Belford Drive-In
8301 E. State Street,
Rockford,
IL
61108
8301 E. State Street,
Rockford,
IL
61108
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Showing 7 comments
Showplace 16 has its own page
Closed on September 17, 1995.
I remember reading about this place on the movie listings page of the Rockford newspaper. But it was far away from where I lived in Winnebago, so I seldom went there. The only times that I considered coming to the Belford was when a show was sold out every place else.
1994 marquee photo added, credit RockfordReminisce.com Facebook page.
This opened on December 23rd, 1965 with one outdoor and one indoor screen by Kerasotes. I have included the grand opening ad, aerials from 1970 and 1975. The ShowPlace opened on the site in 1997.
Ah yes, the good times at the Belford. Some of the older people still even call Showplace 16 the Belford. That was a great theatre and should have kept it. Drive-ins are few are far these days. The last movie I remember seeing there was Kevin Costner’s Waterworld. I still even remember the old entrance. I wish I had a photo of the theatre!
I kinda remember visiting this theater when I was younger, sometime in the early ‘90s. But, I’m pretty sure there was also several other screens inside as well. The new theater that took its place, the ShowPlace, is a huge place and is interesting to look at now.