Motorena Drive-In
2840 11th Avenue,
Greeley,
CO
80620
2840 11th Avenue,
Greeley,
CO
80620
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Still In Operation Since 1976.
Theres an ad in the photo section that says the grand opening was on 3/3/1950 with “My friend Irma” and “Trouble makers”.
The Motorena held its grand opening on Sat., Aug. 21, 1948, based on ads in the Greeley Daily Tribune. Its opening program was “Mother Wore Tights,” “Night Train to Memphis,” and a Tom and Jerry cartoon.
A 1948 aerial photo showed the Motorena looking active.
The drive-in still looked good in the 1969 aerial I uploaded. Topo maps for 1970-83 still included the drive-in. By the 1999 aerial, it was long gone. The Motorena’s final appearance in the Motion Picture Almanac Drive-In list was the 1976 edition.
From the July 7, 1956 Motion Picture Herald:
Gibralter Enterprises has closed the Rex, Casper, Wyo., the Motorena drive-in, Greeley, Colo., and has placed the Grove, Gering, Neb., on one change a week – weekends.
Approx. address for this drive-in was 2840 11th Avenue.
The photo that I uploaded is dated 1949. The drive-in looks brand new and maybe not finished when it was taken.
Open ~1950-~1975? Can anyone verify the exact dates?
Open for sure in 1967.
More info and photos always welcome.
Jim, as you well know it parked 350 cars and in 1956 was owned by Colo.Theatre Corp. by Paul Rothman and Lem Lee.