Cuddihy Drive-In

Cuddihy Field,
Corpus Christi, TX 78413

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Kenmore
Kenmore on December 27, 2022 at 10:40 am

I find it difficult to believe that the Cuddihy Drive-In existed for more than a year. The airfield was abandoned towards the end of World War II and purchased by the city in 1947. That leaves a very short window for someone to run a drive-in on the field.

I’m still convinced based on the adverts that the drive-in itself was on one of the runways or perhaps next to a hanger. So, there would be no scarring or evidence of any drive-in present. Especially if it was a temporary drive-in which was common at the time.

Yakima1
Yakima1 on June 27, 2021 at 5:44 pm

New info June 2021….. An article in Dec 15, 1947 Corpus Christ Caller Times mentions how things out at Cuddihy Field were declining and it refers to “The Harvey Drive-In Tyeatre” having to close due to lack of business.

I checked The Kingsville Record to see if “Harvey” could be L.E. Harvey who ran The Hi-Way Drive-In, and I found the Hi-Way grand opening article on Aug 11, 1948 that confirms L.E. Harvey operated the Cuddihy Drive-In in Corpus Christi “for several years”. Several years? Could that be true? https://goo.gl/photos/NqPpca16LoF7yFRFA

rivest266
rivest266 on November 28, 2020 at 2:58 pm

Grand opening ad posted.

davidcoppock
davidcoppock on April 7, 2020 at 12:51 am

Opened on 30/8/1947 with “Frontier gal”.

Kenmore
Kenmore on July 16, 2016 at 9:23 am

And a projection booth as well (forgot about that). Still, if they used the area near the hangers or on the airstrips itself, there may be no discernible trace of a drive-in remaining.

Kenmore
Kenmore on July 16, 2016 at 9:11 am

I looked at a 1952 aerial photo of the location that Yakima1 cited and there is no evidence of a drive-in scar at that time. So, I do not believe that is the location.

An aerial photo of the field in 1944 compared to the 1952 aerial shows virtually no change at the base. A little research shows that the field was abandoned shortly after WWII, but was not purchased by the city until 1947.

This may sound a little weird, but what if the drive-in was actually part of the field itself in some manner? If they used the paved area for parking, all they would need to do is set up a screen and speakers.

driveinfan
driveinfan on July 14, 2016 at 8:59 am

Does anyone else know of the drive in that was once at the Cuddihy naval base?

Yakima1
Yakima1 on May 24, 2011 at 6:21 pm

View link

I’m making an assumption that what looks like drive-in scars in the 1956 aerial is in fact 9 year old remnants of a this short-lived drive-in. I have not been able to verify. I see no other likely drive-in location on or near Cuddihy field.