France Avenue Drive-In
7800 France Avenue South,
Bloomington,
MN
55435
7800 France Avenue South,
Bloomington,
MN
55435
1 person
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The France Avenue Drive-In opened June 15, 1966. Opening day movie was James Coburn in “Our Man Flint”. This drive-in had a capacity for 1,700 cars. In later years, two additional screens were built.
The France Avenue Drive-In closed around 1982 and was demolished in 1986.
Contributed by
Lost Memory
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Recent comments (view all 17 comments)
The Edina Historical Society is looking for more information, stories and photos about France Avenue Drive In for an upcoming exhibit on early suburban Edina. (Yes, the theater was located in neighboring Bloomington, but just over the border, and was a part of community life here.)
Please call the Edina History Museum at 612-866-4581 with your contact info. Thank you!
Marci Matson, Director
The year given for this photo is 1966.
Interesting that it only lasted 20 years.
Not a bad looking Drive-in Ken.
1700 cars? Thats a pretty big drive-in.
I worked there during the summer of 77-78 when they showed Star Wars during its initial run – very unusual for a drive-in. The line of cars would back up France all the way to Southdale and 494. They had a small kiddy park in front of the main screen but I don’t recall ever seeing it used. There was often fights and other shenanigans on the busy weekends, but that was half the fun of working there…reminds me of American Graffiti meets Animal House.
Thanks Kwisp,how about some more stories.
kwisp,
Michael C will have a nervous breakdown with that comment……
I worked there from around 1977
to 1980. Good times!
This one must have only been a few miles from the Bloomington Drive-in or as I remembered it. The Southtown drive-in (I think thats what it was called there where the Southtown strip mall now sits).