Colonial Drive-In

The Colonial Drive-In opened on May 9, 1955, screening the 1954 western, “The Command”, with Guy Madison, Joan Weldon, and James Whitmore. During the opening night show, they had drawing for a new 1955 Ford during the intermission. The new ozoner was opened by twelve partners from six of the Orlando area drive-in theatre operators, which included Bob Partlow, Allen Horton, Joe Lipson, Carl Floyd, Horace Denning, and others dba Colonial Plaza Drive-In Ltd. Floyd Theatres was the operator from 1963 until it closed. The CinemaScope screen was 100 Ft. X 60 Ft. and tower was made of concrete, which was typical for Florida drive-in theatres. The drive-in featured RCA Sound and Projection equipment with in-a-car speakers for 550 cars. When the drive-in plans were being developed it was going to be named the Colonial Plaza Drive-In. During the grand opening it was just the Colonial Drive-In Theatre. The Colonial Drive-In screened its last movie on October 3, 1992. Bob Partlow said the business is being sold because some of the partners have died and the rest “are all getting up in age.” In May of 1994, Bob Partlow and Joe Lipson sold the drive-in property to Florida Technical Systems of School and Colleges Inc. for $843,600. It is now the Barry University of Law.

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