Cinema Drive-In
2668 Alcoa Highway,
Knoxville,
TN
27901
2668 Alcoa Highway,
Knoxville,
TN
27901
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The Cinema Drive-In opened about 1961 and closed about 1980. It was located on Alcoa Highway, about five miles south of Knoxville. It was on your left as you were driving from Knoxville to Alcoa. The Cinema Drive-In was run by the ABC chain during the 70’s, and like most of the drive in’s in Knoxville, it did not survive the 1982 World’s Fair.
The drive-in was actually located behind a small group of businesses on the highway. There was only a small space on the highway with the marquee and the driveway that led back to the theater. The back of the screen was against the back of the businesses, and it had a pleasant "rural" atmosphere, as the land behind it was undeveloped.
I don’t know what is on property now, but probably has been swallowed up by commerical or business developement.
Contributed by
Bob Brown
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Recent comments (view all 11 comments)
In 1975 the Cinema Drive-In had a capacity for 400 cars.
O.K.
Sept. 24 1967 it is a Sunday and the CINEMA DRIVE-In is playing “REDLINE 7000” and David Janssen in"WARNING SHOT" The next movies were “THE WAR WAGON” and “FLUFFY” what strange double feature.
Very True.
“FLUFFY” had Shirley Jones starring in it.We know the two guys in the “WAR WAGON”.
OCt 20 1964 and “THE CHALK GARDEN” is playing with “THE SECRET PASSION”
An article about a remodeling in 1956 can be found here:http://www.boxofficemagazine.com/the_vault/issue_page?issue_id=1956-6-30&page_no=43#page_start
Thanks tntim,K-town had some Great Drive-ins.
This is now The Autism Center Of East Tennessee. Approx. address for this drive-in was 2890 Alcoa Highway. Although the center takes up most of the site, you can still make out some of the outline.
The Autism Center is in the building that used to house Rush’s Music Store. There was also another building next door that had a boating and marine store. The drive-in was behind these buildings with the marquee and entrance just north of the current Hardee’s. The Mini-Storage units are now located where the north side of the drive-in was.