Jefferson Drive-In
4506 W. Jefferson Boulevard,
Dallas,
TX
75211
4506 W. Jefferson Boulevard,
Dallas,
TX
75211
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The Jefferson Drive In Theatre was demolished in August of 2004. Heres' a photo I took when they were starting to dismantle the screen.. http://www.flickr.com/photos/racphotography/479117085/ .. Today, a DISD School is on the property.. RAC Photography
BTW – just to respond further to TC’s old comment about a drive-in called the “Twin East”…that was the old Twin Highways, located farther out Jefferson to the east toward Grand Prairie. At one point in its checkered life span it was called simply the “Twin” – the Twin Highways is what it went by when it was a single-screener, as it was located between Jefferson and W. Davis (SH 160) and had two entrances, one off each route. Later, another complete screen/projection booth/parking lot was added, to the east and the venue became known as the “Twin West” and the “Twin East.” Very rare permutation of the twin-screen concept.
When was the Jefferson demolished? I went and took some photos just beforehand but can’t remember exactly when that was…
Nice ad Don.
From 1963 a Dallas Area drive in theater ad.
The Jefferson Drive-In was designed by Jack Corgan. The architect’s rendering appeared in Boxoffice of December 2, 1950.
In reference to Gary R.’s post, everyone can see what the screen tower neon art looked like in the September 16, 1950 issue of BOXOFFICE magazine, on page 77. It depicted a night club scene, complete with three chorus girls, and the band. The musicians depicted are playing a piano, a trumpet, and kettle drums.
The article further describes the scene as being in “different colors of neon”, and “on a free-shaped background of porcelain enamel”, and also mentions that it was opened by Harold Gibbons, who also opened Fort Worth’s Pike Drive-In, in 1947. The online archive of BOXOFFICE magazine can be accessed at the following:
http://issuu.com/boxoffice/docs/boxoffice_091650-2
Another view of the Jefferson Drive In here and here.
Such a shame to lose this gem. The backside of the screen that faced the road had a neon light display of as I remember a “band playing”. Lights would flash on and off to give the appearance of the band members and instruments moving to music. It was quite a sight as we would come down the road to the show.
Does anyone know why this drive-in was closed a second time right after it reopened in the late 80’s?
It looks just as ugly in that photo as it did in the previous photo.
How about another photo?
http://tinyurl.com/29m5gr
Even more photos can be seen here.
Yet some more photos of this drive-in!
View link
Many Great photos of this drive-in just before it was torn down!
For best viewing click the “Start Slideshow” Icon!
View link
Rowley United Theatres owned the Jefferson and some other local drive-ins in the sixties, according to this lawsuit:
http://tinyurl.com/2a8opb
Here are two photos:
http://www.roadsidenut.com/jeffdi1103.jpg
http://www.roadsidenut.com/jeffdi11031.jpg
Correct..
This was used to park “Big Trucks”. Some kind of Trucking company I think. It had Only One Screen. The “Twin” was further down Jefferson going towards Grand Prairie and it had Two Screens. (The Twin has been gone now for some time). DISD bought the land to build an Elementary School in its' Place. Nothing remains of the Jefferson now. I Took some 60+ pictures of it before it was demolished. You can see some of them on .. www.drive-ins.com ..
EnJoy.!
Randy Carlisle
Photographically Preserving Dallas History 1 Building @ A Time
TC…..You must be looking at a different drive-in on that website. This drive-in had one screen and the property was purchased by the Dallas school district. Its not a junkyard. Here is the link to this drive-in on Drive-ins.com:
http://www.drive-ins.com/theater/txtjeff
Per Drive-Ins.com, now a junkyard. They list it as the “Twin East”.
From the title, I would correct the number of screens to 2.