B & B Twin Drive-In
291 E. Kentucky Road,
Independence,
MO
64050
291 E. Kentucky Road,
Independence,
MO
64050
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Closing November 17, 2024:
Independence, MO: B & B Twin Drive-In Closing [Nov 8, 2024]
https://www.kmbc.com/article/kansas-city-independence-twin-drive-in-movie-theater-permanently-closing/62804097 Popular Independence drive-in theater permanently closing this month. INDEPENDENCE, Mo. — A drive-in movie theater that has brought family fun to the Kansas City community for decades is turning off its screens for good. B&B Theatres Twin Drive-In, located at 291 E. Kentucky Road, announced Monday that it is closing permanently on Nov. 17.
The marquee is seen at the begining of an episode of the tv series “American Pickers”( Cowzilla in Colorado).
Whats does B & B( in B & B Theatres) stand for?
Opened on 24/11/1965 with on screen 1 with “Harum scarum” and “Zebra in the kitchen” and “Mirage” and on screen 2 with “Red line 7000”, and “Fluffy” and “One-Eyed Jacks”. 1600 cars. Playground removed in 2002. Digital projectors opened on both screens in 2014.
My 1969 IMPA erroneously lists the “Twin I & II” under Kansas City MO, capacity 1700. That error persisted through at least the 1976 edition. The 1982 edition was more accurate, listing it in Independence with 2 x 850 capacity.
Grand opening ad in photo section.
Above address does not map properly. Use Missouri 291 & E Kentucky Rd, Independence, MO 64058.
Neat looking marquee.
Here is an August 2009 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/2dgetca
Here is a photo from a couple of years ago:
http://tinyurl.com/chzv8p
Here are some shots I took yesterday while it was snowing outside.
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Here’s the opening day ad from the 11/24/65 KC Star.
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And here’s an opening soon ad from the 11/12/65 KC Star.
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I went and saw Indy 4 at the Twin and took some pictures.
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Globe operates the Twin now. It’s on 291 Hwy and Kentucky Rd. so that address sounds right. The address above is for the old Independence Square theater, which is now called the Pharoah.
It doesn’t look like the arch to me but I guess it could have been inspired by it. I think the theater opened in 1965 or 66. I’m not sure. I’m trying to track down the opening date by going through the K.C. Star microfilm but I haven’t found it yet.
Is it really supposed to be a replica of the St. Louis Arch? Anyone know what year this theater was built? The St. Louis arch wasn’t completed until 1965, long after the Drive-in boom, although there still were a few being built then.
I’ve seen photos of the Twin and the 1-70. Their arches appear to be four sided and red with illuminated white tiles, while the St. Louis arch is three sided and all silver in color (stainless steel actually). This arch is also alot wider in comparison to its height than the St. Louis arch.
Either way this theater is awesome and I hope to go there this summer.
My wife and I go here as often as we can. It’s a great moviegoing experience. I used to go here all the time growing up and it hasn’t changed that much in the past 30 years. It needs a little upkeep and half the speakers don’t work and there’s a small chunk missing in the corner on screen #2 but that’s somewhat minor. I’m still glad the place is still open. They draw big crowds on weekends which is great to see.
I believe the total capacity of this DI is 1400 as listed:
Screen 1 800 cars
Screen 2 600 cars
This is one of 5 Kansas City Area DIs that feature the Miniature St. Louis Style Arch and is also 1 of 4 DI’s that featured the same style of Blue Marquee that said Twin or State on it.
The other theatres that featured the St. Louis Arch replica was:
North Twin DI in Riverside, MO
South Twin DI in Olathe, KS
State Twin DI in Kansas City, KS
I-70 DI in Kansas City, MO