Groton Drive-In
220 Connecticut 12,
Groton,
CT
06340
220 Connecticut 12,
Groton,
CT
06340
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The Groton Drive-In was opened on September 29, 1954 with Ann Blyth in “Rose Marie” and George Montgomery in “Gun Belt”. Torn down in 1986 for a shopping center. It showed regular features as well as adult films.
Contributed by
Dave Bonan
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Recent comments (view all 7 comments)
I worked here briefly in 1983, when it was showing X-rated films. Though operators planted a lot of trees and hedges around the lot, there were still kids climbing the trees each night to watch the movies, and it was a constant effort chasing them down and off the property. The FM radio sound also caused a ruckus, as anyone pulling into the nearby Railroad Salvage with their radio stations tuned on WDRC would have their sound hijacked by the grunts and groans of the porn movie onscreen.
A pity a Decent Drive-in at one time had to go the smut route to make a profit.AS mush as love Drive-ins I think i would have closed her down.
220 Connecticut 12, Groton, CT 06340
The above address will map accurately to the location of the drive-in.
Here is a 1957 aerial photo of the drive-in, courtesy of Earth Explorer and USGS.
Not sure whether this is the right drive-in, the one that opened was listed as the “Open Air” in the Motion Picture Almanacs of the day.
From Billboard, April 24, 1954: “Groton Open Air Theater, Inc., headed by J. Lawrence Peters, New London, Conn., has started construction of a 850-car capacity drive-in at Groton, Conn., with completion slated for late May. The corporation has applied to the Connecticut State Police Commissioner, Hartford, for certificate of approval to operate the theater. Other officers are: Vice-president, Isadore Fishbone: secretary, Harry Picazio Jr. and treasurer, Anthony Albino. The land is held by Fapp Realty, Inc., and will be leased to the theater corporation.”
Opened on 29/9/1954 with a cartoon(not named?), “Rose Marie(i love you)” and “Gun belt”.
The shopping centre is Groton Square Shopping Centre.
Motion Picture Daily, Oct. 13, 1954: “Hartford, Oct. 12 - Groton Open Air Theatre, Inc., has opened Connecticut’s newest drive-in, the 600-car capacity Groton Drive-In, on Route 12. Principals include J. Lawrence Peters, Anthony Albino, Harry F. Picazzio, Jr., and Isadore Fishbone.”