I found this on the Thompson (CT) Historical Society Newsletter (Winter 2003 newsletter):
“Ladies received free flowers and men free cigarettes at the opening of the Quinebaug Drive-In on Rte. 131, near the 4 Corners. Alan Ladd, who later starred in a 1959 movie filmed in Thompson, “The Man in the Netâ€, starred in “Branded†(1950).
I lived in neighboring Dudley, MA in 1983, and drove by the Quinebaug many times. If memory serves correctly, I don’t recall it being open at that time, I might be wrong.
My ex-father-inlaw owned a Mini-Mansion (renovated and turned into an apartment building) on a lot next to the Drive-In back in the late 50’s/early 60’s. His daughter used to play in the projection booth when the place was closed, in the winter. (Guess they didn’t lock things back then!)
I believe this Drive-in held a capacity of 600 cars.
With just a short note on the site:
Oct. 9, 1929—The Liberty Theatre in Webster, a silent movie venue for several years, was wired for “talkies.”
For the life of me, I can’t remember what this theatre became after it closed. (I’m not in MA anymore), but I do remember the front of the building still resembling a theatre, and this was back in the late 1990s.
I had just moved to the Worcester area in 1978, when it was the Worcester Center Cinema. I remember walking the mall, then going to see a movie afterwards. We used to joke about the size of the screens :–)
If I remember correctly, didn’t they used to show plays there too?
I remember the Union Drive-In fondly! Another place I went to alot as a kid and a teenager. I also remember accidentally hitting my car horn with my elbow while getting out of the car to go to the concession..and the horn stuck, (it figures).
It’s sad that alot of the drive-ins are gone now, especially this one. :–)
I practically grew up in that theater, I remember the beautiful chandelier, I used to stare at it before the Saturday Matinees used to start. :-D (1960s). Standing in a very long line outside the theater to see “Help” and “A Hard Day’s Night”, “Yellow Submarine”, oh you name the movie, I was there weekly. Love that old photo with “Bonnie and Clyde” on the marquee (which I saw there too!) I was literally sick when they made the theater into two screens, and now it’s five screens? Wow! I’m in Texas now, but I dearly miss my old hometown of Cranford, and my favorite theater of all time.
I remember when it was the “New Plaza” theater in the early 70’s, and a single screen theater. It even had a smoking section in the back rows on the left-hand side. Saw lots of good movies here.
Used to go to this theater every week back in the 60s and early 70s. Sad to read that it’s been turned into something else! Lots of memories, and that’s all they are now.
It’s gone? How sad. The last picture I saw there was “Forrest Gump”.
(I’ve been out of MA for awhile) :–)
Back in the late 90s, this was also a Flea Market during the daytime, on the weekend :–)
I found this on the Thompson (CT) Historical Society Newsletter (Winter 2003 newsletter):
“Ladies received free flowers and men free cigarettes at the opening of the Quinebaug Drive-In on Rte. 131, near the 4 Corners. Alan Ladd, who later starred in a 1959 movie filmed in Thompson, “The Man in the Netâ€, starred in “Branded†(1950).
I lived in neighboring Dudley, MA in 1983, and drove by the Quinebaug many times. If memory serves correctly, I don’t recall it being open at that time, I might be wrong.
My ex-father-inlaw owned a Mini-Mansion (renovated and turned into an apartment building) on a lot next to the Drive-In back in the late 50’s/early 60’s. His daughter used to play in the projection booth when the place was closed, in the winter. (Guess they didn’t lock things back then!)
I believe this Drive-in held a capacity of 600 cars.
Found this link:
http://www.oldewebster.com/history/whenhappen.htm
With just a short note on the site:
Oct. 9, 1929—The Liberty Theatre in Webster, a silent movie venue for several years, was wired for “talkies.”
For the life of me, I can’t remember what this theatre became after it closed. (I’m not in MA anymore), but I do remember the front of the building still resembling a theatre, and this was back in the late 1990s.
I had just moved to the Worcester area in 1978, when it was the Worcester Center Cinema. I remember walking the mall, then going to see a movie afterwards. We used to joke about the size of the screens :–)
If I remember correctly, didn’t they used to show plays there too?
I remember the Union Drive-In fondly! Another place I went to alot as a kid and a teenager. I also remember accidentally hitting my car horn with my elbow while getting out of the car to go to the concession..and the horn stuck, (it figures).
It’s sad that alot of the drive-ins are gone now, especially this one. :–)
I practically grew up in that theater, I remember the beautiful chandelier, I used to stare at it before the Saturday Matinees used to start. :-D (1960s). Standing in a very long line outside the theater to see “Help” and “A Hard Day’s Night”, “Yellow Submarine”, oh you name the movie, I was there weekly. Love that old photo with “Bonnie and Clyde” on the marquee (which I saw there too!) I was literally sick when they made the theater into two screens, and now it’s five screens? Wow! I’m in Texas now, but I dearly miss my old hometown of Cranford, and my favorite theater of all time.
I remember when it was the “New Plaza” theater in the early 70’s, and a single screen theater. It even had a smoking section in the back rows on the left-hand side. Saw lots of good movies here.
Used to go to this theater every week back in the 60s and early 70s. Sad to read that it’s been turned into something else! Lots of memories, and that’s all they are now.