Skyview Drive-In
5700 N. Belt West,
Belleville,
IL
62226
5700 N. Belt West,
Belleville,
IL
62226
12 people
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Grand opening ad posted.
This June 2019 piece though apparently inaccurate, does have recent photos. The comments has the “corrections”.
https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/illinois/drive-in-movies-il/?fbclid=IwAR1IQy5BDZt50eG5jTzOICsj7G9gDgC3RilTspUyqZNsB6_OKseXO7pqKiU
The 1981 wind damage of the Skyview Drive In occurred July 20, 1981
The June 10, 1950 issue of BoxOffice reported, “The Bloomer Amusement Co. has installed an elaborate illuminated sign at the Skyview Drive-In. The sign features a fire-spitting neon rocketship roaring into space. The ship measures 35 feet high and 34 feet wide.” I think they meant that the sign, not the rocket ship, was that big.
KTVI ran a news video recently promoting the SkyView’s 70th Anniversary with its current owner, Steve Bloomer. It showed off the framed photos in the concession stand, and also had a framed full-page Grand Opening ad. From the date on the top of that newspaper, the SkyView opened on Friday, July 8, 1949.
The Google Street Camera car drove through this Drive-In in June of 2017. No 3rd screen.
The Skyview has now been converted to digital projection on both screens. Still no news on when they’re building that 3rd screen, though.
Don’t forget the Starlite Drive In in Cadet MO, which reopened last year after being closed for a couple of years. They haven’t yet reopened for the season, but hopefully will soon.
Dang…2 years, huh? Bummer. Wonder if Belleville is waiting on the DL to buy Bloomer out…which would mean THE END of the St. Louis area drive-in movie experience.
In answer to the above question, not this year, due to delays in the demolition of the Quad:
View link
Anyone know if Screen 3 has been built or when it’ll be opened?
If you include the land from the Quad, there’s room enough to fit 4 screens in there! Can’t wait to see the finished product next time I’m in St. Louis.
The City of Belleville is contributing half the cost of demolishing the Quad Cinema; the Skyview now has to remain open for at least ten years, or the Skyview owner will have to reimburse the city for these half costs. There is an article with video here: View link
A third screen has been approved, to be built on adjacent property currently occupied by the defunct Quad Cinema: View link
At the links below are two newspaper articles about the Skyview celebrating it’s 60th birthday this month:
View link
http://www.bnd.com/homepage/story/827222.html
Here is a close-up of the marquee from 2007:
http://tinyurl.com/merd9h
Despite the threat of the Skyview being closed in 2007, it is opening for it’s 60th season tonight.
I am happy to report that The Skyview has reopened for another season!
I am happy to report that The Skyvview has reopened for another season!
There was an article in the BELLEVILLE NEWS DEMOCRAT this week that the owner of the Skyview is entertaining offers to sell the drive in property along with the now closed walk in theaters next door. He states the drive in is still profitable, but that the estimated value of the property is about 2.2 million dollars, which would be hard to turn down. There has also been outpouring of letters to the newspaper’s website, pleading with him to keep drive in open.
More memories! I was Asst. Manager and Projectionist at the Skyview D.I. throughout the 80’s and this was drive-in fun at it’s best! O, the movies we played there! Operated, and still is, by the great Bloomer Amusement Company, a group I worked with for many pleasurable years. I was there when a tornado took out the main screen in the 80’s – it was incredible to watch the new screen go up! I am so happy to see the drive-in is still successfully operating and owned by the same group of people! I only wish I could be there to enjoy the fun of the drive-in!
Here are two photos:
http://www.agilitynut.com/05/10/skyvdi1.jpg
http://www.agilitynut.com/05/10/skyvdi2.jpg
Please change the URL in the above link to: http://www.skyview-drive-in.com
Thanks.