Union Drive-In
Route 22,
Union,
NJ
07087
Route 22,
Union,
NJ
07087
1 person
favorited this theater
Built in 1936, this drive-in had a capacity of 1,400 cars. It was the first drive-in located in north New Jersey. It closed in 1983 and was replaced by housing on this heavily developed highway.
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tc
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Recent comments (view all 16 comments)
this must’ve been where i sat petrified through ‘the legend of hell house’ while a friend slept.
I remember going to the Union Drive-In as a very little kid, in my
PJs, with a blanket and my pillow—if I nodded off, no problem, just
curl up in the back seat and off to La La Land. I do recall seeing
Vertigo and A Hole In The Head—that song “High Hopes” really stuck in my juvenile head.
And for some reason, I remember the coming attraction for a really
cheapo horror film called “Terror Is A Man”. I was probably about
four years old and that stupid trailer really scared the crap out of me. And let’s face it, when you’re four, the last thing you need is crap coming out anywhere. For any reason.
I remember the Union Drive-In fondly! Another place I went to alot as a kid and a teenager. I also remember accidentally hitting my car horn with my elbow while getting out of the car to go to the concession..and the horn stuck, (it figures).
It’s sad that alot of the drive-ins are gone now, especially this one. :–)
1946 Program:
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Here is a 1979 aerial view:
http://tinyurl.com/y9cmacs
The drive-in was not replaced by retail but by houses. You can see the housing development here, above the park on the left side of the frame.
http://tinyurl.com/y9gvlb5
I miss the Union Drive-In. Anyone know the name of the woman who used to do the telephone recording? She had a really gravelly voice (probably from too many years of smoking) which went something like “This is a recorded message from the Union Drive-In Theater located on Route 22 Eastbound Lane in Union. The box office opens at 6pm our features are… (Name of movies then announced), Admission is $3 for adults, children under 10 are free thank you for calling.”
I totally remember this! When younger, in pj’s – playing on the swings as it got dark….sitting on top of the hood of the car…those speakers that clipped to the car window …. those stinky coils that you lit to keep the bugs away…Yogi going across the screen like a bobble head doll…everyone putting their lights on and blowing the horn when the movie reel got stuck…then, when older, going with a group of kids and some of us hiding in the trunk of the car so we did not have to pay …
Approx. address for this drive-in was 2319 U.S. 22, Union, NJ 07083.
THANKS, KEN!
Between 1954 and 1966 the drive-in was rebuilt and a new screen tower was built on the east end of the lot. It looks like to increase the size of the parking ramp.