Comments about Groton Drive-In in Groton, CT

MichaelKilgore on December 20, 2021 at 9:59 pm

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.”

davidcoppock on November 16, 2019 at 5:47 am

The shopping centre is Groton Square Shopping Centre.

davidcoppock on November 16, 2019 at 5:35 am

Opened on 29/9/1954 with a cartoon(not named?), “Rose Marie(i love you)” and “Gun belt”.

MichaelKilgore on November 10, 2019 at 4:45 am

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.”

NYozoner on February 14, 2011 at 7:48 am

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.

Mike Rogers on July 28, 2010 at 2:15 am

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.

JayAllenSanford on July 28, 2010 at 12:14 am

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.