Tazewell Drive-In

125 Old Kentucky Road,
Tazewell, TN 37879

260 cars

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Tazewell Drive-In

The Tazewell Drive-In was located in the Cumberland Gap in the very small town of Tazewell, TN. It’s the area most of my relatives are from so whenever I would visit coming up from Augusta, I would always see that drive-in! It was opened on May 12, 1953 with Kathryn Grayson in “Lovely to Look At” & Richard Widmark in “Halls of Montezuma”.

I remember of all things "Ned Kelly" playing there in 1970 with Mick Jagger. Why I remember that one title I can’t explain. Maybe I was a Rolling Stones fan then. Anyway, it held 260 cars and having walked that old drive-in that’s about right. It was owned by E.J. Steiner.

I walked into what used to be a very small concession with the booth in front on one level. The roof was all but gone. Inside the booth were two old rusty 35mm carbon arc projectors. And if you look hard through the trees you will see a very nice screen almost in perfect condition!

The box office is long gone but I remember you went in and out by the box office. The marquee was on top of the box office. I wish I had taken a picture of that old box office. I did snap a few photos of the old projectors! Oh, I did take one of the boxoffice but the marquee was gone as was the roof that covered the entrance/exit.

Contributed by Mike Rogers

Recent comments (view all 13 comments)

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on May 9, 2010 at 5:18 am

I think with the screen so close to that hill it has been protected from the weather.

TLSLOEWS
TLSLOEWS on May 11, 2010 at 3:41 pm

Any photos out there?

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on May 12, 2010 at 6:20 pm

Tlsloews I have great color pictures of it when it closed.But i think Miss.Robin has quit doing Ct. I guess it got old, so unless i can get Nick to put them on,they will stay in my movie theatre shoebox.
Thanks for the comment on the TAZEWELL. it is in Your state,near the Cumberland Gap.

Nunzienick
Nunzienick on March 26, 2011 at 3:04 pm

Here are a couple photos of the box office, lot, concessions, and screen:
View link

TLSLOEWS
TLSLOEWS on March 27, 2011 at 1:12 pm

Thanks again for posting the photos Nick.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on March 27, 2011 at 1:22 pm

the box office was blue,I went back a few years ago and trees had covered everything. Thanks Nick. I was getting ready to give you a call.Hope everything is okay,Buddy.I sent you years ago,pictures inside the Booth with the projectors torn apart.

jwmovies
jwmovies on December 18, 2012 at 12:27 pm

Approx. address for this drive-in was 125 Old Kentucky Road.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on April 3, 2013 at 3:02 pm

thanks, was there labor day, trees have just about covered the lot can hardly see the screen…

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on April 24, 2018 at 5:25 pm

you can barely see the screen now and believe or not the screen is in great shape..

50sSNIPES
50sSNIPES on May 4, 2020 at 5:27 am

The Tazewell Drive-In Opened Its Gates On May 12th, 1953 With Lovely To Look At And Halls Of Montezuma.

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