WELCOME TO THE VOY 3 THEATRE/61 DRIVE-IN LOCAL MOVIE BLOG

THE VOY 2 DIGITAL PROJECTOR ARRIVED IN LATE JULY 2016.   SHOWN CARRYING IT IN THE FRONT DOOR IS CASIE CASEL AT LEFT AND TOM MESSERLI AT RIGHT.   IN BACK OF TOM, HELPING IS TAYLOR CASEL.   IT IS THE 4TH AND FINAL DIGITAL PROJECTOR FOR THE DOWNTOWN AND DRIVE-IN THEATRES.

DON'T MONKEY AROUND...SEE A MOVIE TODAY !

JUNE 2016 PHOTO...TEATHER BALL LEFT AT END OF SWINGS, THE SWINGS, THE SANDBOX AT RIGHT END OF SWINGS, AND THE TRAIN....THE 

VOLLEYBALL COURT AT REAR OF THEATRE....LOTS OF THINGS FOR

KIDS TO DO BEFORE IT GETS DARK AND THE MOVIE STARTS.

KIDS LOVE THE TRAIN.  THESE 3 KIDS FROM BETTENDORF HAD A BALL. 

CORA, TRENTON AND LANDON...2016

THIS COUPLE IS FROM WYOMING, IOWA.    CODY GOBLE WAS BORN AND
RAISED THERE.    BRITTANY HIGUERA
(NOT SURE OF HER HOMETOWN) AND CODY HAD THEIR FIRST DATE AT THE 61 DRIVE-IN THEATRE ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO.  
THEY SAW THE DOUBLE FEATURE,
"PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN" AND
"CARS".    CODY SAID IT WAS A BUSY
NIGHT AND THEY WERE PARKED AT
THE BACK OF THE THEATRE GROUNDS.    NOW, THEY JUST BECAME ENGAGED AND WANTED THEIR ENGAEMENT PHOTO TAKEN AT THE DRIVE-IN.   THEY WILL BE MARRIED JULY 9TH AT THE BELLEVUE
STATE PARK.    CODY WORKS FOR STATE FARM INSURANCE IN MONTICELLO.    HE IS RELATED TO
ELAINE WATTERS OF MAQUOKETA.
WE HAVE HAD 3 OR 4 OTHER PROPOSALS OR ENGAMENTS IN THE PAST AT THE DRIVE-IN, BUT STILL NO
ONE HAS BEEN MARRIED THERE.
BEST WISHES TO CODY AND BRITTANY.   THEY PLAN TO COME TO A MOVIE OR TWO THIS SUMMER AT THE 61. 
 

PHOTO ABOVE IN JUNE 2017...VISITORS FROM
BOULDER, COLORADO,  MIKE MOORE AND FAMILY.


MINIONS HAS BEEN BIG AROUND THE COUNTRY AND AT BOTH THE VOY THEATRE DOWNTOWN AND AT THE 61 DRIVE-IN THEATRE.

THE TRASH IN THE MORNING WAS A GOOD INDICATION OF HOW GOOD THE MOVIE IS.....

BELOW,  MEET OUR THEATRE EMPLOYEES. 


THE VOY THEATRE AND 61 DRIVE-IN THEATRE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE THE REGULAR WEB SITE WITH INFORMATION OF WHAT IS SHOWING AND
WHAT IS COMING UP AT THE DOWNTOWN THEATRE AND THE DRIVE-IN, AS POSTED BY MANAGER JACK JONES.      ON CELL PHONE CALL 1-563-652-3535
FOR JACK'S VOICE ON 24 HOUR RECORDING.

THIS NEW SITE, I WILL USE ON A REGULAR BASIS FOR CANDID COMMENTS AND PHOTOS ABOUT BOTH THEATRES.    DENNIS VOY,  VOY AND 61 OWNER.

 ABOVE, THE DIGITAL PROJECTOR IN THE VOY 1 THEATRE.

ABOVE THE SMALLER  DIGITAL PROJECTOR IN THE SMALL VOY 3 THEATRE  (IN THE BACK).... AND THE 11 SPEAKER SOUND SYSTEM FRONT LEFT.   THE VOY 2 THEATRE HAS NOT BEEN CONVERTED TO DIGITAL  YET AND STILL SHOWS  35MM MOVIE FILM WHEN AVAILABLE.    WE  HOPE TO CONVERT THE VOY 2 LATER THIS YEAR.

THE VOY 2 THEATRE WILL AGAIN BE CLOSED THIS WEEK AS WE WERE NOT
ABLE TO BOOK A 35MM MOVIE FOR IT.    OUR PLAN IS TO CONVERT THE
VOY 2 AUDITORIUM TO DIGITAL ALSO, LATER THIS YEAR.

WE LOVE THE DIGITAL PICTURE AND SURROUND SOUND...AND OUR PATRONS LOVE IT TO.

THE VOY THEATRE THIS WEEK STARTED THE 43RD YEAR IN DOWNTOWN MAQUOKETA.     IT REPLACED THE PASTIME THEATRE IN 1973.

THE ABOVE PHOTO TAKEN ON FATHERS DAY, JUNE 19, 2016, OF CASIE
CASAL AND SON MATT.   THE FAMILY WAS IN BURLINGTON FOR THE
DAY AND BOUGHT THIS 36-INCH (EQUAL TO 4 LARGE) PIZZA.    CASIE
DOES NUMEROUS THINGS FOR ME AT THE DRIVE-IN AND ALSO IS THE
TRAIN ENGINEER....KEEPS IT RUNNING AND DRIVES IT MOST NIGHTS.
HE HAS 2 DAUGHTERS..ONE WORKS CONCESSION STAND (SEE
STORY AND PHOTO ELSEWHERE HERE) AND WIFE BILLIE CLEANS AND
PICKS-UP AT THE DRIVE-IN DAILY.

SOMEBODY DROPPED OF AN OLD PASTIME THEATRE NEWSPAPER AD.
THE PASTIME CLOSED FOR GOOD JANUARY 31, 1973.    I OWNED IT
THE LAST 3 MONTHS (BOUGHT IT FOR EQUIPMENT)  FROM ED KIRCHOFF.

THIS YEAR.....
WE HAD A PRIVATE
BIRTHDAY PARTY SHOWING OF "CINDERELLA"     FOUR 2ND GRADERS
FROM SACRED HEART CATHOLIC SCHOOL IN MAQUOKETA ALL HAD  A BIRTHDAY WITHIN A MONTH OF EACH OTHER AND ONE OF THE MOTHERS
CONTACTED KMAQ  ABOUT THE PARTY FOR THE 8TH BIRTHDAYS OF EACH.      THERE WERE ABOUT 30 THAT ATTENDED.

IT WAS A NO GIFTS PLEASE PARTY BUT THE GUESTS INSTEAD WERE ASKED
TO BRING MONEY TO GIVE TO A  FAVORITE  CHARITY OF THE GIRLS.
MAYBE SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE....YOU WOULD LIKE TO SCHEDULE A
PRIVATE BIRTHDAY PARTY AT THE VOY THEATRE.    CALL JACK TO MAKE
ARRANGEMENTS.....1-563-652-2877.

ABOVE, JACK JONES, MANAGER OF THE VOY THEATRES/61 DRIVE-IN THEATRE.  JACK GRADUATED FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF DUBUQUE IN 1974 AND STARTED WORK AS MANAGER LATE IN 1974, WHILE THERE WAS STILL JUST THE ONE AUDITORIUM.   THE VOY 2 OPENED EARLY IN 1975.    JACK HAS LIVED ALL HIS LIFE IN MAQUOKETA.    JACK HAS A SISTER, BARB, WHO LATE IN HER LIFE IS ABOUT TO BECOME A LUTHERAN MINISTER.   JACK IS A MEMBER OF THE FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH AND HE, LIKE BARB, HAS PLAYED THE ORGAN AT THE CHURCH SINCE HE WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL.    BARB HAS 3 DAUGHTERS, AND JACK IS PROUD OF HIS 3 NIECES.   MANY YEARS AGO,
JACK STARRED IN A LOT OF  "PEACE PIPE PLAYERS" LOCAL PRODUCTIONS.    HE REALLY ENJOYS  "LIVE" THEATRE AND HAS SEEN MOST OF THE GREAT  LONDON PRODUCTIONS SINCE VISITING LONDON ANNUALLY.    LONDON IS
HIS FAVORITE VACATION PLACE.    AND OF COURSE, JACK LOVES MOVIES.
AND HE REMEMBERS MOST OF THEM.    QUIZ HIM ABOUT YOUR FAVORITE MOVIE, AND CHANCES ARE, HE WILL TELL  YOU ALL ABOUT IT.  
JACK IS IN HIS 42ND YEAR AND COMING UP, 42ND YEAR AT THE DRIVE-IN TOO.
JOB WELL DONE JACK ....BUT HUNDREDS OF MOVIES AND THOUSANDS OF TICKETS STILL TO BE SOLD.   THERE'S NO BUSINESS LIKE SHOW (MOVIE) BUSINESS!
AND THESE DAYS, THERE'S NO 35MM FILM ANYMORE BUT FUN, SHARP AND EXCITING DIGITAL MOVIES!      JACK JONES (ME TOO) WILL EMPHASIZE.....THERE IS NO BETTER PLACE TO ENJOY A MOVIE THAN ON THE BIG SCREEN AT YOUR THEATRE!

AN VIEW OF MY UPSTAIRS OFFICE

AT THE VOY 3 THEATRE

ABOVE, SHELLEY HOYE, THE CONCESSION PERSON THAT HAS BEEN WITH THE THEATRES THE LONGEST.    SHE STARTED OUT WORKING PART TIME ALMOST DAILY AT THE  "CINEMA MOVIE RENTALS" STORE THAT I OWNED NEXT TO THE THEATRE WHERE THERE IS A  BEAUTY SHOP NOW (4-7-'15).    WHEN THAT WAS CLOSED, SHE CAME OVER TO THE THE VOY 3 CONCESSION STAND AND IN THE SUMMER SEASON, ALSO WORKS OUT AT THE 61 DRIVE-IN THEATRE.    HER DAYTIME JOB IS IN THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE AT THE JACKSON COUNTY COURTHOUSE IN MAQUOKETA, ANOTHER JOB SHE HAS HAD FOR A LONG TIME.    WHEN SHE'S NOT WORKING, SHE'S BUSY AT HER HOME
ON DEARBORN STREET.    SHELLEY LOVES TO READ AND ALWAYS HAS A BOOK NEARBY.    AND THE POPCORN (SHE JUST POPPED) IS THE BEST IN
THE WORLD.    THEATRE POPCORN CAN'T BE BEAT.    BUT ALWAYS REMEMBER, TOO MUCH BUTTER CAN CUT DOWN ON THE FLAVOR.  DID YOU EVER SEE A MORE COLORFUL CONCESSION STAND?

ABOVE, THERESA CELENTANO, OF MAQUOKETA.....A MAQUOKETA HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE.    SHE WORKS FOR ME AT KMAQ, THE VOY THEATRE AND AT THE 61 DRIVE-IN THEATRE.     SHE MANAGES THE THEATRES ON JACK'S (J. JONES-MANAGER) NIGHT OFF.    IN ADDITIONN TO SELLING TICKETS LIKE ABOVE, SHE KNOWS HOW TO RUN THE DIGITAL PROJECTORS.    AT KMAQ, SHE IS THE RECEPTIONIST AND BOOKKEEPER AND IS ON THE AIR A LITTLE DAILY.    BEEN AT KMAQ OVER A DOZEN YEARS AND AT KMAQ, SHE CAN ALSO SELL YOU VOY/61 GIFT CARDS, PERFECT FOR  BIRTHDAY GIVING.   AT THE THEATRE YOU WILL FIND HER 2 OR 3 DAYS A WEEK AND AT  THE DRIVE-IN, MORE THAN THAT DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS.    AND THERE, SHE SOMETIMES (AFTER A DAY AT KMAQ) WORKS STARTING AT 6 P.M. AND GOES BEYOND MIDNIGHT.   NOT BAD FOR HER AGE.      WE WON'T MENTION AGES ON THESE SPOTLIGHTS.     THERESA LIVES NEAR THE THEATRE WHICH IS HANDY AND SHE HAS GRANDCHILDREN OUT WEST AND OUT EAST.   SHE LIKES THE MOVIE BUSINESS, BUT WATCHES FEW MOVIES EACH YEAR.  SHE'S JUST TOO BUSY!! 

THE FUN BEGINS RIGHT AFTER YOU PASS OUR "LIGHTS OUT" SIGN.

GIVE A THEATRE GIFT CARD...

MAKES AN EXCELLENT BIRTHDAY GIFT...

AVAILABLE AT VOY 3 THEATRE BOXOFFICE...

AND AT KMAQ...

BUY A $50 CARD AND GET A $10 CARD FREE...

USE SAME CARD AT THE VOY 3 THEATRE

OR THE 61 DRIVE-IN....

FOR ADMISSION TO THE SHOW 

OR AT CONCESSIONS STAND.

MARCY KLOFT, ABOVE....WORKED FOR ME BACK IN 1981 NOT LONG AFTER DEAN TILTON AND I BOUGHT KFC IN MAQUOKETA.     MARCY (AND HUSBAND DUANE) RAISED TWO GIRLS AND SHE NOW IS BACK WORKING FOR ME AGAIN, THIS TIME AT THE VOY THEATRE AND DRIVE-IN WHEN NEEDED THERE.     SHE WAS GOOD AT SELLING CHICKEN AND SHE IS ALSO NOW GOOD AT SELLING POPCORN AND POP.  AND ALWAYS WITH A SMILE. HER GIRLS ARE GROWN, ONE MARRIED, AND MARCY AND DUANE  HAVE NO GRANDCHILDREN, YET.      SHE'S OLDER THAN SHE  LOOKS AND WHEN SHE'S NOT SERVING A CUSTOMER ... SHE TALKS AND TALKS.

BY THE WAY, WE SOLD KFC BACK IN THE  YEAR 2,000.   IT WAS LOCATED
JUST NORTH OF PIZZA HUT.     AND THE NEW OWNER, CLOSED IT IN 2002.

ABOVE, A 1937 AD FOR THE PASTIME THEATRE IN MAQUOKETA.   FOR MOST
YEARS, IT WAS LOCATED WHERE "SMILES ON MAIN" DENTAL OFFICE IS
NOW.   IT HAD SEATING FOR OVER 600.   AND EACH WEEK THEN,  RAN 2 OR 3 DIFFERENT MOVIES A WEEK.  BANK NIGHT WAS HUGE BUT BECAME ILLEGAL
BECAUSE YOU HAD TO BE PRESENT TO WIN.     I OWNED PASTIME FROM NOVEMBER 1,1972 UNTIL JANUARY 31, 1973 WHEN IT WAS TORN DOWN TO MAKE WAY FOR A NEW "SCHULTZ BROTHER'S VARIETY STORE".    THAT STORE LATER BECAME JIM BOLMAN'S "TRUE VALUE HARDWARE STORE".    THEN THE DENTAL LOCATION.    MAQUOKETA HAD NO THEATRE FROM
FEBRUARY 1, 1973 UNTIL THE VOY THEATRE OPENED IN MARCH, SIX WEEKS LATER. 

ABOVE, SHARON GOETTLER, LONGTIME (OVER 10 YEARS) CONCESSION EMPLOYEE AT THE VOY 3 THEATRE AND THE 61 DRIVE-IN THEATRE.    HER DAYTIME  JOB IS WORKING FOR THE STATE OF IOWA IN THE FARM SERVICE AGENCY OFFICE ON EAST PLATT STREET.    AND THERE IS ALWAYS MORE WORK TO BE DONE AT HER HOME IN MAQUOKETA.    SHE'S BEEN INVOLVED ALSO WITH LITTLE THEATRE WORK WITH THE PEACE PIPE PLAYERS.  LIKES COOKING AND BAKING TOO.    AND MOVIES!    

AN OLD AD IN THE EARLY DAYS OF THE 61 DRIVE-IN THEATRE  5 MILES SOUTH OF MAQUOKETA.   OPEN SINCE 1950.

THE 61 DRIVE-IN TRAIN FIXED AND
GIVE FREE RIDES TO THE KIDS. 
THAT'S CASIE CASEL AT THE CONTROLS, HIS SON MATT, AND STANDING,  DENNIS VOY, OWNER.

THIS SIGN IS POSTED AT THE DRIVE-IN----

THE TRAIN IS ALWAYS A HIT WITH THE KIDS AT THE 61!    FREE KIDS RIDES OF COURSE!   THE CAN COME BACK LATER IN NIGHT FOR A 2ND RIDE OR 3RD.  ADULTS ON TRAIN ONLY WITH VERY SMALL CHILD.

THE VOLLEYBALL NET IS UP...AND HOPEFULLY
THERE WILL ALWAYS BE A VOLLEYBALL TO USE
IN BOX BY THE NET.     NO CHARGE.   BUT PLEASE PUT THE BALL BACK IN THE BOX FOR THE NEXT
PLAYERS.    

COMING..FOR "HORSE" PLAYERS...A NEW BASKETBALL COURT IN 2016.

THANKS FOR CHECKING THIS NEW BLOG FOR THE THEATRES.   
COME BACK OFTEN.
AND TELL OTHERS ABOUT IT.
REMEMBER ALSO...24 HOURS A DAY,
YOU CAN CALL 563-652-3535 FOR A RECORDING TELLING WHAT MOVIES ARE SHOWING AT THE DOWNTOWN
AND DRIVE-IN THEATRES.    JACK
DOES A GREAT JOB, CLEARLY
TELLING THE MOVIES, SHOW TIMES
AND SOMETIMES ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION.   GIVE A CALL NOW
TO SEE WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE.

THE 61 OPENED IN 1950

THE PASTIME THEATRE IN MAQUOKETA ALSO OWNED THE
THEATRES IN PRESTON AND OXFORD JUNCTION.    I DO  NOT KNOW THE YEARS THOSE TWO CLOSED OR
NAMES OF OWNERS.  THIS SAYS 1925.

THE PASTIME THEATRE IN THE 50'S ACROSS FROM GREEN MILL CAFE. 



 DON AND BECKY KUTSCH.   THEY LIVE JUST EAST OF MAQUOKETA AND HAVE BEEN WORKING AT THE DRIVE-IN PART-TIME FOR 3 OR 4 SEASONS.  THEY WORK TOGETHER IN CONCESSION STAND BUT DON ALSO SELLS TICKETS ONE OR TWO EVENINGS A WEEK.    DON WORKS FOR WEB PRINTING IN MAQUOKETA AND BECKY IS THE 
SECOND COUNTY DEPUTY TO THE TREASURER IN
THE COURT HOUSE AND ALSO FILLS IN AT THE
DRIVER'S LICENSE DEPARTMENT THERE.    THEY
ALSO HAVE LOTS OF ANIMALS ON THEIR LITTLE
FARM, INCLUDING GOATS, SHEEP, AND MORE.
THEY HAVE TWO SONS, BOTH SINGLE.   ADAM IS
25 AND IS A FORD TECHNICIAN AT A DEALERSHIP
IN HAMPTON, VIRGINIA.     LUKE IS 23 AND WORKS
FOR AN ACE HARDWARE STORE IN MINNEAPOLIS AND ALSO IS A DRUMMER FOR A BAND UP THERE
THAT PLAYS TWO OR THREE TIMES A WEEK.
LOTS OF PEOPLE KNOW BECKY'S PARENTS, BOB AND JOAN HEAD.

ALFRED AND WILMA WITT HAVE WORKED AT THE 61 DRIVE-IN FOR MANY YEARS.    THEY LIVE ON THEIR FARM SOUTH OF THE DRIVE-IN OFF HIGHWAY 61.    ALFRED MOWS THE BIG LAWN AT THE DRIVE-IN AND IS THE 61 DRIVE-IN KIDDIE TRAIN ENGINEER.     PICTURE ABOVE IS  HIM AT THE STEERING WHEEL.    WILMA IS THE CONDUCTOR, GETTING KIDS IN AND OUT OF THE TRAIN AND KEEPING ORDER.   ON BUSY NIGHTS, THAT IS
QUITE A JOB AND SHE DOES IT WELL.     BOTH ENJOY THEIR KIDS AND GRANDKIDS AND LIKE TO ATTEND BALL GAMES THE GRANDKIDS ARE IN.
WILMA LIKES TO COOK AND CAN FRUITS AND VEGETABLES.    ALFRED ENJOYS THE ANNUAL CLINTON COUNTY FAIR.  

TAYLOR CASEL IS OUR NEWEST EMPLOYEE AT THE 61 DRIVE-IN, WORKING IN THE CONCESSION STAND, MAINLY AT THE COMPUTER CASH REGISTER.    SHE CAN ALSO FILL IN DOWNTOWN WHEN NEEDED AT THE VOY 3 THEATRRE.      SHE WILL BE 17 THIS FALL AND A JUNIOR AT MAQUOKETA HIGH SCHOOL.    HER PARENTS ARE CASIE AND BILLIE CASEL OF MAQUOKETA, WHO BOTH ALSO WORK  PART TIME FOR VOY
THEATRES.  (PHOTOS OF THEM COMING SOON)   SHE HAS A YOUNGER SISTER ABBY AND BROTHER MATT. 

ABOVE, MEET "DUNES" SCHROEDER...IN HIS 4TH YEAR SELLING TICKETS AT OUR BOXOFFICE LITTLE
BUILDING.   HE LOVES TALKING TO OUR PATRONS.
HE LOVES LIFE.   ALWAYS BUSY DOING THINGS OR SUPPORTING EVENTS.   GOOD ATHLETE.   VERY
GOOD BOWLER.   GOOD NEW KNEE.   GREAT
FLORIST.   THE 5 POTS OF FLOWERS ALONG THE
SIDE OF OUR CONCESSION BUILDING ARE HIS
CREATIONS.   HE WORKS FULLTIME AT RONANN'S FLORAL SHOW, HIGWAY 64 WEST, MAQUOKETA.

THE ABUNDANT JUNE RAIN WAS GOOD FOR OUR
FLOWERS.

ASHLEY STARR (ABOVE)  IS OUR GOOD AND FAST POPCORN POPPER.    HER FIRST YEAR AT THE DRIVE-IN.    SHE ALSO WORKS FOR DRIVE-IN OWNER DENNIS VOY AT HIS MAQUOKETA RADIO
STATIONS KMAQ AM-FM.    SHE HAS THE AFTERNOON DJ SHIFT FROM 2 UNTIL 5 AT  95.1.
HAS A TEEN-AGE SON, WILLIAM,  AND A NEWBORN BABY GIRL, LAYAH.   BIG DAY COMING UP IN SEPTEMBER FOR ASHLEY.   ASK HER  ABOUT IT.

DON AND BECKY ARE ON TEMPORARY "LEAVE" FROM  WORKING AT THE DRIVE-IN AS THEIR SON WAS IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT A COUPLE WEEKS AGO.    HE'S GETTING BETTER DAILY AND WE
HOPE DON AND BECKY WILL BE BACK WITH US
BEFORE THE SEASON IS OVER.

ANOTHER LOOK BACK ....

THIS IS ON THE WEST WALL OF THE VOY 2 LOBBY, AND SHOWS THE
OPENING MOVIE AND DATE OF ALL 3 AUDITORIUMS.    VOY 1, MARCH 21,
1973..."PETE 'n' TILLIE".....   VOY 2, FEB 27,1975...JAMES BOND MOVIE...."MAN WITH A GOLDEN GUN"      AND VOY 3, JULY 26,1981...."TAKE THIS JOB AND SHOVE IT".
VOY 1 AND 2 CONTRACTOR, G.L. STOCKHAM AND SON(BOB), MAQUOKETA  AND   VOY 3, LARRY ARNSDORF, SR., MAQUOKETA, WAS THE CONTRACTOR,  AND HINKE (NORM) PLUMBING, MAQUOKETA, DID THE PLUMBING WITH ELECTRICAL WORK IN THE VOY 1 AND 2  BY STICKLEY ELECTRIC.     VOY 3 ELECTRICAL BY AL FIER ELECTRIC, MAQUOKETA.    SCHROEDER (ERNIE) HEATING AND AIR-CONDITIONING  DID THE VOY 1,2 AND 3 INITIAL HEATING/AIR CONSTRUCTION.

THIS WALL MULTIPLE FRAME CASE FOR MOVIE ADVERTISING AIDS IS NOW LOCATED IN THE UPSTAIRS  PRIVATE SEATING AREA OF THE VOY 2 THEATRE.   IT IS IN AN OLD FRAME CASE THAT WAS IN THE LOBBY OF THE CASTLE THEATRE IN MANCHESTER, IOWA FOR MANY  YEARS.    DENNIS
VOY OWNED THE CASTLE THEATRE FROM THE EARLY 80'S UNTIL HE SOLD IT IN 1992.    AT THE START, FOR THE FIRST FEW YEARS, HIS PARTNER WAS GERALD PETERSON OF WAVERLY, IOWA.     THEY ALSO OWNED THE MALEK THEATRE IN INDEPENDENCE THOSE YEARS, TWINNING IT AND AROUND 1990,  VOY BOUGHT OUT  PETERSON'S INTEREST IN BOTH THEATRES.
PETERSON HAD  7 OR SO OTHER THEATRES.     DENNS VOY ALSO
OWNED THE  MONTE THEATRE IN THE MID-70'S IN MONTICELLO AND
SOLD IT TO PETERSON WHO CLOSED IT NOT LONG AFTER.    IT NEVER RE-OPENED.  

THE ABOVE FANCIER FRAMES-IN-CASE WAS ALSO IN THE LOBBY OF THE
CASTLE THEATRE.  IT IS NOW IN OWNER DENNIS VOY'S PRIVATE OFFICE
AT THE VOY THEATRE IN MAQUOKETA.     GONE WITH THE WIND AND
DOCTOR ZHIVAGO WERE BOTH GREAT MOVIES AND NOW CONSIDERED
"CLASSICS"      THE MIDDLE MIRROR SHOWS THE OFFICE  AND  DESK.

THANKS FOR CHECKING IN!
TELL OTHERS ABOUT HIS "BLOG"!

JIM GRAY WAS THE PASTIME THEATRE MANAGER IN MAQUOKETA FROM THE MID-50'S FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND THEN WENT TO BOOK MOVIES FOR A
THEATRE CIRCUIT IN DES MOINES.   I GOT TO KNOW JIM  WHEN I FIRST
CAME TO MAQUOKETA IN 1958.   HIS WIFE HAD A BEAUTY SHOP UPSTAIRS AT THE THEATRE.   HE HAD ONE OR TWO KIDS AND WAS A NICE GUY, WITH DARK
BLACK HAIR AND LOVED MOVIES.   PASTIME WITH 600 SEATS WAS WHERE "SMILES ON MAIN"  IS LOCATED NOW.    I WOULD SAY AROUND 2000.  THE MOVIE IN BACKGROUND THAT WAS PLAYING AT PASTIME WHEN PHOTO WAS  TAKEN IS BELOW..

THE VOY 2  AUDITORIUM THAT RE-OPENED SEPTEMBER 23, 2016 AFTER THE
DIGITAL PROJECTOR WAS INSTALLED.    THE RIGHT AISLE WAS
ADDED WHILE CLOSED, AND BACK AISLE ALSO, MAKING IT EASIER TO GET
OUT OF ROWS TO VISIT CONCESSION STAND.     THE SEATING WAS  204 WHEN OPENED IN 1975  AND NOW IS DOWN TO 150.

THE VOY 2 DIGITAL PROJECTOR THE WAY IT LOOKED, READY TO GO, ON
SEPT. 23RD, 2016.   PREPARING THE ROOM AND WITH INSTALLATION OF
EQUIPMENT, THE VOY 2 DIGITAL CONVERSION RAN RIGHT AT $60,000.

THE ABOVE CLASSIFIED AD WAS POSTED HERE IN APRIL OF 2017 WHEN
TOM TIMMERMAN OF MAQUOKETA (OWNER OF ROTMAN MOTORS) GAVE
ME, DENNIS, THE AD HE FOUND IN AN OLD 1969 DUBUQUE TELEGRAPH HERALD.
BUD McKINSEY BOUGHT THE DRIVE-IN AROUND 1960 (IT OPENED IN
SUMMER OF 1950) FROM ONE OF THE ORIGINAL OWNERS, WALT ALLEN.
RUMOR HAD IT THAT  HIS DAD BOUGHT IT FOR HIM.    HE AND HIS WIFE
RAN IT UNTIL THEY DIVORCED AND HE DECIDED TO SELL IT.   THAT WAS IN LATE WINTER OF 1969 WHEN THIS AD RAN.     I THINK  HE GOT
A BUYER IN 1969, A MAN FROM THE QUAD CITIES.    THAT PERSON RAN
IT IN 1969 AND 1970 I BELIEVE.   HE DID STRANGE THINGS THERE, LIKE
PUTTING A WINDOW IN CONCESSION STAND AND HAVING CARS DRIVE UP
TO THAT WINDOW TO BUY ADMISSION TICKETS, NOT USING THE TICKET
BUILDING OUT BY HIGHWAY.    A DECISION TO SAVE MONEY, BY LETTING
CONCESSION PEOPLE ALSO SELL TICKETS.   HE ALSO PUT A TRAILER HOME
NEAR THE CONCESSION STAND TO LIVE IN DURING THE SEASON.   AND
HE DID NOT KEEP THE DRIVE-IN UP LIKE HE SHOULD HAVE, I WAS TOLD.
SO, I ASSUME HE HAS BOUGHT IT ON CONTRACT, AND BUD TOOK IT BACK
AFTER THE 1970 SEASON.    BUD THEN OPERATED IT AGAIN IN 1971 SEASON,
WITH TOM GOODALL OF MAQUOKETA IN CHARGE.    IN 1972, HE SOLD IT
TO ME IN FEBRUARY AND MY FIRST SEASON WAS THE 1972 SEASON.
HISTORY, BUT NOT SURE 100% ACCURATE, OF THE DRIVE-IN EARLY YEARS.

AN EARLY 1950' DRIVE IN AT SOUTH BEND, INDIANA.   750 CARS.

NEW DRIVE-INS ARE STILL BEING BUILDT....

THE BELLEVUE HERALD 2017 ARTICLE BELOW TELLS WHAT IT WAS LIKE AT
A THEATRE IN SMALL-TOWN IOWA IN THE 40'S AND 50'S.

THE "HUCK FINN" MOVIE ABOVE CAME OUT IN
EARLY 1939 AND STARRED MICKEY ROONEY.
I MET MICKEY AT A MOVIE CONVENTION IN 
EARLY 2000.   THE 2ND HUCK FINN WAS RELEASED
IN 1955 AND THERE HAVE BEEN 1 OR 2 MORE VERSIONS SINCE THEN.

DENNIS OWNED THE MALEK THEATRE IN INDEPENDENCE FOR A FEW YEARS IN THE 80'S AND SOLD IT IN THE EARLY 90'S...TO JODENE FITZ.   THIS PHOTO TAKEN IN 2018 WHILE PASSING THROUGH TOWN.     THE THEATRE WAS CLOSED MANY YEARS AGO, AFTER A NEW TWIN THEATRE WAS BUILDT BY SOMEONE.   DENNIS ALSO OWNED THE CASTLE THEATRE IN MANCHESTER ABOUT THOSE SAME YEARS.   IN THE 90'S HE SOLD IT TO BOB FRIDLEY OF DES MOINES WHO HAD A BIG CHAIN OF THEATRES.    IN 2018 FRIDLEY WAS STILL LIVING AND GOING TO HIS OFFICE AT THE AGE OF 100, HELPING HIS SON MANAGE THE CHAIN.     HE SOLD THE CASTLE A FEW YEARS AFTER BUYING IT FROM  DENNIS.... FOR A TOKEN AMOUNT TO THE CITY AND THEN A COMMUNITY GROUP RAN IT WITH VOLUNTEERS.    DENNIS ALSO HAD A SMALL VIDEO STORE AT BOTH THE MALEK AND THE CASTLE.    EARLIER, IN 1975 DENNIS HAD PURCHASED THE MONTI THEATRE IN MONTICELLO FROM LONGTIME OWNER GLEN LAMBERT OF MONTICELLO AND RAN IT FOR A COUPLE YEARS UNTIL SELLING IT TO PETERSON THEATRES OF WAVERLY, WHO CLOSED IT FOREVER A COUPLE YEARS LATER.   SMALL TOWN THEATRE BUSINESS IN THOSE DAYS WAS NOT GOOD.   ALL 3 OF THESE THEATRES DENNIS OWNED WERE REMODELED, LOOKED NICE, AND HAD GOOD NIGHTS BUT TOO MANY POOR NIGHTS.    THE VOY 1-2-3 WAS DOING OK BECAUSE IT WAS A TRI-PLEX AND ALSO BENEFITED FROM THE  DRIVE-IN BIZ.

A REMINDER...EVERY STORY OR PHOTO ON THIS WEB SITE CAN BE ENLARGED FOR  EASIER  VIEWING OR READING....JUST CLICK ON THARTICLE UNTIL IT BECOMES BIGGER FOR READING.

THE NEW TICKET BOOTH OPENED THE FIRST DAY OF
THE 2019 SEASON, APRIL 26TH.    IT WAS BADLY NEEDED
AND A GOOD ADDITION.

NATE GOETZ OF MONROE, WISCONSIN, WAS ONE OF 3 THAT STARTED KMAQ IN
1958 AND OWNED IT UNTIL DENNIS VOY PURCHASED IT IN 1965.   HE AND
HIS BROTHER BOB DID ALMOST ALL OF THE WORK BUILDING  THE MONROE
DRIVE-IN.  THEY ALSO OWNED THE GOETZ THEATRE IN DOWNTOWN MONROE.
SO, KMAQ HAD A MOVIE CONNECTION IN 1958 AND THEN, DENNIS HAD NO IDEA
THAT IN 1972 (WHEN HE BOUGHT THE 61 DRIVE-IN) THAT HE, LIKE FRIEND NATE,
GOETZ, WOULD ALSO BE IN THE THEATRE BUSINESS SOME DAY.    IRONIC!!
IN 2019, THE MONROE DRIVE-IN WAS STILL IN BUSINESS, OPERATED BY A GOETZ
STILL, A RELATION TO NATE AND BOB.

HAVE A GREAT DAY!

DENNIS