Maywood Outdoor Theatre
2000 5th Avenue,
River Grove,
IL
60171
2000 5th Avenue,
River Grove,
IL
60171
3 people
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It was earlier, because I first started going there in the early 50’s when I was in high school.
It must have opened in the late50’s or early 60’s.no record in motion picture almanac.
Outdoor Theater—Closed
Amlings—Closed
Kiddieland—Closed.
What a shame.
1000 cars pretty big drive-in.
Kiddieland is now gone, closed last September. Very little remaining of the past in that area now except for the Maywood Park race track and Russell’s BBQ.
Amlings sold out completely. And is locked up.
This was originally the North Avenue Outdoor. Architect was Benjamin H. Stein. There was supposed to be a 1500 seat indoor theater too. Also in the area at the time were a driving range, and an archery stand. This and the Harlem Outdoor were built by the same company.
Rich M, everything you describe in your post are all of the good memories of my childhood! Only Kiddieland has survived. Amlings sold out most of their land to Cub Foods and what is now Value City. Even though I’m still in the area, I can’t tell you whether or not the Haunted House is still there in October!
I believe that this drive-in closed in the early-70’s. I remember as a kid that my buddies and I would ride our bikes from neighboring Franklin Park / River Grove and sit on a hill to watch the movies at the then recently opened Triton College which was only West of River Road at the time. They began showing X-rated flicks right before it closed probably around 1972 or so.
This really was a great place for kids with Kiddie Land, two mini-golf facilities, a go-cart track, a riding stable, a Drive-In, and a roller rink all within a few minutes of on another. Add to that Tom Naples Halloween store and Amlings Haunted house a few blocks to the West and man it was like heaven!
Rich
The drive-in was located between 1st and 5th Aves, with the entrance on 5th. The location is Melrose Park, not Maywood.
The billboard stood for many years after the drive-in disappeared. The roller rink is gone now as well.
The Maywood Outdoor was owned by Outdoor Theatre Corp. and had a capacity of 1000 cars, it operated seasonally from March thru October.
I have been here!! The Triton College building now stands where the drive-in used to be. There was also a miniature golf course just south of the drive-in, before Golfland. And a horse riding stable behind that. The gazebo that is in the middle of the Triton parking lot is left over from many years ago, it was part of the mini golf! My parents took me to this drive-in many times when I was very young. You could see Kiddieland from your car, at a distance. I believe the land was taken over by Triton under “eminent domain”, same as the stables and the land that used to have a pond where Kiddieland’s extended train ride used to go. There used to be a pond and a few hills back there, and the train would go around them. Triton forced the businesses to sell the land to them. It was a long time ago. The drive-in also had a billboard on North Avenue above the roller rink with an arrow pointing down 5th Avenue to the drive-in. This website is bringing back many memories.