Hi-M Drive-In
901 W. Republic Road,
Springfield,
MO
65807
901 W. Republic Road,
Springfield,
MO
65807
2 people
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The drive-in was located off M Highway near James River Freeway. It opened July 15, 1961 with Robert Mitchum in “The Wonderful Country” & John Wayne in “Rio Bravo”. It was a family drive-in that was owned and operated by Commonwealth Theaters. They showed a lot of Disney films here. It closed on August 30, 1984 with Harrison Ford in “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom” & Robert Urich in “The Ice Pirates”. It was demolished to make room for a subdivision.
Contributed by
Tim Stewart
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Recent comments (view all 8 comments)
I worked for Commonwealth Amusement Corporation, who owned all the drive-ins in Springfield,MO, my home town. In fact, I am the last actual manager of the Springfield Drive-In, which was the oldest drive-in Springfield had until we lost the lease in 1977 and it was torn down to make room on the prime real estate spot for an office monstrosity called “Corporate Square”. I also managed the Queen City Twin, which was torn down to build a “Sam’s Club”. I am responding to a small blog I saw about the Hi-M Theatre, which in fact was demolished for a sub-division. They are called “Hi-M Estates”, I believe. If anyone wants more stories about Springfield drive-ins, let me know.
Of all the theatres in town that I went to, this drive in was the one my family most often frequented during drive-in season. It was the closest theatre in town to our home. I can quite vividly remember it, though it has been gone for a quarter century. One entered the complex down a bush-lined drive that ran parallel to Broadway Avenue in Park Crest Subdivision. For a long time, and perhaps even now, bushes from this drive still exist in back yards of the subdivision that is there now. At the end of the long drive were ticket booths, and then the parking was to the left of this. In addition to the standard snack bar/projection booth complex, there was a small playground in front of the screen. People who I knew who lived in Park Crest subdivision, which surrounded the drive in on the north and east sides, remember watching movies from adjacent homes. Besides those bushes, nothing remains.
Glad the street view feature has been added. In the view, you will see the side of a house, with a fenced back yard that has a large bush in it. The bush was once much smaller, and stood in a narrow median between the entrance drive and exit drive. The bush is thus an artifact from the drive-in.
1970 USGS photo uploaded here.
This opened on July 15th, 1961. Grand opening ad in the photo section.
The Hi-M opened July 15, 1961 with “The Wonderful Country” and “Rio Bravo.” It closed for the season on August 30, 1984 with “Indiana Jones” and “Ice Pirates.” In fairly quick succession in late 1984 and early 1985, the concession stand was vandalized, the property was sold, demolished and became home to multi-family residences.
I managed this Drive In in 1970 as a Trainee Manager until I got drafted in the Army.
Although They Showed A Variety Of Disney Films There At The Hi-M, The Fox Theatre Is Springfield’s Dominant Theater For Disney Films Throughout Portions Of The 1960s And 1970s.