McKinney Drive-In
Metro Park Drive and N. McDonald Street,
McKinney,
TX
75071
Metro Park Drive and N. McDonald Street,
McKinney,
TX
75071
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Paramount Pictures Inc., Rowley United Theatres Inc., Texas Cinema Corporation
Architects: Harvey A. Jordan
Nearby Theaters
The McKinney Drive-In was a Rowley United Theatres Inc. project which opened on July 7, 1950 with Yvonne De Carlo in “The Gal Who Took the West”. It was closed in mid-1974 and demolished in the late-1970’s/early-1980’s.
Contributed by
Billy Holcomb / Billy Smith / Don Lewis
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Recent comments (view all 14 comments)
PLEASE UPDATE: The McKinney Drive-In Continued Its Operation In Its Last Legs Along With The Ritz Theatre In Early 1972 Before The Westgate Cinema Opened Its Doors To The Public In 1973. The McKinney Drive-In’s Last Legs Were Showing Horror Flicks At The Time While The Ritz Continued To Be Running First-Run Films.
The Address Is Incorrect. According To The May 30th, 1951 Aerial, The McKinney Drive-In Was Located Between Highway 75 And Not Too Far From The Former Highway 24, Now Route 380.
Approximate address is Metro Park Dr & N McDonald St, McKinney. This end of Metro Park Dr was the entrance/exit road for the drive-in.
Oh. Now I Get It. Thanks! Do You Know More Or Have More Information About The McKinney Drive-In?
PLEASE UPDATE: The McKinney Drive-In (On Its Last Hands And Legs) And The Ritz Both Continued Their Operations Since November Of 1972 With The Ritz And McKinney Drive-Ins Both Switching Themes Of Films. The Ritz Were Showing A Double Horror Flick While The McKinney Drive-In Ran First-Run. It Is Operated By Showcase International At The Time. The McKinney Drive-In Did Not Appear In 1973, But The Ritz Only Did As Early As March 1973. So I Will Say The McKinney Drive-In Was Closed In Early 1973.
The McKinney Drive-In Installed CinemaScope In January 1955.
The McKinney Drive-In Is Originally A Second-Run Theater Throughout Most Of Its Life Until Around 1967. During The Last 6 Years, The McKinney Drive-In Ran Everything Such As First-Run, Second-Run, Family, Horror, Spanish, X-Rated, B-Graded And Drive-In Films. During The Last Few Months Of Operation, The McKinney Drive-In Had A Strong Focus On Spanish Films.
Formerly, John Allen Summers Of Stratford, Oklahoma (September 28, 1922-February 4, 1971) Is A Former World War II Veteran That Served In The Air Force, And Formerly Worked At The McKinney Drive-In As A Projectionist (Back When The McKinney Drive-In Screened Second-Run Films Until The Mid-1960’s) And Later Employed Himself At A Fort Worth Drive-In 60+ Miles Away.
Former Plumbing Inspector Ben Winston Is Also A Former Employee Of The McKinney Drive-In Since 1953.
On August 11, 1967, No Damage Was Reported To The Theater After A Grass Fire Broke Nearby It.
The Original Owner Roy L. Brockman Died In March 1957, In Which The Theater Was Later Taken Over By His Son Roy E. Brockman.
UPDATE: The McKinney Drive-In Continue To Operate According To The Plano Daily-Star Until 1974. The Courier Gazette Of McKinney At The Time No Longer Receive Showings From The McKinney Drive-In After The First Half Of 1973 But I Looked Into Plano’s Paper And Found Only 1 Showing From 1974.
Update from my September 14, 2022 comment: The McKinney Drive-In was demolished in the late-1970s or early-1980s. A 1981 aerial view shows either the screen being removed or severely damaged and traces from the theater were overgrown, but the concession/projection booth was still there.