Gainesville Drive-In
2308 SE Hawthorne Road,
Gainesville,
FL
32641
2308 SE Hawthorne Road,
Gainesville,
FL
32641
2 people
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The Gainesville Drive-In opened on October 18, 1948 with Donald O'Connor in “Feudin', Fussin' & Fightin'”. It could accommodate 400 cars. On July 20, 1975 it became a twin screen theatre. The drive-in changed from main-stream movies to adult movies in the late-1970’s. The second screen was destroyed by a hurricane in 1985.
The Drive-In closed in 1992 screening the animated feature “Rock-A-Doodle” and was later demolished. A Lion King Supermarket and other retail units were built on the site where the theatre once stood.
Contributed by
Chuck
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Recent comments (view all 6 comments)
I ran this drive in about 1985.Second screen was destroyed by hurricane. Improved food quality,sound and screen which brought up per cap about 150%. Took out terminal Devry projector & put in Brenkert projector with 4500 watt lamphouse & WOW what an improvment.
Boxoffice, March 25, 1963: “Alan V. Iselin of Iselin Theatres has purchased the Gainesville (Fla.) Drive-In, and will spend $75,000 in renovating the ten-year-old 560-car situation. He acquired the Trail Drive-In at Sarasota, Fla., a year ago.”
The Lion King store closed around 2012 and later became a Save-A-Lot store until 2018. As of 2022, the grocery store was abandoned, but the Family Dollar, DJ Laundry, Eastside Pizza Cafe, and China Wok stores surrounding the abandoned grocery store were still operational.
50sSNIPES has gave out updates on the property today.
Opened October 18th, 1948 and added its 2nd screen on July 20th, 1975. Grand opening ad posted.
It was owned by General Cinema 1967-1974.