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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This closed in 1975. It was still open that May but appearing to not advertise or headlined by the Courier Gazette afterward (with the exception of a car fire at the drive-in that September).
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.
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.
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 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.
The McKinney Drive-In Installed CinemaScope In January 1955.
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.
Oh. Now I Get It. Thanks! Do You Know More Or Have More Information About The McKinney Drive-In?
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.
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.
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 McKinney Drive-In Is Still In Operation As Late As September Of 1971, Along With The Ritz Theatre, In Which The Ritz Continued Its Operation Until December 29th, 1971. Since 1969, Both McKinney Drive-In And The Ritz Are Operated By The McKinney Theatre Company. The McKinney Drive-In Did Not Appear In The December 6th, 1971 Theater Line-Up On The Counter-Gazette, Only The Ritz Appeared In The Line-Up. So The Latest Update Might Be That The McKinney Drive-In Was Closed Sometime In The Fall Of 1971.
Opened with “The gal who took the west”.
The McKinney Drive-In I Believe Was Still Operational In The 1960’s, It Wasn’t Until I Think The 1970’s When The McKinney Drive-In Was Closed. I Can See The Parking Space I Think On A Google Earth Pro Capture From March 1995 Without The Screen Or Maybe The Land After It Was Closed
Approx. address for this drive-in was 1406 North McDonald Street. Metro Park Dr. was where the entrance was located.