Winchester Drive-in Still Thriving After 40 Years
By Monica Albert, The Oklahoman
Jul. 3–For many, the drive-in movie theater is an American rite of passage.
It’s the privacy of a car under a blanket of stars, a chance to watch a movie while enjoying the fresh air of a summer evening, the thrill of watching characters burst to life on an 85-foot screen. But outdoor theaters gave way to new technology and the comfort of indoor air conditioning, and today only one drive-in still thrives in Oklahoma City. The Winchester Drive-In will celebrate 40 years of business today.
“Nostalgia and love for the theater has kept people coming all these years,” owner Lindy Shanbour said. “I will have 30 or 40 or 50 people come up to me in one night and say, ‘Don’t ever close this place.’ “
On July 3, 1968, Shanbour opened the Winchester Drive-In at 6930 S Western. His brother Farris Shanbour built the theater, as well as more than 30 other indoor and drive-in theaters in the metro area. When Farris died in 1981, most of the theaters were sold to Commonwealth Theaters, a large theater company that has since gone out of business. Another brother, George, helped run the Winchester for a time. George has since died, and today, Lindy Shanbour runs the drive-in theater.
The theater opens every April and closes the week before Thanksgiving. From Monday to Thursday, adults can see two movies for $5. From Friday to Sunday, they can see three movies for the same price. Children younger than 11 can see the movies for $3. Shanbour said he hasn’t raised the movie price in 15 years.
A 53-foot tall, neon-lit cowboy waves to entering guests.
* ‘It’s old and simple fun’
Kent Yeabower and his girlfriend, Jamie Malthaner, said they enjoy the drive-in because it makes for a memorable date. The two recently brought an air mattress to put in the back of their pickup, as well as a small boom box to tune for sound.
“It’s nice to just come and be outside and just hang out,” Yeabower said. “It’s old and simple fun.”
The movies are anything but outdated. The Winchester shows new releases — the same as at indoor theaters — but they are shown on a screen that is about 85 feet tall. People tune their radios to a designated station to hear the sound. How long movies run depends on how popular they are.
Shanbour said film companies are happy with the drive-in and the opportunity it gives people for an unusual movie experience. Quality time at drive-in
Doris Cagle and her husband, Gary, of Newalla recently brought visiting family from Alabama to see a double-feature. Cagle said they enjoy Winchester Drive-In for the memories and the family experience.
“I grew up in Oklahoma, and I came to this drive-in,” she said. “It’s a great thing to bring the kids out to and let them experience it.”
The drive-in experience would be incomplete without trips to the concession stand. The Winchester serves traditional items such as popcorn and soft drinks, but also features Texas-sized corndogs, barbecue beef sandwiches and cheeseburgers.
“I’ll keep it open as long as I can,” Shanbour said. “For me, this is just about as good as it gets.”
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Copyright (c) 2008, The Oklahoman
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