Auto Drive-In
3109 Highway 25 South,
Greenwood,
SC
29646
3109 Highway 25 South,
Greenwood,
SC
29646
2 people
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Since the Internet Archive is having trouble saving the Auto Drive-In’s official history page, (which happens to be one of the best official drive-in histories that I’ve read), here’s what it says as I type:
The Drive In, with only its original screen, opened for its first season in 1945 and played until 1955 under the eyes of Olin Turner. Pete Zouras took over in 1955 and replaced the screen with a new state-of-the-art Screen Tower. Just in time to play Walking Tall! Pete stayed until the mid 1980’s. It’s a point of pride to us to know that Pete never played an “X” rated movie at this drive in, and instead chose to close with a showing of King Kong. The Screen remained dark until the summer of 1999 when it ran for 4 or 5 weeks. The highlight of that run was a showing of Will Smith’s Wild Wild West. Unfortunately, the drive in went dark again after that.
Then, along came Tommy and Carolyn (Mom and Pop). They had been in the restaurant business for 27 years when on the way to work in 2007, they noticed some profanity sprayed onto the sign. After covering up the profanity, they saw what terrible condition the drive in was in, and decided to call the owners to see what the trouble was! The owner came over and after a ten cent tour they went on about their day, but a dream had planted its seed in their minds. 3 months later, the renovation began, and went on for almost a year. In 2009 the drive in opened again and has been playing movies ever since. In 2011, the second screen was added. In 2014, the drive in successfully managed to convert to digital projection and sound! In 2015, we added a third screen! In 2017, we put the patio over the concessions stand. In 2018, we expanded the women’s bathroom to double its previous capacity! This year, we’ve begun work on sprucing up the men’s restrooms.
Also, the 25 Drive In Auto Theatre is up to three screens now. A photo copyright 2015 still showed two, and a July 2016 photo showed “Now 3 screens”, so I’d guess it was an early 2016 addition.
On a probably unrelated note, the McCutcheons took a couple of months off at the beginning of this year. They told the Greenwood Index-Journal, “since 2010, we’ve been open 52 weeks out of the year and it’s hard to visit people when you only have two days off.”
In their YouTube video, published in 2014 and shot before digital projection, a banner on the concession building says “Showing movies since 1945”.
The first Theatre Catalog drive-in list in 1948-49 listed just “Drive-In” for Greenwood, owned by A. T. Livingston, capacity 250.
I’ve been to this Drive In a few times. I don’t like the rules about bringing in outside food (it’s forbidden unless you pay an extra 10 dollars), the line at the concession is long and the food since it is Cooked to order takes awhile. Aside from that it is organized, shows movies that are current, and fun for the family. Thumbs up.
I went to see House of Dark Shadows (1970) at the Drive In (Highway 25 Drive In) located where the Kmart Plaza is today. The entrance and main drive in sign was exactly where Ruby Tuesdays is today. They tore down the drive in and built Kmart in 1971. The first Mcdonalds opened up on the corner where Ruby Tuesdays is located and stayed there until the early 90s…sat empty for a little while..then was torn down and Ruby Tuesdays was built in its spot.
This from a 1958 listing for Greenwood,SC
Auto Drive-Tn.
Hiway 25 Drive-In
Mike, according to a Facebook Greenwood group, there was another Drive In theater where KMart is now located.
I work at Greenwood Cinema 10, but want to see a drive in movie here one day. I have never seen one. I saw awhile back some college group from Augusta came to see a movie here .
DId we ever find out about the second DRive -in a local there told me they had two Drive-ins.
i have several pictures of the Auto drive-in.the screen was one the best I had ever seen.
I knew when i visited it while it was closed that the screen was new.I have pictures of it closed,but sadly,no way to get them on CT.
Maybe they are not counting the years they were closed? They also said they are in their 2nd season, which means they reopened in 2009, not 2010. It should, anyway.
SiliconSam, thanks for adding that, I was going to add some of that, but remembered it just after I hit Submit!
I didn’t understand “celebrating its 60th birthday this year” that would be 1950 and “The Screen was first lite sometime in the 1930’s”?????? Course that’s from their website under Mighty Auto??????
From their own website:
The Mighty Auto Theatre is 90 feet wide and 40 feet tall. The Theatre will be celebrating its 60th birthday this year! Come and join us. If you wish to advertise with us in front of our elaborate playground, contact us.
The Screen was first lite up sometime in the 1930’s. It played until 1955 under the eyes of Olin Turner. Pete Zouras took over in ‘55. The summer that Walking Tall was a big hit, the screen tower was replaced. Pete stayed until the mid 1980’s.
Pete never played an “X” rated movie. The last picture he played was King Kong.
The screen was dark until the summer of 1999. It ran for 4 or 5 weeks. The Big Screen has been dark since.
Then came Tommy and Carolyn.
This is our second season at the Drive In. We made it through the cold months of winter. Yes, even when it was 14 degrees outside, we still had a nice turnout. We can put a picture on the screen through rain, sleet, and snow – as long as the flakes are not too big! We are currently working on a second screen. This will give you a bigger selection of movies when you come. You can always be assured that “the special movie” you want to see will be here. The parking ramps are already in place and the grass planted.
PLEASE CHANGE ADDRESS TO:
3109 U.S. 25
3109 Highway 25 South shows the entire southern United States and Central America on Google Maps.
AKA:
25 DRIVE-IN
1950 open?
1952 open?
I know it was open in 1967.
1975 closed?
1983 closed?
1999 open for 3 months?
By 2010 it had reopened.
Anyone have more info or photos?
I still think they should spend a little advertising money and hit the Augusta market.I know alot folks that head out to the BIG-Mo.
I try and dig up these old Drive-ins in and around Georgia and the Carolinas and hope you or Chuck 1231 or Bob can add the needed touches and you guys do a great job.Even with my misspellings sometimes.
Glad someone is reading this page!
They also have a Facebook page….
View link
Wow, this is great.I live about 50 miles from Greenwood and had no idea they were open.I just thought the Big-Mo was open in Monetta,S.C.And they park 650 cars far cry from what had,But like I said the Drive-in wasn’t in that bad of shape when i visited back in the mid 90’s.It was closed,but i see someone opened it.Hopefully,someone from the AUTO DRIVE-IN will get on CT. And they outta let people in the Augusta area that they are open and in a sporting way let folks know there is another Drive-in besides THE BIG-MO.I know groups that go to the BIG-Mo Drive-in,now I will let them know about this Greenwood Gem. Thanks Silicon Sam,Again.
Here it is South of Town on Hwy 25:
View link
And their website:
http://www.25drivein.com/
And I’d say they are open!
Any extra Info would be great from you guys in the Carolinas.