Intro

Graphic courtesy Gila County Historical Society from "Tastes of the Cobre Valley"

Most folks know Globe-Miami as "Arizona's Capital of Mexican Food". But there's more!  That's right--Globe Cheese Boats are one of the community's largely unknown culinary secrets.  Of course, Cheese Boats aren't "secret" to those who've savored them all their lives.  However, outside the Copper Cities, a mere mention of Globe Cheese Boats typically draws a slack-jawed quizzical look of disdain.

We created this blog primarily to help local Globe-Miami People who may have forgotten the various recipes and the "back story" for the delectable Cheese Boats.   Periodically, the topic of Globe Cheese Boats will appear on various Globe-Miami-related Facebook groups.  There always appears to be an interest in the recipe(s).  That's why this blog exists.

We're tried our best to address each aspect of Globe Cheese Boats but we know in advance we will be called to the carpet for things we overlooked, didn't know or otherwise forgot.  However, we're looking forward to criticism and correction.  In fact, we're eagerly awaiting your commentary and additional facts, photos and so forth.  Your contributions will be the only way this blog achieves some sort of credibility in the long run.  Let's all work together to help make that happen!

For brevity's sake, we did not list our sources with each blog post.  We created a stand alone post discussing the sources.  You may comment on each and every blog post.  We do review each comment before it is posted to make sure it meets "community standards".  But don't worry.  If you're making a comment about the substances, style, facts, figures or any other aspect of this blog, your post WILL get approved and posted.  We especially hope to receive some "Globe Cheese Boat" tales.

Thank You for your LOVE of Globe Cheese Boats!

Comments?  Contact: arizonahistorystories@gmail.com

Apache Drive-In Theater

 

The July 27, 1950 "Arizona Silver Belt" broke the Big News to its many readers: 

"Globe-Miami residents will have a new drive-in theater to attend within 60 days, it was announced this morning.

The new theater, on which construction will begin this week, will be located almost midway between the two towns, directly across from the Sunset Cocktail Lounge in Country Club Manor.

Cost of construction was estimated at $75,000 by O. K. Leonard, who will own and operate it. Capacity of the drive-in will be 500 cars, with individual speakers as well as heaters for each car.

Other features will include a concession stand, which will sell hot dogs, ice cream and soft drinks to the theater-goers. There will also be a playground where young children can amuse themselves on swings and other equipment before the show starts.

A bottle-warmer will be available so that mothers can bring their young babies.

The property on which the new theater will stand is owned by Fred Hengehold, who leased it to Mr. Leonard through the Heron Realty and Insurance Company."

(The "60 days" mentioned in the article was optimistic. The Apache Drive-In actually opened in mid-December 1950. Likewise it wound up with a 400 car capacity, not 500. Clipping courtesy Christine Marin.)

$75,000 in 1950 dollars would be $973,000 in 2024 money!  Relatively little is known about Oliver K. (O.K.) Leonard. He was born circa 1905 in Oklahoma and moved to Globe in 1922.  He married Sybil (last name unknown) in 1925 at Globe.  The couple moved back to Oklahoma and then to New Mexico before settling in Peoria, Arizona, in the 1940's.  Leonard is said to have owned and operated a movie theater in New Mexico.  The couple owned a movie theater in Peoria which they sold in 1948.  Based on this circumstantial material, we presume Leonard had a good working knowledge of the movie business. 

And it was Leonard's presumed knowledge of the "tricks of the trade" of the movie business that set the stage for the debut of Globe Cheese Boats.

The original Apache Drive-In Theater was built where Fry's grocery is now located.  You can faintly see the concession stand in the middle of the purported 500 car parking lot.  That concession stand is most likely the birthplace of Globe Cheese Boats.
 

 O.K. Leonard skimped on advertising the Apache Drive-In Theater. This ad above is just about the largest one we could find in the newspaper archives.

The theater had a neon sign as did almost all highway "attractions" in the 1950's.  Supposedly the arrows lit up in neon sequence directing you to turn into the theater's driveway.  We don't know if our colorization of the sign is correct but we figure it's "close enough".

Comments?  Contact: arizonahistorystories@gmail.com

Debut of Globe Cheese Boats

One of O.K. Leonard's obituaries hints that he operated theaters in both New Mexico and Arizona.  It appears he was savvy to the "tricks of the trade".  He put Globe far ahead of the national curve by opening a drive-in theater in 1950.  O.K. must have known and trusted the drive-in theater movie business model.  He must have known the "real money" was made at the concession stand and not merely by admissions.

It has been said the concession stand revenues were The Cash Cow of Drive-In Theaters, generally bringing in 40-50% of the gross income.

We surmise the creation of Globe Cheese Boats would have been a logical business decision by O.K.  We surmise he would have sought out someone to create and deliver these culinary delights to the Apache Drive-In Theater concession stand. The drive-in movie concession stand staples were hot dogs, popcorn, ice cream and bottled sodas.  The idea of "something different" probably caught O.K. Leonard's attention and he decided to give it a try.

Globe Cheese Boats would have been an attractive concession stand item for a variety of reasons.  First and foremost, the unit cost of each Cheese Boat would have been low, possibly under 25 cents each.  Colby cheese sold for about 50 cents a pound and each Cheese boat would have used about a nickel's worth of cheese.  The other ingredients would have been measured in pennies as well.  It's entirely possible early Cheese Boats could have been a "double yer money" concession stand sales item.  Plus they were wrapped in foil and required no special handling at the point-of-sale.

The concession stand itself was far too small to contain a kitchen big enough to create the untold 100's of dozens of Globe Cheese Boats that would have been sold.  We surmise the Boats were created "offline," so to speak, and then brought to the concession stand.

Drive-in movie concession stands were notoriously cramped and crowded.  The projection booth shared space in those old concession stands.  Owners hired young people to run the concessions and they were tasked with easy-to-do sales chores.

Grabbing a hot, foil-wrapped Globe Cheese Boat would have been EZPZ for the concession kids.  Popcorn, hotdogs, ice cream sodas, candy bars and Globe Cheese Boats!  A Match made for Drive-In Heaven!

Comments?  Contact: arizonahistorystories@gmail.com

  

Colby Cheese

Genuine Globe Cheese Boats are made with Colby Longhorn Cheese.  There are no substitutes for colby cheese.  Cheddar cheese is often used but it lacks the subtle flavor and texture of colby and should only be used as a last resort.  It turns out that colby cheese is far more special than we ever thought it was.  No wonder it lends such a unique flavor to Globe Cheese Boats!

Colby cheese was first created in--wait for it--Colby, Wisconsin, in the 1880's.  The People of Colby LOVE colby cheese and have fought to have it designed as the Wisconsin State Cheese.  Yes, it's THAT popular.  We'll spare you all the technical details but we will say this: FIND COLBY CHEESE and use it for your Globe Cheese Boats.  NO other cheese will produce the expected results.  Only Colby will do!

And don't forget--GRATE your colby yourself.  DO NOT BUY pre-grated colby because the corn starch added to keep it from clumping will significantly alter the taste of your Globe Cheese Boats!

Colby cheese was once wildly popular around America but now it's hard to find.  Of course, you can find Colby-Jack cheese but it's not the same as pure Colby.  You pretty much have to special order Colby Cheese through an Associated Grocer affiliate store.  It goes under the brand name of "Food Club" which was once known as the "American Family" brand.

In the Globe vicinity, Superior's Save Money Market and Safford's Thriftee Super Market carry Food Club branded items.  We have heard it's possible to buy a full long horn of colby in Safford!

Supposedly, Wal Mart stores with a deli carry a colby cheese but we have not verified this.  YMMV.

Here are a couple of links to help you better understand colby cheese:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colby_cheese

https://www.marshfieldnewsherald.com/in-depth/news/2021/04/05/colby-wisconsin-original-should-our-state-cheese-column/4803630001/

The historical marker shown below is located in Colby, Wisconsin.

Comments?  Contact: arizonahistorystories@gmail.com

Bolillo Rolls

Any boat is only as good as it's hull.  And Globe Cheese Boats are no exception.  Globe Cheese Boats have floated their way into the Hearts of Legions of Devoted Fans on the strengths of bolillo rolls. 

Chances are pretty good the Original Globe Cheese Boats born at the Apache Drive-In Theater were made with Old School bolillo rolls.  Today's bolillo rolls are a faint shadow on their Old School predecessors.  The bolillo rolls you see in stores are products of the relentless mechanized- industrialization of wheat-yeast products.  

Back in 1950 when Globe Cheese Boats debuted at the Apache Drive-In Theater, we'd bet the bolillo rolls were lovingly hand-formed and baked by local Globe-Miami artisans.  Bolillo Rolls actually have an outstanding history.  Culinary historians agree bolillo rolls date to when they were brought to Mexico City in the 1860s by Emperor Maximilian's troupe of cooks. Their use quickly spread throughout the country. A true bolillo roll is roughly six inches long, in the shape similar to an American football with a crunchy crust and a soft inside known as migajó. It is the main ingredient for tortas and molletes. It has a slash on top made with a slashing tool or bread lame, which permits the exhaust of steam and the expansion of bread without stressing its skin. (See photo below.)

Today's bolillo rolls are a distant shadow of their Mexican and French baguette brethren. However, Globe Cheese Boat aficionados work with the tools and resources readily available.

We buy store-baked bolillo rolls.  We gently slice off  enough of the top so we can scoop out the doughy interior of the roll.  We want an intact crustal structure.  That's the essence of the hull of the Globe Cheese Boat!  A study Hull!

Here is the Bolillo Roll Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bolillo

Comments?  Contact: arizonahistorystories@gmail.com
 

El Pato

Authentic Globe Cheese Boat recipes call for the inclusion of the yellow can El Pato canned salsa.  El Pato is famous for a reason and is has a heck of a pedigree. El Pato was the first American salsa to travel over the border to be sold in Mexico. The Hispanic community has relied on El Pato’s Mexican-style hot sauce as a cooking base for over 80 years. El Pato was the first and remains the largest user of Cascabel Chiles in the world.

El Pato is produced by Walker Foods in the Heart of Los Angeles. Founded in 1904 by James Walker, Walker Foods has remained a true family business ever since. The current company President is Robert Walker, James’ grandson, and many of its employees have been with the company for over 20 years.

Yes, El Pato may cost a little bit more these days but it's THE ONLY TRUE SALSA for Globe Cheese Boats. All purists agree--it's yellow can El Pato ALL The Way!

Here's a link to El Pato's history.  There's a fun video embedded in the webpage:

https://www.walkerfoods.net/el-pato-about-us/

The signature ingredient of the Yellow Can El Pato is Cascabel Chiles!  El Pato remains the largest consumer of those iconic little rattlers.   You can get a jump start on learning about cascabels here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cascabel_chili

Comments?  Contact: arizonahistorystories@gmail.com

Other Ingredients

Globe Cheese Boats are a glorious, unapologetic conglomeration of compatible ingredients held together in a sculpted, elongated wheat roll.  The primary ingredient is just as the name implies: CHEESE and LOTS of it.

There's no meat and that's because of the original economics of Globe Cheese Boats.  The Boats had to be cheap to create and produce a decent profit.  Adding meat would have upset that apple cart in a BIG Way!

So, the primary attractions of the Boats are their oven-baked crunchiness, the tasty ooze of the cheese and all of the supporting ingredients including (but not limited to):

Eggs

Everybody knows chicken eggs, right?  RIGHT!  But what you may not realize is that chicken eggs were different back when Globe Cheese Boats made their debut.  Back in the 1950's chicken eggs came from small farm producers and backyard coops that produced golden yolks and firm, rich whites.  Today, chicken eggs are produced in giant industrial compounds where the laying hens never see the light of day.  Buy local eggs if you can.  Use original, true, genuine chicken eggs in your Cheese Boats!  Such eggs are part and parcel of the Heritage of Globe Cheese Boats!

Of course, the eggs are used hard-boiled and chopped.  We've found out the hard way (pun intended) not to chop them too fine because they "get lost" in the recipe.  We prefer to chop them into larger chunks so their flavor can rise and shine to the occasion.

Green Onions

Of course, chopped green onions are essential to "true" Globe Cheese Boats.  How could they not be?  Try to find organic, locally-sourced green onions.  Most green onions these days are produced by sprawling industrial farms in Mexico's Baja Peninsula. It's tough to find USA-sourced, organic green onions but it's possible if you do your due diligence.  The difference in taste will reward your efforts.

Green chiles

Of course, Globe-Miami folks well know The Best green chiles are open flame roasted and then lovingly chopped and frozen for later use.  Not all of us are so lucky to have such chiles.  The canned green chiles are "pretty good" as chiles go so feel free to use them.  You're better off to "think ahead" and buy, peel and chop fresh roasted Hatch Green Chiles in the Fall so you can use them all year on your Globe Cheese Boats.

Pimiento

It seems perhaps the purported "original" Globe Cheese Boat recipe didn't use Pimientos.  However, for whatever sneaky reason, Pimientos worked their way into the mix and have been a time-honored traditional ingredient among Cheese Boat aficionados.  There's pretty much only one way to buy the little buggers these days--in a tiny small bottle.  We've often wondered why pimientos aren't sold in larger size bottles and cans.  Aye, it's one of Life's Great Mysteries! 

Olives

The original Globe Cheese Boats almost assuredly used canned BLACK olives because their cost was so low--often as low as ten cents a can.  The whole idea of the original Globe Cheese Boats was a blend of economy and taste.  Black Olives did the job.  Black olives are still the way to go in our opinion.  Green olives have gained traction but we feel they add too much salt to the recipe.  Black Olives are "salt neutral" but still add "eye appeal" and flavor.

Other

Some folks add vinegar or use green stuffed olives.  Some folks even dare to add beer!  Luckily, Globe Cheese Boats can carry all sorts of added finesse without sinking the boat. Even though purists will insist there's ONLY ONE TRUE Globe Cheese Boat, what if people said that about tacos?  Luckily, there are countless ways to skin a taco so feel free to be inventive, creative, unorthodox and a downright Cheese Boat heretic!  Try what you want!  Use an Air Fryer instead of a regular oven.  Add whatever you feel like.  Honor The Original but help Cheese Boats tread where none have sailed before! 

Comments?  Contact: arizonahistorystories@gmail.com

Recipes

No one really know 100% for "certain sure" precisely when Globe Cheese Boats first appeared.  Nevertheless, there are numerous stories about their creation and original ingredients.  Whatever the case may be, Globe Cheese Boats are unique to Globe-Miami and easily can be consider a culinary cultural heritage.  This part of the blog contains some of the many recipes that have been posted on Facebook.  Of course, there are many more such recipes.  Regardless of which recipe you use, we salute you for keeping the Globe Cheese Boat Heritage Alive & Tasty!

"The original Cheese boats recipe was created/made by Naomi Tipton Lacy Besner for the Apache Drive-In Theatre. Naomi was also known as "Nanie, or "Noni" and her name appears on her recipe. Nicole Parsons-Oblinger is Naomi's great-granddaughter, and Nicole inherited Nani's cheese boats recipe, and for folks who went to the Apache Drive-In. Nicole said that the original recipe at the Apache Drive-In was for a batch of 20 dozen cheese boats. Nicole also says that Nani worked with Marie Hollis at the Apache Drive-In for many years. And it was Nicole who kept the tradition of making Apache Drive-In cheeseboats when Nicole began working at the Apache Drive-In when she was 15 or 16 years old. The original cheese boats became popular in the 1970s and for the Apache Drive In Theatre, according to Richard J. Smith, who is now deceased."

Narrative above and recipe below courtesy Christine Marin via "Growing Up in Globe" Facebook.

Below are some of the recipes that have been posted on the Facebook groups "Growing Up In Globe" and "Globe-Miami Recipe Share". We will continue to add recipes as we find or receive them.  If you would like to share your recipe, please email it to: arizonahistorystories@gmail.com

Clipping from "Arizona Silver Belt" Sept. 9, 1973, courtesy Lee Ann Powers

Linda Reed Suserud

1 lb longhorn style cheddar cheese, grated 

1 small can El Pato hot sauce (look in the Mexican food section of your grocery store)

(1 small jar diced pimentos - optional) (4 hard-boiled eggs, chopped fine - optional)

1 can diced green chiles (size of can is up to you!)

1/2 c olives, chopped fine

1 bunch green onion, chopped

4 t vinegar

1/2 C vegeable oil

salt & pepper

1-2 dozen small hard rolls

Combine all ingredients (except rolls) in a large bowl. Slice the tops off the rolls (keep the "lids"). Scoop out bread from inside roll (don't tear through). Carefully fill each roll with the cheese mixture. Place lids back on rolls and wrap in a square of aluminum foil. Bake at 350° until heated through and cheese is melted (approx. 20 minutes). Enjoy.

David Micetic

From the Files page - Apache Drive-In Cheese Boats

By Jim Chambers on Friday, May 4, 2012 at 6:57pm

(Copied from Trish Pelletier in the Growing Up In Globe group)

3 pounds Longhorn or Mild Cheddar Cheese

1 8oz can El Pato Sauce

1 8oz can tomato sauce

1 large or 3 small jars of stuffed green olives (chop into smaller pieces)

3 small can chopped/sliced ripe olives (if using sliced chop into smaller pieces)

3 small cans pimento

1 1/2 tablespoons chili powder

3 teaspoons oregano

1 can/bottle of beer

4 dozen French small to medium bread rolls (get unsliced rolls)

Grate cheese. Slice top of rolls, cut away just about a 1/4 of the top of the roll. Hollow out the

rolls, set aside. Mix the grated cheese and all ingredients together. Firmly spoon in the cheese

mixture into the hollow rolls.

As you are filling the rolls, stir cheese mixture often to keep will mixed. Place the top back on

the roll after filling. Cover rolls with foil and bake till all the cheese mixture has melted.

Cheese boats freeze very well. Save the bread from the hallowed rolls, you can freeze and

save it for stuffing later

Linda Frazier

People are asking for the Cheese Boats Recipe, so here it is:

GLOBE-MIAMI CHEESE BOATS

1 pound Grated Cheddar Cheese

Place cheese in a large bowl and add:

1 small can tomato sauce, El Pato sauce, or Tomato Soup

1 small jar of chopped pimentos

4 finely-chopped hard-boiled eggs

1 large can of diced green chilies

1/2 cup black olives, chopped finely

4-5 green onions, diced fine

4 teaspoons vinegar

1/2 cup vegetable oil

salt and pepper to taste

1 dozen French rolls

Mix cheese and other items well.

Slice off tops of French rolls, big enough to use as covers later. With a spoon, scoop out the insides of each roll, leaving enough bread so roll doesn't break.

Fill each roll with the cheese mixture and place the piece of roll on top that you sliced off.

Wrap each roll individually in foil and bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes.

These freeze very well and can be reheated in oven, toaster oven, or microwave. Remove foil if heating in microwave.

Natalie Angeles

CHEESE BOATS

1 lb longhorn style cheddar cheese, grated

1 small can tomato sauce (2 cans if you can't find El Pato - but you'll be sad if you substitute)

1 small can El Pato hot sauce (look in the Mexican food section of your grocery store)

(1 small jar diced pimentos - optional) (4 hard-boiled eggs, chopped fine - optional) 

Vernon Perry

Heidi Sanders Howard,my wife and I were class and club sponsors at the Globe School District for years before retiring. A couple of additions we used were:

1. When you buy cheese buy it in a horn and grate it yourself. We used Longhorn or Colby. The reason is the pre grated has a corn starch added to keep it from clumping together in the package.

2. We always mix El Pato with tomato sauce to get the right heat for the consumers. “Some like it hot”

3. We add a small amount of chopped cilantro.

4. We also season with oregano and garlic powder. This again is to your own taste preference.

We used a massive recipe that was modified at Globe Junior High. Our largest sale was 250 dozen, than is 3,000 when you do the math. It was a tradition fund raiser before we taught there and we inherited the job. This same formula was used at the Gila County Historical Museum.

There are many versions of the recipe. The Museum put out a cookbook a few years ago that has three versions. It has one that is supposed to be the original from the Drive In but we ran into relatives that actually made them at the Drive In and said it was close but not what they used.

We wrap them in foil and freeze or straight to the oven 350 20-30 minutes. Again personal preference as to how crisp you want the crust.

I have found that they are as individual as the cook. You cannot go wrong unless you try to use a hotdog bun instead of a Bolo or French roll. We usually get these at the bakery at Fry’s.

Enjoy!!!

One note on the real Cornish Pasty. I found one made by a local gal that became my favorite. She put a Southwest twist to it and added chopped green chile.

And don’t ever go to a Cornish descendant’s house and asked for ketchup for your pasty.

Live and learn.

Comments?  Contact: arizonahistorystories@gmail.com

Sources

This page will be a discussion of the various sources for materials and resources used to create this blog.

First, we wish to extend out Most Heartfelt THANKS to Christine Marin for her total devotion to All Things Globe.  Christine does a truly outstanding piece of work administering the Facebook Group "Growing Up In Globe".  And it is on that esteemed group that Christine has made many historically important posts regarding the heritage, pedigree and lasting legacy of Globe Cheese Boats.  Without Christine's many such posts over the years, this blog would not exist.  THANK YOU, Christine!

Second in line for profuse praise and THANKS is Vernon Perry, a beloved, retired Globe High School teacher.  Vernon is a veritable encyclopedia of Globe history and he has been up close and personal with Globe Cheese Boats practically since they made their debut at the Apache Drive-In Theater.  Vernon has helped make thousands of Globe Cheese Boats to raise funds for the High School.  And not only that but he helped create a Gila County Historical Museum cookbook which showcases THREE Globe Cheese Boat recipes!

We also wish to thank everyone who has posted a Globe Cheese Boat recipe online.  We hope that we have correctly credited everyone on the Recipe Page. Please correct us if we have errored.

The old photos of drive-in movie theaters are sourced from a LIFE magazine portfolio here:
https://www.life.com/lifestyle/drive-in-theaters-photos-of-a-vanishing-american-pastime/

The foodie fotos were found and copied from the internet.  Their inclusion is believed to be within the "Fair Use" provisions of US Copyright Law.

The small graphic showing the powerful rise in drive-in movie theaters during the late 40's and 50's is sourced from this most excellent article here: https://websites.umich.edu/~drivein/theater.html

There are many additional excellent articles online about drive-in movie theaters.  A simple Google search will yield many entertaining and educational articles.

We spent a lot of time trying to find material on Oliver K. Leonard (AKA: O.K. Leonard). As a result, we have numerous newspaper archive clippings about O.K. and his wife, Sybil.  No matter where they lived, O.K. & Sybil were active in community groups and activities.  O.K. appears to have been a member of Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions and the Masonic Lodge.  He worked with the Ministerial Association to help hope Easter Sunrise Ceremonies at the Apache Drive-In Theater. Here are two links.  

Leonard's celebrate 50th anniversary:

https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-arizona-republic-50th-anniv-1975/161805234/

Oliver K. Leonard's obituary:
https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-arizona-republic-leonard-obit-1976/162011240/

We hope to learn more about O.K. and Sybil.

We feel there remains much more to learn about the original Apache Drive-In Theater and Globe Cheese Boats.  We feel this blog is just the beginning and hope community members help enhance this blog.

Meanwhile, once the original Apache Drive-In Theater disappeared into the dust bin of history, a second, modern Apache Drive-In Theater was built on highway US 60.  Of course, Globe Cheese Boats continued to be served at the concession stand.  The second, improved Apache Drive-In operated until late September 2013.  The Globe Miami Times Publisher Linda Gross organized a wonderful "send off" celebration for the closing of the second Apache Drive-In.  You can see many photos and learn about the celebration with these links:

https://www.globemiamitimes.com/gmt-final-salute-to-the-apache-drive-in/

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=globemiamitimes&set=a.1155433599922681

Comments?  Contact: arizonahistorystories@gmail.com

This blog was created and is maintained by John Parsons.  Parsons is a Snow Bird who lives in Idaho in the summer and hopefully continues to reside in Roosevelt in the winter.  Parsons and his wife, Susun, dearly LOVE All Things Globe-Miami-Roosevelt and Gila County.  Parsons was born in 1947 in Central Indiana and moved to Tucson in 1979.  Susun was born in 1947 in Yuma.  The couple lived in the Verde Valley for over 30 years before moving out of the summer heat.  This blog is and will remain strictly non-commercial with no ads. Parsons is a regular contributor to the "Growing Up In Globe" Facebook group.  He first became a regular visitor to Globe in 1980.  

Cheese Boat Tales

This is NOT a photo of Globe-Miami's Apace Drive-In Theater.  Sadly, such a local photo does
not exist, at least as far as we know. This photo is from a series of drive-in movie
pictures published by LIFE magazine.  You see all of them here: 
https://www.life.com/lifestyle/drive-in-theaters-photos-of-a-vanishing-american-pastime/

We have asked several people to "tell us a tale" about the Apache Drive-In Theater and Globe Cheese Boats.  Our first Tale is from renowned author Virgil Alexander.  It's a Good One.  Thanks, Virgil!

"Movie theaters were a big deal to me when I was a small child, and I sometimes attended a movie at the Grand Theater in Miami despite the fact that my older siblings were embarrassed to take me to a show.  I was born somewhat an empath and a tender soul so I would cry anytime a person, animal, or cartoon character got hurt. I would also cry anytime things got at all scary.

However, I loved the grandeur of the palatial theater, the sometimes brilliant color movies, and the powerful sound, not to mention the snacks. So when at about age five I heard they were going to build a theater into which you could drive your car, my little brain could hardly handle such a thought.

I was at first disappointed when our family went to the brand new Apache Drive-in theater located just north of the newly rerouted US60 between Globe and Miami, Arizona.  This was because it didn’t have the golden hardware, fancy carpets and curtains, or the Grand staircase.

But I soon took to the drive-in as I was impressed with the large screen and sound from a silver box attached to the window of the car. The popcorn was every bit as good as that of the Grand, and the Drive-in had wonderful black cherry sodas. 

 But the best part was the playground built just below the big screen. It had swings, teeter-totters, monkey bars, and a real train you could ride all around the screen and playground. Our parents ate something called cheese boats, but we were told kids would not like them because they were too spicy.

We were satisfied with the popcorn, sodas, and candy. I was a teenager before I tasted a cheese boat and realized my folks had ulterior motives when protecting us from “too spicy”. From the first bite, I loved the savory, gooey concoction.

Also as a teenager, the Drive-in became one of our fun things. Normally they charged an admission for each person in the car. So I and my girl, and my buddy and his girl could get in for about a buck. But during some weekdays they had dollar-a-car-night. So on those summer nights we would fill the car up with kids and put four or five more in the trunk, bring blankets to sit on the hood, and the ground in front of the car, and generally annoy people in the cars near us.

While I had a few somewhat romantic dates at the old Apache Drive-in, I preferred the comfort of the indoor theaters for real dating. The drive in was more often where groups of kids parked near each other and joked around, hooting and hollering until the manager threatened to throw them out.

Apropos of nothing, a couple of random memories from the Apache Drive-in:      1) Before it was dark enough for the movie to start the projectionist would place a target on the screen, and move it around as drivers tried to tag it with their spotlight (in those days cars almost universally came with one or two spotlights. 2) They ran a Pepsi ad featuring the animated Sicola family Pop, Mom, Sis, and Pep Sicola, or something like that. It was pretty good.           

Then as a married couple we took our kids to enjoy the uniqueness of watching a movie in the car. They were not greatly impressed, after all, they had been watching moving picture stereo sound TV all their life. Of course, the cheese boats were too spicy for them, so they were pleased with other snacks."

---------------------------

For a bunch of really fun (short) memories of the original Apache Drive-In see:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/262599273757264/posts/673538575996663/

If you would like to "tell a tale" please email your story to: arizonahistorystories@gmail.com