Morelock's Drive-In, located in Cottage Grove Oregon, began construction in December of 1949 and was completed by April of 1950. The project was installed by the Western Sound and Equipment Co., of Portland. When asked in the Cottage Grove Sentinel Cleo Morelock stated that "While this community might be a little small for this sort of an enterprise, the owners of the new venture felt that it was here to stay and 'we want to give the residents of this and the surrounding communities all we can in the way of entertainment.'"
The Construction used all local labor and materials, where such material was available. The picture projection equipment was manufactured by the Century Project Manufacturing Co. of New York. The sound equipment was made by Century and Western Electric.
The Drive-In was originally set to have its Gala Opening on May 2 of 1950. However that did not happen. On May first, just one day before the gala opening the Owner of the Drive-In and two other theatres in Cottage Grove William Marion Morelock, 83, passed away following a lingering illness. He had been operating the local theatres for the last 27 years and left the drive-in to his two sons George Cleo Morelock and Willie Winslow Morelock.
After the death of WM. Morelock the gala opening was delayed to Friday May 5th 1950. The program for opening day was a big double Feature Program "RIVER LADY" & "THE STORY OF MOLLY X."
Fun Facts About Morelock's Drive-In Theatre
- Occupied a plot of land 500x600 Feet
- Accommodated 386 cars
- Playpen for children
- Concessions
- Individual lights on each speaker post, with volume control
- Underground sound equipment
- Operated 6 months out of the year
- Screen was 60x60 feet, requiring 105 sheets of 4x8 marine plywood
- Picture size was 50 feet wide and 35 feet high
- Built to withstand 100 MPH winds
- 5,000 watt flood lighting at top of screen tower
- Picture projection equipment was a carbon arc 18,000 lumen light source with f1.9 speed lens
- Sound equipment supported by a 250 watt amplifier enclosed in a fire-proof building which is 32 by 42 feet.
Located right next to I5
Image
The Cottage Grove Sentinel., March 27, 1952 Image
HistoricAerials.com
After seven years of operation the theatre closed for the season on September 30 1957. The following spring it was no longer under the name of "Morelock's Drive-in Theatre" but rather "Argo Drive-In" on April 2 1958.
