Trail Drive-In
3202 Old Spanish Trail,
Houston,
TX
77021
3202 Old Spanish Trail,
Houston,
TX
77021
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Hey JFarr..Have pictures to share?
My Grandfather, Jack Farr Sr. owned and operated the Trail Drive-In. My Dad and Uncle, Jack and Eddie Farr worked at the drive-in. They always referred to it as “The Old Spanish Trail Drive-In Theater”. We still have autographed pictures of movie stars such as Ronald Regan, Jane Mansfeild, Maraland Monroe, etc from the theater. My dad,Eddie Farr’s fondest memory of the theater was when he had to drive his car to Hobby Airport to pick up Roy Rodgers.
Joe Farr
Billed as “Texas' largest”, the Trail Drive-In’s grand opening was at 7:00 p.m. on April 21, 1950. A “giant fireworks show” was to be held in conjunction. Advertised capacity was 1000 cars. The premier feature was “Tulsa” with Susan Hayward and Robert Preston. Kids under 12 were admitted free with their parents.
More hype. LOL
From Boxoffice magazine, May 1950:
HOUSTON, TEX-The 1,000 car Trail Drive-In on Old Spanish Trail here recently was opened by the Farr Amusement Co. The 50x60 foot screen is one of the largest in this area, according to Jack Farr, manager.
I read that the Trail Drive In opened in 1955 and closed in 1975. I got this information from www.cinematour.com
Also, www.metroactive.com/papers/metro/06.06.96/drive-in-9623.html, reports that “photographer John Margolies called his 1981 photo-essay on drive-ins The End of the Trail. One of his subjects was The Trail, a Texas drive-in theater pictured in an advanced state of decay.” I don’t know if this is the same drive-in on Old Spanish Trail, but it might be worth checking into. Hope this helps.