Hillcrest Drive-In
30324 Il-78,
Farmington,
IL
61531
30324 Il-78,
Farmington,
IL
61531
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Kerasotes Theatres
Architects: Clifford Cardot
Nearby Theaters
The Hillcrest Drive-In opened on May 13, 1950 with Bud Abbott & Lou Costello in “Keep ‘Em Flying” & Rod Cameron in “Panhandle”. It was operated by Kerasotes Theatres. It had a capacity for 506 cars.
Contributed by
Ken Roe
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Recent comments (view all 9 comments)
Must have closed before 1956.Not the Motion Picture 1956 Almanac.
Sometimes listed as being in Norris which is only five miles North of Canton on Route 78.
Open for only a short time around ~1985 aproximate? Your welcome to research the exact dates.
Owned by Keasotes Theatres.
THE HILLCREST DRIVE-IN in NORRIS,Illinois. parked 500 cars and in 1956 it was owned by E.Tukey and A.F. Stockberger.
1973 photo added here.
Approx. location for this drive-in was Hwy 78 just NE of East Division St. in Norris, IL 61553. The screen foundation is still there.
The following week, BoxOffice magazine reported that the Hillcrest’s opening night featured the films Keep ‘Em Flying and Panhandle.
The actual address is 30324 IL-78, Farmington, IL 61531.
The Hillcrest Drive-In opened in tiny Norris, Illinois near Canton and Farmington, Illinois. It opened on March 13, 1950 and was equipped for widescreen projection during the 1956 season to play CinemaScope titles.
The Hillcrest was operated by Kerasotes Theatre Circuit from 1977 to 1980. It fulfilled its 30-year leasing agreement with Karasotes moving on. It then closed after the 1981 season under independent operation.
Status: Demolished.
The screen was gone by 1983. And what appears from the overhead to be the foundation of the screen is really just a row of shrubs.
The remnants of the projector booth/concession stand are still there, although in terrible condition surrounded by trees.
However, apart from the entrance/exit roads, the ticket booth is still there and reasonably intact.