Ad for the Salem Drive-in Theater printed in the Capital Journal newspaper on 2 Apr 1952. Image from Newspapers.com

This was the second drive-in theater built in Salem. It was located off old Highway 99 (now Commercial St.) at the northeast corner of Wiltsey Rd. In 2023 when this research was done, the old berms and rows were still visible on Google Earth imaging.

The drive-in operated from 1952-1955, first under the name Salem Drive-In and then South Salem Drive-In to differentiate it from the North Salem Drive-In owned by the same company, Forman Theaters. A brief description of the facility was printed in the Oregon Statesman newspaper 17 July 1953.

First-nighters filled the “house” at the Wednesday opening of the South Salem Drive-in Theater, Earl (Pete) Jones, city manager of Forman Theaters, reported. The new theater has a capacity of 450 cars, a 40 by 60 foot screen, snack bar, and double-ramp parking system. Frank Schulz is manager.

This drive-in location closed in 1955 and its sign was removed in 1966. It should not be confused with the third Salem drive-in theater built off south Lancaster Rd. in 1970 that reused the name, South Salem Drive-in.  What appears below is a research timeline that traces secondary source evidence of the theater that was prepared for a research client of the Willamette Heritage Center.

Timeline
Apr 1952 Newspaper ad – Salem Drive-in Theatre (Capital Journal 2 Apr 1952, p. 2) 
Jun 1952 Newspaper ad – Salem Drive-in Theatre (OR Statesman 11 Jun 1952, p. 2) 
Sep 1952 Listed in phonebook in the classifieds — Drive-In Theatre Salem Rt. 2
Jan 1953 Newspaper mention – [recap of the year 1952] New South Salem drive-in starts and another east of Salem planned. (OR Statesman 1 Jan 1953, p. 4) 
Jul 1953 Newspaper ad – Free Movies every night (except Sunday) at the South Salem Family Drive-in, [location] 2 blocks past Dicksons on old 99E (OR Statesman, 25 Jul 1953, p. 2) 
Jul 1953 Newspaper article – Full-house at Drive-in, First-nighters filled the “house” at the Wednesday opening of the South Salem Drive-in Theater, Earl (Pete) Jones, city manager of Forman Theaters, reported. The new theater has a capacity of 450 cars, a 40 by 60 foot screen, snack bar, and double ramp parking system. Frank Shulz is manager. (OR Statesman, 17 Jul 1953, p. 5) 
Aug 1953 Newspaper mention – About 5:40 p.m. two cars collided at the entrance of South Salem Drive-In near Wiltsey Road. 
Nov 1953 Listed in phonebook in the classifieds – South Salem Drive-In Theatre, 2 miles south of Salem on Highway 99, Wiltsey Rd. 
Jan 1954 Newspaper article – assistant manager of the theater is moving to Portland, Frank R. Schulz, has been manager of the Capitol, Grand, Liberty, State, South Salem Drive-In and North Salem Drive-In Theaters (OR Statesman 5 Jan 1954, p. 5) 
Dec 1954 Listed in phonebook in the classifieds – South Salem Drive-In Theatre, 2 miles south of Salem on Highway 99, Wiltsey Rd.1 
May 1955 Newspaper mention – Two theaters drop rates for students, NOT the South Salem Drive-In, it will remain at the present 65-cents level for students and adults alike. (OR Statesman 7 May 1955, p. 5) 
Dec 1955 NOT LISTED IN PHONEBOOK – no further mention in newspapers
Sep 1961 Newspaper mention – ram was on the highway near the old South Salem drive-in theater. (OR Statesman 22 Sep 1961, p. 26) 
Feb 1966 Newspaper mention – twelve abandoned signs removed as part of a national program sponsored by the Electric Advertising Institute, including the one at the old South Salem drive-in theater. (OR Statesman 18 Feb 1966, p. 5)