Photo furnished
In the June 13, 1952 Moultrie County News Woodrow Spaugh is shown demonstrating one of the individual loud speakers installed at the Sullivan Drive-in theater.

•January 31, 2018•

By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

The Sullivan Drive in opened northeast of town on June 6, 1952 by Lee Norton, who had owned the Grand Theater on the square since 1944.

With successful drive in theaters operating in Shelbyville and Mattoon Norton saw a chance to join the trend in Moultrie County.

The opening Friday night feature was “At War with the Army” with Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, and the Saturday late show was “Murder, My Sweet”.  Prices were 50 cents for adults and children under 12 free. Special favors were given to the kiddies on opening night, and there were always two cartoons on every program.     Login or Subscribe to read the rest of this story.