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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Smoke blankets Rogue Valley as Stouts fire grows to 8,500 acres ... Herb Rothschild Jr.: Missing Jon Stewart ... Ticket Availability ... Smoke blankets Rogue Valley as Stouts fire grows to 8,500 acres ... Herb Rothschild Jr.: Missing Jon Stewart ... Ticket Availability ... AS IT WAS As It Was: Drive-In theater was the wonder of its time Comment By Luana (Loffer) Corbin Southern Oregon Historical Society DailyTidings.com By Luana (Loffer) Corbin Southern Oregon Historical Society Posted Jul. 22, 2015 at 8:16 PM Updated Jul 23, 2015 at 12:27 PM By Luana (Loffer) Corbin Southern Oregon Historical Society Posted Jul. 22, 2015 at 8:16 PM Updated Jul 23, 2015 at 12:27 PM » Social News Residents of Medford had a new source of entertainment when the Robert L. Lippert Theaters Co. opened a drive-in theater in the summer of 1949. The drive-in advertised the comfort of watching movies while seated in the family car and facing a huge movie screen. The landscaped lot that tilted up toward the screen offered viewing for up to 643 cars. The concrete screen tower had a modern design, and the grounds included a children’s play area and benches for walk-in patrons. Each car had access to an individual loudspeaker with volume controls that gave spectators privacy. A projection booth building in the middle of the parking area sold refreshments and had restrooms close by. Whole families could come in one car, eliminating the need for a babysitter. The theater offered a special YMCA benefit preview on June 8 and opened for regular business the next night. A storm blew out the glass in the marquee in 1951, and later storms forced its replacement in 1965. The Starlite was a popular theater until Americans began watching home movies on TV and going less often to big-screen theaters. The drive-in closed in 1987 and was destroyed later by vandals and fire. Sources: Truwe, Ben. Jackson County Looking Back. Vol. II . Canada. The Pediment Group, Inc. 2012 . 52. II vols. Print.; “Construction Of New Drive-In Theater Planned.” Medford News Ed. Tina Truwe, 25 Mar. 1949. Web. 13 Aug 2013: http://id.mind.net/truwe/tina/drive-ins.html; “Lippert Building Drive-In Outside of Medford, Ore.” Ibid. Boxoffice Magazine 1 Feb. 1947. Print; “Two Drive-In Theaters Open During Week; Operation, Features Described.” Ibid. Medford Mail Tribune 7 June 1949; Roe, Ken. Cinema Treasures, Web.13 Aug 2013 http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/33641.3. As It Was is a co-production of Jefferson Public Radio and the Southern Oregon Historical Society. As It Was stories are broadcast weekdays on Jefferson Public Radio and are available online at asitwas.org. By Luana (Loffer) Corbin Southern Oregon Historical Society DailyTidings.com By Luana (Loffer) Corbin Southern Oregon Historical Society Posted Jul. 22, 2015 at 8:16 PM Updated Jul 23, 2015 at 12:27 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. DailyTidings.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501