It was virtually identical to the Twin in Independence, the State in KCK and the South Twin in Olathe. footage of the North Twin was used in an Intermission bumpre for Mid American Cinemas and it Was always listed in that section of the movie ads. Only the Crest and Riverside Drive ins Were in the Commonwealth section.
Pretty sure that this theater was built and operated by Mid America Cinemas. Along with the South Twin in Olathe it was one of the last two to be built in the KC area.
There is a site called Historic Aerials NETR Online. You can type in Kansas city, then enable the road overlays and find the locations of all of our drive ins, past and present. It has overhead pics from various years, as well as Topo maps. By the photo from 1969 it looks like Fairyland was already a twin by then.
The Lake Park was still opened until 81 at least. The last movie I saw there was Outland and it came out in 81. It stood for a couple more years before it was demolished. The State’s last year of operation was 91. These were two of my favorite drive ins growing up. Visited them both dozens of times at least.
The State was built as a twin screen Drive in. It was nearly identical to the Twin, North Twin and South Twin. And similar to the I70. All of these theaters were operated by Mid America Cinemas.
There were about 20 Drive ins in the KC metro area in the late 70s. We still have 3. The Boulevard on the Kansas side and the I-70 in KCMO as well as the Twin in Independence.
I saw many movies at the empire in 70s and early 80s .I remember one huge fancy auditorium and three smaller less detailed ones either upstairs or down, no wall between the main auditorium. it would be a shame to make it like the new multiplexes. I sincerely hope the original grandeur can be preserved or at least recreated.
It was still opened in 1982,I saw RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK there.I dont remember what the second feature was but the third was VICTORY with Sylvester Stallone. Also the intermission at these drive ins showed footage of the north twin. Does anyone know if its available on DVD. These were well maintaned theatres that featured first run entertainment in a family atmosphere. I have many fond memories especially of the state twin and I miss them all.
I’m pretty sure it closed sometime in the early to mid 80s. There was already a strip mall or shopping center on the site by 1990.
I know it was still opened at least til the end od the 70s but it doesnt appear in any of the movie ads from the newspaper from 81 and beyond.
It was virtually identical to the Twin in Independence, the State in KCK and the South Twin in Olathe. footage of the North Twin was used in an Intermission bumpre for Mid American Cinemas and it Was always listed in that section of the movie ads. Only the Crest and Riverside Drive ins Were in the Commonwealth section.
The Riverside drive in, that was about a mile away was ran by Commonwealth, but this one was definately built and ran by Mid America Cinemas.
Pretty sure that this theater was built and operated by Mid America Cinemas. Along with the South Twin in Olathe it was one of the last two to be built in the KC area.
Saw the Karate Kid at Springs North in early summer of 84 when it premiered. Pretty sure it didnt become a dollar house for a couple more years.
Star Wars played exclusively at the Glenwood before opening on a second screen at Antioch.
There is a site called Historic Aerials NETR Online. You can type in Kansas city, then enable the road overlays and find the locations of all of our drive ins, past and present. It has overhead pics from various years, as well as Topo maps. By the photo from 1969 it looks like Fairyland was already a twin by then.
It did open in 70 and closed in 85.
I didnt realize that this Drive in was opened til 85. I would have swore it closed in the late 70s or very early 80s.
The Lake Park was still opened until 81 at least. The last movie I saw there was Outland and it came out in 81. It stood for a couple more years before it was demolished. The State’s last year of operation was 91. These were two of my favorite drive ins growing up. Visited them both dozens of times at least.
The State was built as a twin screen Drive in. It was nearly identical to the Twin, North Twin and South Twin. And similar to the I70. All of these theaters were operated by Mid America Cinemas.
On Drive ins.com The Crest is listed as holding 1550 cars.
There were about 20 Drive ins in the KC metro area in the late 70s. We still have 3. The Boulevard on the Kansas side and the I-70 in KCMO as well as the Twin in Independence.
I saw many movies at the empire in 70s and early 80s .I remember one huge fancy auditorium and three smaller less detailed ones either upstairs or down, no wall between the main auditorium. it would be a shame to make it like the new multiplexes. I sincerely hope the original grandeur can be preserved or at least recreated.
It was still opened in 1982,I saw RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK there.I dont remember what the second feature was but the third was VICTORY with Sylvester Stallone. Also the intermission at these drive ins showed footage of the north twin. Does anyone know if its available on DVD. These were well maintaned theatres that featured first run entertainment in a family atmosphere. I have many fond memories especially of the state twin and I miss them all.