Anthony Wayne Drive-In
67 Willowbrook Boulevard,
Wayne,
NJ
07470
67 Willowbrook Boulevard,
Wayne,
NJ
07470
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Opened on July 6, 1967 with Audrey Hepburn in “My Fair Lady”. The Anthony Wayne Drive-In was closed on January 1, 1981 with Goldie Hawn in “Private Benjamin” & Barbra Streisand in “The Main Event”. It was demolished and the site is now Costco and Sports Authority. Located south of Willowbrook Boulevard across from the Firestone Store.
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TC
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Recent comments (view all 10 comments)
The Loews Wayne 14 might also occupy some of the land formerly given over to the Anthony Wayne. One of the last drive-ins to close in northern New Jersey, and also the only D/I I’ve ever been to. I think it was around 1978 or ‘79. The budding cinephile in me kinda sneered at the drive-in experience then (picture too dark, audio coming out of a froggy-sounding speaker, people POSSIBLY NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO THE MOVIE), but there was also a communal, summer-outdoorsy vibe that I haven’t forgotten. The closest I’ve come to it since then has been at outdoor concerts. Now I actually envy people who can visit a drive-in without having to make a road trip out of it. Today, if I want a drive-in experience (and I just might, one of these summers), I’ll have to go either out of state to upstate New York or northeastern Pennsylvania, or down to Vineland in South Jersey, where a new drive-in has opened in NJ for the first time in what seems like about 200 years. Either way, I’m talking about a drive of 70 to 100 miles.
I went to this theater from April 1969 till we moved out of state in 1973. I still have a ticket stub in my scrapbook where they carged $2.50 for two movies. I remember they would have people knocking on your car windows with empty pop corn tubs to collect for “The Will Rodgers Fund.” Thanks for the memories, Nostalgic Girl
Here is a 1979 aerial photo:
http://tinyurl.com/ye7bjyc
I did not manage this theatre but as manager of the Willowbrook Cinema and the Little Cinema in the mall I audited this theatre for the owner Spyro Lenas. Tragically the manager of this Drive-In was killed in a hold-up. They did make an arrest and conviction in this case.
1972 print ad added courtesy of Keith West.
I was just watching Chasing Classic Cars, and Wayne Carini purchased a vintage 25' neon sign that said “Wayne Drive In”. Could this be a remnant?
Opened on 6/7/1966 with “My fair lady”. 1367 cars.
@MovieMan__1952: Was the hold-up at the Drive-In? Can you provide the backstory? Thank you!
Closed on January 1st, 1981.
Closed with “Private Benjamin” and “The Main Event”.