Sky-Way Drive-In
5642 Brainerd Road,
Chattanooga,
TN
37411
5642 Brainerd Road,
Chattanooga,
TN
37411
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The Sky-Way Drive-In opened on March 29, 1942 with Charles Boyer in “History is Made at Night”. It was closed on January 20, 1959 with Spencer Tracy in “The Last Hurrah”. The following day Pat Boone in “Mardi Gras” was due to open, but a violent storm just prior to the evenings opening did so much damage, it never reopened.
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Joe Vogel
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Recent comments (view all 14 comments)
My grandfather, Don Shaw, built the Sky Way Drive-In and assisted in the building of the other drive-ins in Chattanooga. Our family home was at 5500 Woodlawn Drive next to the Sky Way. We had a speaker in the yard. After the storm blew down the screen in 1959, we moved to East Brainerd. Our land and the Sky Way property were developed as Eastgate Mall. I have pictures of the Sky Way and aerials. I may have pictures of the other drive-ins too.
Jim, if you do have pictures, it would be wonderful to see them. I believe I was at every drive in your grandfather built and owned. as a teen ager. By the way, my father in 1958 took me to the Skyway on Sunday morning to “teach me” how to drive the ole Chevy family car. He would get so mad at me. driving around the spacious lot. Thank you. Willard
Willard, if you will email me via my contact email address on this site, I will dig out the pictures, scan them, and send them to you. I learned to drive at the 23rd Street Drive In. jg
Here is an undated photo from the Chattanooga Library:
http://tinyurl.com/yq4g8k
Ken, all I can say is WOW. Thank you for sharing the pic of the Skyway drive-in theater. That pic brings back so many memories and good memories at that. One would be my parents taking us kids to see movies. Another would be the taking of my g/f in Brainerd to the drive-in at the Skyway. Again thank you so much for sharing. Willard.
Thanks for the picture.Doesn’t look like Scope pictures would play well there.
does anyone have any pics of the 41 drive-in in east ridge tennesseecan you send me a pic of it thank you
Jim or Walt, It’s been over 6 years since your post re the Skyway so I hope one of you are still on this site. I would love to have a copy of the Skyway aerial & photos for my parents scrapbook. Thank you!!!!
Hello Jim Greenwalt; I worked in the concession stand of the Skyway from 1954 to 1956 when I graduated from high school and joined the Navy. My name is Carl Hamilton and I was the redheaded kid that Don Shaw gave a job too and I worked one summer on the grounds. I remember you and your sister(I think she was your sister),who lived in Warren, Ohio, my e:mail is
Launched as the Sky-Way Drive-In on March 29, 1942 with “History is Made at Night. The Sky-Way closed with “The Last Hurrah” on January 20, 1959. A heavy storm January 21, 1959 caused major damage to the facility before the scheduled showing of “Mardi Gras” and the venue never reopened. It was demolished later in the year for a retail shopping center project.