North River Drive-In

The North River Drive-In opened its gates on August 2, 1954 with Virginia Mayo in “Painting The Clouds With Sunshine” along with an unnamed cartoon.

It was first operated by Mr. F. Gordon Spencer with an association with Famous Players, and featured original installations of a 62x78ft screen constructed by the Rogers Hardware Company facing outward extending 7ft beyond the base and permitted an unobstructed view from any position in the observation area, marking it the largest drive-in screen in all of Prince Edward Island and one of the largest in the area.

Alongside its Simplex projection and sound installations is 300 watts of amplification that brings sound to the Northern Electric in-car speakers, and arc lamps that consumed 9,000 watts of electricity from a 24hp power motor generator. The screen and the projection was carried at a distance of 286ft, and the picture surface total 3,500sqft, which is nine times higher than an average indoor theater. The screen is so large that it requires a projection enlargement of 691,700 times its original size.

It was still open in 1980, and at the time it was operated by Atlantic Theatres Limited. Its closing date remains unknown at this time.

Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater.