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Uploaded on: August 15, 2026

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Image - Courtesy of Rick Galati

Ledgewood Drive-In was opened on May 4, 1950 with Richard Widmark in “Slattery’s Hurricane” & Lee Bowman in “There’s a Girl in My Heart”. The owner retired in 1975. It closed on September 28, 1986 with Larry Breeding in “The Last Resort” & Deborah Foreman in “My Chauffeur”.

It was owned by Wilfred “Bill” Paul Smith Sr. who died in 2002 at the age of 89. He owned the Ledgewood Drive-In and Newton Drive-In. According to the local newspaper, he was a pioneer of the drive-in movie theater business and his name appears in the Smithsonian Institute. He was also involved in building all the original drive-in theaters in New Jersey.

Eventually, it was torn down and a BJs warehouse sits adjacent to the property - its parking lot is where the main field was. The Circle was torn down and made into the mess it is today back in the mid-1990’s, and that put Sandwiches Unlimited into a downward spiral and it went out of business. A highlight was driving around the circle to see the new slogan on their marquee - Notes by Dave Bonan.

Contributed by Greg Lynch -