Skyway Drive-In

11945 N. Florida Avenue,
Tampa, FL 33612

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Handbill for Cypress Drive-In Theatre

The Skyway Drive-In was opened by June 3, 1948. It reopened on February 28, 1949 under new management screening Ernest Tubbs in “Hollywood Barn Dance”. It was demolished and replaced by Bob Wilson Dodge dealership in the mid-1980’s. By 2022 a Tesla dealership.

Contributed by Andy

Recent comments (view all 19 comments)

Nick DiMaggio
Nick DiMaggio on August 3, 2011 at 2:51 pm

A great handbill from the early 1950s – thanks for posting!

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on August 3, 2011 at 4:28 pm

I had quite a few And like a dummy threw them away.I know Nick has a Few.

Carmichael
Carmichael on February 19, 2012 at 11:36 am

My father. W. G. “Mike” Carmichael, was in the movie business from 1921 till his death in 1967, and J. C. “Cass” Carscallen and his wife, Cody, were family friends. Cass Carscallen was born a British subject in Canada, and he and my father worked together in the movie business during the golden decades of Hollywood. Our family visited the Skyway on several occasions from the late 1950s until the mid-60s. The Carscallens lived in a very smart modern apartment build beneath the screen of the Skyway – an architectural delight that we thought amazingly modern and chic in those days. Their business thrived quite successfully, and they retired to Windsor, Ontario.

RRF
RRF on July 7, 2013 at 6:01 pm

I lived near this drive in in my teen age years. They had a storm that destroyed the screen and projection box (the box was recessed in the parking lot and was prone to flooding, projectors where on cement blocks)….It was rebuilt with a modern curved screen and new concession + integrated elevated projection booth towards the rear of the property.

msroane79
msroane79 on October 10, 2014 at 2:16 pm

I do not think the description for this drive-in is correct. The dealership that replaced it was Bob Wilson Dodge in the mid 70’s. That dealership closed in 2008 and I believe that space is still unused. Perfect spot for a movie theater if you ask me :)

Mikeoaklandpark
Mikeoaklandpark on October 10, 2014 at 3:20 pm

msroane79 you are correct it was Bob Wilson Dodge. Also the status should be updated to demolished.

spryor
spryor on April 27, 2015 at 7:18 pm

The Skyway closed around 1983. I know I watched movies there in the early 80’s. I went there with my husband & I didn’t meet him til 80.

rivest266
rivest266 on September 27, 2017 at 5:24 pm

This opened on June 3rd, 1948 (or before since the management never bothered to put ads in both papers in town., just a small listing)

Found on Newspapers.com

Reopened under new management on March 1st, 1949. That grand opening ad in the photo section.

ajames7
ajames7 on July 14, 2018 at 10:22 am

I lived right behind the Skyway drive in theater on 120th Avenue from 1956 to 1970 4 houses behind the back fence. As a 6 year old with 2 brothers and 2 sisters all a year apart in age at 3-7 years old, my mother took us to the Skyway to watch Vincent Price scary movies. Other times we climbed on the roof to watch with no sound. I was in the 9th grade at Adams junior high in April 1966 when the tornado hit and pretty much destroyed the house taking the roof and some walls down.

jwmovies
jwmovies on January 24, 2023 at 9:24 pm

The address above is incorrect. It was further north.

Now Tesla(!) @ 11945 N Florida Ave, Tampa, FL 33612.

Plsase update.

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