France Avenue Drive-In

7800 France Avenue S.,
Minneapolis, MN 55435

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Mann Theatres, MN

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News About This Theater

Mann France Drive-In in 1966

The France Avenue Drive-In opened June 15, 1966 with James Coburn in “Our Man Flint” & Tom Adams in “The Second Best Secret Agent in the Whole Wide World”. This drive-in had a capacity for 1,700 cars. In later years, two additional screens were built.

The France Avenue Drive-In closed in 1982 and was demolished in 1986.

Contributed by Lost Memory

Recent comments (view all 26 comments)

Jay Harvey
Jay Harvey on June 4, 2015 at 12:21 am

Wow, equipped for 70mm films!

Romulan
Romulan on October 6, 2015 at 3:58 am

I remember driving my roommate’s car out there with a bunch of us, probably in ‘66 – it was huge! I was used to small town drive-ins, like the one in Pine City (MN). I went to the snack bar & couldn’t find my way back to the car! As I was searching for that '57 Chevy, I saw a car with its lights on. I said to myself, “Some idiot left his lights on!” And then I realized the idiot was me. Good thing, or I might’ve ended up watching the movie sitting on the ground.

rivest266
rivest266 on January 15, 2017 at 9:21 pm

Grand opening ad at

Found on Newspapers.com

and the photo section.

1Poordad
1Poordad on July 20, 2018 at 5:26 pm

Worked there in 69 to 70 when I was 14, $1.00 an hour cash. Mr Welch manager, Gene the assistant. Had some fun times back then!

davidcoppock
davidcoppock on October 11, 2018 at 12:02 pm

Site is now the Minnesota Center office complex.

50sSNIPES
50sSNIPES on July 30, 2019 at 5:41 pm

Yes, This Was Previously Operated By Mann Theatres. I Also Found A Snipe Involving It.

PackerBacker
PackerBacker on August 27, 2019 at 6:31 pm

I closed the Mann “France Avenue” Drive-In after the 1982 season. I still have a couple of the car heaters and the Coca Cola sign that hung in the concession stand.

davidcoppock
davidcoppock on December 28, 2019 at 4:31 pm

PackerBacker do you remember what the movie(or movies) that was screened on the last night of operation, before the drive-in closed?

CJ1949
CJ1949 on December 28, 2019 at 9:42 pm

Last known 70mm to run here was double bill of Poseidon Adventure and Tora Tora Tora, both in 70mm, in June 1973. Debut of screens #2 and #3 was 6-24-77. Projected screen image on #1 was reduced to match #2 and #3, the smaller screens. Closed Sunday 9-22-84 – – the three double features were: #1 Gremlins/Police Academy; #2 The Natural/The Woman in Red, #3: Revenge of the Nerds/Porky’s. Demolished in Nov. 1985. Demolition permit issued 9-30-85, with “finish date” of 1-6-86. “2001” played at least 3 times in 70mm, “Zhivago” and “Grand Prix” also had 70mm showings in 1970 and 1971. The last “winter” season was the winter of 1972-73; after that the France Ave Drive In operated only during the regular season.

rivest266
rivest266 on September 17, 2023 at 11:27 pm

Heater policy promo:

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