Pendleton Pike Drive-In
9300 Pendleton Pike,
Indianapolis,
IN
46236
9300 Pendleton Pike,
Indianapolis,
IN
46236
2 people
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First night: 6 June 1940-Final night 7 September 1992 CinemaScope screen installed in front of original screen in May of 1954. Fire destroys original screen and slightly damages CinemaScope screen on 26 November 1972. Charles W. Maurer (1925-2020) managed drive-in from 1958-1975. Screen from 1954 torn down on 27 August 2008.
Opened on 6th June 1940 with “That’s right, you’re wrong”.
The Pendleton Pike Drive-In appears to have closed for the season on September 6, 1992 with a triple feature of “The Unforgiven,” “Pet Semetary 2,” and “Lethal Weapon 3.” It promised to reopen in 1993 but there is no evidence that it did.
I can’t find any evidence that this drive-in was ever called the Lawrence. Its name in its grand opening ad is simply Drive-In, and on the first drive-in list in the 1942 Film Daily Year Book as “Drive-In Theater, Pendleton Pike, Indianapolis”.
Spot-checking the Indianapolis Star, in a 1945 ad it’s “Drive-In Theatre, Pendleton Pike”. In a 1948 ad, “Drive-In, Pendleton Pike”. In a 1950 story, “The Pendleton Pike Drive-In Theater”.
Screen was taken down on 27 August 2008.
After a few delays, it opened on June 6th, 1940. Grand opening ad in photo section
The site was razed about 2008-09 and a Monarch beverage warehouse was built there.
1971 aerial posted here.
Anyone know why this theater was really closed? Was it do to not enough buisness, owners got into debt and couldnt afford it? I remember going to this theater and wish there was one close like that one was and it would be cool if someone opened it back up and got it running again cause I hate going all the way to Tibbs to go to a Drive-In.
I know it was owned by General Cinema but they didn’t run it to the end. They leased it to a local independent but I can’t think of the name. They were the largest indy in Indiana but had a tendency of not paying employees. I never worked the booth but had been told they had the platter system but the platters weren’t the ones GC had and they were plywood and the roof leaked right over the platters. When GC took it back it spring ‘93 they considered running it themselves but it was going to be to costly to repair the booth and concession area.
One of my fondest memories of the Pendleton Pike was going to see a marathon of all five Planet of the Apes films. I stayed up all night watching them while my mom and sister slept after the first or second one. I’ll never forget it!
It got hit by a tornado one summer afternoon in 1974. Minor damage and I think it was open that night.