51/16 Drive-In
US Highway 51 and Murray Road,
Pardeeville,
WI
53954
US Highway 51 and Murray Road,
Pardeeville,
WI
53954
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Opened on August 15, 1952 with Randolph Scott in “Man in the Saddle”. The 51/16 Drive-In was located four miles southeast of Portage on US 51, near the Columbia power plant. It closed on September 25, 1982.
Contributed by
Todd Senzig
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Recent comments (view all 6 comments)
This drive-in would have been located between the power plant and Hwy 51, near the intersection of the plant’s access road. Nothing now remains of it, however.
This theater closed in 1982.
Any comments or questions regarding any drive-in theater in Wisconsin, please check out my website at
www.drive-inthruwisconsin.com Or contact me at I will give you complete and accurate information about Wisconsin drive-in theaters, just ask. Thanks, Charles Bruss
Approximate location of this drive-in was on the SW corner of Hwy 51 and Murray Rd.
This as well as the power plant are part of Pardeeville WI 53954.
The 51/16 Drive-In opened its gates on August 15, 1952 with Randolph Scott in “Man In The Saddle” with no extra short subjects. The theater originally had a capacity of 340 cars but was shorten to 316 cars by the start of the 1960s, an original 65ft screen constructed by Reedsburg’s Baumgarten Building Service, and was first operated by F.J. McWilliams under the management of R.D. Hutchings.
The 51/16 closed for the final time on September 25, 1982.
Google Maps show a faint outline of the drive-in. But a September 2022 Street View shows the property under construction with massive amounts of dirt having been placed.
So, whatever faint remains of the drive-in remained, they are now completely gone.