Route 17 Drive-In
Route 17,
Upper Saddle River,
NJ
07458
Route 17,
Upper Saddle River,
NJ
07458
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The 1963 IMPA has one drive-in in Saddle River called the Route North 6 Drive-In. By 1970 the listing is Route 17 Drive-In. Operator was Smith Management and capacity was 1100 cars.
For my parents and me, this was THE place. As a kid, I loved the miniature train that you could ride around the property before the movie started. Whenever I smell fried chicken, it takes me right back to the Route 17 drive-in, and it’s snack bar. Deee-lish! I can still remember the ads for many local Rockland and Bergen businesses that would run between the features. They played many great films at the time; Planet of the Apes, Batman, You Only Live Twice, El Dorado, and too many more to mention. Unfortunately, the place was only open about 15 years. I think it closed in the mid to late 70’s.
The drive in was located on Route 17 south. The marquee and entrance was located next to the Bel-air motel and across the highway from Anchor Rent-all. Today, the entrance is being used for the industrial park that stands where the drive in used to be. Pity. Many great memories are buried there.
Bill: Another one of your ads from 1966, showing the location as Ramsey:
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Is this the same place? It’s got a handy map included (if you can read it clearly):
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If memory serves, it was located on the southbound side of Rt 17 at the bottom of a long hill. It was adjactent to a small motel which, I believe, is still there. I recall seeing one or two features there in the early 70’s.
Where on Route 17 was this? And does anyone know what’s there now? I know this area very well and would love to know…