DON'T RAISE THE BRIDGE.../BERSERK!

This double-feature, featuring two UK productions starring American actors, played the Riverview and Mohawk Drive-ins back in July, 1968. DON'T RAISE THE BRIDGE, LOWER THE RIVER (1967) was directed by Jerry Paris; BERSERK! (1967, yet to make it to DVD) by Jim O'Connolly.

DOCTOR DOLITTLE

Albany's Hellman Theater featured the original DOCTOR DOLITTLE (1967) back in July, 1968.

Doc Circe

Comedian Doc Circe played the Delabar (now a Vietnamese restaurant) in Albany back in January, 1970. The Sounds of Music provided tunes.

THE DEVIL'S BRIGADE / A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS

Ballston Lake's Super 50 Drive-in featured this double-bill in June, 1968. THE DEVIL'S BRIGADE (1968) was a manly WW2 flick with manly William Holden; Leone's A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS (1964) was revived for backup.

THE DEVIL AT 4 O'CLOCK, etc.

The ever-reliable Turnpike Drive-in in Albany featured this bizarre triple-feature in chilly February, 1962. Sinatra starred in THE DEVIL AT 4 O'CLOCK (1961) with Spencer Tracy; EVERYTHING'S DUCKY (1961) was directed by Don Taylor; and of all the possibilites to end with, why the Swedish/West German doc Den Blodiga tiden, released in the US as MEIN KAMPF (1960)?

THE DETECTIVE / HOMBRE

Ballston Lake, NY's Super-50 Drive-in featured this manly double-bill in July, 1968. THE DETECTIVE (1968) was a Sinatra/Gordon Douglas crime thriller; HOMBRE (1967) was the classic Newman western.

Denny and the Drifters

Back in March, 1970 the Klam Steam Tavern (still operating in Clifton Park, NY) hosted Denny and the Drifters, featuring (thee?) Dee Clark.

DARK OF THE SUN, etc.

Albany's Turnpike Drive-in hosted this MGM triple-feature in July, 1968. DARK OF THE SUN was the US title (and title of the source novel) for Jack Cardiff's UK actioner THE MERCENARIES (1968), yet to make DVD under either title; POINT BLANK (1967) was the innovative John Boorman crime thriller; DOCTOR, YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING! (1967) was a comedy from director Peter Tewksbury, no DVD yet.

Night in the Middle East

Back in July, 1968 the Guard Room Lounge in Albany's Thruway Motor Inn put together this belly-dancing/stripping/go-go revue with Jemela Omar and the Danny Saphire Trio.

DANDY / 1000 PLANE RAID

That den of iniquity in Raleigh, the Center Drive-in, featured this double-bill in January, 1971. The IMDb lists DANDY (with John Alderman) as a 1972 General Film Corp. release, but this ad proves it was released at least a year earlier. 1000 PLANE RAID was actually titled THE THOUSAND PLANE RAID (1969), and directed by Boris Sagal. Neither film has yet to see a DVD release.

THE DAMNED

March, 1970 screening of Luchino Visconti's La Caduta degli dei (1969) at the Cinema Delaware, which is thriving today as the Spectrum, Albany's local art theatre (with eight screens).

CORRUPTION / PAYMENT IN BLOOD

Proctor's Theatre in Schenectady screened this double-feature in January, 1969. CORRUPTION was a 1968 UK horror flick with Peter Cushing. PAYMENT IN BLOOD was Columbia Pictures' US title for the Italian western Sette winchester per un massacro (1968) with Edd Byrnes (!). Neither film has made the transition to legit DVD.

COP-OUT / JOHNNY YUMA

The State in Schenectady hosted this double-feature in January, 1968. COP-OUT was the Cinerama release of the British STRANGER IN THE HOUSE (1967); was released on VHS by Anchor Bay, but no DVD yet. JOHNNY YUMA (1967) was an Italian western directed by Romolo Guerrieri.

COME DANCE WITH ME / MA BARKER'S KILLER BROOD

The Turnpike Drive-in hosted this double feature way back in September, 1960. COME DANCE WITH ME was the US release of the French/Italian Voulez-vous danser avec moi? (1959). MA BARKER'S KILLER BROOD (1960) starred Lurene Tuttle.

CLASS OF '74 / BRUTE CORPS / BARBARELLA

Couple of General Film Corp releases plus the Vadim/Fonda classic in this triple-bill from May, 1972 that played the Turnpike Drive-in in Albany and the Latham Drive-in. CLASS OF '74 (1972) was the softcore sex film GABRIELLA (1970) with scenes added. CLASS OF '74 has never had an official release but is available from boot dealers, and GABRIELLA is on tape and DVD-R from Something Weird. BRUTE CORPS (1972) was an action flick with Alex Rocco and Michael Pataki. It's never had an official release to my knowedge, but can be had from the grey market. BARBARELLA (1968) is available on DVD (see link).

CINDY & DONNA / I, A LOVER

This Crown International double feature played two theaters in January, 1971: The Colony Art in Schenectady, and the Oxford in North Troy, NY, the theater I first remember attending. CINDY & DONNA (1970) was a sexploitationer with Debbie Osborne. I, A LOVER was the US release for the Scandinavian Jag--en älskare (1966). Neither film has yet to see DVD.

THE CHEERLEADERS / FRITZ THE CAT

January, 1974 double-feature at Studio I; not sure where that was. THE CHEERLEADERS (1973) is the delightfully wacky (and pretty damn sexy) softcore comedy. FRITZ THE CAT (1972) is the Ralph Bakshi adaptation of the Crumb character (which he hated).

CHANGE OF HEART, etc.

Another pair of strange triple-bills at the Tri-City Twin, from January, 1970. CHANGE OF HEART is most likely the 1969 Belgian film Le Témoin; THE HELLFIGHTERS (1968) was the John Wayne oil well firefighter movie; THE LOVE GOD is a 1969 Don Knotts comedy. THE BRIDGE AT REMAGEN (1969) was a WW2 film with George Segal and Robert Vaughn; IF IT'S TUESDAY, IT MUST BE BELGIUM is a mistitling of IF IT'S TUESDAY, THIS MUST BE BELGIUM (1969), with Suzanne Pleshette and Ian McShane; DEATH RIDES A HORSE is of course the Italian western Da uomo a uomo (1967), with Lee Van Cleef and John Phillip Law.

IN SEARCH OF THE CASTAWAYS / RASCAL

The Mohawk Drive-in on Central Ave. between Albany and Schenectady hosted this Disney double-bill in March, 1970. Surprising 1962's IN SEARCH OF THE CASTAWAYS was still playing this late; RASCAL (1969) starred Steve Forrest and Billy Mumy.

CARNY GIRL / PRIVATE ARRANGEMENT

The Wak-Art in Zebulon, NC hosted this softcore double-bill in January, 1971. CARNY GIRL (1970), with Sharon Kent and Kim Pope, doesn't seem to have surfaced on home video; PRIVATE ARRANGEMENT (1970), with Uschi Digard, was released by Something Weird on VHS and DVD-R.

CARMEN, BABY

July, 1968 screening of Radley Metzger's CARMEN, BABY (1967) at the Colony in Schenectady.

BURY ME AN ANGEL / ANGELS DIE HARD / HELLS ANGELS

March, 1971 triple at the New Forest Drive-in. BURY ME AN ANGEL (1971) is the cheap biker flick featuring a three-person gang, ANGELS DIE HARD (1970) with William Smith is a pretty fun watch, and HELLS ANGELS is probably HELLS ANGELS '69 (69), with Jeremy Slate.

BURN!

A January, 1971 screening at the State in Schenectady of BURN!, the US title for Gillo Pontecorvo's Queimada (1968).

BOOM! / JIGSAW

July, 1968 double-bill at the State in Schenectady. BOOM! (1968) is the British Joseph Losey film, and JIGSAW (1968) was originally planned as a TV movie but released to theaters by Universal. Neither film has received a DVD release as of yet.

THE BODY SHOP

The IMDb lists THE BODY SHOP (aka DOCTOR GORE) as having a 1973 release, but here's an ad for the Tryon Theater in Raleigh, NC that proves it was released in August, 1972. Director J.G. "Pat" Patterson was from the western part of the state.

BLACK MAMA, WHITE MAMA, etc.

Down to two movies on each screen for this January, 1974 date at the Tri-City Twin. On the first: the women-in-prison drama BLACK MAMA, WHITE MAMA (1972) with Pam Grier and Margaret Markov, and the Fred Williamson classic BLACK CAESAR (1973). On the other screen: the sleazy Cheri Caffaro films GINGER (1971) and THE ABDUCTORS (1972).

BATTLE OF BRITAIN, etc.

The Tri-City Twin Drive-in, in Menands, NY, was the drive-in I went to the most as a kid. Incredibly, for years, you had a choice of two new triple-bills every week. Some of the groupings were truly bizarre and inspired. This ad is from January, 1970 (January in Upstate NY is pretty goddamn cold). One screen hosted a trio of WWII films: the epic BATTLE OF BRITAIN (1969), HANNIBAL BROOKS (1969) with Oliver Reed and Michael J. Pollard, and GUNS OF THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN (1969). The other screen featured the British comedy LOCK UP YOUR DAUGHTERS (1969), THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH, the US retitling of the UK drama A TOUCH OF LOVE (1969), and the Arthur Dreifuss comedy FOR SINGLES ONLY (1968). The drive-in was torn down and a FedEx warehouse stands in its place.

BATTLE BENEATH THE EARTH / BLOOD BEAST FROM OUTER SPACE / CASTLE OF EVIL

Albany's Turnpike Drive-in hosted this triple bill in June, 1968. BATTLE BENEATH THE EARTH (1967) is the British sci-fi film about a Chinese invasion of the US via tunnels; BLOOD BEAST FROM OUTER SPACE is the US title for the British THE NIGHT CALLER (1965); the low-budget CASTLE OF EVIL (1966) filled out the night.

BANDOLERO! / WARKILL

June, 1968 double-bill at the State in Schenectady. BANDOLERO! (1968) is the Jimmy Stewart/Dean Martin/Raquel Welch western, while the US/Filipino co-production WARKILL (1968) doesn't seem to have gotten even a VHS release, though it's available on the grey market.

BACCHANALE / TURNED ON GIRL

The Cinema Art was Troy, NY's long-time art-theatre-turned-adult joint; sometime in the '80s it stopped showing film and became a video booth/store. It stayed that way until about a year or two ago, when the mayor decided he didn't like the place and tore down the historic marquee. It remains closed. This Distribpix double-bill is from January, 1972. BACCHANALE (1970) is from the Amero brothers, and was released on VHS by Alpha Blue and other grey market dealers. TURNED ON GIRL (1970) has yet to show up on VHS or DVD.

THE BABYSITTER / WEEKEND WITH THE BABYSITTER

Tom Laughlin double-bill that played the Wak-Art in Zebulon, NC in July, 1971. THE BABYSITTER (1969) is a strong exploiter just dying for a DVD release (it has played cable and thus leaked onto the trading circuit), while its sequel/remake WEEKEND WITH THE BABYSITTER (1971) has been released (see link).

THE BABY MAKER / THE GRASSHOPPER / DARKER THAN AMBER

Triple-bill at the Mohawk Drive-in in Albany (later torn down to be replaced by a Builder Square, which later closed down also) from January, 1971. THE BABY MAKER (1970) starred Barbara Hershey, THE GRASSHOPPER (1970) starred Jacqueline Bisset; both are available on VHS. The underrated, Florida-set crime thriller DARKER THAN AMBER (1970) has been released on VHS, and is sorely due for an uncut DVD release.

BABES IN TOYLAND / THE RACERS / PARRISH

Triple-bill at the Turnpike Drive-in in Albany, from February, 1962. BABES IN TOYLAND (1961) is the Disney version with Ray Bolger and Annette Funicello. THE RACERS (1955) was directed by Henry Hathaway, and was released on VHS. PARRISH (1961) starred Troy Donahue and Claudette Colbert.

THE ARRANGEMENT / THE BIG BOUNCE / ASSIGNMENT TO KILL

January, 1971 triple bill at the Latham Drive-in in Latham, NY, now home to Latham Farms (hah!), a large big box shopping plaza. THE ARRANGEMENT (1969), was directed by Elia Kazan, THE BIG BOUNCE (1969) starred Ryan O'Neal (and was based on the Elmore Leonard novel), and the crime drama ASSIGNMENT TO KILL (1968) doesn't seem to have gotten a home release, though dubs are out there.

THE ARISTOCATS / NIOK, THE ORPHAN ELEPHANT

Disney showing at Proctor's in Schenectady, NY (still going strong) from January, 1971. THE ARISTOCATS (1970) is out on DVD. NIOK, THE ORPHAN ELEPHANT is a retitling of the French short Niok l'élépha (1957), shot in Cambodia, which doesn't seem to have ever been released to video or DVD.

ALL THE YOUNG WIVES / THE STUDENT NURSES / SEXIE SUSAN SINS AGAIN

Here's a triple bill from January, 1974 that played the New Forest Drive-In in (I think) Raleigh, North Carolina. ALL THE YOUNG WIVES (1973) was available on VHS from Something Weird but has been deleted. Stephanie Rothman's THE STUDENT NURSES (1970) was the first flick in New World's softcore Nurses series. SEXIE SUSAN SINS AGAIN, with Edwige Fenech, is a dubbed version of the European Frau Wirtin hat auch einen Grafen (1968). Seems to be on the trading circuit, but I can't evidence of an official release. Anyone have it?

ALL THE LOVING COUPLES

Here are a couple of ads for a January, 1970 showing of ALL THE LOVING COUPLES (1969) at the Cinema Delaware in Albany, NY. Written by screen heavy Leo Gordon, it has yet to make its DVD debut.

THE AMAZING TRANSPLANT / PROWL GIRLS

Here's a double-bill from May, 1971 at Raleigh's Center Drive-In: THE AMAZING TRANSPLANT (1970) is the weird Doris Wishman film, and PROWL GIRLS (1968) is a Barry Mahon film still MIA on video.

Vintage Signage 47

White House Lodge, Warrensburg, NY. Shades of Twin Peaks?

Vintage Signage 46

Morrette's Steak Sandwich Restaurant, Schenectady, NY. When in town stop by, they're good.

Vintage Signage 45

Windsor Motel, Lake George, NY.

Vintage Signage 44

Wade's Canadian Motor Lodge, Lake George, NY.

Vintage Signage 43

Rosie's Diamond Cafe, Lake George, NY.

Vintage Signage 42

Nordick's Motel, Lake George, NY.

Vintage Signage 41

Mohican Motel, Lake George, NY.

Vintage Signage 40

Magic Forest, Lake George, NY.

Vintage Signage 39

Surfside on the Lake Motel, Lake George, NY.

Vintage Signage 38

Kennah's Motel, Lake George, NY.

Vintage Signage 37

Tri-City Luggage, Colonie, NY.