Reading Drive-In

5314 Allentown Pike,
Temple, PA 19560

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Fabian Theaters

Architects: Leon M. Einhorn

Previous Names: Temple Drive-In

Nearby Theaters

Reading Drive-In

Located in the Temple district, north of Reading, the Reading Drive-In opened on August 1, 1949 with Betty Hutton in “The Perils of Pauline” & Ole Olsen and Chic Johnson in “Hellzapoppin”. It had a capacity for 744 cars.

Contributed by Ken Roe

Recent comments (view all 14 comments)

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on September 12, 2010 at 5:20 pm

Good guess,Drive-ins everywhere were closing quick in those years.thanks for the story.

Ret. AKC (NAC) CCC Bob Jensen, Manteno, Illinois
Ret. AKC (NAC) CCC Bob Jensen, Manteno, Illinois on September 12, 2010 at 9:31 pm

PLEASE CHANGE ADDRESS TO:

U.S. 222 BUSINESS & LEESPORT AVENUE, TEMPLE, PA 19560

SORRY

Ret. AKC (NAC) CCC Bob Jensen, Manteno, Illinois
Ret. AKC (NAC) CCC Bob Jensen, Manteno, Illinois on September 13, 2010 at 6:10 am

Rick Wolfe, Thanks for the info. Check out the map now, is that about right?

JimmiB
JimmiB on July 9, 2011 at 10:30 pm

Pretty close location. About a block to the left. The side fence ran very close to Las Vegas Drive. I spent my teen years at the corner of Kutztown Rd. and Leesport Ave. shown on the map. Worked there as a ramp boy for several years in the early 60’s.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on October 2, 2012 at 12:00 pm

The Reading Drive-In was built by Philadelphia theater owners Jay Emanuel and Frank L. McNamee in partnership with the Fabian circuit, according to an item about the groundbreaking in the June 18, 1949, issue of The Billboard.

jwmovies
jwmovies on November 12, 2012 at 12:40 pm

Approx. address for this drive-in was 5314 Allentown Pike. Now Sam’s Club.

rivest266
rivest266 on June 21, 2014 at 4:49 pm

August 26th, 1949 grand opening ad in photo section.

painterskip
painterskip on May 19, 2017 at 5:24 pm

My dad managed this theater for several years, starting around 1958 or so…maybe earlier. I started working there around 1962, I think and worked there for 4 years. We lived in the neighborhood right behind the screen tower.

davidcoppock
davidcoppock on October 26, 2018 at 10:59 am

Opened with “Perils of Pauline” and “Hellzapoppin” 800 cars. Demolished(date unknown?). Site is now Sams Club.

davidcoppock
davidcoppock on October 26, 2018 at 11:02 am

Also called Temple Drive-in.

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