LOS ANGELES -- William R. Forman, who opened the first drive-in theater in the western United States 35 years ago, has died following a lengthy illness. He was 68.
Although the drive-in concept originated, and failed, on the East Coast, Forman was credited with making drive-ins popular.
As founder and chairman of Pacific Theaters and chief executive of Cinerama Inc., his theaters expanded to 16 countries with more than 500 drive-in and walk-in theaters in the United States alone.
Forman was also involved in the producing end of motion pictures. Among his bigger projects were Stanley Kubriock's '2001: A Space Odyssey' and 'Krakatoa, East of Java.' He also produced 'Grand Prix,' 'The Battle of the Bulge' and other screen epics.
Forman's death April 29 was disclosed Sunday
