Crescent Drive-In
10000 US-166,
Galena,
KS
66739
10000 US-166,
Galena,
KS
66739
1 person
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A more accurate address is 1 Cheetah Drive, Galena, KS.
Cheetah Drive was the old entrance to the drive-in. Today, there is nothing left of the drive-in save for the entrance road.
https://tinyurl.com/mupf85us
“GALENA, KAS. – The Crescent Drive-In on Highway 166 south of here opened April 1. It is the first drive-in to be opened here, and is being operated by Paul Hardwick of Galena.” —BoxOffice, April 17, 1954
A more accurate address for Google Maps is Cheetah Drive, Galena Kansas. The 1958 clearly shows the entrance and exit roads were not on US-166, but instead connected to SE 100th Street
Cheetah Drive is actually the old entrance road to the drive-in itself and about the only thing left. Even the outline of the drive-in has faded.
While I understand it was probably not called “Cheetah Drive” back in the day, it does map the drive-in quite accurately on Google Maps. And if accuracy matters, then this is the address to use since it is the old entrance road itself.
https://tinyurl.com/yxsr7mcy
The Crescent advertised in the Joplin Globe in May-October 1954. It appears to have ceased advertising in 1955.
An Oct. 16, 1974 obituary in The Kansas City Times said that Vernon D. Gelebert of Baxter Springs KS “owned and operated the Crescent Drive-In, Galena, three years.”
The 1955-56 Theatre Catalog listed the Crescent, capacity 150, owner Vernon D. Geabert.
The Crescent was listed in the Motion Picture Almanac drive-in lists in the 1955-59 editions, owner P. Hardwick, no capacity included. In the 1960 edition, it was off the list.
A 1959 aerial shows the drive-in open while one taken two years later shows it to be demolished. So, closing in 1960 appears to be true.