There are only a very few drive ins open. I was at the Cascade last weekend and it is still doing great business. The others are in Aurora and up north. Any others not sure. The Bel-Air as of 6/1/04 still stands but abandoned. They need to reopen it someday.
I lived and grew up by the Bel-air Theater where it now sits deserted. In the 1960’s through the 70’s they hosted firework displays for the 4th of July. It was operated I believe by the Balaban and Katz chain, later in the 70’s by the M&R corp who merged with the Cinwplex Odeon Group. A third screen was erected in the 1980s. It was also one of the first drive ins to have the in car heaters and radio sound. I have photos of the screens, ticket booth, and marquee from the 1980’s. The ticket booth was arsoned in 1999 and the marquee knocked down but the screens and concession stand are still on the property. It also was one of the last operating drive ins in the Chicago Suburbs.
There are only a very few drive ins open. I was at the Cascade last weekend and it is still doing great business. The others are in Aurora and up north. Any others not sure. The Bel-Air as of 6/1/04 still stands but abandoned. They need to reopen it someday.
I lived and grew up by the Bel-air Theater where it now sits deserted. In the 1960’s through the 70’s they hosted firework displays for the 4th of July. It was operated I believe by the Balaban and Katz chain, later in the 70’s by the M&R corp who merged with the Cinwplex Odeon Group. A third screen was erected in the 1980s. It was also one of the first drive ins to have the in car heaters and radio sound. I have photos of the screens, ticket booth, and marquee from the 1980’s. The ticket booth was arsoned in 1999 and the marquee knocked down but the screens and concession stand are still on the property. It also was one of the last operating drive ins in the Chicago Suburbs.