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".

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