Twinkle Star Drive-In

Charlotte Road and Old Winter Haven Road,
Auburndale, FL 33823

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Kenmore
Kenmore on September 14, 2023 at 2:58 pm

Nothing had been constructed on the property in a 1952 aerial. So it most likely didn’t open until 1953 at the earliest.

The 1957 aerial is most interesting as the projection booth seems to have been on the back of the lot. That is quite a throw for a projector, which is normally much closer to the screen.

The entrance/exit behind the screen is now obliterated as HWY92 was expanded over that part of the property. The entrance off Charlotte Street is also totally gone. I’m not sure which entrance was the main one since the details in the aerial aerial are difficult to see.

Today, there are only parch marks of a partial outline and the ramps. It remains an open field.

MichaelKilgore
MichaelKilgore on March 18, 2021 at 8:57 pm

Boxoffice, Oct. 10. 1953: “AUBURNDALE, FLA. - D. C. Laird has sold the Twinkle Star Drive-In here. The new owner, Talgar Theatres, has taken over operation of the airer.”

Joelsongs
Joelsongs on August 28, 2019 at 2:40 pm

If you go to this intersection on google earth, you can indeed still make out the ramps in the terrain.

jwmovies
jwmovies on December 26, 2012 at 6:28 pm

Approx. location for this drive-in was just north of Charlotte Rd & Old Winter Haven Rd. Dairy is north of Hwy 92, drive-in was SE of the highway.

gentillyorleans
gentillyorleans on January 11, 2012 at 6:05 pm

I’ve confirmed with Judy Crews, a lady who has worked in drive-in theatres since 1958, that the Twinkle Star was indeed on the corner of 92 & Dairy Road. She said it’s still a vacant lot, and the ramps are still visable.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on January 25, 2011 at 2:57 am

It parked 190 cars and was owned by Talgar theatre co,Out of Lakeland. Flordia.B.B.Garner,president,Mamie Newman was the booker.

NYozoner
NYozoner on January 24, 2011 at 10:24 am

Here is a 1957 aerial photo of the drive-in, courtesy of Earth Explorer and USGS.

AndyCallahanMajorMajor
AndyCallahanMajorMajor on October 27, 2010 at 10:19 pm

The theater appears to have been operating until at least 1959. One newspaper ad I found leads me to believe it was at the northwest corner of US 92 and Dairy Road. This makes sense, too, as this area has historically been the black side of town.

AndyCallahanMajorMajor
AndyCallahanMajorMajor on June 2, 2010 at 7:25 am

I don’t know the crossroad, but I highly doubt anything is left. Fifty years' time has really changed a lot of Central Florida, even in sleepy, time-warpy Auburndale.

Ret. AKC (NAC) CCC Bob Jensen, Manteno, Illinois
Ret. AKC (NAC) CCC Bob Jensen, Manteno, Illinois on June 2, 2010 at 3:50 am

Does anyone know the crossroad or if any remains of the drive-in are left?