Sad news. It was reported last night…via the Tampa Bay Creative Loafing website…that the Fun Lan is now history. Their final night of operation was this past December 2. The article in said website shows a photo of the Fun Lan marquee with the words MISS YOU which is the last part of the whole readout: “MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR – WE WILL MISS YOU”
Owner Steve Gray passed away on January 2, 2020 at age 91. He owned and ran the Kane Road Drive-In for its entire duration. Last time I saw him was the day after the screen tower was torn down; I ran out there after work (since I work in nearby Moon Township) and took one of the cement blocks that had the black print from the back. Steve and I had a nice talk that day about the Kane Road and other things in general. He was a good friend; I really miss him and the Kane Road.
A closer address number would be anywhere between 7791 (former Steak & Shake) and 7851 next door (Quaker Steak and Lube). These two buildings and most of the Wal-Mart parking lot behind them now occupy the former Super 19 Drive-In site
Final night of operation was August 31, 1986 with “A Fine Mess” and “The Karate Kid Part II”. The January 1, 1987 edition of The Hartford Courant indicated “THE LAST PICTURE SHOW: The Manchester Drive-In closes for good” in a local review of 1986.
Ed, since it’s an 8-year-old post, you probably have this information now, but the Mary Ann Theater was located in Burgettstown where South Main (Old 18) and the Brunner Bypass (current 18) split. It was torn down to make way for said bypass. The Tri-State Drive-in was just 1 ½ miles south of the Mary Ann.
There was another indoor theater ½ mile north of the Mary Ann…the Keith Theater near the intersection of North Main and Main Ext. This was torn down also.
I used to live in Burgettstown in the 70’s but only knew of the Tri-State Drive-In back then. Despite that the Tri-State and Belle Air in nearby Weirton Heights were the closest drive-ins to us, for some reason we never went to those. We went to either the Penn-Lincoln in North Fayette Township or Twin Hi-Way in Robinson Township.
I see that neither Burgettstown indoor theater has made their way into CT yet. Once the libraries reopen after the current pandemic is officially over, I’m going to see what I can find out about them at the local library
Congrats to the owners of the Moonlite for bringing it back to life! Being a Pennsylvanian (from Pittsburgh), the Moonlite is now one of three drive-ins in my home state that I have to visit for the first time, the others being the Sky Vu in Gratz and the Mahoning in Lehighton. Come next spring, I’m going to plan a road trip to visit all three during the summer.
David Coppock: Of course if I had had my way I would’ve bought the Kane Road Drive-In and moved into the screen tower house. It would’ve been so cool to live there and keep the drive-in going, and I couldn’t be the only one who had the same sentiments.
The address and map shown here are for the Lakeview Drive-In. Approximate address for the Skyway is 5150 West Lake Rd. Erie, PA. 16505. The site is now occupied by Wolf Run Village condominiums
Grand opening date of the Airport was August 5, 1947 with “The Plainsman” starring Gary Cooper and Jean Arthur. The ad from the Salt Lake Tribune is now in the Photos section.
The second El Rancho was opened by September 20, 1971. The exact grand opening date could not be determined as there was a newspaper strike from May 14 to September 19 that year.
It was reported in May 1984 that the El Rancho would not reopen. However, the lease was passed on from previous operator Jon Showe to Dr. Paul Rankin (who owned the nearby Galaxy indoor theater) and the drive-in opened belatedly for the 1984 season on June 29. It turned out to be the final season; its last night of operation was on September 23 with “Purple Rain” and “Sudden Impact”.
Grand opening feature was “Honeymoon” starring Shirley Temple. Final night of operation was December 6, 1964 with two adult films: “False Shame” and “Passionate Thief”.
No grand opening ads or articles were found in either the Pittsburgh Press or Post Gazette. The first known listing from these papers is from July 2, 1955 (the same day the Echo Drive-In in nearby Jefferson Hills had its grand opening). The films featured that night were “Drums Across The River” starring Audie Murphy and Walter Brennan and “Six Bridges To Cross” starring Tony Curtis and Julie Adams. Last known listing was on September 11, 1983 with “Jaws III” and “The Thing”.
The Longhorn was relocated in 1966. Final night of operation at the original location was on April 4. The new location at 8900 Research Blvd, about 3 miles south of the old location, opened on May 20.
Grand opening as Penn-Lincoln Drive-In was on July 22, 1948 with “Something In The Wind”. Final night of first-run operation was on September 6, 1982 with “Midnight” and “Beyond The Fog”.
Grand reopening as Super 30 West Drive-In was on May 24, 1985 with “Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment” and “Visionquest”. This revival only lasted until September 22, 1985 with “Summer Rental” and “Volunteers”. It was announced in May 1986 that the drive-in would not reopen.
The Reynolds Drive-In should be changed back to Open. Grand re-opening for movies was on May 6, 2022
Sad news. It was reported last night…via the Tampa Bay Creative Loafing website…that the Fun Lan is now history. Their final night of operation was this past December 2. The article in said website shows a photo of the Fun Lan marquee with the words MISS YOU which is the last part of the whole readout: “MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR – WE WILL MISS YOU”
The Super 12 Drive-In had its grand opening on the same day that former President Eisenhower died
I just read these latest comments. Giving us high hope that this drive-in was going to be revived, then suddenly it’s demolished. I don’t believe it
Owner Steve Gray passed away on January 2, 2020 at age 91. He owned and ran the Kane Road Drive-In for its entire duration. Last time I saw him was the day after the screen tower was torn down; I ran out there after work (since I work in nearby Moon Township) and took one of the cement blocks that had the black print from the back. Steve and I had a nice talk that day about the Kane Road and other things in general. He was a good friend; I really miss him and the Kane Road.
A closer address number would be anywhere between 7791 (former Steak & Shake) and 7851 next door (Quaker Steak and Lube). These two buildings and most of the Wal-Mart parking lot behind them now occupy the former Super 19 Drive-In site
Final night of operation was August 31, 1986 with “A Fine Mess” and “The Karate Kid Part II”. The January 1, 1987 edition of The Hartford Courant indicated “THE LAST PICTURE SHOW: The Manchester Drive-In closes for good” in a local review of 1986.
Ed, since it’s an 8-year-old post, you probably have this information now, but the Mary Ann Theater was located in Burgettstown where South Main (Old 18) and the Brunner Bypass (current 18) split. It was torn down to make way for said bypass. The Tri-State Drive-in was just 1 ½ miles south of the Mary Ann.
There was another indoor theater ½ mile north of the Mary Ann…the Keith Theater near the intersection of North Main and Main Ext. This was torn down also.
I used to live in Burgettstown in the 70’s but only knew of the Tri-State Drive-In back then. Despite that the Tri-State and Belle Air in nearby Weirton Heights were the closest drive-ins to us, for some reason we never went to those. We went to either the Penn-Lincoln in North Fayette Township or Twin Hi-Way in Robinson Township.
I see that neither Burgettstown indoor theater has made their way into CT yet. Once the libraries reopen after the current pandemic is officially over, I’m going to see what I can find out about them at the local library
What was the grand opening date?
Opening date?
Grand opening was on June 3, 1959 with “Tonight’s The Night”, starring David Niven and “The Tall Stranger” with Joel McCrea
Grand opening was on May 11, 1949. Opening features were “Tycoon” starring John Wayne and “Isn’t It Romantic” starring Veronica Lake.
Grand opening was on July 18, 1953 with “Salome” starring Rita Hayworth.
Congrats to the owners of the Moonlite for bringing it back to life! Being a Pennsylvanian (from Pittsburgh), the Moonlite is now one of three drive-ins in my home state that I have to visit for the first time, the others being the Sky Vu in Gratz and the Mahoning in Lehighton. Come next spring, I’m going to plan a road trip to visit all three during the summer.
David Coppock: Of course if I had had my way I would’ve bought the Kane Road Drive-In and moved into the screen tower house. It would’ve been so cool to live there and keep the drive-in going, and I couldn’t be the only one who had the same sentiments.
The zip code for Slovan is 15078, not 15021
The house in front of where the screen used to be was torn down as well. There is now a Dollar General on the former drive-in site.
With the demise of the Twin Hi-Way Drive-In in 2015, the Dependable is now the only operating drive-in theater in Allegheny County
The address and map shown here are for the Lakeview Drive-In. Approximate address for the Skyway is 5150 West Lake Rd. Erie, PA. 16505. The site is now occupied by Wolf Run Village condominiums
Grand opening date of the Airport was August 5, 1947 with “The Plainsman” starring Gary Cooper and Jean Arthur. The ad from the Salt Lake Tribune is now in the Photos section.
The second El Rancho was opened by September 20, 1971. The exact grand opening date could not be determined as there was a newspaper strike from May 14 to September 19 that year.
It was reported in May 1984 that the El Rancho would not reopen. However, the lease was passed on from previous operator Jon Showe to Dr. Paul Rankin (who owned the nearby Galaxy indoor theater) and the drive-in opened belatedly for the 1984 season on June 29. It turned out to be the final season; its last night of operation was on September 23 with “Purple Rain” and “Sudden Impact”.
Grand opening feature was “Honeymoon” starring Shirley Temple. Final night of operation was December 6, 1964 with two adult films: “False Shame” and “Passionate Thief”.
No grand opening ads or articles were found in either the Pittsburgh Press or Post Gazette. The first known listing from these papers is from July 2, 1955 (the same day the Echo Drive-In in nearby Jefferson Hills had its grand opening). The films featured that night were “Drums Across The River” starring Audie Murphy and Walter Brennan and “Six Bridges To Cross” starring Tony Curtis and Julie Adams. Last known listing was on September 11, 1983 with “Jaws III” and “The Thing”.
The Longhorn was relocated in 1966. Final night of operation at the original location was on April 4. The new location at 8900 Research Blvd, about 3 miles south of the old location, opened on May 20.
Grand opening as Penn-Lincoln Drive-In was on July 22, 1948 with “Something In The Wind”. Final night of first-run operation was on September 6, 1982 with “Midnight” and “Beyond The Fog”.
Grand reopening as Super 30 West Drive-In was on May 24, 1985 with “Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment” and “Visionquest”. This revival only lasted until September 22, 1985 with “Summer Rental” and “Volunteers”. It was announced in May 1986 that the drive-in would not reopen.