New Moon Twin Drive-In
4200 Gerstner Memorial Boulevard,
Lake Charles,
LA
70607
4200 Gerstner Memorial Boulevard,
Lake Charles,
LA
70607
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The New Moon Twin Drive-In opened its gates on April 9, 1953 with Lana Turner in “The Bad And The Beautiful” and Clark Gable in “To Please A Lady” (unknown if extras added) playing on both screens.
Gulf State Theatres was its last operator who closed the drive-in in early-1984. It was still open in January 1984, but already closed by March of that year.
The New Moon Drive-In theatre opened on April 9th, 1954.
Grand opening ad posted.
Thanks for the update Dayton!
50sSNIPES, while its popularity as a premier staple of the Lake Charles entertainment scene extended conceptually into the 1980s context of local nostalgia, the physical theater remained permanently closed following the end of its 1978 season. The catastrophic destruction of its massive screen by Hurricane Frederic in September 1979 permanently cemented its closure. During the 1980s, the property at 4200 Gerstner Memorial Boulevard transitioned into a commercial driving range before eventually being cleared. Today, the site serves as a community care center.
Also known as “New Moon Drive-In”.
A community care center has been built on the property. There is no trace of the drive-in remaining that I can confirm.
There is a power pole that has a light on top which is present in a 2008 Google Street View next to the entrance of the driving range. That pole might have been there when it was a drive-in. But I cannot say for sure.
Still open in the 1980s, but was gone by the 1990s.
Boxoffice, April 30, 1962: “Maurice Kleinman (opened) the New Moon Drive-In after a week spent repairing the screen, damaged by fire.”
I remember going here almost every weekend back in the early 1980s. Some really badly dubbed R-rated foreign films that made no sense. I guess that wasn’t the point, though, it was just a night out. LOL
Now home to a golf driving range called the New Moon Drive-In Range (get the pun?). Address is given as 4200 Gerstner Memorial Boulevard.
Above address is incorrect. Approx. address for this drive-in was 5100 Gerstner Memorial Boulevard, Lake Charles, LA 70607. This is SE of town, not downtown. Most ramps, east screen and concession/projection building foundation are still there.