MY 61 DRIVE-IN THEATRE WILL OPEN FOR THE SEASON FRIDAY, APRIL 8TH.
IT OPENED AND SHOWED THE FIRST MOVIES IN AUGUST OF 1950.
THIS IS A 1951 OR 1952 AIRPLANE PHOTO OF THE DRIVE-IN. MARGE
CORNELIUS OF MAQUOKETA BROUGHT IT TO ME THIS MORNING. SHE AND
HER LATE HUSBAND FLOYD (LATER, BABY CRAIG ALSO ) LIVED THERE FOR NEARLY 3 YEARS, STARTING RIGHT AFTER THEY WERE MARRIED, JANUARY 1, 1951. THEY RENTED THE FARM HOME FROM DICK AND BETTY FRANKLIN, WHO OWNED THE FARMLAND. PART OF THAT FARM WAS USED FOR THE DRIVE-IN LOCATION. THE
HOUSE WAS TORN DOWN THIS MONTH. IN THIS PHOTO, YOU SEE THE BACK
OF THE HOUSE, THE WEST SIDE. ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE SCREEN AND HOUSE
WAS THEN 2-LANE HIGHWAY 61. TO THE SOUTH JUST OUT OF THIS PHOTO, WAS
A RAILROAD BRIDGE. DICK AND BETTY FRANKLIN WERE THEATRE PARTNERS WITH WALT AND LEULAH ALLEN. THREE ARE DEAD AND DICK FRANKLIN MAY STILL BE
ALIVE. LAST I KNEW, HE WAS LIVING IN THE DES MOINES AREA.
I HAVE OWNED THE THEATRE SINCE 1972. PURCHASED IT FROM THE LATE
"BUD" McKINSEY. THERE ARE THREE OTHER DRIVE-IN THEATRES IN IOWA. AT ONE TIME, THERE WERE 5 DRIVE-IN THEATRES IN THE QUAD CITIES, 3 SCREENS IN DUBUQUE, 1 IN CLINTON AND 3 OR 4 IN CEDAR RAPIDS. SO, WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN EASTERN IOWA AND WESTERN ILLINOIS THAT REMEMBER THE GOOD TIMES THEY HAD AT A DRIVE-IN THEATRE. PEOPLE WILL START HAVING THOSE GOOD TIMES AGAIN JUST 5 MILES SOUTH OF MAQUOKETA STARTING APRIL 8TH.....WHEN THE 61 DRIVE-IN THEATRE OPENS FOR ANOTHER SEASON. SEE YOU THERE! I WAS REALLY HAPPY TO GET THIS PHOTO THAT I NEVER KNEW EXISTED.
CLICK-ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE IT.
DENNIS VOY