The Chief Drive-In closed with little fanfare. Over time most of the original Simplex speakers were replaced with cast aluminum Reed boxes and the ramp light domes replaced with Reed caps and translucent white, green or red rings (depending upon their location on the field). The sound head was updated to a solar cell system, replacing the old tube photocell pickup. Illumination was updated to a Xetron lamp house. The right projector was removed and in its place a Drive-In Theatre Mfg. The field was wired with Simplex poles, domes and speakers. Sound was delivered by Simplex sound heads via Simplex tube amplifiers. Projection was initially via two Simplex XL projectors illuminated by Peerless Magnarc carbon arc lamp houses driven by a large Hertner TransVerter. It was moved to behind the concession stand but then later removed altogether. Initially there was a playground at the front of the field near the screen. The concession stand and restrooms were on the ground floor with the booth on the second floor. The concession stand and booth were located in a two story cinder block building in the middle of the field. The screen was at the far north end of the field and faced south. The neon and fluorescently illuminated sign was fashioned in the shape of an Indian head with an integral marquee behind the Chief’s head. The entrance and exit lanes were separated by a grassed north-south median directly behind the sign. It was located on an 8.3 acre parcel on the north side of street with access directly off North Avenue. It was built by Westland Theatres (of Colorado Springs) to complement their other hard-top offerings in Grand Junction. It was Grand Junction’s second drive-in, operated the most seasons and was the last to close forever. It ran every year until its closure on Septemwith “Star Trek V” & “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade”. We will have more on the movies and the businesses that once pulsated on the south side of the Perry courthouse square as time goes by.The Chief Drive-In opened on Mawith Gary Cooper in “Distant Drums”. That is a shame, but it is also a fact of life. The old drive-ins just do not exist, and big movie palaces are found in shopping malls, rarely as freestanding edifices as we used to know them. Nowadays, drive-in movies are pretty much passe. Perry has not been quite the same since then. The Roxy was closed, the Perry Theatre was put in use, and eventually both the Roxy and Annex were closed. The Terry family saw it coming, and the McKennas, new owners of the Roxy and Annex Theatres also had a notion of what was going to happen. Bobby soxers were in, rock 'n' roll was becoming the music of America's young folks, and indoor movies were dimmed. The Chief, like all of its counterparts everywhere, symbolized a new way of living, a new philosophy for America. 77, the main highway for north-south travel before the Interstate system was built. The photo that comes with today's column shows that magnificent structure, the Chief Drive-In Theatre, as it appeared north of town, just a few feet off U.S. Be brave, and pray for a better tomorrow. This is easy to say now, but those who have been previously afflicted can affirm the truth. Above all, remember that this moment will go away. Your Heavenly Father knows all about this, too and He can bring relief. Look for consolation where misery has visited sometime in the past. When your perspective is clouded by distance, it's easy to say: "Chin up, all is well." The hard part comes when reality sets in and you realize the pain is not a dream, but harsh and true. The Chief was dismantled when customers stopped coming. This photo probably was made in the 1940's, when construction on the theatre was completed. The Chief Drive in theatre was located on farmland now occupied by the Verl Brorsen. Note: To search for something specific use the CS Museum search box to the left.
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