Midway Drive-In
421 W. 9th Street,
Lilbourn,
MO
63862
421 W. 9th Street,
Lilbourn,
MO
63862
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The Midway Drive-In was opened on March 29, 1952 with Robert Ryan in “The Best of the Bad Men” & Dana Andrews in “Sealed Cargo”. It was operated by Norvin Garner & H. Poe. It is sometimes listed as being located in New Madrid.
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Anthony L. Hernandez
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Recent comments (view all 6 comments)
The Drive-In was located one mile south of Lilbourn (as indicated on the matchbook) at the junction of US 62 and Main Street (or 3rd Street or D) where the road curves to meet the highway. https://goo.gl/maps/xLgMR
There is no trace of the drive-in left, only the general shape of the property itself. The city location (at least on Google) lists the property as being in New Madrid, MO.
Motion Picture Exhibitor, April 17, 1957: “The Midway Drive-In, near Lilbourne (sic), Mo., has been taken over by Mr. and Mrs. W. L. Giddens from owner Bill Fitzpatrick.”
Was owned by Raymond Abner in 1958.
Motion Picture Herald, March 15, 1952: “Norvin Garner of Dexter, Mo., finishing construction of his new drive-in on U. S. highway No. 61 near Lilbourn for an early opening.”
The Midway Drive-In launched March 29, 1952 with Robert Ryan in “The Best of the Bad Men” and Dana Andrews in “Sealed Cargo.” Opening ad in photos. It appears to have closed in the 1960s and was later razed. The modern day address is at the confluence of Highway D and US-61 once in Lilbourn and now considered within New Madrid. Two addresses are correct for the former o-zoner: 51 Highway D or 6733 US-61, New Madrid, MO 63869, now site of a car / towing operation.
The issue with creating an accurate address to this drive-in is that a hint of the original entrance road is still present. You can see it on 3rd Street (State HWY D) just south of the crossroads of 3rd Street and Southfork Road on the east side. But Google Maps has no address for it at this time.
There was no access to the property from US-61 when it was a drive-in. But the main access to the property is 6733 US-61, New Madrid, MO.
So, until the original entrance has an address, I’d say go with the one that works today.