Boxoffice magazine, February 1, 1947, page 66-C


    Plans for construction of the valley's first drive-in movie theater were announced today by Matt Freed, district manager for Robert L. Lippert Theaters. Freed states that the open-air theater will be located about three and one-half miles south of Medford on the east side of Highway 99 where the theater chain has purchased six acres of land from Martin Heitkamp. The land purchase was handled by the Tengwald agency.
    Freed states that the property, which has a 400-foot frontage of the highway, is already being graded and fenced and that a projection booth, screen tower and cashier's booth will be erected as soon as a permit is secured from the civilian production administration. Opening date will be announced later.
    Grading and wiring constitute the main cost of the project, Freed stated. Each car which drives in for the show is connected with an individual speaker which the patrons can regulate as to volume. The lot will have a 400-car capacity, he stated, and the screen will be erected with the back toward the highway.
    The drive-in theaters are proving very successful in many cities, Freed declares. They are popular with mothers of small children, he said, and men like the convenience of being able to attend without changing from work clothing. Children under 10 years of age are admitted to the theater free.
    Lippert holds a license to operate under the Hollingshead patent for drive-in theaters, the manager said, and the latest films available will be shown.
    The new theater here is one of several open-air places now under construction by Lippert, Freed reported, with others in Tulare, Modesto and Concord, Calif., to be opened April 1. The firm has drive-in show places at Sacramento and Fresno, Calif.
    M. O. Bessonette has the contract for construction, Freed announced.
Medford Mail Tribune, March 21, 1947, page 1


    Robert L. Lippert, head of Lippert theaters, is in town today to hear and meet Harold E. Stassen, Republican presidential candidate, who was to speak at Lippert's Holly Theater this afternoon.
    The theater man stated that he is here also in connection with arrangements for the world premiere of the movie "The Prairie" at the Craterian  tomorrow and also to get matters set for construction right-of-way of the drive-in theater south of town.
    Lippert declared that he is much interested in Stassen's candidacy and that Stassen is his choice. Concerning the drive-in, he said that wet weather has held up start of construction. The drive-in planned ts the only one between Salem and San Francisco, Lippert reported.
    Here with him is Frank Woods, who has charge of theaters of the Lippert system.
Medford Mail Tribune, May 18, 1948, page 1


    A new drive-in theater, the second to be announced here recently, will be opened north of town about May 15, according to Aubrey D. Smith, manager and partner in the new concern.
    Located about three-quarters of a mile north of the city limits on Highway 99 behind the Niles Lumber Company, the theater will cost an estimated $60,000, Smith said. Located on five and a half acres, the project will house about 420 automobiles, which will be parked on tilted ramps for easier vision, and equipped with individual speakers.
    The screen, which is 54 feet high and 48 feet wide, was to be raised today by two cranes. Construction of a pumice block projection room, concession stand and restroom building is now under way. Seven to 10 persons will be employed by the theater, Smith said.
    The theater will be operated by a partnership consisting of Smith, who has recently lived in Klamath Falls, but who is a former Medford resident; Leland M. Gaylord, another former resident, now from Vallejo, Calif., who will serve as projectionists, and Jacob A. Leeth, Klamath Falls.
    Negotiations are now under way for film contracts, Smith said, and a selection of first-run and outstanding older pictures will be shown.
Medford Mail Tribune, April 25, 1949, page 3