Union Drive-In
501 Clubhouse Ct.,
Union,
NJ
07083
501 Clubhouse Ct.,
Union,
NJ
07083
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Opened June 17th, 1937 as the first drive-in theatre in the NYC region. Grand opening ad posted.
Actually opened in June-July 1937.
To partly answer Drive-In 54, the Motion Picture Almanac’s listing of that drive-in’s capacity went from 650 cars in 1964, when it was run by Eastern Management Corp., to 1400 cars in 1965, when General Cinema Corp. took over.
Strangely enough both the Route 29 (650, Eastern) and the Union Outdoor (1400, General) were in both the drive-in and circuit ownership lists in the 1965 MPA.
Also, when its land was sold from Susan L. and William H. Nealon to S. and G. Theatres, Inc., in December 1941, it was called the Drive-In-Theatre on Route 29 by The Exhibitor. As with many such prewar drive-ins, it seems to have been known mostly as just the drive-in of a particular highway or town.
My Dad Richard Gaine was the projectionist at the Union Drive In. He moved to Miami in 1970 and worked for the Turnpike Drive In. till he retired. Me and my Mom went to see almost every showing in the 50s. I would fall asleep after the double feature, as the first movie was repeated. I think I saw every movie that came out in the 50s. I remember my Dad used to bring fire crackers to work so he could set one off to wake up the folks that fell asleep when the show ended,
Here is a better address:
501 Clubhouse Ct, Union, NJ 07083
It is a bunch of apt buildings now.
Was this the Route 29 Drive-In at one time?
Between 1954 and 1966 the drive-in was rebuilt and a new screen tower was built on the east end of the lot. It looks like to increase the size of the parking ramp.
Approx. address for this drive-in was 2319 U.S. 22, Union, NJ 07083.
THANKS, KEN!
I totally remember this! When younger, in pj’s – playing on the swings as it got dark….sitting on top of the hood of the car…those speakers that clipped to the car window …. those stinky coils that you lit to keep the bugs away…Yogi going across the screen like a bobble head doll…everyone putting their lights on and blowing the horn when the movie reel got stuck…then, when older, going with a group of kids and some of us hiding in the trunk of the car so we did not have to pay …
I miss the Union Drive-In. Anyone know the name of the woman who used to do the telephone recording? She had a really gravelly voice (probably from too many years of smoking) which went something like “This is a recorded message from the Union Drive-In Theater located on Route 22 Eastbound Lane in Union. The box office opens at 6pm our features are… (Name of movies then announced), Admission is $3 for adults, children under 10 are free thank you for calling.”
The drive-in was not replaced by retail but by houses. You can see the housing development here, above the park on the left side of the frame.
http://tinyurl.com/y9gvlb5
Here is a 1979 aerial view:
http://tinyurl.com/y9cmacs
1946 Program:
View link
View link
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 remember going to the Union Drive-In as a very little kid, in my
PJs, with a blanket and my pillow—if I nodded off, no problem, just
curl up in the back seat and off to La La Land. I do recall seeing
Vertigo and A Hole In The Head—that song “High Hopes” really stuck in my juvenile head.
And for some reason, I remember the coming attraction for a really
cheapo horror film called “Terror Is A Man”. I was probably about
four years old and that stupid trailer really scared the crap out of me. And let’s face it, when you’re four, the last thing you need is crap coming out anywhere. For any reason.
this must’ve been where i sat petrified through ‘the legend of hell house’ while a friend slept.
I use to go here has a kid with my mom and friends. My mom was friends with the owners son and we use to get in carloads for free and sit out under the stars. Loved this place, don’t remember much about the actual grounds, buildings or ammeneties. Just the experience. Loved it, This was one of the last left in New Jersey back in the 80’s I was about 14 – 15 when it closed, what a shame.
Now my husband and I have to go all the way to Warwick NY to the Drive-In. I enjoy it and we usually make a weekend of it or at least stay over night somewhere and go to the towns nearby like Sugarloaf artist village.
They just re-opened the Chelsea Drive-In in Vineland NJ. We went there a few weeks ago as we were in the Atlantic City, NJ area for a few days. This one was also good, has a concession stand – was completely packed all through the entire first movie – Saw War of the Worlds. This night we went they were showing 3 movies…
Great deal of only $6 and you can’t beat the experience.
Yes, this is the one. In 1953 Route 29 was renumbered to Route 22.
http://66.221.1.53/images/jersey2_.jpg
http://www.drive-ins.com/theater/njtunio