Century's 110-Drive-In

correction: My 1960’s Newsdays listed Route 110 under “Huntington” I should say

And past it’s closing it was the site of some really big Flea Markets each Sunday. I was local and just called it the 110 Drive-In. In that immediate area were also the Massapequa, Hempstead Tpke (in Bethpage/Plainedge) and Johnny All Weather in Copiague.

CORRECTION: THIS theater did NOT CLOSE in the 80s! Last year of business was the end of the 1976 season or the 1977 season at the latest. I have tons of old newspapers—especially when Elvis died in ‘77-so I will check . The marque remained standing till 1979-as memory serves me . I so wish there were some photos but this well-loved drive in but it has been an elusive phantom. I remember the marque was on an angle right in front with the booths to the right-fairly close to the road. There was a mini kids chair-o-plane as well as the train ride. I believe the same type of train ride is featured in the last Abott & Costello movie “Dance with Me , Henry” (late 50s?). I think the snack bar was the size and shape of the Westbury Drive In snack bar (again, I’m going on my memory). Historical Societies ? Fooey! When most of them were established , they did not consider the 1950s and 1960s old enough—especially if they were formed in the 1950s or 1960s. LOL.

Now if we only had a ground view showing the pylon.

As the projectors had probably been installed before the February 2 Ashcraft ad was published, 1956 does seem a likely year for the drive-in to have opened.

Lost Memory. There is also a problem with the address itself, not only the road. I was in the Melville area tonight and the building next to what used to be the Drive In was 200. As one travels north the numbers get even smaller (along with my theory about the Northern State, or maybe even Old Country Road being the divider between the Broadhollow and Walt Whitman designation). The theatre should only be about 300 or so.

Looking at local maps one sees that as you travel north on 110 it goes from being Broadhollow to Walt Whitman. Since the map was not conclusive in showing a line of demarcation I checked the phone book listing for the Dunkin Donuts which is located at Old Country Road about one third of a mile north of the theatre. Broadhollow. The address of Waldbaums about a half mile up is Walt Whitman. My guess is that the Northern State Parkway is the line of demarcation. All of which confirms the theatre address should be Broadhollow Road.

I also remember one time they were resurfacing the screen. It was a windy day and whatever they used for the job was blowing onto traffice, including my car, on 100, aka Broadhollow Road.

And don’t forget the fabulous flea market every sunday that had traffic backed up on 110

I love stories like that, hkbf232. Was that in 1964/65?! Also, do you remember the second feature? I’m trying to put together a list of Route 110 showings……..

you now have to scroll down for my posts about the Route 110 Drive In and Flea Market OR search the list for the post. Sorry about that! Meanwhile-let’s work on getting a damn picture of the place!

Oops…mistake above..I was trying to upload a 110 Ad..

Wow! This drive-in was the first time I was ever taken to a movie! It was 1974 and I was seven years-old. We lived in nearby Melville. The movie was THE LORDS OF FLATBUSH, with Sylvester Stallone (pre-ROCKY) and Henry Winkler (pre-HAPPY DAYS). Clearly, I was simply in the car with my dad while he watched the movies, otherwise he might have chosen something a little more kid-friendly. There were likely two other features with this, but I have no memory of them.

My dad took me there only one other time less than a year later to see YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN. I remember the other two features were S.P.Y.S. and a re-issue of M.A.S.H.