Swap Shop Drive-In

I’d like to see an ariel picture of the theater property now. With 14 screens it would be mighty impressive!

I uploaded the 1969 aerial photo from the USGS in the photo section. It was much smaller with one screen.

Good place to take your wife,swap her for another.Nice Ad Harvey a believe the Loews Ads are for regular theatres and 1 drive-in.

In 1970 the Thunderbird and Gold Coast experimented by adding indoor mini theatres to the properties which played mostly ‘adult’ movies.

I remember the Thunderbird. If I remember correctly, it was running porn films in the mid-80’s. I thought that a drive-in running porn was, say…a bit odd.

And as a bonus, the big red neon “Thunderbird” sign was brightly lit the night we were there.

This is one theater that is no great loss if it doesn’t reopen. I am glad I moved from Ft Lauderdale in April.

I saw a film here once. This is not the place to see films of significance. I only went because I’d never been to a drive-in theater before and was curious. My recommendation would be to choose a disposable film and go for the atmosphere. If you’re thinking about making kissy-kissy with a hot date, think again: the place gets too crowded to allow for comfortable hanky-panky, and viewers will typically sit outside of their cars and park wherever they damn well please. These are not structured lots with clearly demarcated spaces, but rather, grassy free-for-alls through which it’s difficult to maneuver for a comfortable spot. Plus, some of the screens are truly pint-sized (smaller than the cars below), positioned too closely to two major boulevards, and not accommodating of widescreen aspect ratios. Conveniently, though, the audio is piped it through your car radio.

Oh, and it’s in a bad neighborhood, too. You know that sense of discomfort you get when you’re stopped at a red light in the ghetto? Imagine that, for two hours.

Also, try to avoid the concession stands, unless you’re either out of cigarettes (you can get a pack of Marlboros at the concession stand for about four bucks), or have a hankering for blood sausages pickled in formaldehyde.

The problem with this drive-in is that it’s basically an outdoor multiplex, and it plays only commercial fare. It’s no fun seeing something like, oh, “The Aviator” or “The School of Rock” at such a venue. They should use one or two screens for true drive-in classics, like “The Sadist,” “Motel Hell,” or “Targets.”

At one time it boasted 14 screens…I think one of them blew down! One or two of the ‘screens’ are actually painted on the side of the flea market building. The theatre lost its signature neon Thunderbird logo some time ago from the back of its original screen.