Memri Drive-In
107 10th Avenue W,
Milan,
IL
61264
107 10th Avenue W,
Milan,
IL
61264
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Crisper post card image added credit Retro Quad Cities via Facebook. It boasts 962 car capacity at time of printing.
1951 photo from the collection of Ken Berry in the Etsy auction link below. “The Wild One” on the Memri Drive-In marquee.
https://www.etsy.com/StorchsPlace/listing/1200272991/huge-ken-berry-memorabilia-collection?utm_source=Copy&utm_medium=ListingManager&utm_campaign=Share&utm_term=so.lmsm&share_time=1647969997173&fbclid=IwAR0E6jzOPyQR1reczg4YGafLihzv1wtmklO5haK_lO6Az77LS5G3UAV-sok
Image and additional history added credit Retro Quad Cities.
“May 24, 1950 was the grand opening of the 18 hole miniature golf course at the Memri Drive In in Milan.”
Grand opening ad
Memri Drive-In opening Thu, Jul 1, 1948 – 19 · The Dispatch (Moline, Illinois) · Newspapers.com
Clever name!!
Per Jill Amoni,
MEMRI is for: M=Milan EM=East Moline RI=Rock Island
Mrs. Thomas L. Eyre was one of 2,600 contestants who entered a naming contest for this drive-in in 1948. Eyre explained that Memri was the first initial of the the Quad Cities area towns Moline, East Moline, Milan and Rock Island making it the Memri Drive-In. Eyre won $100 and a free pass to the July 2, 1948 grand opening with the film, “Abilene Town.”
Odd name!! Why was it called Memri?
The Milan Showcase Cinemas and the adjoining Memri Drive-In. 1974 photo added courtesy of the Retro Quad Cities Facebook page.
1970 aerial has been posted of the drive-in and the Showcase Cinemas.
It held 750 cars in 1956 and was owned at that time by Barney Brotman.
I had the pleasure of managing it that final summer of 1986. We kept it open through a weekend of flooding. The structure holding the screen up was a haven for pigeons and spiders that still gives me nightmares. Big Trouble in Little China is still a youthful favorite of mine.
Owner in 1963 was Barney Brotman.