Cranston Drive-In
1400 Oaklawn Avenue,
Cranston,
RI
02920
1400 Oaklawn Avenue,
Cranston,
RI
02920
2 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Affiliated Theatres
Previous Names: Cranston Auto Drive-In
Nearby Theaters
The Cranston Auto Drive-In opened by the Columbia Amusement Co. on July 29, 1948 with Lucille Ball in “Her Husband’s Affairs” & Randolph Scott in “Trail Street”. It was still operating under this name in 1957. It became the Cranston Drive-In which closed in 1979.
Contributed by
TOM CONTI
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Recent comments (view all 20 comments)
I spent many a summre’s evening as a boy with my family at this long-ago delight. Every year when they closed, they would post on their sign; “Had to close before we froze. See you when the crocus grows."
:–)
Bill Gannon
I believe this drive in installed 70mm in the early sixties. National Theatre Supply ran an ad in the tradepapers for their Ventarc blown arc lamp with a picture of the booth. They also had Norelco DP70’s. The screen size was given as 114 ft.
I just rechecked the ad and screen size was given as 50'x122' and a projected pcture of 47'x118' at a 240' throw. Light readings were 6 fl. for 35mm and 8 fl. for 70mm.
The Cranston Drive-In was equipped with 3-D projection capability in 1953, with the first offering being “Man in the Dark” per an item in Boxoffice mahgazine, July 4, 1953.
Cranston Drive-In sues gas station for removal of annoying blinker sign,
item in Boxoffice magazine, August 5, 1950:
View link
What year did it close? I remember going their in 1979
When they closed for the winter, the marquee read;
“Had to close
Before we froze
See you when
The crocus grows
Boom tisch!!
The site is now a shopping centre(Marshalls Plaza).
Opened on July 29th, 1948. Grand opening ad posted.