Woodland Drive-In
526 Thompson Run Road,
West Mifflin,
PA
15112
526 Thompson Run Road,
West Mifflin,
PA
15112
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Variety, April 7, 1954: “George Tice and George Saittis are building a 400-car drive-in in West Mifflin borough and expect to have it open by the first of June.”
Motion Picture Exhibitor, Nov. 10, 1954: “George Tice and George Saittis … are also building a drive-in in West Mifflin, Pa., started last April but slowed down because a gas line passed through the newly acquired land. Construction will go ahead early in the spring and with favorable weather conditions the drivein is expected to be in operation by next summer.”
Boxoffice, March 23, 1970: “Drive-Ins which have been transferred include: … Woodland, West Mifflin, from George Tice to George Saittis.”
No grand opening ads or articles were found in either the Pittsburgh Press or Post Gazette. The first known listing from these papers is from July 2, 1955 (the same day the Echo Drive-In in nearby Jefferson Hills had its grand opening). The films featured that night were “Drums Across The River” starring Audie Murphy and Walter Brennan and “Six Bridges To Cross” starring Tony Curtis and Julie Adams. Last known listing was on September 11, 1983 with “Jaws III” and “The Thing”.
I worked for Manos Theatres at a time when Flea Markets we3re just starting. We went to meet with the Woodland owner George Tice about how he was operating his flea market. He was president of western PA Theatre owners organization, and was a guy who wore a Cowboy hat, and was loved by all his Flea Market Customers. About 5 years after our try at flea markets, I started on at the Hilltop Drive In at Monongahela, and Manos started them at Hi-Way Drive in Latrobe, Super 61 at Beaver Falls, and the Comet Drive In at Connellsville, PA witch is still operating in 2018 and is owned and operated by Brian Erwin, former General Manager for Manos, and he still operates the Theatre.
Opened in 1955 (not sure of the exact date at this time). This drive-in was located on the “back route” to Kennywood Park. The badly deteriorated screen is still standing as well as several speaker poles. The ticket booth was torn down a few years ago. The Pittsburgh Yellow and White Pages listed this as the “Woodland Drive-In” for years after it stopped showing movies. The flea market was discontinued a few years ago. The site is still used for auto auctions, first by MAG Auto Auction, now by Copart.