Rice Drive-In
1100 S. Mechanic Street,
El Campo,
TX
77437-6026
1100 S. Mechanic Street,
El Campo,
TX
77437-6026
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The Rice Drive-In was a classic 1950s-style drive-in, complete with a small playground by the screen and a full-service concession stand. It operated well into the 1970s. By 1980, it was closed.
Contributed by
Bob Machann
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Recent comments (view all 6 comments)
This drive-in was part of the Frels Theaters chain in the early sixties, along with the Floyd and the Normana in El Campo.
Car capacity in 1975 was 300.
The Rice Drive-In opened at 7:00 p.m. on March 24, 1951. Among the first movies shown there were George Brent’s “Silver Queen”, Lex Barker’s “Tarzan’s Magic Fountain”, and “The Sundowners” with Robert Preston.
As stated above in 1956 it held 300 cars and was owned by Rubin Frels. ELCAMPO was home to the EAGLE DRIVE-in too.
But how many boats and planes will it hold Mike.
The 1963 El Campo City Directory lists the Rice Drive-In at 100 Marion Avenue (just off South Mechanic). William Spooner was the manager.