Semri Drive-In
1900 10th Street,
Silvis,
IL
61282
1900 10th Street,
Silvis,
IL
61282
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The Semri Drive-In was opened on August 4, 1951 with Claudette Colbert in “Three Came Home”, Rex Allen in “Hills of Oklahoma” & a ‘sneak preview’ at midnight. It was closed in 1982.
Contributed by
Jeff Carlson
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Recent comments (view all 8 comments)
An undated photo postcard of the Semri Drive-In in Silvis.
This was at 1900 10th Street. An senior home now stands on its site.
1965 photo added credit Jennifer Scott.
Why the name Semri?
Silvis-East Moline-Rock Island=Semri.
Opened on August 4 1951. Grand opening ad posted
Additional history and image added credit Retro Quad Cities.
“On May 24, 1950, it was announced that a drive in would be constructed during the summer on 10th Street in Silvis.
Note the architect’s sketch showing it as the Rustic Drive-In.
It would hold 700 cars and cost $100,000.”
The Semri got its name indirectly from a contest held by the owner of sister theater Memri, in nearby Milan Illinois.
The Memri was named for the first letters of the native city (Milan), and the three principal cities on the Illinois side of the Quad Cities: East Moline, Moline, and Rock Island.
Semri was adapted from that, as Silvis was the city where the drive-in was located.