Auto-In Drive-In
2001 Anderson Ferry Road,
Cincinnati,
OH
45238
2001 Anderson Ferry Road,
Cincinnati,
OH
45238
3 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previous Names: Auto-In Outdoor Drive-In
Nearby Theaters
The Auto-In Outdoor Drive-In was opened April 22, 1947, screening the 1945 musical “Diamond Horseshoe” with Betty Grable, Dick Haymes and Phil Silvers. It was opened by Harry Brown, Edward J. Moore and Jerome J. Kunz (dba Auto-In Theatre Co.). All three gentlemen were employed by the county. In July 1949, they would open the Dent Auto Theatre.
The new ozoner could park 400 cars with RCA in-a-car speakers. On April 1, 1949 it was renamed Auto-In Drive-In. Theatres Owner Corp.(TOC) from Cincinnati, OH was the booking and buying agency starting in 1952. In 1968, Marshall H. Fine (dba Associated Theatres from Cleveland, OH) took over the operation of the Auto-In and the Dent Auto. Fine formed the Cincinnati Theatre Co. to operate his Cincinnati interests.
In May 1971, Cincinnati Theatre Co. sold the Auto-In to Roy B. White (dba Mid-State Theatres). The sale also included the Dent Drive-In and the Twin Drive-In. I believe the last operators of the Auto-In were Holiday Amusements from Hamilton, OH. until 1982 when it closed for good. The Auto-In was demolished and an office building is on the site.
Contributed by
Randy Studer, Marc Edward Heuck
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Recent comments (view all 11 comments)
Gee whiz, I haven’t heard of this one either! If only it would’ve survived, I would have given anything to see a movie here! (I’ve never even been to a drive in.)
okay,Believe or not this same double features plays at the Hilltop Drive-in in North Augusta, S.C. “MAGNUM FORCE” and “THE MACKINTOSH MAN” . This double feature is also playing at the TWIN DRIVE-IN in Cincinnati.August 9 1974.
The last time I was at the Auto In was whatever year “The Bad News Bears” was playing and I took the kids to see it. Had a Ford station wagon at the time and I would back it into the space and the kids would sit on the tailgate watching the movie. The wife and I had lawn chairs along side of them. Those were the days. I really miss those days!!! The kids are now grown and on their own.
1976 on the “Bears” i think.
April 22nd, 1947 grand opening ad in photo section.
Apparently, the Auto-In was rechristened Captain Kidd in the early ‘80s. I found a newspaper ad and uploaded it here.
Also, the address should be changed to 2501 Anderson Ferry Rd.
The address is correct…I believe that was a misprint on the movie ad. The Auto-In opened as the Auto-In and closed as the Auto-In
Both the ad for THE ROAD WARRIOR listing the Auto-In and for SWEET SIXTEEN listing it as the Captain Kidd read 2501 Anderson Ferry Rd.
I grew up in Cincinnati devouring the movie pages as a child, and I remember much fanfare in the drive-in listings promoting the “new” Captain Kidd, so that is not a misprint. Maybe they gave up the new name after one season and went back to calling the place Auto-In, but that alternate name is not a mistake.
http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/8490/photos/334715
Boxoffice, May 7, 1949: “Feature of the Western Hills Auto-In Theatre, Aurora, Ind. (sic), is a show garden planted with 1,500 tulips and Paul’s scarlet climbing roses arranged to grow over the front fence. The drive-in has been equipped with a children’s playground and new neon lighting on the screen tower. It is located on Anderson Ferry road, between Sidney road and Crookshank.”
Reopened as Auto-in Drive-in on 1st April 1949 with “Drums”.