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DRIVE-IN<br />
THEATRES<br />
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Clown Identifies<br />
Drive-In<br />
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Cappy' Symbolizes Good<br />
To Patrons of Des Moines<br />
Entertainment<br />
Capitol<br />
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I HE CREATION of a Character<br />
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"Cappy." the symbol of Rood entertainment,<br />
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affords the new Capitol Drive-In Theatre.<br />
Des Moines, Iowa, an unusually effective<br />
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means of advertising and promotion.<br />
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'Cappy." whose name is obviously drawn<br />
from the first three letters of the drive-<br />
'%s«li-<br />
,<br />
in's name, is a smiling clown whose face<br />
Is<br />
used not only in printed advertising, but<br />
is outlined in neon on the back of the<br />
screen tower facing the highway.<br />
"Cappy's" countenance appeared several<br />
times in the attractive. 24-page, two-color<br />
souvenir program on opening night, and<br />
one page was provided for patrons to offer<br />
suggestions on how to improve service, with<br />
Instructions to mail their ideas to "Cappy."<br />
On arriving at the drive-in patrons are<br />
greeted by a handsome attraction board<br />
sign. 26 feet tall and 26 feet wide, carrying<br />
five lines of copy beneath the Capitol<br />
identification sign which includes a replica<br />
of the capitol building tower.<br />
The boxoffice is inviting, well illuminated.<br />
and is built of glass brick with a plywood<br />
roof which has a sand and gravel surface<br />
on top. Two cashiers are used at the two<br />
ticket windows during rush hours.<br />
HOLD 1,000 CARS<br />
Capitol, the fourth drive-in theatre<br />
Des Moines, is said to be the largest in<br />
state. Ultimately it will have a capacity<br />
over 1,000 cars. There are now 728<br />
speakers available. 300 more to be added.<br />
ground area is over 18 acres, and a<br />
three-year program of landscaping has be-<br />
About 200 trees will be planted next<br />
spring, and shrubbery will be planted where<br />
it will be most effective. An eight-foot<br />
Transite fence, consisting of 4x8-foot<br />
strips encloses the south side of the<br />
The east side of the property is<br />
bordered by the highway.<br />
The large concession building, which also<br />
houses the projection room, is built of concrete<br />
block, glass block, and plate glass.<br />
Patrons arc greeted<br />
by "Cappy' i" engag<br />
ir\g imile Oi they<br />
approach the Capitol<br />
Driye In Theatre, lor<br />
hii featurei ore outlined<br />
in neon on the<br />
back ol the icreen<br />
tower lacing the<br />
highway,<br />
shown<br />
above. At right ii the<br />
attractive<br />
boxoffice<br />
to serve two lanes<br />
simultaneously. It is<br />
well illuminated and<br />
is built of glass<br />
blocks with a plywood<br />
roof. The Capitol<br />
will have a capacity<br />
of<br />
1,000 cars.<br />
The interior is trimmed with natural knotty<br />
pine, with the pine ceiling and cross-beams<br />
left exposed. The floor is asphalt tile in<br />
green, white and gray. Counter tops are<br />
Formica. Eleven employes are required to<br />
serve patrons in the combination cafeteria<br />
and self-service layout. Warming service<br />
for baby bottles is not only provided, but<br />
the drive-in furnishes free homogenized<br />
milk for babies.<br />
The concession building is equipped with<br />
two 24-inch exhaust fans. Two large restrooms<br />
with outside entrances are in the<br />
building, and two drinking fountains, one<br />
on each side of the building, are provided.<br />
The patio. 50x75 feet, is located directly<br />
in front of the concession, and is paved<br />
with terrace red tile. Tables and 150 spring<br />
deck chairs are on the patio for patrons.<br />
A six-foot cement walkway extends down<br />
the center of the theatre area from the<br />
screen tower and playground to the back<br />
ramp. This well-lighted walkway makes it<br />
possible for patrons of the concession to<br />
walk north or south to the walkway and<br />
then to the concession. Each ramp has a<br />
numbered ramp light by the sidewalk.<br />
The large playground in front of the<br />
screen is equipped with swings, jungle gym.<br />
slide, trapeze bars, teeter-totter, etc.. and<br />
plans include the addition of a merry-goround<br />
next year. Live pony rides are also<br />
available. An additional 400 seats for patrons<br />
are at the rear of the playground.<br />
The screen tower, built of wood and enclosed<br />
with fireproof Transite. houses the<br />
managers office and storage space. Size<br />
of the picture screen is 62 '2X45 '2 feet. The<br />
screen, projection and sound equipment are<br />
all RCA.<br />
The Capitol, built at a cost of $150,000.<br />
represents the culmination of three years<br />
of planning and work by Uoyd Hirstlne,<br />
manager and president: Homer Strowig,<br />
vice-president, and Clarence Shultz. secretary-treasurer<br />
of the Capitol Theatre Corp.<br />
The concession building at (he<br />
Capitol Drive-ln is built ol con<br />
Crete block and glass blocks, witfi<br />
(he entire concession room faced<br />
with plate glass. The large potio<br />
in front of it is paved with terrace<br />
red tile, and tables and ISO chairs<br />
are provided for patrons.<br />
35
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