Sky-Hi Drive-In
800 S. Highway 53,
Addison,
IL
60101
800 S. Highway 53,
Addison,
IL
60101
7 people
favorited this theater
The Sky-Hi Drive-In originally opened in 1968 in Addison on Illinois Route 53 and North Avenue (IL Route 64) as a twin screen (one facing east and the other facing west) by M & R Theaters. It had a cafeteria style concession stand. It featured radio sound and had a playground where children would play. In 1985, it was closed and later in the 1980’s demolished. A home improvement store has been built on the site.
Contributed by
James Piscitelli
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Recent comments (view all 19 comments)
Was a great Drive In. Stop at White Castle on the way in. Get there early, pop your hood and show off your ride. Everybody used to tune their FM radios to the same station before the movie.
Never any problems there as the Addison Police cruised the theater. At least one pass down every row each night.
Photos at:
View link
I’m confused about something. I was born in 1953 and my parents used to go to the “53 Drive-In” up in Addison with me bundled up in the backseat with my pillow and blanket, while they watched a double or even triple-header movie night. It was this same location, but according to some posts, this opened in 1968. How can this be – can anybody enlighten me? I remember that it had a little kiddie amusement area up under the East screen, with swings, slides, etc. These were gone by the 1968 time frame.
Jane ,going by my 1956 Motion Picture Almanac there was no Drive-ins in Addison that year.
Mike it held 2100 cars as posted above.Pretty big.
My dad built the Dundale in Dundee and both Ski-Hi theaters. He managed the original Ski-Hi and the Dundale until the late 60’s when M&R took over management. Unfortunately my dad died in July of 1968 at the age of 46, the summer Ski-Hi opened. He loved those theaters.
His name was Bob Jelinek.
The 53 Theater was in Palatine.
Jane, according to the Historic Aerials link above on 12/6/08, the land the drive-in was still a vacant lot in the 1961 view….
I was concession manager from 1972 to 1982 at the four theaters. We called the Addison location Sky-Hi, Palatine location The Twin. Week end days there was a flea market held on the grounds. Cleaning crew would be finishing when concession stand crew would be starting at 4 PM. Summer would find us leaving at 2AM. I have many fond memories working with M&R, Concession Services and the many high school students.
Did they have Radio sound in 1968?
I doubt it.