Big Sky Drive-In
7855 Mineral Point Road,
Madison,
WI
53717
7855 Mineral Point Road,
Madison,
WI
53717
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The 1,100-car Big Sky Drive-In opened May 27, 1954, with Debbie Reynolds and Donald O’Connor in “I Love Melvin” & Robert Taylor in “Ride Vaquero”. It was advertised as having a 90-foot shadow box screen, which would help in showing movies earlier in the evening.
The builder was Middleton-Twentieth Century Drive-In Corp, who also operated the Madison Theatre, Orpheum Theatre, Parkway Theatre, Strand Theatre, and Badger outdoor theatre.
According to the Wisconsin State Journal, one of its highlights include April 21, 1957, when 1,325 attended Easter services.
Its location today would be approximately where the Marcus Point Cinemas are but the entrance would have been off Mineral Point Road.
It closed September 8, 1984, with “Bolero” and “Last American Virgin”.
Contributed by
Ron Pierce
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Recent comments (view all 5 comments)
Whats a shadow box screen?
A skirt or extension that extends from each side of the screen to help block out the sunlight. The screen faced east which also helped as the sun set in the evening.
A 1957 aerial photo shows what appears to be the shadow box, but it does not seem to be present in a 1969 aerial.
Was there many drive-in’s with shadow boxes?
That would require some research.
When you are finished, you can let us know. ;)
A more accurate address for this theater is 7855 Mineral Point Rd, Madison, WI 53717. No trace left. This points directly to the entrance road which is now Big Sky Rd. Marcus Point Cinemas takes up part of the area.
Please update.