Boxoffice-September.23.1950

HART BEATS
By HARRY HART
•PHE ^fEW ELLIS DRIVE-IN at Clarksburg,
W. Va., was carved out of the side of a
small mountain. It has
an air conditioned restaurant,
and concession
center. Louis Ellis,
one of the five Ellis
brothers who owns it,
said he is going to put
in a large playground
in place of the small
one now in operation
and equip it with a
miniature train and
ponies. The other
brothers are John.
Sam, Frank and Joseph. The accompanying
photo shows a rear view of the restaurant
with the roof garden where patrons may
dine and watch the show. The entire grounds
are black-topped.
The Lovett & Co. has installed 200-in-car
heaters at the Ellis, the first installation in
the Clarksburg area. Lovett distributes De-
Vry 35mm and 16mm equipment.
* * *
C. W. Snyder of Snyder Theatres, West
Park, also has a roof garden on top the concession
building of the drive-in he operates
near Clarksburg. Several cars were on the
grounds when I called there in midafternoon,
and I wondered what was going on. Then I
noted several groups of picnickers at tables
in the picnic grounds. Children were riding
the ponies. The site comprises 36 acres, which
he is developing into a recreation center with
a lake and other attractions. The site is beautifully
wooded. He commented that the redbirds
keep the refuse popcorn picked up. He
has been a BOXOFFICE reader for years.
» • «
Charles E. Warner and his wife Dale proved
generous hosts at their beautiful Skyline
Drive-In that is situated on top of a mountain
with a beautiful lake at the bottom. He has
a television lounge in the concession stand
with an aerial high enough to pick up telecasts
from Pittsburgh. The Skyline zoo contains
several breeds of monkeys in circus
w.
wagon.s, bird.s and .several baboon.s. A long,
winding road leads up the mountain to the
drive-in ramps.
Warner recently installed high intensity
lamps and a generator.
• • •
The Sun.set Drive-In near Meadowbrook
was the first or second constructed in the
state, according to Manager Lorenzo Bermexo.
This was the fourth season of operation.
* • *
Madge Stout, manager of the Robin.son
Grand in Clarksburg, has been with the theatre
25 years. She bought 40 spots on the
radio to proclaim "Sunset Boulevard."
• • *
Manager Chuck Passinger of the Warner
Theater in Morgantown commented he had
many new customers following installation of
air conditioning early in the summer.
The Town and Country Drive-In is a family
operation. Owner William Coburn runs the
projection room, his sister handles the boxoffice
and his wife operates the concession
stand. It is about eight miles from Morgantown
in a lake region.
A scant half-mile away from the Town
and Country is the beautiful Oaks Drive-In,
opened this year by C. R. Mapel and George
H. Sallows. They will add a patio after closing
this fall.
* * *
George Anderson of the Anderson Theatres
at Kingwood complained of high film rentals,
commenting that the film companies are
"killing the goose that lays the golden eggs."
Robert Coffman, controller for Anderson,
pointed to red ink on his reports denoting
losses on recent showings.
* * *
George H. Sallows of the Morgantown
Amusement Co. voiced pleasure with the operation
of the Oaks Drive-In. The firm also
operates the Morgan and Metropolitan in the
college town. Dora McLaughlin, publicist for
the two theatres, engineered prolific tieups
on "The Black Rose."
Alex Christy, a college student and projectionist
at the Metropolitan, was eagerly
.\ rear view of the restaurant and concession building at the Ellis Drive-In near
Clarksburg, W. Va., showing the roof garden.
zr
awaiting installation of new Simplex XL
heads. Mildred Windel, manager of the Morgan,
was delighted with patronage on "Cheaper
by the Dozen." M. C. Peck, manager of the
Metropolitan, keeps the hou.se in spic and
.span condition.
• • •
Carl Culp, one of the three brothers who
opened the Pineview Drive-In near Reidsville
recently, reported that his fireworks display
on Labor day night packed the crowds
in. A long driveway took care of the many
cars. The brothers also operate a u.sed car
lot in Morgantown.
• w •
Don Shultz, manager of the Lee Theatre
in Fairmount, W. Va., and a director of the
West Virginia Managers A.ss'n., and theatre
owner Columbus Harr were at the Lee when
I called. The Lee is built of steel and concrete
and is fireproof. Tiled restrooms. offices and
lounges are located on the lower level of the
house.
• * •
The Westover Drive-In, Westover, W. Va.,
was closed by Manager Sam Bell for two
days due to the death of his sister Rosie
Farace, who was vice-president of the corporation.
Bell is president. The Westover first
opened on July 6 as a family situation. It
is equipped with a concessions stand which
has a glass front overlooking the screen.
• * •
R. F. Hanson and John B. McDonald, operators
of the small Ridgedale Drive-In, Uffington,
W. Va., have made a house-to-house
canvass of their neighborhood, a rural' area,
and have succeeded in building and holding
patronage for the outdoor situation. Both men
attend the university in nearby Morganton.
• * *
One of the most unusual drive-ins we had
seen was Baker's Air Park near Burlington,
operated by D. S. Baker. The outdoor house
has a complete park with swimming, a picnic
area, cabins, and even an airport located
across the road. Baker sends a plane up with
banners to advertise the shows. The drivein
also has a restaurant, which opens at
9 a. m. and remains open until midnight. It
is located at the back of the theatre and the
owners plan an enclosed patio on top of the
concessions building from which patronage
can see the show while dining.
The screen tower of the drive-in is mounted
on two live Sycamore trees. A moonglow
lighting system has been added and Baker
said it had increased busine.ss. The drive-in
charges $1 per car plus federal tax at all
times, making the total $1.20 per car. regardless
of the number of passengers.
• * «
We traveled through rain across beautiful
mountain country to Oak Hill, W. Va., where
we saw Grant Thomas, who manages the
Fayette at Fayetteville, W. Va.. and his brother
Malcolm, who manages the King in Oak Hill.
The King is being reseated.
• • *
Paul Swinger of the Salem Drive-In. Dayton,
said that the pole on the theatre's moonflow
lighting system is 100 feet high. He said
patrons had expressed satisfaction with the
lighting system.
At the Sherwood Drive-In, Dayton, the
screen attraction was "Father of the Bride"
and the owners were turning cars away.
Louis Levin and his brothers Allen and Sam
own the Sherwood and two more outdoor
houses at Springfield. They are finding give-
90 BOXOFFICE :: September 23, 1950