Century Drive-In
2510 W. Main Street,
Grand Prairie,
TX
75050
2510 W. Main Street,
Grand Prairie,
TX
75050
1 person
favorited this theater
The Downs Drive-In was open as a single screen drive-in theatre prior to 1955.
Contributed by
Michael
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Recent comments (view all 21 comments)
Click on the 1955 or 1958 HA link for the area of where Twin Highways was, you can see the dual entrances. BUT in the 1972 shot, it looks like it was twinned, or a better description it was cloned with another lot next door.
Doesn’t make sense, but that’s what it appears to me to be.
http://www.historicaerials.com/?poi=13599
What originally opened as the DOWNS Drive In Theatre was later Changed to the CENTURY 4 Drive In. I believe McClendon bought this Drive In & then adding 3 more screens making it a 4 Screen Theatre. I’ve read that he also added an Indoor Theatre on the lot making this a 5 Screen Theatre..
Today, A warehouse type building occupies the land. Nothing of the Drive In remains.
I have a photo of the back of the screen when it was the DOWNS Drive In that was taken from the Grand Prairie High School yearbook from around 1964?
Randy A. Carlisle
Historical Photographer
http://www.flickr.com/photos/racphotography/sets .. Enjoy!
Randy, what photoset is your pic of the Downs in? I could not find it.
Matt54. Sorry, I have not posted it as of today. (Sorry this is so late).. I’m trying to located it within all of my photos so I can post it on my flickr page.. Will let you know when I located it. Thanx!! Randy A Carlisle.. RAC Photography.. Historical Photographer
matt54.. A Photostatic copy of the DOWNS Drive In I have from the GPHS yearbook is now up on flickr with a History & description of the Drive In & a little description of the photo itself. The photo you’ll see is a photostatic copy of the photo that was in the Grand Prairie H.S. Yearbook. Enjoy! Randy A Carlisle..Historical Photographer
RAC Photography .. View link ..
Cool, Randy – like what you did with the flashlight. I wonder if the McClendons tore down that original screen tower (if it was built in ‘49, I can almost guarantee that 1964 shot isn’t the original screen tower) and build 4 new ones, or did they just keep the original Downs screen and put up 3 new ones?
Never mind my question, SiliconSam has already answered it, above!
The Twin Drive In also known as the Jefferson Twin had 2 screens. Originally a single screen Theatre, it was later Twinned. Time-line, not sure of tho.. It across the street from the Yello-Belly drag strip. (That is still there today)……
Randy A Carlisle – HP
Uploaded some aerial views.
Historicaerials is a great site! I use it all the time when trying to located an old Drive In. Thanx for posting the aerial shots.
RANDY A CARLISLE — RAC Photography