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Midway Drive-In (Texas)

Coordinates: 34°22′28″N 100°58′31″W / 34.37456°N 100.97539°W / 34.37456; -100.97539
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Midway Drive-In Theater was built in 1955 between Turkey and Quitaque, Texas, on Highway 86 when over 300 drive-ins were operating in Texas.[1]

Background

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This theatre was like the other Midway drive-ins that were built midway between two towns or cities. It closed down in the 1980s during a time that few drive-ins were surviving across America.[2] Then, it was purchased, restored, and reopened to play current movies by a local citizen in 2000. The Midway was noted in episode 818 of Texas Country Reporter that aired May 3, 2003.[3] The drive-in ran for over five years until it closed again. The property was rented, and opened intermittently until 2009, when it was purchased by another family, who started a second restoration and reopened the theater.[4] It has been listed as one of 545 known permanently constructed and commercially operated drive-ins in the world that still operated in 2011.[5] Other Midway Drive-Ins are located around the US, but this theater is the only known one still in operation in Texas until 2011.[6] The Midway Drive-In closed down and did not open in 2012 because of the lack of available 35-mm film prints. Supply slowed down because of the Hollywood transition to digital distribution only.[7]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Drive-in Movie Theaters of Texas and Surrounding States". www.driveinmovie.com.
  2. ^ "1030's Drive-In History". www.driveintheater.com.
  3. ^ "Texas Country Reporter". YouTube.
  4. ^ "Midway Drive-In in Quitaque, TX - Cinema Treasures". cinematreasures.org.
  5. ^ "Drive-Ins".
  6. ^ "Movie Theaters in Texas - Cinema Treasures". cinematreasures.org.
  7. ^ Lieberman, David (8 June 2012). "Studios Will Stop Distributing Conventional Film Prints Here By End Of 2013: Report".
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34°22′28″N 100°58′31″W / 34.37456°N 100.97539°W / 34.37456; -100.97539