Double Drive-In
2800 W. Columbus Avenue,
Chicago,
IL
60652
2800 W. Columbus Avenue,
Chicago,
IL
60652
10 people
favorited this theater
This drive-in, located on Columbus Avenue in the South Englewood neighborhood, opened on 19th August 1950 with Dana Andrews in “Where the Sidewalk Ends”. As its name would imply it had two screens. Later, a third screen was added, though the theater didn’t change it’s name to Triple Drive-In.
The theater closed in the mid-to-late-1990’s, and the property continued to be used by a flea market until around 2000 or 2001, when it was completely demolished and replaced by an industrial park.
Contributed by
Bryan
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Recent comments (view all 19 comments)
Parked a large amount of cars 1800 and was owned by M&R Amusement Corp.
My uncle sold at the flea market on Sunday’s from the late 70s until maybe 1989? The concession stand was awsome unless it flooded. Then it became an island in the distance. Hambergers and dogs wrapped in foil. I rememeber hanging out in the playground under the screen and swinging on the swings. Such a shame.
As a youngster in the 60’s and early 70’s, this was were the family primarily went to see shows. We would bring some pop corn and some Kool-Aid (we did not have a lot of money for stuff from the concessions stand) and arrive early so my brother and I could play in the playground before the show started.
It’s a real shame that not only THIS place ,but also, The Bel-Air(in Cicero) & The Twin drive-in in Wheeling,Il got torn down around the same time! They showed their ads on the same little 3 inch posting in the news papers ..This was my personal favorite as a kid…I’m pretty darn sure it would STILL be my favorite now,if it was still open! Places like these would do such good business now! Quentin Tarantino just bought The New Beverly Cinema in Hollywood and is showing"very rare" double features every day.Just like these drive ins used to do in the 70 s and 80 s….And packing the very small cinema with moviegoers!
I never went there but drove by it after it closed (this would be around 1997 or so). A friend had discovered it by accident and wanted to show me. I wasn’t scared at the time but it’s in South Englewood, and not sure about South Englewood, but Englewood is a bad area. I remember being in a clothing shop either summer of 1987 or 1988 (I was either a junior or senior in high school) and there was a commercial with this drive in, along with the BelAir and the Twin featuring the Beach Boys song.
Also, there was an article in the early to mid 90’s from the Tribune I believe featuring all the then open drive ins and this one was in the article.
This opened on August 19th, 1950.
The most recent ad in the Chicago Tribune for the Double Drive-In that I could find was Sept. 7, 1995.
Opened on 19/8/1950 “Where the sidewalk ends”. Why wasn’t the name changed when the drive-in was tripled?
Vanished Chicagoland blog memories of the Double Drive-In.
https://vanishedchicagoland.blog/2020/08/30/my-fond-memories-of-going-to-the-double-drive-in-theater-in-chicago/?fbclid=IwAR0kSKG0vKQjU_th0QMq_7K9zZK1TghUH9vcJPQOo2ivxgRU-7J-wlU0vdA