Grand Bay Drive-In
3636 Westfield Road,
Saint John,
NB
E2M 7P3
3636 Westfield Road,
Saint John,
NB
E2M 7P3
1 person
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Famous Players, Franklin & Herschorn Theater Co. Ltd.
Nearby Theaters
Franklin & Herschorn Theater Co. Ltd opened the Grand Bay Drive-In on July 18, 1952 with Susan Hayward in “Tulsa” & The Bowery Boys in “Ghost Chasers”. It was taken over by Famous Players on March 23, 1970. It was closed on September 5, 1982 with Ben Cross in “Chariots of Fire” & Harrison Ford in “Blade Runner”.
Despite the screen and projection/concession booth being demolished, a good chunk of traces were still visible in 2023. Previously, the partial sign that once led to the drive-in used to be there until it was removed in the mid-2010’s.
Contributed by
50sSNIPES
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Recent comments (view all 7 comments)
The Grand Bay Drive-In opened in the early-1950s. What’s unique about the Grand Bay Drive-In is that according to a May 30, 1953 article of the National Post, the Grand Bay Drive-In installed 300 seats to attract small boat traffic.
Motion Picture Almanac, 1966, under New Brunswick: “Martinon, Grand Bay Drive-In, (capacity) 600 & 300, Franklin-Herschorn Theas. Ltd.”
I’d be interested to know how the boat traffic was going to reach the drive-in. The drive-in is a good half-mile from the shoreline. There is a creek that runs from the lake near the drive-in, but it is quite small and doesn’t appear deep or wide enough to handle even small boats.
Perhaps there was a hotel next to the drive-in that was close enough for foot traffic from boaters who didn’t want to detach their trailers and could walk instead?
Boxoffice ran a two-page story (with photos) about the Grand Bay on Nov. 1, 1952. It said the drive-in had in-car speakers for 650 vehicles, and had drinking fountains and telephine booths “spotted throughout the grounds”. Some patrons arrived on “all kinds of craft using the St. John river on which the property is located.”
The entire Franklin and Herschorn circuit, including the Grand Bay, was sold to Famous Players Canadian Corp., according to a note in the March 23, 1970 Boxoffice.
Franklin & Hershorn theatres opened the Grand Bay Drive-In on June 18th, 1952 and was taken over by Famous Players in 1970.
Unless the topography has changed radically in the years since the drive-in closed, it is safe to say that those who docked on the shore of the river were transported to the drive-in by other means.
The Grand Bay Drive-In opened its gates on July 18, 1952 with Susan Hayward in “Tulsa” and the Bowery Boys in “Ghost Chasers” along with a short entitled “Spooks Ahoy”.
The Grand Bay Drive-In closed on September 5, 1982 with “Chariots Of Fire” and “Blaze Runner”.