Capitol Drive-In
4646 NE 14th Street,
Des Moines,
IA
50316
4646 NE 14th Street,
Des Moines,
IA
50316
No one has favorited this theater yet
The Capitol Drive-In was opened around 1952, with a capacity for 728 cars. It was located half a mile north of the city. It was razed in the early-1980’s.
This drive-in was in a class well above those gravelly places with bad sound systems. Here you had mid-century modern styling, a concession stand with a seating patio (popular with matinees), and a playground, not-to-mention state-of-the-art sound. Yes, it wasn’t in the best part of town—and that probably contributed to its demise. But in its day… Drivers at night-time on nearby I-80 would see this huge image of a glowing neon clown, thinking maybe gambling was legal in a state like Iowa. No, that was just the sign for the Capitol Drive-In.
Contributed by
Calmuse
Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater
Recent comments (view all 4 comments)
Here is a photo, circa 1979:
http://tinyurl.com/36aho3
The Silent Partner was released in 1978.
Car capacity in 1975 was 755.
Here is a December 1965 ad from the Des Moines Register:
http://tinyurl.com/lfce4g