I found two drive-ins on Highway 29. One appears to be the Concord Drive-In and there’s another one exactly one mile south of it which could be either the Carolina or the Starlite.
United Artists last operated the Eric Pilgrim Gardens until closing for the final time on June 30, 1989 with “Road House”. It was converted later that year to a QVC-merchandized store owned by the QVC network themselves. That place was also long-closed and a Dollar Tree was at its site.
The Butterfield Theatres chain opened the Plaza Cinema’s doors on September 19, 1975 with “The Wind And The Lion” in Screen 1 and “Once Is Not Enough” in Screen 2, featuring 840 seats (with 320 seats in Screen 1 and 520 seats in Screen 2).
The Plaza closed in 1993 and was demolished that same year to make way for a Meijer, while the original Plaza marquee was recycled by the Meijer’s gas bar.
This started life as the New Drive-In on April 29, 1955 with Richard Bartlett in “The Silver Star” and the Bowery Boys in “High Society” along with an unnamed Tom And Jerry cartoon. This was due to the theater not having a name yet, but was quickly renamed the Willis Drive-In the following day after a theater naming contest.
NOTE: Concord had a total of six drive-in theaters in its history, but I could be wrong though. There is the Carolina, the Concord Airport, the Newton Conover, the Poplar, the Starlite, and the Willis.
The actual opening date is February 27, 1930 with Cliff Edwards in “Lord Bryon Of Broadway” along with a Vitaphone Vaudeville and a Fox Movietone Newsreel. It was named after its first manager C.A. Turnage.
The Parkview Drive-In opened its gates on April 15, 1948 with Elizabeth Taylor in “Courage Of Lassie” along with an unnamed comedy. It opened exactly twelve days right after the nearby Choco Drive-In opened its gates in neighboring Chocowinity.
The Parkview Drive-In closed for the final time on March 14, 1975 with Steve McQueen in “Papillon” after the screen was destroyed by a tornado that left a little more than 10 injured from a nearby trailer park. The aftermath became notable after an unknown person sprayed the words “GONE WITH THE WIND!” on its marquee.
The State Theatre opened its doors by Publix on July 28, 1930 with George Moran in “Anybody’s War” (unknown if extras added), and was first managed by T.Y. Walker.
The original Sheridan location closed in January 1970 to make way for the Lawton Mall, and the newer one on SW 11th & Coombs opened on September 2, 1970 with “Cactus Flower” and “Assignment K”.
The Weltbio Kino-Center opened in its current location in 1921 after relocating from a different theater building that opened as early as 1908. It originally housed 350 seats when it opened, but upgraded to 365 in 1930, and was doubled to 606 seats in 1937. Unfortunately the Weltbio suffered destruction by allied bombs during the final stages of World War II in 1945.
It was rebuilt and the theater reopened on March 17, 1949, and its equipment received a major upgrade in 1955. These 1955 upgrades include four-channel stereo magnetic sound system consisted of Möller anamorphic projectors, ISOO lenses, Klangfilm magnetic sound scanners, Klangfilm stereo preamplifier frame, KL VM 122 VS 008 with cassette amplifiers, Klangfilm main amplifier frame G and GS-20 models, a hall controller for the four channels, six effect loudspeakers and three Klangfilm Eurodyn loudspeaker combinations. It also received a little of a remodel that year which includes a Sonora plastic screen which allowed the projection of all normal, widescreen and CinemaScope films. The projection at the time featured two Klangfilm arc lamp rectifiers, remote-controlled with 75 amps of power, Bauer B8 projectors and 366mm mirrors.
It was twinned in the 1970s, and three more screens were added in 1981.
The Academy Picture Theatre opened in 1914, and its name was shorten to just Academy Theatre a few years later. On December 28, 1935, the theater was renamed the State Theatre after major remodeling which also includes upgraded Western Electric sound and new management led by Mr. and Mrs. Geo H. Karsch. The State Theatre closed for the final time on December 12, 1960 due to furnace difficulties.
The Ritz Theatre opened its doors on February 19, 1935 with Barbara Stanwyck in “The Woman In Red” along with a few unnamed short subjects, and was first owned by C.E. McLain. The Ritz Theatre closed in 1941.
The Pettit Theater, named after manager C.H. Pettit, opened its doors on March 7, 1921 with several unnamed photoplays and a live performance by Big Bill House and his Big Midnight Whirl Company. The Pettit Theater originally housed 1,200 seats when it opened, and the building measures 50x140ft.
During its later years, it was operated by Video Independent Theatres. In May 1958, it was taken over by Allied Theatres. Unfortunately Allied only operated the Pettit for a short period of time, and in late-October 1959, it was taken over by independent operator W.R. “Bill” Petty. That same week, the Pettit Theatre was renamed the Petty Theatre.
The Petty Theatre closed for the final time on February 1, 1961 with Anthony Perkins in “Psycho” and was converted into USPS Post Office.
Closed on January 31, 1999.
I found two drive-ins on Highway 29. One appears to be the Concord Drive-In and there’s another one exactly one mile south of it which could be either the Carolina or the Starlite.
Closed on July 11, 1984 with “Greystoke”.
United Artists last operated the Eric Pilgrim Gardens until closing for the final time on June 30, 1989 with “Road House”. It was converted later that year to a QVC-merchandized store owned by the QVC network themselves. That place was also long-closed and a Dollar Tree was at its site.
Opened with Judy Garland in “Little Nellie Kelly” along with a few unnamed short subjects.
Yes it closed with “The Duchess and the Dirtwater Fox”, and was last operated by Cinemette.
Closed on August 22, 1987 with “Robocop” and “The Believers”.
Opened with Bette Davis in “The Sisters” and John Litel in “Declaration of Independence” with no extra short subjects.
The Butterfield Theatres chain opened the Plaza Cinema’s doors on September 19, 1975 with “The Wind And The Lion” in Screen 1 and “Once Is Not Enough” in Screen 2, featuring 840 seats (with 320 seats in Screen 1 and 520 seats in Screen 2).
The Plaza closed in 1993 and was demolished that same year to make way for a Meijer, while the original Plaza marquee was recycled by the Meijer’s gas bar.
This started life as the New Drive-In on April 29, 1955 with Richard Bartlett in “The Silver Star” and the Bowery Boys in “High Society” along with an unnamed Tom And Jerry cartoon. This was due to the theater not having a name yet, but was quickly renamed the Willis Drive-In the following day after a theater naming contest.
The actual opening date is February 27, 1930 with Cliff Edwards in “Lord Bryon Of Broadway” along with a Vitaphone Vaudeville and a Fox Movietone Newsreel. It was named after its first manager C.A. Turnage.
The Parkview Drive-In opened its gates on April 15, 1948 with Elizabeth Taylor in “Courage Of Lassie” along with an unnamed comedy. It opened exactly twelve days right after the nearby Choco Drive-In opened its gates in neighboring Chocowinity.
The Parkview Drive-In closed for the final time on March 14, 1975 with Steve McQueen in “Papillon” after the screen was destroyed by a tornado that left a little more than 10 injured from a nearby trailer park. The aftermath became notable after an unknown person sprayed the words “GONE WITH THE WIND!” on its marquee.
Opened on April 3, 1948.
The State Theatre opened its doors by Publix on July 28, 1930 with George Moran in “Anybody’s War” (unknown if extras added), and was first managed by T.Y. Walker.
The original Sheridan location closed in January 1970 to make way for the Lawton Mall, and the newer one on SW 11th & Coombs opened on September 2, 1970 with “Cactus Flower” and “Assignment K”.
The Weltbio Kino-Center opened in its current location in 1921 after relocating from a different theater building that opened as early as 1908. It originally housed 350 seats when it opened, but upgraded to 365 in 1930, and was doubled to 606 seats in 1937. Unfortunately the Weltbio suffered destruction by allied bombs during the final stages of World War II in 1945.
It was rebuilt and the theater reopened on March 17, 1949, and its equipment received a major upgrade in 1955. These 1955 upgrades include four-channel stereo magnetic sound system consisted of Möller anamorphic projectors, ISOO lenses, Klangfilm magnetic sound scanners, Klangfilm stereo preamplifier frame, KL VM 122 VS 008 with cassette amplifiers, Klangfilm main amplifier frame G and GS-20 models, a hall controller for the four channels, six effect loudspeakers and three Klangfilm Eurodyn loudspeaker combinations. It also received a little of a remodel that year which includes a Sonora plastic screen which allowed the projection of all normal, widescreen and CinemaScope films. The projection at the time featured two Klangfilm arc lamp rectifiers, remote-controlled with 75 amps of power, Bauer B8 projectors and 366mm mirrors.
It was twinned in the 1970s, and three more screens were added in 1981.
It appears operational in 1984, but was completely gone by 1991.
Opened in 1985.
The Academy Picture Theatre opened in 1914, and its name was shorten to just Academy Theatre a few years later. On December 28, 1935, the theater was renamed the State Theatre after major remodeling which also includes upgraded Western Electric sound and new management led by Mr. and Mrs. Geo H. Karsch. The State Theatre closed for the final time on December 12, 1960 due to furnace difficulties.
The Ritz Theatre opened its doors on February 19, 1935 with Barbara Stanwyck in “The Woman In Red” along with a few unnamed short subjects, and was first owned by C.E. McLain. The Ritz Theatre closed in 1941.
The Pettit Theater, named after manager C.H. Pettit, opened its doors on March 7, 1921 with several unnamed photoplays and a live performance by Big Bill House and his Big Midnight Whirl Company. The Pettit Theater originally housed 1,200 seats when it opened, and the building measures 50x140ft.
During its later years, it was operated by Video Independent Theatres. In May 1958, it was taken over by Allied Theatres. Unfortunately Allied only operated the Pettit for a short period of time, and in late-October 1959, it was taken over by independent operator W.R. “Bill” Petty. That same week, the Pettit Theatre was renamed the Petty Theatre.
The Petty Theatre closed for the final time on February 1, 1961 with Anthony Perkins in “Psycho” and was converted into USPS Post Office.
Closed on September 3, 1987 with “Can’t Buy Me Love” in Screen 1 and “Stakeout” in Screen 2.
The Terrace Drive-In appears that it closed around 1958. Showtimes were gone in 1959 judging by newspapers.
Two Erie men took the theater over in August 1935 and was remodeled that same month. It was still open in 1954.
Opened on August 15, 1947.