East 50th Drive-In

50sSNIPES on August 22, 2024 at 5:31 pm

The East 50th Drive-In opened its gates on May 8, 1952 with a one-day showing of Dean Stockwell in “The Boy With The Green Hair” (unknown if extras added). Some of the original installations include RCA sound, a 60x48ft screen (largest in Southern Indiana at the time), an all-weather blacktop, and a capacity of 604 cars.

Both the Bedford Drive-In and the East 50th Drive-In began battling for competition as both theaters became family-oriented theaters right after the Bedford received that policy right at the start of the 1972 season. Before the 1974 season started, the East 50th Drive-In’s screen was knocked down by wind gusts on March 5 of that year causing considerable damage, but managed to fix the screen.

After the neighboring Bedford Drive-In closed after the 1980 season, the East 50th Drive-In became the only drive-in in Bedford but not for long. When its final season kicked in, the East 50th Drive-In dropped its family-oriented policy, and began screening more R-rated and exploitation titles before closing after the 1982 season.