Rosa Drive-In

Opened on 18th of May 1950.

lol. so far hardly any of the locals have found it or care, maybe those older folks have died off..

yep, last time I was there a truck stop….

I was at a meeting last week with several people I work with. We were discussing the Rosa and several other spots in Middlesboro. For many years, cars pulled off Highway 25E and watched the show at the Rosa from the side of the road. One fellow said his mother made he and his brothers hide their eyes as they drove by in the the 1970’s!

Film Booker on Acid. Triple Feature at the ROSA DRIVE-in
“CURIOUS FEMALE” rated R
“LIVE AND LET DIE” rated Pg
and “NIGHT OF THE LEPUS” .Give me a break. Can’t make this up.

Sept 2 1971 sees the Rosa Drive-in playing “THE GREAT WHITE HOPE” basically a black movie in a county where I would bet in the seventies and even today is 90% white.Where was the Market in this town?Second feature was “THE PRIVATE LIFE OF SHERLOCK HOLMES” even this movie is a bad selection for a mainly Mountain/Rural area.

Feb.5 1973 and “THE LAST OF THE RED HOT LOVERS” is playing.And if they didn’t leave early during the first feature,you can bet by reel two the ROSA was empty,“HAROLD and MAUDE” not a Middlesboro Flick.Was the second feature.

Now Showing at the ROSA DRIVE-in,Oct,23.1964 “LOSS OF INNOCENCE” and “STOP ME BEFORE I KILL” other movies to follow were in this order; “SHOCK CORRIDOR” “THE GUN HAWK” “LASSIE’S GREAT ADVENTURE” and “STRAIT-JACKET”, Oct 10 1964 “TO HELL AND BACK” “THE DAY OF THE TRIFFIDS” “FEUDIN'FUSSIN' and FIGHTIN'” and “CAPTAIN NEWMAN, M.D.” and June 3 1963 sees “SPARTACUS”. Be nice if some folks from Middlesboro cared about their old Drive-in.

Chuck, thanks for clearing that up. I have family in the Cumberland Gap area so i would visit the old site.So now its a gas station. I was able to video tape it.
Also visited the TAZEWELL DRIVE-In over the mountain in Tenn. It is on CT.
Is the 4 plex still open in the mall. I couldn’t believe the prices for first run movies! {cheap}

The theater changed names several times. I have a photograph on my Middlesborough History site where it is called the Reda. I posted information on this site about the Manring. My family went to the Rosa a few times during the early 1960’s. It was very crowded. The Rosa D1 Drive-in Theater did a lot of advertising in the local paper and on WMIK radio. One could see the screen and the movie by driving North on US Highway 25-E and pulling off the road about 1000 feet from the theater. www.middlesboroughhistory.com

NOW SHOWING early 50’s. “I HATE YOUR GUTS” second feature is"CAN-CAN"
Coming next was “I LIKE MONEY” “BROKEN LAND” and “THE THIRD PICTURE” 2 color cartoons.

Yes, I took pictures of the old concession and Booth. Some of the sound equipment was STILL mounted on the wall.

Now SHOWING at the ROSA DRIVE IN SATURDAY ONLY! Four Big Features.
TARZAN AND THE VALLEY OF GOLD, THE DIRTY GAME, GUNMEN OF THE RIO GRANDE, I guess the fourth feature was not included in the ad.

Starting SUNDAY JOHN WAYNE in the ALAMO.