Double Drive-In
2800 W. Columbus Avenue,
Chicago,
IL
60652
2800 W. Columbus Avenue,
Chicago,
IL
60652
6 people
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This drive-in, located on Columbus Avenue in the South Englewood neighborhood, opened in 1950 with, as its name would imply, two screens. Later, a third screen was added, though the theater didn’t change it’s name to Triple Drive-In.
The theater closed in the mid-to-late-1990’s, and the property continued to be used by a flea market until around 2000 or 2001, when it was completely demolished and replaced by an industrial park.
Contributed by
Bryan
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Recent comments (view all 12 comments)
The planes landing at Midway on noghts when the wind was Northwest would pass low over the drive in, and that was when Midway was “Worlds Busiest Airport”. As a kid, the planes were the show for me in the late 50’s
Another thought that comes to mind is that if their were enuf cars you could get a spot in the right angle that would put you in the right angle to view the left and the right side of the screens in other words 2 for 1 so to speak .
Also, who recalls sitting in the back of a pick up truck on lawn chairs. We some times had a inflatabel air matress that was fun good times. Thank you for you times.
Here’s an aerial shot from 1972.
There was another Double Drive-In in Chicago, it was located at 87th and Cicero St. Here’s an aerial shot from from 1951.
Here is a May 1951 ad from the Southeast Economist. The address doesn’t match either theater mentioned so far. Maybe there were three Double Drive-Ins in Chicago.
http://tinyurl.com/qkl88t
Ken, the address in your ad does match this drive-in.
I think with 99.44% certainty that the ad that Ken posted 5/12/09 is for the drive in for the 1972 aerial shot linked to on 12/6/08. The vicinity of multiple railroad tracks to the North and South pinpoints it.
The 2800 W. Columbus address given in the header says this is the right drive in for this page. Columbus Ave is only a few blocks away from the site and 74th and South Western Ave mentioned in the ad.
Southwest Hwy is likely the old name for W Columbus Ave.
I think you can rely on Bryan having the right address, he is a native Chicagoian and knows the theatres in that area like the back of his hand. His research for addresses and years of operation are pretty thorough.
Parked a large amount of cars 1800 and was owned by M&R Amusement Corp.
My uncle sold at the flea market on Sunday’s from the late 70s until maybe 1989? The concession stand was awsome unless it flooded. Then it became an island in the distance. Hambergers and dogs wrapped in foil. I rememeber hanging out in the playground under the screen and swinging on the swings. Such a shame.