Movie Theaters and Drive-Ins

"Sky-Vue Drive-In Theatre, 3 miles east of Lancaster on Rt. 30. Complimentary Pass. Admit one. Not good on Saturday, Sunday, or holidays. No. 9919. Management reserves all rights. Reason: ________ Signature: ________." The Sky-Vue Drive-In Theatre was located along the Lincoln Highway (U.S. Route 30) east of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, before it closed sometime in the late 1960s or early 1970s. The drive-in was relaced by an outlet shopping center, which--after a change or two in ownership--is now the Tanger Outlets Lancaster . (If you ever visit the outlets, you can drop the kiddies off at Dutch Wonderland , a children's amusement park that's located less than a mile away).

"Free guest ticket. Admit one. This ticket will admit ________. Not good on Saturday or Sunday. Coswell Drive-In Theatre, Appomattox." The Coswell Drive-In apparently closed in 1980 or 81, unfortunately, and photos taken in 1997 show a crumbling movie screen and building.

"Boy Scout Troop No. 11 of Sts. Peter and Paul Greek Catholic Church, Simpson, Pa., presents Dead Man's Eyes , with Lon Chaney, Jr., and Jean Parker, at the Neutral Theatre, Simpson, Tuesday evening, March 20th, 1945. Shows at 7 o'clock and 9 o'clock. Admission (tax incl.), 30c." Ticket for a showing of Dead Man's Eyes , a 1944 film noir mystery, to benefit a Boy Scout troop.

Correspondence from "Marion" to "Charles" that 's constructed using words and illustrations cut out from one or more New York City newspapers in the manner of a stereotypical ransom letter. Charles was evidently a soldier in 1917 as World War I raged in Europe, and there are references to "the captain," "pass time," the Quartermaster Corps , and Madison Barracks that may provide clues to where he was stationed (300 miles away at Madison Barracks in Sackets Harbor , N.Y., perhaps?). The letter also mentions popular entertainments of the time--Ward's Jazz Band performing at dances, silent film actress Theda Bara appearing in Cleopatra at the Lyric Theatre on 42nd Street, and music playing on the Victrola . -------- Oct. 30, 1917 Dear Soldier, Latest news from New York. Friends and fellow citizens, hear us. Special gossip of a day. Prepare now. Advice free. Every time is pass time--nit. And the captain answered, this way out! The land of joy. Dance awhile, no charge for dancing. Splendid dance floor, Ward's Jazz Band, windows and light on all sides. Business before pleasure. See mummies come to life again when they see Theda Bara in Cleopatra, the William Fox production, Lyric Theatre, 42d St., W. of B'way . . . . Charles, now is the high cost of living so save rice. Don't marry. Oh, boy, take me to motion pictures at Madison Barracks and have lively music on Victrola. Have you fancy groceries and table luxuries at the Quartermaster Corps kamp? The very idea! We specialize in all kinds of sea food. I have a nice can of jam for you, big friend. Yours very truly, Marion

National Theatre, 6th & Dauphin Sts. This ticket and 10c will admit 1 adult or 1 child. Clara Bow, "Call Her Savage." Our Gang comedy & Betty Boop. Wed. & Thurs., March 1 &2, 1933. Fri. & Sat. Tim McCoy, "End of the Trail."

"Nicollette at Boswell, Pa." Sign: "Come In. Only 5¢." I haven't been able to uncover any information regarding this "Nicollette" (or "nicollettes," perhaps, if there were others besides this one), but my best guess is that this was an early nickelodeon move theater . See also a cropped version of this photo for a close-up of the entrance and the guys sitting on the steps.

For more information, see the full version of this real photo postcard.

The Nickelodean , a trade magazine for the early film industry, included a state-by-state listing of news "Among the Picture Theaters" in its issue for March 4, 1911. Under the section for Pennsylvania (p. 260), it noted, "A moving picture theater has been opened in the Richland House Hall at Richland." The Richland House was a hotel in Richland , Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, but I haven't been able to uncover any other information about this ticket or the moving picture theater held in the hotel's hall. Searching for "Braden & Funny Little Tommy" didn't yield any results either. The back of the ticket gives the dates of the shows as Saturday and Monday, February 22 and 24, without specifying a year. Thanks to Time and Date's Weekday Calculator , I was able to determine that February 22 and 24 fell on Saturdays and Mondays in the years of 1902, 1908, 1913, 1919, and 1930. Since the theater at the Richland House evidently opened in 1911, I'm guessing that this ticket dates to 1913. The Braden Entertainment with Edison Talking Moving Pictures Two hours of good show. Fun, travel, industrial, Wild West, cowboy, and lots of others. Braden & Funny Little Tommy. Bring this ticket first night only as you will have a chance to secure a Kalba diamond stick pin absolutely free. Admission, 10 cents. Free! Back of ticket: Richland House Hall. Saturday and Monday, 7:30 P.M. Feb. 22-24.

See the front of this ticket for more information. Richland House Hall Saturday and Monday, 7:30 P.M. Feb. 22-24.