The Exhibitor (1953)

DRIVE-IN THEATRES There’s no place quite like home for the family of Howard T. Chapman, owner and operator of the Cherry Hill Drive-In, Cowpens, S. C. For home, in this case, is a deceptively roomy lean-to structure in the screen tower of their theatre, and few rural families can top it for comfortable living. The two-story dwelling has a living room, bedroom, kitchen, and bathroom on the first floor, and maid’s quarters, an¬ other bedroom, another bath and large storeroom upstairs. There is enough space in the entire structure to provide 12 rooms. The idea of building the house in the screen tower was conceived at the same time that construction on the drive-in was begun, and the building of both was directed by Chapman, without the aid of formal plans, and with mostly unskilled labor. Construction of the house is along simple lines. Ten large creosoted poles form the main support of the structure, with five of these, 65-foot base poles spaced 12xk feet apart, holding the frame¬ work for the face of the screen, and five A view of the modern, folly equipped Chapman kitchen reveals that a screen tower home can mean pleasant up-to-date and gracious living. ‘‘pusher” poles placed in a leaning posi¬ tion 24 feet directly behind the base poles. Viewed in profile, the structure is a right triangle, with the base formed by the ground line, the side formed by the screen edge, and the hypotenuse repre¬ sented by the sharply sloping roof of the house. The “pusher” poles were securely fastened to the base poles 11% feet from the top of the latter. Large bridge spikes were driven around the bottoms of all ten poles to grip them firmly in steelreinforced concrete of the front porch. Supporting the roof of the front porch are five concrete block columns, built four feet behind each “pusher” pole, and reinforced with storm drain pipe on the inside. Two other columns like these were constructed, one on the entrance side of the theatre, and one at the exit, as start¬ ing points for the aluminum fence that surrounds the drive-in. The house is of frame construction with white asbestos shingles. A ladder has been installed up the center of the aluminum roof for use when the screen is painted. Rear view of the Cherry Hill Drive-In, Cowpens, S. C., reveals the exterior of the screen tower which serves as the living quarters for the family of exhibitor Howard T. Chapman, who built and designed the drive-in. The interior is tastefully decorated for comfortable living, with modern conveniences. Screen Tower Home A South Carolina Exhibitor Builds and Designs Modern D-l Dwelling A six-inch asbestos tube was run from the house chimney at the porch line to the top of the screen tower to eliminate back drafts. Ventilators for the dwelling areas have been set in the side of the building. From the front porch, measuring 10 feet, three inches by 51 feet, eight inches, the front door opens into a large living room that has been tastefully furnished with antiques and decorated in a pastel shade of dusty rose. The Chapmans plan to put an arch through the living room into the space where the piano now stands, to lead into a combination den and bed¬ room to be built under a large stage which will be erected for the presenta¬ tion of “live” shows. Also contained in this area under the stage will be a back porch and an adjoining garage. The 24x/2 x 18y2-foot bedroom area ac¬ commodates the entire family, and has a number of closets. The walls are done in This room in the Chapman home is furnished in excellent taste and compares favorably with the home of any other rural dwelling family. light blue, and the floor is covered with gray-black asphalt tile. Adjoining is a tile bathroom. An intercommunication system connects the bedroom to the boxoffice, and is left on all night to warn of intruders. The 17 x 13-foot kitchen is done in pale yellow with white enamel woodwork and white plastic tile which runs around the room under large double windows to the back door. The asphalt tile floor is cream with traces of red. A door in the kitchen opens on a flight of stairs which lead up to the second floor. Here are found two finished rooms, one of which is occupied by the maid. The maid’s room, measuring 13 x 14 feet, is done in pale green. One of the un¬ finished rooms is used for storage and drying laundry in bad weather. The drive-in home is heated by an air circulating oil burner installed in the bedroom. Since the dwelling is insulated with rock wool; it is quite easy to heat in the cooler months, and is comfortably cool in summer. The entire Chapman family firmly maintain that they wouldn’t trade places with anyone they know, for they sin¬ cerely believe that nowhere else could they find such a full measure of happi¬ ness as that which they enjoy. OUTDOOR REFRESHMENT SERVICE from Coast to Coast over '/4 Century SPORTSERVICE CORP. SPORTSERVICE BLDG. • BUFFALO, N. Y. February 4, 1953 PHYSICA1 THEATRE DEPARTMENT of EXHIftITOfi PT-11