41 Outdoor Theatre
2500 S. Calumet Avenue,
Hammond,
IN
46323
2500 S. Calumet Avenue,
Hammond,
IN
46323
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In September 1948 the Monta & Rose Circuit of East Chicago announced plans to construct the Hammond 41 Outdoor Theatre on Route 41. The 41 was designed by the Rapp & Rapp firm, which still existed but without the famous founding brothers.
what was the last movie played at the 41out door on closing day
Grand opening ad in photo section and below:
Found on Newspapers.com
Undated marquee photo as Hammond Outdoor Theatre 41, added courtesy of Ron Ericksen.
Look again at the photo above. Why would there be a sign facing Sheffield on the back of the screen itself if Sheffield was the rear of the theater? There would be no need for this signage if the actual entrance was at Highway 41.
And the sign has “41” in quotation marks as if to signify it’s not just the name but the landmark so everyone would know where the theater was.
Also when twinned like when the it was a single screen, the Box office was closer to Sheffield as were the exits.
In looking at the aerial you can see that the main entrance was on 41 (Calumet Ave.) Sheffield is behind the Drive-In.
The above address is incorrect. It was further south.
This drive-in was located at 2751 Sheffield Ave. Hammond IN 46320. Please update.
There were 2 entrances. Hwy 41’s entrance was for southbound traffic. You could only enter northbound as well as southbound from Sheffield.
Is this definitely a Rapp and Rapp? I ask because Cornelius died in 1926, George in 1942. If it opened in 1949, they were both gone.
1951 aerial photo uploaded here.
I used to ride my bicyle there from the southeast side of Chicago in the early 70’s and sneak in the exit, until they figured out that trick! I went there the legal way until the late ‘70s. I would estimate it closed around 1981. (RIP)
We used to go here just about every other weekend in the 60s. We would have 4-5 family cars lined up. It was cheap for the family(4 kids). We had a great time in the play area. Didnt care about the movies unless they were funny
My Dad helped build and run his drive in whioch was sold to I believe to Ben Kolhberg in the late 60’s. I think it was last open in the late 70’s but I’ll find out. I spent many Sat nights there watching movies until we passed out.
Oh yeah, I remember going to this place as a kid every time a new Elvis movie came out (at least three times a year?). We would play on the swings up front until the movie started. I seem to remember that there was always a guy there with a pet skunk. It was a hit with the kids.
Does anyone know the official date of closure for the Hammond, Indiana 41 Outdoor Theater?