Twin Aire Drive-In
6777 Clinton Highway,
Knoxville,
TN
37912
6777 Clinton Highway,
Knoxville,
TN
37912
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Boxoffice, Feb. 9, 1970: “Twin-Aire West Drive-In on Clinton Highway has been opened as the companion theatre to Twin-Aire East, which has been in operation since last fall. Twin-Aire West, which has a capacity of 512 speakers and 250 in-car heaters, was unveiled Christmas night with a cartoon carnival, "True Grit” and “My Side of the Mountain.” The other section of the Twin-Aire has speakers for 600 cars and 300 in-car heaters."
50sSNIPES, You’re correct, it was 1988 that the East side closed along with the Clinton Cinemas. I must of had 1982 stuck in my mind when I typed that comment. Thank-you for catching my mistake. The West side did close on September 19, 1982. I have posted the final ad for the Twin-Aire West in the photo section.
The Twin-Aire Drive-In actually closed on September 8, 1988 with “Die Hard”, not 1982. It was demolished later that year and became a Walmart which opened on August 31, 1989.
Fotomac, The double feature’s playing on July 15, 1977 were on the east side: “Smokey and the Bandit” and “Mustang Country”. On the west side: “Joyride”, and “Heavy Traffic”.
Can anyone remember what the feature was for the week of 15 July, when Star Wars came to town?
The Clinton Cinemas which were added in 1982 on the West side of the drive-in, now have a separate page. Link
Back in the late ‘70’s we used to live down the street from the Twin Aire in the former Green Acres Trailer Park (now Woodland Meadows). Jim Clayton owned Green Acres back then and had his corporate office in an old motel across the street from it whilst his Mom (Ruth Clayton) managed the park at the time. As such, we used to go see movies at Twin Aire just about every weekend back then. I remember seeing “Good Guys Wear Black,” “The Rose,” “The Legacy,” “Little Darlings” and “Smoky And The Bandit, Part 2” there. Back then, it was either Twin Aire or Powell Cinemas for us, unless Mom took us down to Gatlinburg for the weekend to see dad who was working there at the time.
This opened on October 17th, 1969. Grand opening ad posted.
6777 Clinton Hwy
Knoxville, TN 37912
The above address will map accurately to the location of the drive-in, which is now the site of the Northwest Crossing Walmart Supercenter.
Thanks for the PICTURE>>>>>GREAT.
Great to finally see a photo of the marquee! INCOMING FRESHMEN was released in 1979, and actually filmed in Knoxville, so I would assume that is the year of the photo.
Yeah,you and all of us would have had some great pictures,but i have done the same thing,never thinking about snapping a few pictures.
I have positioned streetview to the location of the main entrance on Callahan Road. The street sign/marquee was approximately where the Taco Bell sign is now, on Clinton Hwy at Callahan. My dad helped with the installation of the projection equipment and brought me along for the ride. I was only twelve at the time, and wish now that I paid more attention and had taken some pictures. It’s funny how you think that something that is new will be around forever.
Found the land was owned by Mrs.Mary LaRue part of a 40 acre farm sold in 1969 to Simpson Theatres.
Any pictures of the Twin Aire guys.Sure wish i would have snapped one on the many times we drove by it.
That could be right, or maybe Clinton Highway Cinemas, since it was still a long way from the town of Clinton. I’m still not sure!
I am not sure, but was the name of the indoor theatres the Clinton Twin or Clinton Cinemas?
I wish I could remember the name of the twin indoor theater; I don’t believe it was advertised as the Twin-Aire, but something different. I thought the name might have had Powell in it, but there was a different Powell Cinema further north in Powell, so I doubt that was it.
thanks Seeingl wish you had pictures.
I have a vivid and terrifying memory of seeing “Piranha” outdoors here in 1978. The Drive-In was open as late as 1987, as a bunch of us hormonal teens went to see “The Lost Boys” there all squeezed together in my buddy’s car.
As for the indoor theater, I can clearly recall the decorative fountain inside the lobby. I saw “Star Wars” here in 1977 – a very vivid memory! The only other movies I remember seeing here were “RoboCop” and “The Fly” which should tell you about when it finally closed. It is a WalMart now, more’s the pity.
I only remember it as I said driving by as a kid.I want to say it was painted blue and white?I had an ad from there,but lost it somewhere.
Mike I would love to see a photo too, but have never run across one. The had a huge lighted marquee that you could see for miles down Clinton Highway. I also remember that the entrance was actually on a side street, and they had a very long curving driveway that wound around to the boxoffice, which was modern A frame building with an office upstairs. The manager actually lived in a trailer that was located on the property.
It is simply amazing as big as KNOXVILLE is and no one to comment on this twin drive-in. the old DIXIE-LEE gets more comments.
I had a KNOXVILLE newspaper movie ads and It was still open in the mid 80’s.Wish I would had kept it now.
I remember going by the Twin Aire as a kid and i thought it was the neatest DRIVE-in I had ever saw.Being from Augusta,we had plenty of Drive-ins,but not a Twin Drive-in. It was out in the sticks when I would drive by it with my family going to Speedwell,Tenn. to see family. Way before the interstates. I would love to see a picture of it Bob,if you ever come across one> bet they had a write up in BOXOFFICE. So glad it is on CT.