Sky-Vu Drive-In
Durant, Oklahoma1949-1985
Shop Sky-Vu Drive-In tees, long sleeve tees and hoodies. A tornado took down the Sky-Vu's screen tower in Durant, Oklahoma, on April 2, 1957, and the theater reopened that June 20 with The Deadly Mantis. In its last years it showed adult films while the Ship and the Plaza kept the first-run pictures. Pick a style below, then read the full Sky-Vu history further down. Down Home Apparel is an American small business remembering the best places and teams of yesteryear, and every shirt is printed to order in the USA.
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Sky-Vu Drive-In History
The Sky-Vu Drive-In in Durant, Oklahoma, opened on September 29, 1949, south of town on Ninth Avenue, with Desert Fury. T. Miller Davidge opened it. It sat on about 10 acres next to the stockyards, with a playground, a snack bar and a screen about 35 by 45 feet. The listed capacity is 400 cars. In 1952 Davidge handed his theater business to Ship Bullard, who went on to open a second drive-in in town, the Ship.
On April 2, 1957, a tornado went through Durant and the Sky-Vu's screen tower came down. The storm was rated F4 and killed three people along its path, and it damaged or destroyed about 160 homes and businesses in Durant. The National Weather Service's record mentions a drive-in theater destroyed along the way without naming it. Photos taken the day after show the ticket booth and concession stand still standing. A notice under the theater's name, dated April 3, ran in the local paper. It said the Sky-Vu was not open, that the tower had been completely demolished, and that patrons could go to the Ship in the meantime.
The Sky-Vu was rebuilt and reopened on June 20, 1957, with The Deadly Mantis. In its last years it showed adult films, while the Ship and the Plaza downtown kept the first-run pictures. The Ship closed on August 4, 1985, and the Sky-Vu followed on August 11. An animal hospital is on the site now.