Ardmore Drive-In
1500 Yost Boulevard,
Pittsburgh,
PA
15221
1500 Yost Boulevard,
Pittsburgh,
PA
15221
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Grand opening ad
Talking to myself again, I also wanted to mention that if you look at the 1959 Historic Aerial, you will see this Drive-In under construction, just months before it’s September opening.
That would be the old Pittsburgh Railways Trolley system. That was the 87 Ardmore line. It was the second longest line on system at 13.7 miles. It ran until January of 1967. Google and Wikipedia (sometimes) are your friends :)
Does anyone know the history of that tram or trolley bus in the above photo?
It was one of my favorite drive in,s around this area, probably 2nd to the Greater Pittsburgh Drive In. I still remember the playground in front of the screen, when I took my younger sister and brother there, they would play there. Also remember the two indoor seating area,s where you could sit if it rained or was cold. Took a lot of dates there too, probably made out more than watched the movies, but I did see a lot of good movies there, Death Wish was one of my favorites. I read somewhere once that the Ardmore was one of the most profitable drive in,s around, so I don,t get why the owners sold the property, guess they must have made some good money. I remember when they built the Gold Circle department store there in 1977. Remember going there and hearing the Bee Gee,s songs on the Saturday Night soundtrack, over and over, lol. Still surprised they sold the property and still another great drive in is long gone.
Final night of operation was either September 27 or 28, 1976. The September 29 edition of The Pittsburgh Press reported construction of a Gold Circle department store on the Ardmore Drive-In site to begin the following month. The confusion of the actual closing date comes from the same article; it indicates that it “closed Monday” (27th), but there is a listing for the Ardmore in the following day’s paper (28th).
I worked there for several years as did many of my family members. It was sad to see it close. Little did we know that it was a once in a life experience; wish I had been able to share it with my children and grand children.
September 4th, 1959 grand opening ad in photo section.
The Ardmore Drive-In was one the Pittsburgh area drive-ins that my family frequented in 1960s (the others being the Silver Lake, Harmar and Greater Pittsburgh). The thing about it that stands out in my memory is the small auditoriums flanking the concession area that were mentioned in an earlier post.
I Now know the effects of gettiing Old! Many people I talk to Don’t even Remember the Ardmore! When we were kids in the late 1960s thru the 1970’s we spent more time at the drive-ins than in “real” theatres! Greater Pittsburgh up the road was bigger, but the Ardmore was my favorite! Anyone remember the playgound equipment there (I guess to tucker out the kiddies before showtime!) Nice feature for parents with 5 kids jammed on to the old Plymouth wagon!
Approx. address for this drive-in was 1500 Yost Boulevard, Braddock Hills. It is now the Braddock Hills Shopping Center @ Storefront.
Uploaded a 1967 aerial view
Renewing link.
The Ardmore Drive-In was the subject of an article published in the February 8, 1960, issue of Boxoffice Magazine. This was one of many drive-ins designed by Jack K. Vogel, an architectural engineer. The Ardmore included a pair of 60-seat, heated and air conditioned auditoriums flanking the concession area. The Ardmore was built for Ernest and George Stern, of the Associated Theatres circuit.
What a massive collection you must have – and no doubt superbly catalogued so everything’s at your fingertips. Thanks for sharing with all of us.
Lost Memory, Are you located in Pittsburgh? You have some great shots of local theaters.
At one time the Ardmore was the highest-grossing single-screen drive-in in Western Pennsylvania. Just to experience it once, I went out for a double bill of the blockbusters “Charade” and “Thoroughly Modern Millie."
It later became a Gold Circle shopping center, although that may not be its current identity.
Of the drive-ins on or near Route 30, it was the nearest to Wilkinsburg and, by extension, Downtown Pittsburgh. The others, from west to east, were the five-screen Greater Pittsburgh, the Blue Dell and its temporary lot-mate the Bell-Aire (sp?), plus the Maple and the Super 30.
There are two excellent photos of the Ardmore Drive-In marquee in the local book about Forest Hills as part of the “Images Of America” series. The marquee stood at the corner of Ardmore (U.S. 30) and Yost Boulevards. One photo is a closeup, the other shows the marquee in front of the town’s original roller skating rink (which is also gone). Unfortunately, there are no photos of the drive-in itself.
The Ardmore Drive-In had a car capacity of 800 cars.