Hillcrest Drive-In
1463 Interstate 94 Business,
Dickinson,
ND
58601
1463 Interstate 94 Business,
Dickinson,
ND
58601
2 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Carisch Theatres
Architects: Al Svensson
Previous Names: Dickinson Drive-In
Nearby Theaters
The Dickinson Drive-In was located 2-miles east of Dickinson. Opened on August 9, 1950 with Yvonne De Carlo in “Buccaneer’s Girl”. It was operated by the same family as the Dickinson Theatre, and was the first drive-in theatre in Dickinson. The screen could be seen from nearby houses in the new Shinagle addition as well as from Morningside Heights Trailer court. It was closed on October 2, 1966 with James Stewart in “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance”.
It was renamed Hillcrest Drive-In when it reopened on April 16, 1967 with Lex Barker in “Apache Gold”. Closed on September 3, 1984 with a 4-movie marathon. It became another casualty of the opening of Cine 3.
The screen came down on February 21, 1991. The road leading to the old drive-in can still be seen, but the spot is unreachable due to new construction.
Contributed by
Melissa Koppinger
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Recent comments (view all 10 comments)
It opened as the Dickinson Drive-in in 1950. Was renamed the Hillcrest Outdoor Theater in 1966 or 1967. Sold to Carisch Theaters in 1982.
The Hillcrest drive-in parked 350 cars and in 1956 was owned by Hallowell and Wetzstein.
Now Denny’s Electric & Motor Repair. Approx. address for this drive-in was 1765 I94 Business Loop E.
Picture from the 1960’s of the drive-in: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=407741315947816&set=a.348858361836112.89999.314164038638878&type=1&theater
Here is the LINK
I uploaded the photo, some members might not have Facebook.
The Sunset Outdoor opened on August 9th, 1950, and renamed the Dickinson Drive-In on August 12th. Grand opening ads posted. (Willing to bet that the “Sunset” sign never arrived.)
Closed September 3rd, 1984.
Hillcrest Drive-In closings 02 Sep 1984, Sun The Dickinson Press (Dickinson, North Dakota) Newspapers.com
Closed on September 3, 1984 with the dusk-to-dawn show of “Uncommon Valor”, “First Blood”, “Fast Times At Ridgemont High”, and “Psycho III”.
The $75,000 Dickinson Drive-In Theatre was built to the plans of Minneapolis architect Al Svensson. It launched with a sneak preview including the mayor and other dignitaries on August 9, 1950 and a grand opening on August 10, 1950 with Yvonne DeCarlo in “Buccaneer’s Girl” both nights. Operator Frank G. Hallowell nicknamed the concession stand “The Breezeway.”
(For those interested, it was never called the Sunset Outdoor Movies - which was another location about a mile away that opened in July of 1950.)
The Dickinson Drive-In closed for the season on October 2, 1966 with “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance.” It opened on April 16, 1967 as the Hillcrest Drive-In Theater with “Apache Gold.” As noted above, the venue went out in style with a Labor Day weekend dusk to dawn extravaganza with “Uncommon Valor”, “First Blood”, “Fast Times At Ridgemont High”, and “Psycho II”. (“48 Hours” was supposed to have been in the marathon but was not shown.) All cars making it to the end of “Psycho II” got a free continental breakfast.
The City demolished the theater on February 21, 1991.