53 Drive-In

What a place!

The 53 Drive-In was located at a busy intersection that allowed a full view of the giant screen and whatever movie that happened to be playing at the time. Special $5.00 per carload promotions pretty much eliminated the need for hiding people in the trunk. I remember spending the entire night watching all five "Planet of the Apes" movies.

The programming was a curious mix of first run fare and typical drive-in trash. It became notorious for showing X-rated movies that anybody stuck at the red light on Hicks Road could see clearly. There were stories of auto accidents caused by distracted drivers.

As a high school senior I waited in line with four other underaged kids hoping to get past the ticket booth to see a real classic called "The Case of the Smiling Stiffs."

One week you could see a real gem like "All The President's Men" and the next week it was "The Corpse Grinders." Only at the 53!

I remember some of the bizarre bills at the 53. For example, around 1980, I remember seeing a major Hollywood blockbuster (can't recall which one) on a bill with H.G. Lewis' "Blood Feast," "2000 Maniacs," and "Color Me Blood Red"! In 1980!!!! I also remember being there until almost dawn watching up to 5 movies like "Last House on the Left" and "Don't Look in the Basement." Plus the midnight XXX feature (for only $1 a carload more) was always fun. They also stayed open all winter, so you could sit there with huge snowbanks around your car during the nasty midwestern winter weather. Going to the 53 was a truly unique experience, which is unfortunately gone forever.

"It closed in 1986 and was demolished a year later to make way for a UPS shipping facility." Nice move, UPS!

I remember flying up 53 with my girlfriend as the sun set, trying to get there before the movie started. The car was a 72 Plymouth with a huge hood. My would cover up in blankets and lay on the hood and watch the movies in the open air-it was GREAT!!! I really miss tghis one!!!

Remember The 53 From 1962 to 1967 With all the kids from Palatine .Had some of the best times and memories of my life there.Sure miss it! Grits

I believe the place opened with CLEOPATRA and much fanfare. There was a playground (very low-rent) beneath the screen which was slowly consumed by the earth beneath it. I remember seeing a double bill of PEYTON PLACE and SINK THE BISMARK as a kid, but coming back as a teen to sneak in beers and (not so successfully)try to "make out" with dates. Another double bill, barely remembered from this ear was BARBARELLA and THE GREEN BERET.

By the time multiple screen were added, the place was turning into a open air gindhouse I vividly remember seeing rats run between the cars as LOVE CAMP 7 played on one of the screens. I also remember a cop coming by to shine a flashlight in our car during the winter (very Orwellian) because they could, I guess.

The stories about car wrecks due to passersby trying to catch a glimpse of the porno flicks was at least reported as true by the local press.

By the early 70s, more discriminating tastes headed to Wheeling's TWIN DRIVE-IN where we could watch airplanes land next door should the movie get too boring.

Ten minutes to showtime....

Seen as a 5 picture marathon in around 1980:

Massacre at Central High
Night of the Living Dead
The Corpse Grinders
The Rats are Coming, the Werewolves are Here

I begged my Mom to take me to this monster fest and she did. However, by the time "rats" rolled, it was enough. I don't remember what the fifth movie was as we didn't see it.

I guess my girlfriend and I were among the earliest patrons of the 53 Drive-In as we frequented it in 1960-61 from our homes in Barrington. I never had any money so I'd hide her in the trunk to avoid paying admission, which I believe was 50 cents. Yes, I got curious looks from those in the ticket booth when I drove in, seemingly alone.

Remember those in-car heaters? These were the times of which fond memories were made.

BarringtonBob

Here is a 1982 marquee photo:
http://tinyurl.com/mnfdb3

Another beauty.