Hi-Way Drive-In
1011 Fountain Street,
Ashland,
PA
17921
1011 Fountain Street,
Ashland,
PA
17921
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The Hi-Way, capacity 400, owners Paul Kerrigan, first appeared in the 1949-50 Theatre Catalog. The Catalog, along with all other contemporary drive-in lists, included the drive-in under Frackville because it was about two miles west of that town.
Early Motion Picture Almanacs listed it as the Hiway, capacity 300, owner Highway Drive-In, Inc. In 1962 the owner changed to M. L. Heinback. The 1977-82 MPA editions raised the drive-in’s capacity to 500. The Hiway’s owner changed to H. Crisswell in 1985, and that’s how it stayed through the last MPA list in 1988.
The Hiway was still intact in a 1992 aerial photo, but the screen was gone by 1999. Google Maps lists the location with an Ashland PA address although Ashland is significantly farther away than Frackville.
The address for this theater is 1011 Fountain St. Ashland PA 17921. This points to the residence at the entrance road. Malones is behind the drive in. There was no exit to this street when this theater was opened per historical aerial views. Some ramps are still visible.
The above address is incorrect. Please update.
Also opened with “Pirates of Monterey”. Mostly empty lot. A house has been built at the entranceway, and another house on one of the back corners of the drive-in site.
The marquee appears to be long gone.
This opened on May 28th, 1949
Hi-way Drive In opening Sat, May 28, 1949 – 13 · Pottsville Republican (Pottsville, Pennsylvania) · Newspapers.com
A closer address at least on Google is 400 Malones Rd, Ashland, PA. You can still see the outline and the foundation of the projection booth/concession stand.
http://tinyurl.com/ovrq3fj
Launched June 2, 1950, the Kerrigans also launched the Harrisburg Drive-In in Lower Paxton at the same time.
Marquee could use a little work.
This is likely the site, due to the shape of the lot….
View link
Marquee photo on this site:
http://www.americandrivein.com/states/pa.htm
I remember being in the backseat of my parents car when they went to see The Saint Valentine’s Day Massacre here in late 60s…They probably thought I was sleeping but I was awake to see the (for its time) gruesome machine gunning scene. It gave me nightmares (and obviously memories) for a long time.