Swap Shop Fun-Lan Drive-In
2302 E. Hillsborough Avenue,
Tampa,
FL
33610
2302 E. Hillsborough Avenue,
Tampa,
FL
33610
10 people
favorited this theater
Showing 26 - 50 of 57 comments
Glad to see you back,will have to tell TerrySmith.The old Fun-lan I am sure was a better theatre in Charlie’s Day.{operator].
Thanks for the nice handbill! “20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA” was one heck of a popular Disney movie. I notice “CinemaScope” in the ad. I’ve always thought drive-ins without a CinemaScope screen should not advertise it in their ads. The Fun-Lan never had a CinemaScope screen. The original screen which is still standing is exactly the same size as it was back then.
That’s okay,just going there was great.If only the TAMPA would have had a decent film to watch the following day.
It was great except for that screen on the fence! I haven’t been back since that night but I guess the screen is still there. Has to rank as just about the shoddiest set-up I’ve ever seen for a drive-in. The Fun-Lan is but a shadow of it’s former self.
I see THE FENCE we watched “SUPERMAN” on!!!!I was great Nick. AM so glad I got off my butt and drove down with the Kids.It was a Great Night.
Here’s a current aerial showing lot as it looks today:
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Here’s an aerial of the single screen Fun-Lan dated 1957. Note track for children’s train ride beneath screen:
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What great Triple feature,Nick.Wish that would have been on the night we went.The Kids would have loved it.
I’d like to go back again and see a movie on the original large screen. The problem is the two smaller ones on either side with one on a fence no less! It’s not easy concentrating on a movie with two other images off the sides distracting your vision (for me anyway.) But maybe parking up close to the front just might block my view of the side screens. Then there’s that drive-in junk food I haven’t had in ages that lately I’ve been craving. Certainly not the healthiest food but still good.
One of the best evenings I ever had here was around 1970 when the Fun-Lan was still a single screener. The program that night was a triple horrorthon: THE CONQUEROR WORM, TERROR CREATURES FROM THE GRAVE, and NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD. Great memories…
Fun-Lan is great when it comes to watching a movie on one of the three “real” screens. It’s just a fun atmosphere there.
Yes, it would almost be worth a trip back,if i could keep from watching all those other screens.NO FENCE MOVIE WATCHING.Hope Charlie and Miss Ollie are okay.
Mike, I wish I knew. It’s been more than 6 or 7 years since 2001 last played. It’s about time for a return engagement. I’d even be happy if it played at the Fun-Lan (on the original large screen of course!)
When is 2001 coming back to the Tampa.
Mike, You’re right. It’s easy for the heat and humidity here in Florida to destroy these programs. I keep them in folders along with various theatre clippings and materials. Still some seem to be surviving better than others.
Nick.you must do something to protect them from the elements.
Cool 51 programs Nick.
Programs from 1951:
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Advertisement from 1994.
O.K.
TLSLOEWS you wouldn’t believe this Triple drive-in it is almost as screwed up as the COMMERCE DRIVE-in,but when i visited Nick,he wanted me to take in a Drive-in. Nick, will even tell you how it was changed for the worst.
I like the old marquee the new electronic one looks crappy to me,must be cheaper than paying someone to change to letters.
Great pictures Nick. THey should have never tripled it.Understand why Charlie can’t go back.{Charlie was a projectionist in the old days}
Believe it or not The Fun-Lan was at one time A VERY NICE DRIVE-IN AS A SINGLE SCREENER! Here are two aerial views taken in 1954:
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Here’s the sharp-looking marquee which was identical to the marquee at the Dale Mabry Drive-In. This photo is dated 1950.
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Yes, many managers would live on the site in tiny apartments under the screen. that is not unheard of.
There was also a Fun-Lan Drive In on US#1 in Edgewater, Fl. They would hand out
Pic on especially buggy nights but the most unusual thing about the place was the
family that ran it actually lived in the cinder block screen! Strange but true.