Drive-In Short Reel Theatre.

As the name says it was short reels shown, not features. Cartoons, one reelers, news and short subjects were all that was shown. It was built right on the beach with the cars facing out to sea over the Gulf of Mexico. Bad thing was it was put right in Hurricane Alley it was opened only twenty days, before a huge hurricane blew it away. It was never rebuilt!

This was the third drive-in theatre to be built in the United States. It opened on July 5, 1934, and was owned by Louis P. Josserand, an architect from Houston, Texas, who also designed it.

Recent comments (view all 5 comments)

Mike Rogers on July 28, 2010 at 5:21 pm

Louis Josserand was the proprietor.

TLSLOEWS on July 29, 2010 at 1:34 pm

Man that was a short life theatre.

Mike Rogers on July 29, 2010 at 2:05 pm

I got it out of a book of History of Drive-ins.Amazing what you can in the discount bin at Borders.

Ret. AKC (NAC) CCC Bob Jensen on August 5, 2010 at 5:42 am

PLEASE ADD TO ADDRESS:

600 SEAWALL BOULEVARD

Opened July 5, 1934?

Closed July 26, 1934?

Anyone have more info or photos?

Mike Rogers on August 7, 2010 at 8:22 pm

Bob, get the book “THE AMERICAN DRIVE-IN MOVIE THEATRE” by Don and Susan Sanders,It has pictures of this rather strange drive-in.Motorbooks International Publishers and Wholesalers. 729 Prospect Ave,PO BOX 1,Osceola,WI.54020-0001. It is a great book.167 pages color and black and white photos.