Portland Drive-In
426 Gospel Lane,
Portland,
CT
06480
426 Gospel Lane,
Portland,
CT
06480
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A closer address is 1422 Main St, Portland, CT.
Google Maps has updated their addresses and this puts it right in the middle of the property.
The entrance to the drive-in was on Main Street. And it continues to be the entrance to the property today.
Today, the property is mostly undeveloped and overgrown with trees. The marquee, which once stood at the entrance, is now gone.
https://tinyurl.com/y89rff7k
Launched July 2, 1953 by T. and J. Markoff’s chain. It closed for the season on September 14, 1985 with “Summer Rental” and “Beverly Hills Cop.”
CORRECT ADDRESS: 426 Gospel Ln, Portland, CT 06480
(across the street going North, not much left)
A more accurate address (for Google) is 1374 Main Street, Glastonbury, CT.
http://tinyurl.com/hx4n7h9
Approx. location for this drive-in was NW corner of Connecticut 17 & Main St.
Video (not much) from 1991.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxlLWzSie9w
I have some stills of it too.
This drive-in actually opened in 1953, not 1954. The July 11 issue of Boxoffice that year said “Management of the Markoff Circuit arranged an early July opening of the new Portland Drive-In.”
I have fond memories of this drive-in theatre. My parents took us to see a double bill of the Bond films From Russia With Love and Goldfinger. When we were leaving that summer night, Shirley Bassey was belting out the title song as the end credits of Goldfinger were playing. In the night air going by all those speakers made for a magical moment, I’ll always treasure.
The concession stand and marquee both still remain.