East Buffalo Drive-In

3725 E. Martin Luther King Boulevard,
Tampa, FL 33610

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Additional Info

Previous Names: Buffalo Drive-In

Nearby Theaters

East Buffalo Drive-In

The Buffalo Drive-In was built by Dale Elleman in 1954 and was for African-Americans only. It was still open in 1957. No trace of it remains.

Contributed by Andy

Recent comments (view all 16 comments)

Nunzienick
Nunzienick on February 3, 2011 at 3:20 am

Here a little information from someone who’s familiar with these three drive-ins. Hopefully this will clear up at least some of the mystery. According to a friend who was a former projectionist (and who worked for 3 years at one of these drive-ins) these three drive-ins were located in fairly close proximity to each other. I don’t have the physical addresses for each but the names were Columbus, 40th Street, and East Buffalo.

The Columbus and East Buffalo were both segregated black theatres. My friend worked at both the Columbus and the 40th Street. According to him the Columbus was located at 29th Street off of Columbus Drive. The lot itself was not near Columbus Drive but was actually two or three blocks south of Columbus at 29th. This is the drive-in where Interstate 4 today runs over the property.

The photo in the first aerial link provided above by NYozoner shows a 28th Street Drive-In which may or may not be the Columbus. My friend says there was never a 28th Street Drive-in in Tampa although St. Petersburg did have a 28th Street D/I. But since the Columbus was located at 29th Street this could very well be the Columbus. In looking at the aerial it’s hard to say for certain without seeing any identifying buildings or other landmarks.

The East Buffalo Drive-In was located on the south side of Martin Luther King Boulevard a couple blocks west of 40th Street. The photo in the second aerial link above is most definitely the 40th Street which was exclusively white. This drive-in was located on the north side of 7th Avenue (Broadway) at 40th Street.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on February 3, 2011 at 3:24 am

Glad you are back on Nick.You have a comment on your Castle Comments about his Movies he made in the 50’s,might want to check it out if you already haven’t.hope everything is okay.

Nunzienick
Nunzienick on April 12, 2011 at 2:10 am

Aerial from 1957. Lot was narrow but long:
View link

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on April 13, 2011 at 12:33 am

You ain’t kidding.It was narrow.thanks for the picture.

Nunzienick
Nunzienick on April 13, 2011 at 5:21 am

In contrast with the 1957 aerial above here’s an aerial showing what the property looks like today:
View link

TLSLOEWS
TLSLOEWS on April 24, 2011 at 9:58 pm

Thanks Nick,nice research.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on April 25, 2011 at 2:16 am

thanks again Nick,you and a few other members add so much enjoyment to CT.

Richard Wheeler
Richard Wheeler on July 4, 2011 at 8:58 pm

A second photo has been added showing a handbill that does indeed show that the theatre was segregated at some point during its existence.

Nick DiMaggio
Nick DiMaggio on August 3, 2011 at 1:57 pm

Nice historical coming attractions handbill—thanks for posting!

Drive-In 54
Drive-In 54 on October 10, 2015 at 12:33 am

In researching the DI’s in the Bellefontaine, Ohio area that were built by Dale Elleman. He is listed has operating the Buffalo DI in Tampa, FL. I would think it is the same DI has the East Buffalo. Per the 1955-56 Theatre Catalog

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