It was what was on the screen during the break between the first and second movie of a double feature at pretty much every drive-in theatre in the country. There were slight variations, of course. Sometimes the hot dog was in a circus ring and jumped into the bun after a certain amount of coaxing. Or the popcorn was a masculine figure carrying a sign encouraging you to "grab yourself a snack." But otherwise basically the same. There are a few drive-in theatres still operating, but I doubt any of them are still showing the old classic ads you would see before the movie started and between shows. I could be wrong. I haven't been to one in years. My favorite drive-ins disappeared a long time ago. That's what this story is about. A little history of those places and what is there now in place of those giant screens and metal speakers.
My local drive-in was the Kling, located in a big field out in the country a few miles east of town. It was probably the first one I went to that I can remember. I might have gone to a movie or two in Hettinger, North Dakota when I was very young but have no memory of it. I do have a few memories of the Kling. Some will have to stay in the vault, but there was that one time when I was in high school I forgot to put the speaker back on the pole and drove off with it still attached to my car window. I know there were times kids tried to get away with a speaker on purpose but this really was an accident. I was scared when I realized what I had done because I couldn't afford to pay for the damage and thought I would get in big trouble over it. So I just kept on driving hoping no one would recognize me or the car. However, apparently my red 1964 Chevy Impala didn't blend in very well with the other vehicles leaving since there was a speaker and wires hanging off the window and I was traveling at a high rate of speed. Somebody knew who it was and ratted me out. The next morning my dad came to my room to tell me I had a phone call. It was the owner of the drive in saying that he knew it was me who ripped off one of his speakers and I could return it immediately without consequences or he was going to call the cops. My choice. I chose wisely and returned the speaker. And he didn't even ask me to pay to have it reinstalled. I thought that was really nice of him.
I searched the internet briefly for more information and pictures of the Kling, but didn't find anything. Here is what it looks like today.
An empty pasture. It made me curious about what happened to some other drive-in movie theatres in the area. So I went on a mission to find out. The Pines in Rapid City was located just off Sturgis Road. It was a regular weekend activity for my wife and I when we were first married and living in Rapid City. I searched online and found an image of an old poster.
This is what you'll see now in that location.
A gravel pit and run-off pond for a big industrial company.
Next, I went looking for the Sioux Drive-In. It was one we didn't frequent as much as the Pines, but did go there occasionally. I remember it being close to a bowling alley on the south side of Rapid City. I found this old poster online promoting the grand opening.
I looked it up and found out the date for the Gala 3 Day Opening Festival was May of 1953. It closed in 1982. Today you'l find a Salvation Army Thrift Store where the Sioux used to be.
A little closer to home was the Hills Drive-In near Spearfish.
Notice that the poster says, "four miles east of Spearfish." That may have been true when it opened in 1952, but now the location is actually within the city limits and is the site of few commercial buildings.
I couldn't find the date it closed but I recall they started showing some X-Rated movies there in the mid to maybe late 70s and that seemed to be the beginning of the end.
Other drive-ins I remember but can't recall for sure if I went to any movies included the Starlite in Rapid City. I think that one was on the road to the airport. There was also the Mile Hi in Deadwood, but I don't have any memories of that one at all.
Drive-In Movies. Those were the days. The days that also included classic drive-in restaurants. Like A & W, Penquin and Tastee Freez in my home town of Belle Fourche. Also the Dog 'n Suds in Spearfish. And Big Don's in Gillette, Wyoming. I have stories about all of them. But those are for another day. In the meantime, "Let's All Go To The Snack Bar And Get Ourselves A Treat!"
Roger O'Dea 08/30/2018
