Grinnell Drive-In

710 16th Avenue,
Grinnell, IA 50112

Unfavorite 1 person favorited this theater

Additional Info

Previously operated by: Central States Theatres Corp

Nearby Theaters

Grinnell Drive-In

Located on Highway 146. The Grinnell Drive-In was opened in early-June 1953 when it was operated by Franks Rubel and Central States Theatres Corp. On July 8, 1963 the screen was blown down in a wind storm. The drive-in reopened and was still operating in 1968. Now housing.

Contributed by James Monroe

Recent comments (view all 4 comments)

grinnellprojectionist
grinnellprojectionist on June 12, 2017 at 7:51 am

I was the assistant mgr/projectionist there from 1976 to 1978. We had a great time there and I think the customers did as well.

MichaelKilgore
MichaelKilgore on February 10, 2024 at 7:50 pm

Boxoffice, June 6, 1953: “Grinnell, Iowa - The new drive-in on Highway 146 near here is to open not later than June 1.”

Boxoffice, July 18, 1953: (in a list of drive-ins opened in the first half of 1953) “Grinnell - Grinnell, George Mart, manager”

Boxoffice, Aug. 1, 1953: “Grinnell, Iowa - Grinnell Drive-In opened with George Mart as manager.”

Boxoffice, July 8, 1963: “Nature put on quite a performance with an early evening windstorm Friday, June 29 … two Central States airers lost their screen towers - at Grinnell and Ottumwa.”

Boxoffice, July 29, 1968: “A Junior Chamber of Commerce benefit night was held at the Grinnell Drive-In.”

50sSNIPES
50sSNIPES on February 11, 2024 at 7:06 am

This closed in the early-1980s. A 1983 aerial view shows the screen tower removed.

Kenmore
Kenmore on February 11, 2024 at 2:53 pm

A closer address is 710 16th Ave, Grinnell, IA.

The drive-in sat on the SE corner of the intersection. The entrance road to the drive-in is no longer present.

Today, Grinnell Estates sits on the western side of the property with housing sitting on the eastern side.

http://tinyurl.com/ycu8ek8t

You must login before making a comment.

New Comment

Subscribe Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater.