Hartford Drive-In

2322 Berlin Turnpike,
Newington, CT 06111

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Dave Lounder THE DRIVE-IN THEATRE PRESERVATION SOCIETY TheDriveInGuys.com
Dave Lounder THE DRIVE-IN THEATRE PRESERVATION SOCIETY TheDriveInGuys.com on January 18, 2019 at 12:44 am

@dansdriveintheater: Hey, Dan. The video you’ve referenced isn’t from the Hartford Drive-In. It looks to me to be the Edgemere, Shrewsbury, Massachusetts. – Dave Lounder {TheDriveInGuys.com}

dansdriveintheater
dansdriveintheater on January 17, 2019 at 6:51 am

video of the demolition!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEWr_-D6CLw

ArtBuzzell
ArtBuzzell on February 23, 2018 at 11:57 am

My name is Art Buzzell and I am the grandson of Richard Dick buzzell. He was the manager of the Hartford Drive-In the entire time I knew of him as my grandfather until he passed. A lot of good memories there. Through that Drive-In I have met Bela Lugosi and Vincent Price. It is interesting that just this morning I’m watching a documentary on drive-ins and Hartford Drive-In is mentioned. My grandmother worked at the box office for admission Counting Cars also. I would go there when I was in high school and say to Nana the next 5 cars behind me are with me! But every Saturday and Sunday I have to go to the drive-in and pick up garbage because that was the time when you just threw your garbage out the window and loved it… Can’t do that today. Thanks for reading keep the memory alive

rivest266
rivest266 on February 21, 2017 at 9:19 pm

This opened on July 12th, 1947. Grand opening ad in the photo section.

Cinerama
Cinerama on October 27, 2015 at 7:35 pm

I took my children to see a double feature of Disney’s Aladdin and another Disney movie back in the 1990’s. It closed shortly after that. It’s now a condo complex.

Dave Lounder THE DRIVE-IN THEATRE PRESERVATION SOCIETY TheDriveInGuys.com
Dave Lounder THE DRIVE-IN THEATRE PRESERVATION SOCIETY TheDriveInGuys.com on June 23, 2011 at 4:04 am

My former partner and I attempted to re-open the Hartford Drive-In (about 775 car capacity by our count if I remember correctly — Drive-Ins routinely lied about how many vehicles could be held to help them fleece the film companies who were unsupportive of them at one time — the distribs weren’t stupid by any means as they sent out car-counters to ascertain the amount of business). The reason we did not lease the property is because the owners' (The Elias M. Loew descendants) attorneys wanted something in the ballpark of $75k for a really short season, and in return offered us NOTHING but the keys! The manager’s name was Richard “Dick” Buzzell, not Fred. I worked there, at the Pike, and at Newington Cinema I II III (I have the cinema parking sign in one of my home theaters … for the right price, I MAY be willing to part with it!). I also have a color copy of a photo of the marquee when it was in pretty good condition, from the late 70s, which I am planning to use for an upcoming business venture. Dave Lounder (DaveLounder.com)

trackmac77
trackmac77 on February 17, 2009 at 4:59 am

My not-even close, absolute, hands down, all-time favorite Drive-In!!! The Hartford and it’s open-all-Winter triple horror features were a secial treat of the highest order. Films like ‘Zombie Island Massacre’, ‘The Rats Are Coming! The Werewolves Are Here!’, ‘Pieces’, ‘Toolbox Murders’, ‘The House That Cried Murder’, ‘The Hills Have Eyes’, ‘The Deadly Spawn’, ‘Equinox’ (now out on a special Criterion edition!), and the perfectly appropriate ‘Ruby’, not to mention the occasional short subject before the show, dozens of classic and vintage trailers and even some local ads during intermission time. Great popcorn and the best french fries anywhere, all overlooking the effervescence of a sparkling soda in Snack Canyon, the twinkling lights of the valley below and the stars above. Unfortunately, it’s since been sacrificed on the alter of cancerous commerce and now houses…townhouses. I’m thinking it would only be fitting that those townhouses suffer a similar fate as the house in Poltergeist, as characters from films shown there in days gone by all return to reclaim their Hallowed ground…

rgdei8
rgdei8 on October 27, 2008 at 2:47 am

Was it bigger back then?

doctordialtone
doctordialtone on January 9, 2008 at 2:03 am

The Pike was 1/8 mile South of McDonald’s back behind DQ. I think it’s a Shaw’s now.

It was owned by Bernie and Sy Menschel, who also owned Vernon Cine ½, Manchester Drive In and Berlin Cine ½.

The Berlin Drive In was where Home Depot is in Berlin on Rt 160. The Berlin became adult movies and took heat from the neighbors, because in the end they installed a sound system that broadcast over the car radio…They had to install very high fences to keep people from stopping on the road nearby to watch – and listen.

Roger Katz
Roger Katz on January 8, 2008 at 12:08 pm

The Pike wasn’t way down there. It was like a block from the Hartford DI. I think there’s a supermarket there now.

rgdei8
rgdei8 on January 8, 2008 at 8:57 am

ive seen this guys photos a lot online while looking at abandoned hospitals which is one of my true loves for some reason. I dont know what it is about abandoned hospitals and asylums but they jus tdraw me in. Even after ive explored a hospital a few times, the beauty and craftsmanship of a perod of life that I wasent alive to experince just intrigues me like nothing else. Sorry, so as I was saying his pics. are the most beautiful ive seen on abandoned structures.
Ha, doc. i see that you used to work at the old pike drive in. Where exactly was it? I have heard it was down the road where the ford dealer is now, off the turnpike by rt.9
Is that true?

doctordialtone
doctordialtone on July 4, 2007 at 10:44 pm

The Drive In was managed for years by a guy named Fred Buzzel(sp), who always reported for work in a sport jacket and kept the place spotless. Likewise, he made sure that the landmark sign was painted and in working order each year, since it was such a highlight of the turnpike. I believe the ticket guys even wore red jackets. I was projectionist at the Pike Drive In, and we used to socialize with the staff of the HDI, even have after-movie parties where we would select a few reels (movies are on 20 minute reels) of the best flicks and re-run them after the crowds left. Sometimes the Newington PD would stop in to watch along too. I knew the projectionist, David Graham. We had a friendly rivalry with them and after intermission, the managers would compare car-counts and “PC” (How much each person spent on average) They always booked better movies and it was a challenge to outdo them.

rgdei8
rgdei8 on April 26, 2007 at 10:16 pm

It was the place used to be the flea market. It is town houses now that they built last year and this year. It was directly across from the mcdonalds that they just rebuild to look retro.

pouruchista
pouruchista on April 26, 2007 at 12:44 am

I think it was this theatre that used to be a flea market for a few years after the theatre closed.

shoeshoe14
shoeshoe14 on April 25, 2007 at 11:51 pm

I went by this on Route 5 the other day by bicycle and didn’t see the marquee standing. I followed the address numbers and saw many strip malls/plazas there (go figure). There was a spot of land about ¼ acre behind one of the buildings, so I figured it was there, and that land was many pine trees in a mini-grove.

SpikeSpiegel6262044
SpikeSpiegel6262044 on July 26, 2006 at 7:02 pm

I know, so many memories. Dang, they should have somehow saved it.

Roger Katz
Roger Katz on July 6, 2006 at 1:34 pm

I just saw the story on the news today. What a shame!

SpikeSpiegel6262044
SpikeSpiegel6262044 on July 6, 2006 at 11:29 am

Please change this to demolished, they took the screen down yesterday and the Marquee is only standing.

SpikeSpiegel6262044
SpikeSpiegel6262044 on June 22, 2006 at 2:14 pm

I sent you an e-mail. Well, it looks like her days may be numbered, the sign is up and I think the machines are ready. So if I hear any loud bangs near my house, I’ll let you know if it has been torn down or not.

rgdei8
rgdei8 on June 21, 2006 at 2:55 am

I REALLY WANT PICS. OF THE NEWINGTON CINEMA

rgdei8
rgdei8 on June 6, 2006 at 3:20 am

does anyone have any old pictures of the newington theaters?

SpikeSpiegel6262044
SpikeSpiegel6262044 on February 1, 2006 at 1:01 am

I meant the Cine Webb, my bad.

Roger Katz
Roger Katz on February 1, 2006 at 12:52 am

I remember going to all those cinemas you mention. The Webster is near Wethersfield, but it is in Hartford.

SpikeSpiegel6262044
SpikeSpiegel6262044 on February 1, 2006 at 12:39 am

Oh yeah, I forgot Cinema 1-2-3, I remember walking there once to see Batman Returns. I wish they would list it, as well as The Berlin Cinema in Berlin and The Paris Cinema in Wethersfield. Also Wethersfield had another theater too called The Webster. Thanks R.K.