Royal Drive-In
Sowashee Street,
Meridian,
MS
39301
Sowashee Street,
Meridian,
MS
39301
1 person
favorited this theater
In the late-1950’s, Meridian, Mississippi was served by two nice size drive-ins. The Royal Drive-In parked 400 cars and was owned by A.L. Royal. Going to Texas you go right through Meridian on I-20 and right off the interstate sat a closed drive-in. I took the next exit and came back and snapped a few pictures, but there was no marquee, maybe the interstate had the right of way and took it. Nonetheless, the drive-in was fenced up where you could only take pictures outside the drive-in. The concession was standing, the booth on the same level. Really did not look in bad shape, but was it the Royal Drive-In or the Meridian Drive-In or even a later one built in the 1960’s?
Contributed by
MikeRogers
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Recent comments (view all 12 comments)
I know this is a bit off topic,but also in Meridan I noticed what I thought was an ABC THEATRE in a shopping center right off the interstate ,like the Royal Drive-in you could see it from I-20 and I think,this was 1975 when i went out to Dallas,that “JAWS” was playing?
Anybody want to buy a drive-in? Nice photos SS.
Short story on the Royal Land at the old drive-in.
View link
Thanks for the story,S.sam.
Open 1950-1985?
Open for sure in 1967.
Owned by Royal Theaters, A.L. Royal Sr. & A.L. Royal, Jr. Owners, 1417 Grand Avenue, Meridian, just 2 blocks from the drive-in.
Could use an exact address, more info and more photos.
There was a ABC Mid-South Theatre off the Interstate located in the mall. I beleive it was called The Plaza and it was a single screen. It stayed open until around 1984. It might have re-opened a couple of times as an independant discount house.
I have not passed there in several years but it was still standing in that closed mall when I did.
The Royal Drive In screen tower was still standing when I passed through Meridian in May 2011. Still looks like the pic posted above.
I own this property. Steel tower is standing, wood face is half gone. Dates above are correct. The Grand Ave address is correct for the office, but the building is gone.
ZaneRoyal..How about finding somebody to reopen it? It could twined.
Approx. location for this drive-in was S Frontage Rd & Sowashee St.