Grayslake Outdoor Theatre
813 E. Belvidere Road,
Grayslake,
IL
60030
813 E. Belvidere Road,
Grayslake,
IL
60030
4 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Firms: Arthur Swanson & Associates
Previous Names: Family Outdoor Theatre, Family Drive-In
Nearby Theaters
Opened on September 24, 1948 with John Wayne in Tycoon". The Family Outdoor Theatre could accommodate 1,040-cars. It was operated by Held and Nelson and was located along Highway 120 East at Route 83. In 1955 it was renamed Family Drive-In. By 1955 it had been renamed Family Drive-In. By 1960 it had been renamed Grayslake Outdoor Theatre. It operated for half a century before closing on September 6, 1998 with Tom Hanks in “Saving Private Ryan” & Wesley Snipes in “Blade”. It was razed a year later, and replaced by a strip mall.
Contributed by
Bryan Krefft
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Recent comments (view all 12 comments)
The bottom photo shows the drive-in in 1990:
http://tinyurl.com/35j493
Here is a June 1982 ad from the Daily Herald:
http://tinyurl.com/qsc8xm
This drive in was located at approximately 813 E. Belvidere Rd, Grayslake, IL 60030. The entrance was where Dunkin Donuts is now located. Please update.
I lived in Grayslake from 1975 to 1985, I was 9 to 18 years old. Our family went to this drive in regularly during the summer, it was magical. We would go in the station wagon and Dad would park backwards, open the tailgate and my lil'sister and I would lay on our pillows and eat popcorn we brought from home and drink Pepsi from glass bottles with our parents sitting in lawn chairs beside us. Had my first make out session with my first girlfriend there when I was 16, and then my first boyfriend a year later. Magical time!
Years ago I went to Volo Car museum with my family and drive by a drive-in down the street. I have reason to believe this is that drive-in, am I correct?
In The Early 1950s It Was Named Family Outdoor Theatre Before Changing Its Name To Family Drive-In In 1955.
The Original Screen Before CinemaScope Is 45x60 Ft.
The October 2, 1948 issue of Boxoffice said that the Family Outdoor Theatre recently opened near Grayslake had been designed by architects Arthur Swanson and Associates.
The Family Outdoor Theatre opened its gates on September 24, 1948 with John Wayne in “Tycoon” along with an unnamed Disney cartoon. The theater changed its name to the Family Drive-In by 1955, and later the Grayslake Outdoor Theatre by 1960.
After almost 50 years of operation, the Grayslake Outdoor Theatre closed for the final time on September 6, 1998 with “Saving Private Ryan” and “Blade”.
Grand Opening ad posted.