Bengies Drive-In

The April 6, 1957 issue of Boxoffice ran a three-page article on Bengies. It focused on architectural engineer Jack K. Vogel’s design, “a unique contribution to outdoor movies”, especially of the concession stand. It included plenty of diagrams and photos, including small photos of the box office and the then-humble marquee.

@archie1959 true joe was the worst of the three stooges.

It’s strange that the summary here, at least partially written by “D. Edward Vogal”, spells that last name consistently with an A. Every other reference I can find, including CNN, the Baltimore Sun, his signature at the end of a lengthy complaint about the Baltimore Sun, and even the Whois record for Bengies.com – they all spell that name Vogel with an E.

FWIW, its first appearance in the International Motion Picture Almanac was the 1957 edition, in which it was listed in Middle River, spelled as Bengie’s, capacity 585, owner Frog Mortar Corp. That listing stayed the same through 1966.

During the period (at least 1969-76) when the IMPA didn’t include owners, it became Bengies (no apostrophe) in Baltimore, capacity 750. In 1978-88, the listing returned to Middle River, owner Vogel, capacity 600.

I have some current photos of the outside of the theater on my blog, as well as some information! I agree with some of the posts though, I was not a fan of the commentary over the credits and film shorts.

http://driveinadventures.wordpress.com/2014/01/21/bengies-drive-in-theatre/

The owner of the BIG-MO Drive-in does the same thing at intermission,gets on and yaks and yaks and yaks.Give me a break,but the BIG-MO; it is a mom and pop operation.

this is the worst drive in theater ive ever been to. the man talks all over the radio during intermission when he is showing short subjects like the 3 stooges where you miss key points in the plot. mr vogel please funnel cakes and hot dog specials can wait to be mentioned during a preview and not a classic short like the 3 stooges.

www.CapriDrivein.com Coldwater, MI
Largest outdoor screen in operation, a Selby Tower, 75' X 150'
it shows a beautiful pitcure !

The 1963 motion picture almanac lists Bengies Drive-In in Baltimore. I don’t know if Middle River is a Baltimore suburb. Operator was Vogel Theaters of Wellsville, OH. Paul Vogel was president, T.T. Vogel was vice-president and Jack Vogel was secretary-treasurer. Other Vogel theaters at that time were the Midway Drive-In in Ravenna, OH, the Salem Drive-In in Salem, OH and the Liberty in Wellsville.

This is hands down the best drive in I’ve ever been to. NO contest. Triple features, huge screen, great sound (fm stereo) and at least one 1st-run new release event movie all summer, plus a family film and usually a racier comedy or a horror/thriller as the third show.

And low prices. And great snack bar. Been in continuous operation for 50 years. My wife and I live in the DC area (an hour away) and it’s worth the drive. I recommend it to anyone who loves the drive-in, and anyone who’s never been, but wants to try the experience- it’s the best.

Chiefehrman: They have that one-way ramp device now. Mr. Vogel Senior just passed away a year ago and his son is now running it, and doing a bang-up job.

I worked there in the 70’s. I wonder if he still makes em take the light bulbs around the fence at night after they close? But, you hae to watch out for light number 8 it had a short and if you didn’t unscrew right you got zapped. I also learned to direct traffic there too. Mr. Vogel was good to me, but he was tight. So instead of buying the ramps that you could only drive oneway. I had to stand there at the exit and keep em out and not let em back in. I miss the Drive-in. I even went to one once when I visited Australia.