Rustic Tri-View Drive-In

1193 Eddie Dowling Highway (Route 146),
North Smithfield, RI 02896

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Showing 1 - 25 of 43 comments

mp775
mp775 on February 9, 2024 at 8:54 am

The Rustic’s days may be numbered. From an article in today’s Valley Breeze about extending a water main along Route 146 to encourage economic development - “someone was interested in buying the Rustic Drive-In to build stores, but with no water access, they pulled out.” https://www.valleybreeze.com/news/gateway-to-rhode-island-leaders-approve-tax-study-related-to-route-146/article_bb2e1d64-c511-11ee-8638-97fa4752504b.html

mp775
mp775 on February 9, 2024 at 8:52 am

It opened as Westacres Auto Theatre in 1942, and was renamed Rustic Drive-In in 1951. The Boro was in North Attleborough, now Guitar Center and the vacant Christmas Tree Shops - https://cinematreasures.org/theaters/11435

Gerald A. DeLuca
Gerald A. DeLuca on September 25, 2021 at 5:57 am

1942 ads for a Westacres Auto Theatre on Louisquisset Pike, one mile from Park Square, suggest that was an earlier name for the Rustic Drive-In.

davidcoppock
davidcoppock on October 31, 2020 at 4:54 am

Also known as Boro’s Drive-in.

Gerald A. DeLuca
Gerald A. DeLuca on January 31, 2018 at 2:00 pm

My first time here was with friends on June 26, 1961 to see a double bill of “The Apartment” and Elmer Gantry.“ Pretty good program.

MichaelKilgore
MichaelKilgore on September 29, 2017 at 3:40 pm

Three good YouTube videos:

2008: a staycation postcard from The Herald News
2013: 10-minute Executive Suite TV interview, with drive-in footage, of the folks who run the Rustic
2017: Very nice drone video including what the front looks like at ground level

MichaelKilgore
MichaelKilgore on September 29, 2017 at 9:44 am

There’s a nice article about the Desmaris family and the Rustic in the Sept. 8, 1997 New York Times, still available online 20 years later. A real time capsule! It says Clem and Beverly met while working there in 1954. They bought the Rustic in 1988, threw out the X-rated movies and added two screens.

The 1952 and 1955-56 Theatre Catalogs list it with a capacity of 600 cars, run by M. Stanzler and Affiliated Ths. Corp.

The 1952-53 Motion Picture Almanac lists the owner as Rustic Drive-In, Inc. and that capacity at 600. That stayed the same through at least its 1966 edition. In 1982, the owner was Hallmark (not the card company, I hope!) and capacity was 500, and nothing changed through the MPAs' last drive-in list in 1988.

SingleScreen
SingleScreen on July 23, 2016 at 5:26 pm

In 1991, I caught a double bill of FX2 and whatever STAR TREK film was released around that time. It was the first and only time I’ve been there.

Archie1959
Archie1959 on June 9, 2013 at 4:21 pm

Drive In will be digital cinema starting Friday June 14.

Archie1959
Archie1959 on July 31, 2011 at 5:01 pm

Just went to Rustic 1st time Saturday night. Got there ½ hour before showtime so parking spot was not great but better than some. Saw T3 UGH! and Captain America Bad ending. Did not think snack bar had big selection. Place is cash only. Dissapointed in intermission. No dancing hot dogs or pushing of snack bar. Only coming attraction of Mission Impossible & Spider Man. Easy to exit. My visit to Mendon Drive In last lear was a better expoerence.

JonathanInRandolph
JonathanInRandolph on April 5, 2011 at 4:04 am

Theres a house thats practically under one of the screens on the street level. I wish i lived in that house. You can tune into the movie on the stereo and watch the movie in the backyard, lol

Corey Miller
Corey Miller on November 6, 2010 at 11:49 pm

A photo from September 2010:

View link

Archie1959
Archie1959 on November 8, 2009 at 12:39 am

Did you try contacting Boston Cullinary Group?
55 Cambridge Pkwy., Suite 200
Cambridge, MA 02142

phone: 617-499-2700 fax: 617-225-0897

Maybe they can help locate the owners or management.

kmccarthy
kmccarthy on November 7, 2009 at 11:05 pm

I was wondering if anyone knew how to contact the owners or management for the Rustic? I wanted to see if I could hold an event at their site but the only phone number I can find is for their showtimes. If anyone can help i would be super appreciative!!!

tnesi
tnesi on February 12, 2009 at 11:30 am

Providence Business News published a story about the Rustic and its new owners in January.

http://www.pbn.com/detail.html?sub_id=05afa5d25742

Gerald A. DeLuca
Gerald A. DeLuca on October 20, 2008 at 4:47 pm

Recently at Providence Place Mall there was an art display of Rhode Island buildings and places, each constructed out of tin cans. Here is the one representing the Rustic Drive-In.

Archie1959
Archie1959 on September 24, 2008 at 12:31 am

I looked at the Friday Saturday Schedule for the drive in for 9-26 & 27.
One of the screens has a twin bill of Pulp Fiction & Reservoir Dogs.
Too bad the forcast calls for rain on Friday & Saturday.
House Bunny & Tropic Thunder are on another screen.
Disaster Movie & Death Race are on the third.
I like seeing classics on the big screen.

mp775
mp775 on September 16, 2008 at 2:25 pm

Dimeo Construction built a model of the Rustic out of cans for CANstruction 2008. It’s on display at the Providence Place Mall through September 27. The exhibit is in the concourse that connects the mall with the skybridge to the Westin hotel.

poolsidebecca
poolsidebecca on June 10, 2008 at 9:27 pm

I saw the post can someone post when it reopens I’d like to go with my bf.

chummer
chummer on June 10, 2008 at 9:14 pm

It was closed Friday but reopened on saturday

also: View link

poolsidebecca
poolsidebecca on June 10, 2008 at 9:07 pm

Is the theater back up and running?

poolsidebecca
poolsidebecca on June 10, 2008 at 9:06 pm

Is there a website with show times?

chummer
chummer on June 5, 2008 at 12:21 pm

More Info..

Fire at Rustic Drive-In

on 06-04-2008 21:05

By JOSEPH FITZGERALD

NORTH SMITHFIELD â€" The big screen debut of the latest Indiana Jones flick and a few other big name movies opening at the Rustic Tri-View Drive-In this weekend could be delayed after fire broke out Wednesday morning in the building that houses the projection booth and concession stand.

Heavy smoke was reported in the kitchen and concession area of the building around 11:30 a.m. from a fire reportedly contained to a ventilation shaft between the first and second floors. Despite the clouds of thick smoke, the fire did not appear to have seriously damaged the two-story concrete building, which serves as a projection booth room on the second floor and concession area on the first floor serving everything from popcorn to clam cakes.
As of early yesterday afternoon, the cause of the fire had not been determined and it was unclear whether or not the Rustic â€" billed as Rhode Island’s only drive-in â€" would open for the weekend. Located on Route 146 on the southbound side in North Smithfield, the 57-year-old drive-in, which charges $20 per carload, is open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from April to September.
With summer like temperatures forecast for the weekend and some highly anticipated films showing on three screens, the drive-in is expecting big numbers. But whether or not the facility opens tomorrow depends on how much damage was cause. The damage was being assessed today by the drive-in’s owners, Cambridge-based Boston Culinary Group.
“If the projection room wasn’t touched then there shouldn’t be a problem, but I’m not sure about the kitchen,” said Christopher Bois, who recently started working at the drive-in cleaning up the grounds, a job his mother held before him.
Bois, who lives on Route 146 adjacent to the drive-in, was playing computer games yesterday morning when his mother called to tell him that the drive-in building was on fire. “I flew up there and saw the smoke,” said Bois, adding the fire appeared contained the ventilation shaft because flames could be seen shooting out of the ventilation tube on the outside of the building.
Bois said he was in the building for about 10 minuets earlier that morning and everything was fine. “I didn’t smell any smoke or anything like that while I was there,” said Bois, adding no one else was in the building at the time.
Former Rustic owner Beth Desmarais, whose family owned the facility since the 1980’s, stood back with a small group of onlookers as firefighters fought the blaze. Among the group were manager Jennifer Chenail and projectionist Bob Gosselin.
The Rustic opened in 1951 with a single screen. When her family bought the facility, Desmarais said, they added three screens that each show two movies per night. Currently the movies begin at 8:45 p.m. with the second feature on each screen beginning 15 minutes after the end of the first on that screen.
Desmarais’ family sold the drive-in to Boston Culinary Group in April.
Boston Culinary Group Director of Operations Deborah Belisle Wednesday said company officials will be in town today to assess the damage, adding she is hopeful the drive-in will open for the weekend.
“We’re going to do everything in our power to open for the weekend,” she said.
Belisle said the blaze was contained to the concession area of the building. “From everything we’ve heard from our people there, the projection booth, projection equipment and films weren’t damaged,” she said.
Boston Culinary Group is a privately-owned food service management company that provides food and beverages in the recreation and leisure industry. The company’s theatre division owns and operates 23 theatres throughout the northeast managing all aspects of theatre operations, including the projection booth, concessions stands and box offices. In addition to the Rustic Tri-View Drive-In, the company’s other Rhode Island theaters include Island Cinemas 10 in Middletown, Opera House Cinema 3 in Newport and Entertainment Cinema in South Kingstown.
The other movies opening at the Rustic this weekend include Kung Fu Panda, Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, You Don’t Mess with Zohan, Iron Man and Sex in the City.

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