Comments about Nashville Drive-In in Nashville, AR

MichaelKilgore on April 12, 2024 at 12:30 pm

The 1989 Nashville High School yearbook included a photo (uploaded here) and a short note:

“The Howard Auto Theater had been in business about 30 years. Mr. John Johnson had owned it for the past eight. Because it was more profitable, the drive-in remained open even after the Elberta Theater downtown was sold.”

Joe Vogel on September 2, 2020 at 2:09 pm

The September 23, 1950 issue of Boxoffice said that the K. Lee Williams Theatres circuit had begun construction of a 350-car drive-in on the Murfreesboro Highway a mile north of Nashville, Arkansas.

kennerado on November 23, 2019 at 4:07 pm

Found this one, approximate address is 1303 Mine St, Nashville, AR 71852. Nashville Rural Water Association now occupies part of the site but you can still see some of the old ramps on Google Earth.

Mike Rogers on April 19, 2011 at 1:46 pm

Good story kcallaham,so many good stories,bet you have more,Pictures?

TLSLOEWS on April 18, 2011 at 3:21 pm

Thanks kcallaham.

kcallaham on April 18, 2011 at 1:57 pm

It was opened in the early 50’s. The markee always read Howard Auto Drive-In. May grandfather managed and then owned it until his retirement in the early 1980’s. It was on HWY27. Some of my favorite and worst memories where here. I love getting to go visit, and work in the snackbar. The fliers that he would pass out to surrounding towns everytime the movies changed would also list it as Nashville drive-in. It also suffered several fires, and i can remember as a young child watching everyone in the family coming together to rebuild. My favorite thing to do was sit on the rails in front of the projection booth, and try to talk into the huge fan that was there to try to keep moths out of the light. Hope that helps to explain the descrepency in the name.

Mike Rogers on January 17, 2011 at 5:04 pm

Thanks Guys.

Ret. AKC (NAC) CCC Bob Jensen, Manteno, Illinois on January 16, 2011 at 9:55 pm

PLEASE CHANGE NAME TO:

NASHVILLE DRIVE-IN

AKA:

NONE

REMOVE:

HIGHWAY 27

THE FILM DAILY YEAR BOOK OF MOTION PICTURES 1967 FORTY-NINTH EDITION

“Arkansas
Nashville:
Howard Auto
Nashville Drive-In”

Two Different Drive-Ins open at the same time.

Nashville Drive-In

Open ~1955-~1969? Can anyone verify the exact dates?

Held 240 cars

Owner:

K. Lee Williams Theaters, Inc. of DeQueen, Ark., R.L. Robison, President & Gen. Mgr., they had 13 theaters in Arkansas and Oklahoma.

More info and photos are always welcome.

Mike Rogers on January 14, 2011 at 11:32 am

Probably is Chuck.My info once again came from my OLD 1956 Motion Picture Almanac.wish they would QUIT changing names.

Nashville Drive-In

1303 Mine Street, Nashville, AR 71852

1303 Mine Street,
Nashville, AR 71852