The Maritime Aquarium has officially announced the opening of their “sensational new 4D theater that will send the action spilling off the screen with thrill-enhancing sensory special effects!”
I was involved in a special live performance presentation of Stephen Sondheim’s musical “Assassins” on Sept. 23, 2020 at the Pleasant Valley Drive-In, and I’m delighted to report that it’s a lovely property. I live only an hour away and it’s an easy drive, so I’m embarrassed to admit that this was my first time there. It will certainly not be my last. I look forward to next season when you can expect to see me back as a paying customer.
My thanks to the owner for accommodating the Warner Stage Company this week, and for your care of this beautiful site.
While searching for something unrelated, I found a couple of (very tiny) ads in the L.A. Times Calendar section over a couple of weeks in November 1973. What caught my eye was the film titles: a double feature of Ken Russell’s “The Devils” and “The Music Lovers” in the Gary I, and two other main studio releases in the Gary II.
I’m betting it did, since they had both “Funny Girl” and “Hello, Dolly” in extended runs in 1968 & 1969, and those were likely roadshow engagements. Someone else will have the definitive answer, but to my memory, this was a high profile theater in those first years, and it’s hard to imagine they weren’t 70mm.
It’s been beautifully restored (some parts are still being completed) and the main auditorium is presenting movies in state-of-the-art fashion. There will be much more to say about this as time goes on, but if you are in the area…GO.
In 2017 this is still the Daytona Drive-In Christian Church. An August 1, 2017 article in the NY Times includes a short but nicely shot and edited video documentary. If this link doesn’t work, go to the Times site and search on “Drive-In Jesus”.
On both Google and Bing Maps, the property is fully recognizable as a former drive-in, with concessions building and many of the speaker poles still remaining.
I lived in Hollywood, and then nearby, from 1972 to 1982, and I’m pretty sure it played there (along with “The Devil in Miss Jones”) pretty much throughout those years.
The Continental was where manager Nico Jacobellis got in big trouble for showing the “dirty” movie, I Am Curious Yellow.
Thanks, that confirms something for me. I was living on Euclid near Eddy Rd. when I turned 21, and one of the first things I did was go down the street there to see “I Am Curious Yellow”. I’d bet this is also the place that ran “The Lickerish Quartet” around that time.
I think they also ran second-run mainstream films, as I recall seeing “The Birds” there.
Thank you! Would love to know the approximate time frame of the two sales, or at least the first one which you said was during your high school years.
Just looked back at my earlier comments and can’t believe I wrote northwest corner! It was the northeast. I have a topo map around here somewhere…
We lived just south of Davie Blvd. (I went to Stranahan), and the Lauderdale and Davie Blvd. drive-ins were our most frequented throughout the early and mid-1960s. Many wonderful memories of that time.
Can someone who’s attended in the last couple of years provide some information on how they actually project movies? I hope “badly lit DVDs onto a dilapidated screen” is hyperbole, or at least an outdated description. How well or badly is the feature projected? How’s the sound? Are there concessions, and how are they?
Just caught a quick passing shot of this in one of the first season episodes of ADAM-12, with “Reflections in a Golden Eye” showing on the marquee. I think there was a Bob’s Big Boy across the street.
My family regularly attended the Lauderdale Drive-In during the early 1960s, and it just happens that our church held early Sunday morning services there. I’ve just uploaded four pages of a 1963 tenth-anniversary program commemorating those services.
Naturally, I wish there were more pictures of the drive-in itself, but the last of the four pages does show a portion of the concession stand!
For anyone who might be interested, the complete program is posted at http://goo.gl/ZTZHm4
I’ve uploaded a street view showing the high rise the theater is in. Juilliard School is the building at far right.
Bruce C.’s photo shows the box office and entrance located on that second level.
RIP - Larry McMurtry, 84
The Maritime Aquarium has officially announced the opening of their “sensational new 4D theater that will send the action spilling off the screen with thrill-enhancing sensory special effects!”
No thanks.
RIP, IMAX. You were loved.
I was involved in a special live performance presentation of Stephen Sondheim’s musical “Assassins” on Sept. 23, 2020 at the Pleasant Valley Drive-In, and I’m delighted to report that it’s a lovely property. I live only an hour away and it’s an easy drive, so I’m embarrassed to admit that this was my first time there. It will certainly not be my last. I look forward to next season when you can expect to see me back as a paying customer.
My thanks to the owner for accommodating the Warner Stage Company this week, and for your care of this beautiful site.
While searching for something unrelated, I found a couple of (very tiny) ads in the L.A. Times Calendar section over a couple of weeks in November 1973. What caught my eye was the film titles: a double feature of Ken Russell’s “The Devils” and “The Music Lovers” in the Gary I, and two other main studio releases in the Gary II.
Yes, it’s a dark day here in Western Connecticut.
We can only be hopeful that some buyer who wants to run a quality movie theater will come along before it’s too late.
Thank you, Bethel Cinema, for a wonderful run.
I’m betting it did, since they had both “Funny Girl” and “Hello, Dolly” in extended runs in 1968 & 1969, and those were likely roadshow engagements. Someone else will have the definitive answer, but to my memory, this was a high profile theater in those first years, and it’s hard to imagine they weren’t 70mm.
Bedford Playhouse is OPEN.
https://bedfordplayhouse.org/
It’s been beautifully restored (some parts are still being completed) and the main auditorium is presenting movies in state-of-the-art fashion. There will be much more to say about this as time goes on, but if you are in the area…GO.
In 2017 this is still the Daytona Drive-In Christian Church. An August 1, 2017 article in the NY Times includes a short but nicely shot and edited video documentary. If this link doesn’t work, go to the Times site and search on “Drive-In Jesus”.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/01/opinion/drive-in-church-florida.html
On both Google and Bing Maps, the property is fully recognizable as a former drive-in, with concessions building and many of the speaker poles still remaining.
I lived in Hollywood, and then nearby, from 1972 to 1982, and I’m pretty sure it played there (along with “The Devil in Miss Jones”) pretty much throughout those years.
Thank you for these, rivest266!
Sad news. The Center Mayfield was one of my primary theaters in my movie-going college days back in the early 1970s.
jsomich on January 10, 2005 …..
The Continental was where manager Nico Jacobellis got in big trouble for showing the “dirty” movie, I Am Curious Yellow.
Thanks, that confirms something for me. I was living on Euclid near Eddy Rd. when I turned 21, and one of the first things I did was go down the street there to see “I Am Curious Yellow”. I’d bet this is also the place that ran “The Lickerish Quartet” around that time.
I think they also ran second-run mainstream films, as I recall seeing “The Birds” there.
An issue worthy of attention, to be sure. But nothing at all to do with CINEMA, past or present.
This blog is SO in need of some guidance and oversight.
Sickening. Heartbreaking.
Thank you! Would love to know the approximate time frame of the two sales, or at least the first one which you said was during your high school years.
Just looked back at my earlier comments and can’t believe I wrote northwest corner! It was the northeast. I have a topo map around here somewhere…
We lived just south of Davie Blvd. (I went to Stranahan), and the Lauderdale and Davie Blvd. drive-ins were our most frequented throughout the early and mid-1960s. Many wonderful memories of that time.
I was about to comment on that as well. It’s a big country. I wish theater locations would be identified right at the top of any article.
I appreciate that info! It’s very helpful and means a lot. Thank you!
Can someone who’s attended in the last couple of years provide some information on how they actually project movies? I hope “badly lit DVDs onto a dilapidated screen” is hyperbole, or at least an outdated description. How well or badly is the feature projected? How’s the sound? Are there concessions, and how are they?
Just caught a quick passing shot of this in one of the first season episodes of ADAM-12, with “Reflections in a Golden Eye” showing on the marquee. I think there was a Bob’s Big Boy across the street.
Beautiful stuff. Keep it coming!
Love the floor plan, too. Always wish there were more of those around.
Keep fighting the good fight, people.
BTW, anyone who hasn’t yet visited the Loews and walked through its magnificent spaces is really missing something.
Also, unfortunately, the status should be “demolished”.
BTW, the drive-in was in the northwest corner of West Broward Blvd. and 27th Avenue — not Wingate Road.
My family regularly attended the Lauderdale Drive-In during the early 1960s, and it just happens that our church held early Sunday morning services there. I’ve just uploaded four pages of a 1963 tenth-anniversary program commemorating those services.
Naturally, I wish there were more pictures of the drive-in itself, but the last of the four pages does show a portion of the concession stand!
For anyone who might be interested, the complete program is posted at http://goo.gl/ZTZHm4