Bay State Drive-In
U.S. 6 & Commerce Way,
Seekonk,
MA
02771
U.S. 6 & Commerce Way,
Seekonk,
MA
02771
1 person
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Opened in 1946, this drive-in was located on Route 6 in Seekonk, in the same general area where the Showcase Seekonk Route 6 multiplex can be found now along with other large retail outlets.
Contributed by
Gerald A. DeLuca
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Recent comments (view all 12 comments)
I believe around 1958 they had some “daring” double bill called “Wasted Lives” (about illicit sex) along with a featurette called “The Birth of Twins.” We talked about it when we were seniors in high school. I believe I saw that program but in 1959 at the Quonset Drive-In in North Kingstown, RI. It pretty much played only at drive-ins.
The “daring” bill I saw at the Bay State with three high school buddies in October of 1958 was “Because of Eve” and “She Shoulda' Said No!” “Because of Eve” depicted both normal and Cesarean type childbirths as well as warning about the dangers of V.D. “She Shoulda' Said No” was a cautionary film about the effects of drugs, especially marijuana, on one girl. Sensationalized ads and promotion were used to lure young people in to see these didactic films that were ultimately very dull and poorly made. I called the first one “informative” and judged the second one “horrible” in my notes made at the time.
Wasn’t there another Drive In with a title that began with a “B” that was also located in Massachusetts near the Rhode Island line? I can’t remember the name of it.
When did the Rhode Island/Massachusetts Drive Ins start to close?
Was it the late 1970s? It is amazing how many of them were in urban areas (Lonsdale, Loews, Shipyard) or what would now be congested suburbs (Cranston, Hilltop, Quonset, Seekonk Twin, Bay State).
Hardbop, you must be thinking of the Boro Drive-In in North Attleboro on Route 1.
Car capacity was 350.
Item in Boxoffice magazine, June 23, 1958:
“The Bay State Drive-In, just over the state line [Rhode Island/Massachusetts] in nearby Seekonk, recently highlighted the 12th anniversary with gift nights. Running four consecutive evenings, the anniversary featured the presentation of pearl necklaces to the first 100 feminine patrons; Elizabeth Arden perfume to the next 100 ladies; rain caps to all other females present; cigars to all men, and balloons, candy, and lollipops to the kiddies.”
[Note: this anniversary indicates that the theatre must have opened for business for the first time in 1946.]
U.S. 6 & Commerce Way, Seekonk, MA 02771
The above address will map accurately to the location of the drive-in, which is currently occupied by Showcase Cinemas.
Here is a 1963 aerial photo of the drive-in, courtesy of HistoricAerials.com.
I saw Dawn of the Dead and Mother’s Day in 1980 at this awesome Drive – In…if I remember correctly there was a Skate Park as you pulled in for skate boarders…
This drive-in was 1180 Fall River Avenue. As with a lot of drive-in, it is now yet another WALMART!
Closed at the end of the season in 1987.