Johnny All Weather Drive-In

1938: Long Island’s First
Drive-in Movie Opens

Watching movies . . . from a car? The patent for this revolutionary idea was only five years old when Long Island’s first drive-in theater, and the nation’s fifteenth, opened in Valley Stream on August 10, 1938. Over a dozen more followed, including the All-Weather Drive-In in Copiague, one of the nation’s largest with parking for 2,500 cars, as well as a playground, restaurant, cafeteria, and shuttle train to transport customers around the 28-acre facility. In 1998, Long Island’s last drive-in theater, the Westbury Drive-In closed, making way for a 14-screen movie theater and a wholesale club store.

Is anyone here familiar with Suffolk County LI? I'm trying to find exactly where the Smithtown A/W Drive-in was located. The address given is Rt25 (Jericho) and 347 (Nesconset hwy). Was this theater on Rt25 or on Rt347? On the corner of Rt25 and Rt347 today is an empty lot next door to Pep Boys. Is that the corner that it was located on?

I found where the Smithtown Drive-In was located and will add it to this website.

The other side of the street from pep boys it is now condo houses

Thats exactly where it was longislandmovies.

I grew up in Setauket on Long Island, and in 1968 a friend's mother took my friend, his younger brother, and me to see 2001: A Space Odyssey at a theater on the Island not long after it opened.

I've been trying to figure out exactly which theater it was and suspect this may have been it -- mainly because I remember the theater was not close by and the place had both indoor and drive-in screens.

Does anyone else recall seeing 2001 at this theater not long after it was released? I'd be grateful to know! Thank you.

WBAB Radio had a DJ booth for "live" broadcasts from the Copiague Drive-In. The place had a restaurant, tram car to shuttle people around, et al. Saw hundreds of films there, including matinees at the indoor in the 1960s...2 hits for the price of one! The indoor was huge with a balcony. I once saw "The Chairman" and "The Detective" in 1968 at the indoor and was the ONLY person there for the 2pm show!

Gosh, an era gone by, growing up on Long Island was so cool. I LOVED the All Weathers. Saw "The Hot Rock" which opening scene took place on Long Island and the double feature was "The Sicilian Clan". Now who would of thought an Italian heist flick would end with a hijacked plane landing on The Long Island Expressway? The packed audience indoors cheered. UA made millions on the land sales but they truly could have kept the indoors at Copiague, sell the land where the screens and parking were and build the now exisiting mall around it. The large screen at the now Patchouge Multiplex was the indoor theater there.

Does anyone remember how long the indoor was closed before the drive-in closed? I am guessing maybe 5 years.

How I loved the All Weather Drive In as a child. Yes, my parents had my sister and I crunch down in our seats to make us appear younger to pay the lower "child under 12" admission. We got away with it for awhile until one day a very large Afro-American woman actually came out of her booth and yelled at my parents, "Don't you all tell me them kids aint tweleve! Since that day we were honest. There was a small place for rides for the kids. Indoors, the screen was so large it was over whelming and the sound enveloped you...this was before stereo now. The seats were super comfortable. The popcorn was delicious, nice and buttery. I've never had better. One time we watched a movie outside, and I got my sex education early when I noticed the going ons in the car next to ours! That's life!

UA did not like the clientele of the indoor.
One winter, I put up "Closed for Season please
visit Movies at Sunrise Mall" on the marquee.
I was told to take it down. I am glad to have
been present for that last great joyful night of the
indoor. Dolefully, I sold the very last tickets for the Drive-in. I let last carload in free.

The indoor did not stay open all winter?

I can't speak for the entire history of the drive-in, only from 1978 to it's destruction and of the site presently.
I don't remember the exact date the indoor closed. I will iterate, UA did not like the clientele of the indoor, but closing the whole drive-in for winter led to increased costs in springtime due to brake-ins and vandalism occuring on the unattended grounds. After that, the drive-in remained open over the winter. Then, after that, the buildings were boarded up over the winter and we took the panels down for spring. The flea market continued to operate on Sundays and Wednesdays when the drive-in was closed. Open or closed for the winter? it went back and forth.

I remember seeing GREASE from our station wagon in my pajamas at the drive in!!! Does anyone remember the rooler/ice skate rink across the street???

Roll'in Ice.

All Weather Roll 'N' Ice

Maybe one of my posts about the indoor is now missing? It was a pleasure to be present for the
last great night of the indoor theatre at the
Drive-in.

I remember sneaking through the hole in the fence (right after the security car passed) and walking into the snack bar. The bathroom adjoined the indoor theater so we went in through there and just found a seat. The Roll N Ice is now a Ford Dealer and I think they are closing. You can see them both here http://www.fdatcopiague.org/Vintage.html

Bill:

Finally a confession! I've spent more the 30 years looking for the person that sneaked in through the fence.

When I was 6 years old, my brother and I were horsing around in the back seat of the car while my parents were watching Rock Hudson and Joseph Cotton in "The Last Sunset". I had to stand behind the car for the whole second half of the movie. Ah, All Weather Drive-in memories.

The photo of the All-Weather brings back fabulous memories!!!! You can see the outdoor seating atop the full service restaurant. Great find, Bill.

This Drive-In is quoted in the statistics as being the Largest Drive-In in the country, with room for 2500 autos. I used to manage the North Star Drive-In, in Thornton, Colo (suburb of Denver) which was reputed to be the largest "single screen" Drive-in at 2,000. (All Weather had 2 screens.) Anyone hear of any single/double that are larger?

The Johnny All-Weather had ONE outdoor screen and ONE indoor screen, so it is considered a single screen drive-in.

I'm not too sure how accurate these car capacities are. Some are exaggerated just like the seat count on indoor theaters. Anyway, two other drive-ins claim a larger car capacity than the Johnny. One was the Troy Drive-In in Detroit, Michigan and the other was the Panther Drive-In aka Showtown Twin Drive-In in Lufkin, Texas. They claim a capacity of 3000 cars. If you only count car capacity, the Johnny was tied for third with the 110 Drive-in in Melville, NY at 2500 cars. The indoor seating for the Johnny is listed at 1200, so if you combine the indoor and outdoor capacity it was the largest drive-in. The following link lists the larger drive-ins by car capacity:
http://www.driveintheater.com/history/1950.htm

Anybody remember the sign at the top of the stairs outside Roll-n-Ice that pictured what you could not be dressed like if you wanted to gain admission? The guy was wearing a white tee-shirt with a pack of smokes rolled up in one sleeve, blue jeans, greasy black pompadour and shades. I think the girl was chewing gum, but can't remember much more. It would be great if someone found a picture of that sign. When I was in Copiague Junior/Senior High (located a short walk across Sunrise Highway from the rink), we often had school sponsored roller skating parties there. That would be around 1962-64. I think I remember hearing that Roll-n-Ice was the first indoor, combination roller skating and ice skating rink.

I remember the sign well! It said..paraphrasing now..
Not wanted..gooky mcgook!
It went on to list a lot of no nos
Carl S from Molloy st,just a short walk from the school. I graduated
from the 9th grade from Copiague school..the original in 1956

We used to sit in back of the fence at the rear of the awdi and
watch the movie from there,except on nights that we didn't..as in
we were great leapers then...ahem. The concession stand had these
wow! food combos like franks and beans together. Some nights we'd
go up to the outside balcony of the indoor theater and watch the
outdoor movie from there. I remember seeing 'the long hot summer'
there. On the weekends you'd see practically all your classmates,
as well as some nice looking young ladies that you'd try to meet.
I also remember going to the all weather roller rink to do the same.
We would always ask a nice young lady if she'd 'like to skate double'
Remember the 'farmer's market just down the road? Another good meeting place.

We lived so close to the all weather that on summer nights with
the windows open(who had ac?) we could hear the movie...and if
we went up to the attic,could get a bird's eye view of the
screen! The rear exit of the drive-in opened onto a quiet
street where lovebirds would sit in their cars also watching
the movie..at times. When the movie ended and the people started
leaving from the various exits it was like..wow! A never ending
stream of lights and horns punctuating a tranquil Long Island
scene. Gone forever.

I worked concession for a while at this theatre before moving on to the Sunrise Mall. I loved working concession in the summer time! Very cold in the winter. I use to work with the Corbett's and Wayne and Victor. Any one remember that crew?

Did you work there in the late 50s-early 60s?

I grew up in Copiague in the 60's just a few blocks from the drive-in. In the winter time when the trees were not in bloom I could see the screen from my upstairs bedroom. I could see the screen clearly but of course there was no sound. I am now a very good lip reader.

Does anyone know where I can find records of the history of Copiague? I tried the public library (of which my father was on the committee to establish the library) and all I got was a brief one page history. I am interested in facts such as the population in the 50's, etc. You can email me at JozeeD@comcast.net
Thanks, Josie

"I grew up in Setauket on Long Island, and in 1968 a friend's mother took my friend, his younger brother, and me to see 2001: A Space Odyssey at a theater on the Island not long after it opened.

I've been trying to figure out exactly which theater it was and suspect this may have been it.

Does anyone else recall seeing 2001 at this theater not long after it was released? I'd be grateful to know! Thank you." (60smoviekid, Dec 4, 2004)
________________________________________

Doubtful you saw "2001" here if you're positive this viewing occured during 1968. "2001" was released initially as a roadshow with exclusive engagements in selected regions (the Long Island showing, which started about three months after the NYC premiere, was at the NGC Fox Eastern Twin South Cinerama in Hicksville).

The link below includes details for the New York City area showings (including arrounding counties) of "2001" from 1968-1970. (From there, one can link to a list of the film's worldwide showings.)
http://www.fromscripttodvd.com/70mm_in_new_york_1968.htm

I was certainly there, but who could pooeye be?

Opened on April 20, 1957 by Prudential Theatres. The All-Weather Drive-In Theater in Copiague, Long Island was designed by architects John & Drew Eberson of NYC.

The opening day ad and subsequent 1950's ads for this drive-in refer to it as the All-Weather Drive-In Theatre. Does any one know when the name "Johnny" was added to the name?

Although the architects listed for this theater were John & Drew Eberson, I believe that his son Drew was most likely the architect for this theater since John Eberson died around 1954.

don rosen

it was wbic 540 wbic when johnny opened..at the time they were

sunrise to sunset...you could hear them on your car speakers

and when they would sign off at sundown the moiviw would start..

fyi..wbic/wlix is now wlie now 24hrs..

i'm back on long island pm drive 4-8 pm m-f

www.wnygspiritofny.com

click on boom box

wally1975

also Mr.Hefter was manager of johnny aw...

I have many fond memories of this Drive-in. I lived in Copiague as a child and went there often(Even after my family moved to Brooklyn in the 60s we would still come out to the Island to visit. I have a picture of my sister standing in front of the snackbar and on the back my late mother wrote: Opening day Easter Sun 1959. I don't know if that was the true opening day or not.I remember the playground featured a Big white Whale that had a slide running through it and all the kids inside would get kicked in the head from those coming down( What lawsuits today!)The place was so big ,that there were trams to take you to the snack bar. My one and only encounter with a U.F.O.occured here around 1964 when a huge flat object with revolving lights hovered over the screen and everyone got out of their cars to stare at it till it slowly drifted upward and out of sight. To this day, I have no idea what that was! (I"m not making this up!) I remember in the mid 60s when they used to have fire works displays in front of the screen I used to go to the Roll and Ice across the street alot. I Lived in the American Venice section and used to cross the canal to explore Indian Island. -Anyone know if that ever got developed? Miss my copiague days and that great theater!

This week's edition of the free Long Island Press newspaper features a reproduction of an original poster heralding the opening of this All-Weather theatre on the front page. The main feature is about lost LI landmarks such as the Drive-In, Nunley's Amusement Park and the Commack Arena.

The image may be seen here - at least until the next edition of the Press comes out and the website updated. I'll try to scan an image of the cover into my photobucket album over the weekend and post it here for posterity.

Great article!!! I went to all those places growing up. NOTE: The Frank Buck Zoo was next to the Massapequa Drive-in. You were able to check out Monkey Mountain while waiting in line to get into the drive-in. Also, there were four All-Weather Drive-in on LI.

Frank Buck's! I remember it well,seeing 'wild' animals while eating popcorn.It was great.Later on there was an archery range where the mall is now and also the Howard Johnson's restaurant was there a long time too. We couldn't wait for Friday and Saturday nights back in the 50s.Many nights saw us,let's say circumnavigating the back fence,one step ahead of the guards.Some nights there were so many of us we would sit back there and watch the action going on in front of us,with some of it taking place on the screen.A great time of life.
I go back to Copiague now and then and have to look for the old landmarks.Oh well.Carl S

The All-Weather Drive-in opened in 1957 and originally had 2,500 spaces for cars and 1,200 seats in its indoor auditorium, according to Craig Morrison's "Theaters." The facilities also included a playground, cafeteria, and full-service restaurant. A trackless train with four passenger cars shuttled patrons around the site's 28 acres. An aerial photo can be found in Morrison's book. There was apparently a large pond or pool separating the screen from the first row of cars.

Here is a 1957 photo of the Johnny All Weather marquee.

This site has some information. Address given is 1001 Sunrise Highway.

4-page article from the September, 1957 issue of popular science can be had at http://books.google.com/books?id=Ci0DAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA118&dq=drive-in+date:1932-1975&lr=&as_brr=1&as_pt=MAGAZINES&ei=xBc_ScqmE5WyyQTg6PW6Dg#PPA120,M1

Here is a photo I assume is the Johnny All Weather. Maybe someone can verify it. Here is a 1966 aerial photo.

Michigian Drive-ins, Yes this is the drive-in in question.

WOW, the back of the Johnny All-Weather screen tower brings back memories. I remember when it was sparkling clean!! When it was lit up at night, it was exciting, especially when approaching it on Sunrise Highway.

I remember when we had 2 of these here in new Jersey, the Plainfield-Edison Indoor/Outdoor and the Turnpike Indoor/Outdoor. What was great was after they twinned the indoors, they showed all different movies in and out. So if you went to an early indoor show, you could get out, move the car and watch the double feature showing outside. Great days, never to return again. How sad.

I don't know why there is so much confusion about Copiague and Babylon. The 1957 photo accessed by the 3/14/08 posting newspaper article said the theatre was in Babylon. Wrong. Up until recently the posting for the RKO Babylon twin had it located in Copiague. Even more strange figuring that between these two villages is Lindenhurst. Oh, well.

What a great idea a drive in and an indoor at the same place. I bet it only had one booth for both screens.Never heard of this concept before.

There were a number of these on Long Island. Also Ct. The one I was in in Ct. they had a large garage door which they rolled up so you could see the Drive In Screen. Many other drive ins also had small indoor booths.

Thanks for the info rvb.

We had 2 of these in New Jersey, the Plainfield-Edison, and the Turnpike. The original buildings had 1 projection room with the dual projectors almost back to back of each other. After they twinned both buildings, a seperate third booth was added downstairs.

And up til the mid 70's they actually would run the same double feature at the drive-in and the indoor and just start them an hour apart, using 1 print of film.

Thanks!!!!