Westport Drive-In
401 S. West Street,
Wichita,
KS
67202
401 S. West Street,
Wichita,
KS
67202
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Most of the area where the drive-in sat is occupied by a large parking lot. The building is now “The Print Source”, but it was probably something else when first constructed right after the drive-in closed.
There is no trace of the drive-in today.
Is there anything on the site now?
Closed September 2, 1979 with a Disney double-feature of “The Jungle Book” and “Unidentified Flying Oddball”. A classified ad listed the theater contents for sale just prior to its demolition
The Westport Drive-In opened on August 27th, 1953. Grand opening ad posted.
Closed at the end of the 1979 season.
A couple of names, from the Jan. 11, 1960 issue of BoxOffice: “Kansas exhibitors seen on (Film) Row early last week included Al McClure and Woody Barritt of the Westport Drive-In, Wichita.”
This drive-in was one-half mile from my house growing up, and directly across the street from my elementary school. My Dad helped build it, and for years we received an annual ‘Courtesy Card’ for admission at 15-cents per carload. After a few years it went up to 25-cents. As you can imagine, for that price we went there often. One thing I remember about the playground was the lightpole would give a medium-sized electrical shock when you grabbed it. Good times!!
I worked at Westport,and was asst. manager for awhile, 1966-1968 under Mr. Gary. Made good friends.
I just uploaded 2 photos of the very first drive in speaker style used at the Westport Drive in Theater…Awesome!!! enjoy…
I uploaded the Westport DI aerial from Facebook. Alot people here are not FB users.
The Westport opened on June 26, 1953. It’s first showings were “Roseanna McCoy”, starring Farley Granger, and “Rocky Mountain”, starring Errol Flynn.
I remember the Westport mainly for having, in my opinion, the best playground area of all the drive-ins. They had a wooden bridge that was fun to play on.
Playing May 15 1974 is “ANGELS WILD WOMEN”,“NAUGHTY STEWARDESSES” and “WOMEN FOR SALE”.
This arousing web site list the Westport, and outlines histories along with posted photos of hundreds of historic Kansas theatres,
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