Route 44 Drive-In
Smithfield,
RI
02917
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The regular Friday night event in my house in the 60’s was going up to the Route 44 Drive-In. It had a play area under the screen (we were too young and restricted to the car).
The property was annexed for the construction of Route 295 and the 44/295 interchange in the early 1970’s.
Contributed by
Charles D'Atri
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Recent comments (view all 12 comments)
Are you sure that this drive-in was open as late as the early 1970s? We went to the drive-in literally every Friday night from ‘71, '72 & '73 and I don’t remember ever going here, which leads me to believe it was closed by 1971. I also remember when I was a kid driving with my parents in a rural part of Rhode Island and driving by an abandoned drive in. I bet it was this one!
Hardbop, www.drive-ins.com says it closed in 1968 with the construction of Route 295.
Drive-Ins.com gives a closing year of 1968 for this drive-in. Your mileage may vary. :)
Forgot the link:
http://www.drive-ins.com/theater/ritrout
In May of 1968 the Route 44 Drive-In was showing the immortal double bill of Mondo Freudo & The Pleasure Girls.
Gina and Silvana double bill from 1962.
The Route 44 Drive-In is listed in the 1975 IMPA with a capacity for 400 cars.
I grew up about 3 miles from this site. I remember ther was also a Pet shop (Petland, I believe) adjacent that was also taken for I295.
I worked in the snack bar at the RT 44 drive-in from 1964 till 1966 while I was in high school(EP). Joseph Jarvis was the manager at the time. Everett McCain and Eddy (klunk) Parker also worked with me during that time. Part of my duties was to clean the trash from the parking area on weekends as well as repairing and testing the speakers and heaters. We were open during the winter weekends during the time I worked at the RT 44. It was a great job, no pressure, and free movies.
In the late 50’s it was owned by M. Safner.Stilled parked 400 cars. And no I never worked here.Sounds like a great Drive-In.