I do not believe the ridges at the end of Clark Avenue are indications of a drive-in. Topo maps going back to 1949 show the same three houses/buildings present on the property which would be where the screen had to have stood.
So, I do not believe that Clark Avenue is the location of the drive-in. The ridges are something else other than ramps.
A house sits where the concession stand/projector booth once stood.
A 1963 aerial shows the drive-in intact and apparently operational. But a 1980 aerial shows the drive-in demolished with the screen and projection booth/concession stand gone.
A 1968 aerial photo appears to show the drive-in was demolished. While the projector booth/concession stand might still be present, there is no indication of a screen.
It is true that the photo itself is not good quality, but it sure looks like an abandoned drive-in by 1968.
A closer address is 25291 Orange St, Los Molinos, California.
The drive-in sat on the south side of the street. It appears intact in a 1969 aerial.
Today, the property has been redeveloped into a housing edition. There is no trace of the drive-remaining, although the driveway of the address matches the entrance of the drive-in.
The drive-in appears in a 1955 aerial photo. A 1981 aerial shows it was intact and appeared to be operational. by 1998, the screen is gone and the drive-in certainly looks closed.
Today, the property is occupied by All-Seasons Equipment and Self Storage. You can still see the general outline of the drive-in and a few hints of the ramps.
A 1956 aerial shows what appears to be a drive-in at that location. It’s small enough for the 100 cars and seems to have a screen at the SE corner. The drive-in was also enclosed by a fence with trees or bushes.
Today, it appears to be private property with no trace of the drive-in remaining. The entrance to the property has also changed as it was slightly further SE, but this is the current address.
It appears this drive-in did not last long. A 1954 aerial shows it intact, but a 1963 aerial shows the screen down and the ramps starting to fade. Although the concession stand/projection booth is still in place.
By 1981, the concession stand/projection booth is gone along with all traces of the drive-in. Today, it is an empty field with no indication that a drive-in ever existed on the site.
A 1968 aerial shows the drive-in demolished with only the ramps and outline remaining.
By 1995, the drive-in had virtually faded away. Today, the property is mostly an open field with a walking track located on the north side of Faith Deliverance Community Church. There is no trace remaining.
150 to 200 seems about right. It’s not very big, although it is usually tough to tell just from an aerial of how many cars it can hold.
The projection booth at the back of the drive-in usually, but not always means that it is relatively small because of the throw distance. But don’t hold me to that as there are a few large drive-ins with the projection booth way in the back.
NETR is an online source for aerial photos and topo maps. The next year they have after 1962 is 1981. The topo maps do not show anything between that time either, but then again topo maps often have old information.
I’d say “built after 1962” is about the best I can come up with.
While topo maps are known for displaying old information, I’ve yet to run into an aerial photo that was dated wrong. Certainly not several years off like it would have to be assuming the Forum Drive-In opened at that location in 1956.
The same 1962 aerial shows the Spaulding Drive-In, but the area where the Forum is suppose to be is clearly still forest. So, I’m inclined to believe that the Forum was not built until the mid-1960s at least at that location unless it can be shown that the aerial photo is dated wrong.
A 2008 Google Street view shows the screen still standing and in decent shape. Apart from the outline and ramps, there is nothing else left of the drive-in.
The drive-in seems to have closed by 1968. By the following year, an aerial photo shows the concession stand/projector booth had been demolished.
There seems to be virtually nothing of the drive-in remaining, save perhaps for the concession stand, projection booth. That may still be in place, although it appears to be quite ragged.
A closer address is 506 Old Kirbyville Hwy, Jasper, TX. Google doesn’t map it exactly, but you’ll find the location on the west side of the highway about a quarter-mile south of the intersection of Old Kirbyville Hwy and HWY 96 south of Jasper.
The drive-in appears on a 1952 aerial and 1956 topo map. By 1982, the drive-in had been demolished. Today, a private business occupies the site and virtually nothing of the drive-in remains.
Topo maps that date back to 1935 show no indication of an airstrip paved or otherwise at that location. Plus, the area itself is not only hilly, but seems to have been developed with a school, cemetery, and some housing from at least the 1930s.
Most grass airstrips tend to be isolated, but I recognize that is not always the case.
It’s always possible that topo maps are mistaken, but it’s also possible that Wikipedia is mistaken as well. In any event, I suggest further investigation to ensure that the address is accurate because there is evidence that it is not.
I do not believe the ridges at the end of Clark Avenue are indications of a drive-in. Topo maps going back to 1949 show the same three houses/buildings present on the property which would be where the screen had to have stood.
So, I do not believe that Clark Avenue is the location of the drive-in. The ridges are something else other than ramps.
A house sits where the concession stand/projector booth once stood.
A 1963 aerial shows the drive-in intact and apparently operational. But a 1980 aerial shows the drive-in demolished with the screen and projection booth/concession stand gone.
A 2018 Google street view shows the second screen still standing and the entire property overgrown.
A 1961 aerial shows a drive-in approximately where Fry’s Food and Drug stands today at 2115 US-60 #200, Miami, AZ.
Could this be the original location of the Apache Drive-In?
A closer address is 1770 AZ-77, Globe, AZ. The drive-in is still intact as of 2016.
https://tinyurl.com/v9hxgfu
A 1968 aerial photo appears to show the drive-in was demolished. While the projector booth/concession stand might still be present, there is no indication of a screen.
It is true that the photo itself is not good quality, but it sure looks like an abandoned drive-in by 1968.
A closer address is 25291 Orange St, Los Molinos, California.
The drive-in sat on the south side of the street. It appears intact in a 1969 aerial.
Today, the property has been redeveloped into a housing edition. There is no trace of the drive-remaining, although the driveway of the address matches the entrance of the drive-in.
https://tinyurl.com/uvmzbnf
Fount It!
The address is W2042 WI-64, Marinette, WI.
The drive-in appears in a 1955 aerial photo. A 1981 aerial shows it was intact and appeared to be operational. by 1998, the screen is gone and the drive-in certainly looks closed.
Today, the property is occupied by All-Seasons Equipment and Self Storage. You can still see the general outline of the drive-in and a few hints of the ramps.
https://tinyurl.com/uyy5sxl
I believe I found it.
The address is 995 E Hall St, Hatch, NM.
The drive-in was located just SE of the town.
A 1956 aerial shows what appears to be a drive-in at that location. It’s small enough for the 100 cars and seems to have a screen at the SE corner. The drive-in was also enclosed by a fence with trees or bushes.
Today, it appears to be private property with no trace of the drive-in remaining. The entrance to the property has also changed as it was slightly further SE, but this is the current address.
https://tinyurl.com/wc3oyht
It appears this drive-in did not last long. A 1954 aerial shows it intact, but a 1963 aerial shows the screen down and the ramps starting to fade. Although the concession stand/projection booth is still in place.
By 1981, the concession stand/projection booth is gone along with all traces of the drive-in. Today, it is an empty field with no indication that a drive-in ever existed on the site.
A 1968 aerial shows the drive-in demolished with only the ramps and outline remaining.
By 1995, the drive-in had virtually faded away. Today, the property is mostly an open field with a walking track located on the north side of Faith Deliverance Community Church. There is no trace remaining.
Here is the location on Google Earth. https://tinyurl.com/y3habp7s
Totally demolished. Not even the ramps remain.
Nope
150 to 200 seems about right. It’s not very big, although it is usually tough to tell just from an aerial of how many cars it can hold.
The projection booth at the back of the drive-in usually, but not always means that it is relatively small because of the throw distance. But don’t hold me to that as there are a few large drive-ins with the projection booth way in the back.
NETR is an online source for aerial photos and topo maps. The next year they have after 1962 is 1981. The topo maps do not show anything between that time either, but then again topo maps often have old information.
I’d say “built after 1962” is about the best I can come up with.
While topo maps are known for displaying old information, I’ve yet to run into an aerial photo that was dated wrong. Certainly not several years off like it would have to be assuming the Forum Drive-In opened at that location in 1956.
The same 1962 aerial shows the Spaulding Drive-In, but the area where the Forum is suppose to be is clearly still forest. So, I’m inclined to believe that the Forum was not built until the mid-1960s at least at that location unless it can be shown that the aerial photo is dated wrong.
I believe I found it.
747 UT-55, Price, UT.
The drive-in sits on the east side of Price and was intact and seemingly in operation until at least 1972. By 1979, it had been demolished.
https://tinyurl.com/y5ezwja3
A 2008 Google Street view shows the screen still standing and in decent shape. Apart from the outline and ramps, there is nothing else left of the drive-in.
The drive-in seems to have closed by 1968. By the following year, an aerial photo shows the concession stand/projector booth had been demolished.
The marquee has been removed.
A Google street view from 2018 shows no indication of a screen remaining.
It does appear that the outline of part of the back fence and ramp remain from the drive-in.
There seems to be virtually nothing of the drive-in remaining, save perhaps for the concession stand, projection booth. That may still be in place, although it appears to be quite ragged.
Found It!
A closer address is 506 Old Kirbyville Hwy, Jasper, TX. Google doesn’t map it exactly, but you’ll find the location on the west side of the highway about a quarter-mile south of the intersection of Old Kirbyville Hwy and HWY 96 south of Jasper.
The drive-in appears on a 1952 aerial and 1956 topo map. By 1982, the drive-in had been demolished. Today, a private business occupies the site and virtually nothing of the drive-in remains.
https://tinyurl.com/y2j45fby
Topo maps that date back to 1935 show no indication of an airstrip paved or otherwise at that location. Plus, the area itself is not only hilly, but seems to have been developed with a school, cemetery, and some housing from at least the 1930s.
Most grass airstrips tend to be isolated, but I recognize that is not always the case.
It’s always possible that topo maps are mistaken, but it’s also possible that Wikipedia is mistaken as well. In any event, I suggest further investigation to ensure that the address is accurate because there is evidence that it is not.
It should be W County Road 118, not 18.
A 1963 aerial shows the drive-in intact. By 1996, it had been demolished. Today, there is no trace of the drive-in.