concession stand. I don't have the resources to make this happen, but I know a certain radio station that would be out of this world excited to help promote a drive-in theater in northeast Missouri if a richer person than me has the vision to make this happen.Estherville’s entry into drive-in theaters was conceptualized and proposed in 1947 but, the city council unanimously voted against the outdoor theatre as well as a drive-in restaurant to serve both passers by and for theater goers as traffic hazards. I would betcha that many would be all-in for a classics only drive-in theater in northeast Missouri. Just make it a spring and summer thing only and I'd be happy as a clam. Look at the price list on the Outdoor Movies website and you'll understand how intimidating it is for a prospective drive-in theater owner.īut, if you are willing to buy refurbished older projectors, you can still hypothetically show classic movies. If you want to present a relatively new movie like Top Gun: Maverick or the new Mission Impossible, you need super-expensive equipment to project it on a big screen. One of the many reasons why drive-ins could not make it was the transition to digital movie projection. A business has to turn a profit to survive and drive-in theaters are not an exception. ![]()
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