Airport Drive-In
5540 Airport Drive,
Birmingham,
AL
35212
5540 Airport Drive,
Birmingham,
AL
35212
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The current address is 6196 University Ave, Birmingham, AL.
The address of the property has changed as it has been cut off from what is now Messer Airport HWY. The drive-in sat astride what was Enterprise Rent-A-Car/Hertz and Avis with the screen sitting on the former and the bulk of the drive-in on the latter.
Today, all three businesses have closed.
https://tinyurl.com/y376p37j
Article announcing the plans of R.C. Cobb Theaters to construct the Airport Drive In posted in the photo section. It touts the 700 car capacity, the 120 by 65 foot screen constructed using Birmingham produced steel, and the state of the art concession stand featuring new shrimp and chicken selections.
Granted, this was not Atlanta but you have to wonder about the thinking that went into the selection of a site for an outdoor movie theater next door to the airport of a sizable and growing city. Jet airliners were rapidly taking over the industry and the early models of the Boeing 727 and DC9’s were not known for their quiet engines. In addition, there had just been a big dispute over plans of the parks department to build a new high school stadium, also located next to the airport. This had been defeated because the airport had announced its intention to expand and the stadium lights would then be in violation of the airspace rules.
Still, Cobb had recently opened their Thunderbird Drive In practicality underneath the landing pattern, or sometimes take off depending on the wind, of the Atlanta Airport so maybe they figured Birmingham was no big deal. Both of these locations closed in 1974 so I would say that the airports won that contest.
Closed in January 1974, operated by Cobb Theatres throughout its history.
Correction: Now Hertz Rent-A-Car east of the terminal @ 5540 Airline Dr, Birmingham, AL 35212.
Please update.
This opened on April 15th, 1965. Grand opening ad posted.
The Airport Drive-in was located on what is now Messer Airport Hwy between University Ave. And 37th Avenue N.
Now National Car Rental, the Birmingham Airport was located across the street to the west.
With the expansion, the airport is now to the east of where the drive-in stood. Airline Dr. would be where the back of the theater was.