Neponset Drive-In

Dorchester, MA

775 Gallivan Boulevard

, Dorchester, MA 02125 United States

(map)

Status:	Closed/Demolished
Screens:	Single Screen
Style:	Unknown

Function:	Unknown
Seats:	Unknown
Chain:	Unknown

Architect:	Unknown
Firm:	Unknown

The Neponset Drive-In was on Morrissey Boulevard in Dorchester for years. It had a single screen and was a huge local hangout for teens in the 50s to the 70s. It became a flea market in the 80s and then vacant until the City of Boston turned the site into Pope John Paul II Park around the turn of the century.

It was pay per head so I have great memories of sneaking in with trunkloads of teens in cars with the back seat filled with lawn chairs. I'm sure they never suspected.

Contributed by Jeff Rogers

YOUR COMMENTS

Here's the official web page for Pope John Paul II Park, which opened in June 2001. The park occupies the sites of both the Drive-In and an adjoining former landfill.

The fictional "Pen Park" in Dennis Lehane's book Mystic River was based partially on this site.

posted by Ron Newman on May 19, 2006 at 3:46am

The beautiful signage for this theater was colorfully done in neon. It was located next to the interstate highway at the Quincy exit.

posted by hondo59 on May 19, 2006 at 7:15am

The screen could be viewed from the adjacent Southeast Expressway. Unfortunately, one disadvantage of its location was having an unfragrant dump, which was sometimes burning, next door.

posted by Ron Salters on May 19, 2006 at 7:25am

This is the address that I found for this former drive-in:

775 Gallivan Blvd
Dorchester, MA 02122

posted by Lost Memory on May 19, 2006 at 7:34am

Yes, its entrance gate was on Gallivan Blvd, not Morrissey Blvd; the latter intersected with Gallivan Blvd just to the east of the Drive-In's location.

posted by Ron Salters on May 19, 2006 at 7:51am

There is a link to a photo

dorchesteratheneum.org

posted by melodiep on Oct 12, 2006 at 10:42am

We loved this drive-in theater when our parents took us here in the 1960's. It had a long entrance driveway that passed under the expressway, and the neon lights were nice. Years later, after I bought my first car in 1973, I came back here and was dismayed that the sound speakers had been removed and you were expected to listen to the sound on your car radio. This was terrible, because you had to waste the power of your car's battery for two hours. I never returned, even when it was a flea market.

posted by Dennis O'Brien on Jan 11, 2007 at 6:09pm

Car capacity for the Neponset Drive-In was 1,350.

posted by Lost Memory on Oct 27, 2008 at 7:51pm

I was wondering if anyone remembers if they tore down Shoals Riverview skating rink to make way for the Drive-in. I don't remember it that way but many people keep telling me that's what happened. I remember watching the movie at the drive in from the ladies room window at the skating rink. Was I having a dream? Any help on this would be appreciated. It's sort of like which came first the chicken or the egg.

posted by Claire Colman McTavish on Mar 26, 2009 at 2:40am

I went to this drive-in many times as a child. One thing I remember was that it had a miniature railroad that ran around the outside of the theater. You could sit in the cars in the back and ride.

posted by Joe V. on Aug 26, 2009 at 12:59pm

Note: Please read our comment policy before posting. Comments which are off-topic, obscene, spam, or personal attacks will be removed. Help us keep the discussion productive!

Search

Theater Guide

Add Your Cinema Treasure!

Newest Theaters

Recent Comments

Updated Theaters

Neponset Drive-In

YOUR COMMENTS

Notify me when someone replies to my comment?