THIS PHOTO IS OF THE LATE WALT ALLEN, WHO WAS THE ORIGINAL CO-OWNER OF THE 61 DRIVE-IN THEATRE SOUTH OF MAQUOKETA. PHOTO SENT BY HIS SON, JEFF, WHO NOW LIVES IN TEXAS AND HAS MANY GOOD MEMORIES OF THE DRIVE-IN. THIS PHOTO WAS TAKEN WITH SMILEY BURNETT, SIDEKICK OF GENE AUTRY, WHEN SMILEY APPEARED IN-PERSON AT THE DRIVE-IN IN 1953. HE WAS ON THE ROAD PROMOTING A MOVIE. JEFF SAYS HE SPOKE FROM THE ROOF OF THE CONCESSION STAND. A MICROPHONE WAS EXTENDED FROM THE PROJECTOR BOOTH SO HE COULD BE HEARD THROUGH ALL THE DRIVE-IN SPEAKERS.

JEFF SAID HE WAS VERY DOWN-HOME, FRIENDLY AND EVERYONE LIKED HIM.

WHILE HERE, WALT, JEFF AND OTHERS WENT OUT TO EAT AT DUANE HAYES' RESTAURANT, KNOWN AS "THE TANGO" WHICH WAS LOCATED AT THE INTERSECTION OF HIGHWAY 64 AND THE ROAD TO LAKEHURST, NOW HOME OF OBIE'S TACOS. A PHOTOGRAPHER FROM THE LOCAL PAPER TOOK THIS PHOTO AND THE CAPTION WAS SOMEHING LIKE:

"WHICH PAPER DO YOUR PREFER".

THE DRIVE-IN OPENED IN AUGUST, 1950.

I HAVE OWNED IT SINCE 1972. IT IS NOW A VERY POPULAR EASTERN IOWA ATTRACTION AND ONE OF ONLY 4 DRIVE-IN LEFT IN IOWA. BACK IN THE 50'S, IOWA HAD OVER 50 DRIVE-IN THEATRES.

HOPE YOU CAN VISIT IT SOON.

AT www.maquoketa.com YOU CAN LISTEN TO AN INTERVIEW A QUAD CITY ANNOUNCER DID WITH ME TWO WEEKS AGO ABOUT THE DRIVE-IN.

DENNIS VOY