Bel-Air Drive-In

As of January 2006, grading and construction is well underway for the industrial park. In the meantime, the rather tattered sign still stands alongside I-270/US 66.

Here is a photo:
http://www.agilitynut.com/05/10/bairdi.jpg

Here is another photo of the former Bel-Air Drive-In.

The Bel-Air is an integral part of my childhood. My family and I lived in Mitchell, not far from the drive-in, but I can only recall going there a handful of times. The first movie I can remember going to there was "The French Connection," conking out before the movie even started. Still, if we happened to be out driving somewhere and our route took us past the Bel-Air, I'd have to look at the screen to see what was playing and look at the neon sign in front. I have the distinct memory of seeing Hitchcock's "Frenzy" as we passed it one night, and seeing the film as an adult I can pick out which scene it was.

I don't know how common this was among drive-ins, but the Bel-Air would have "dusk to dawn" marathons every year, usually a series of horror movies. I would see ads in the Granite City Press-Record and fliers around town. I never went to one, and I don't know anyone who ever did.

The BAC chain owned several video stores in the area, and when the drive-in closed, the car speakers were sold in the stores, touted as unique souvenirs.

This is another photo of the Bel-Air Drive-In.

Here is an April 2007 article about the Bel-Air along with another photo of the marquee:
http://tinyurl.com/28xwj8
http://tinyurl.com/222y4q

As a kid back in the late 50's, the projectionists (Van and Ronnie, I still remember their names) let me stand in the projection room doorway to watch the action. Strong Super 135 arc lamps, Simplex XL projectors, a changeover every 20 minutes -- it was a much better show than the movie. A door on the rear wall led to the motor-generator room (to rectify current for the arc lamps), with a door on the other side leading back to the concession area. The projection ports didn't have glass but had blowers to keep out the bugs (and cold air in the winter). Seems like just yesterday.

Here is a recent photo.

Here's a silly question.
Did the Bel-Air Drive In's name actually have the hyphen/dash in the middle of it?
The sign appears to have taken some creative license with an extended portion of the "A". But with the spacing between the "Bel" and the "Air", it appears to me to really be just the "Bel Air".

I only ask because all of the posts refer to it as the Bel-Air. Just curious. I guess only the incorporation papers might yield the answer. Just curious.

That's not really a silly question. If you search for this theater without using the hyphen on Cinema Treasures, you won't find it. So it is important that the name is spelled correctly. Cinematour and Drive-Ins.com list it as the Bel-Air. The sign in the photo has no hyphen and the 1985 IMPA lists this drive-in as the Bel Air with a space and no hyphen. I don't know which one is correct but the majority of the websites that have photos or information about this drive-in use the hyphen in the name.

I don't if this means anything but notice in this photo that there is no hyphen in the word drive-in either.

That photo looks familiar.

Are you saying that it's already been posted?

On 11/29/07.

Sorry about that. I thought I clicked on all of the links.

It was hidden under another one. No worries.

Venue operated from 1953 to 1986. The second screen was added in 1979.