The Drive-In has been a landmark in Tiffin for 71 years. Many residents both young and old remember loading up the car and heading down SR 53 to see a double feature and indulge in movie theater snacks. Generations of Tiffinites enjoyed movies from these screens but over time they have become unable to be repaired. The new owner Michael Cole saw the repairs needed and decided to make changes to the Drive-In to update them.
The 71-year-old screen #1 was retired as of October 1. It will be replaced with a new screen the same size as the old one. The new screen will come with a reflective paint to enhance the quality of movies on the screen.
The Drive-In’s new screen will be built by Jerry Selby, a Richfield Ohio native. Selby and his family have built drive-in screens all around the world for theaters. The new #1 screen will be unveiled by October 14 or 15. Cole plans on having a screen premiere event night and the new screen will be used regularly starting the weekend of October 16-18, if all according to plan.
A new screen #2 is set to be built by Selby. This new screen will stand in the grassy area of the northeast corner. However, the screen will not show movies until the next season as there will be new equipment added and moved.
Halloween weekend will feature adult and children programming. As of now, the Halloween weekend is set to be the last weekend of the Drive-In’s season.
The Tiffin Drive-in has been sold by Saunders Theater Properties.
TIFFIN, Ohio — The former Field of Dreams Drive-In Theater on State Route 53 is now under new ownership.
According to a release from the Tiffin-Seneca Economic Partnership, freelance writer and entrepreneur Mike Cole recently purchased the theater and plans to improve it with a $200,000 investment.
Changes will include two new screens: an 84-foot-wide screen replacing the original and an additional permanent 44-foot-wide screen. They will be constructed by Selby Products of Richfield.
“We are excited to bring the Tiffin Drive-In Theater into the next era and help it to continue to be a unique attraction in Seneca County for many years to come,” Cole said.
Construction on the primary screen is expected to start in September and followed shortly after by the second screen which may not be operational during the 2020 season.
The Saunders Family from Liberty Center Ohio are now the new owners of the Van-Dell Drive-In. They operate and own the Field of Dreams and Tiffin Drive-In.
The address is: 441 Osage Dr, Purcell, OK…you are correct that Osage Drive did exist when the drive-in was open. But 1524 S.Green Ave lands at the corner of S.Green Ave and Sherri Classic Drive too far south. That is using Goggle and Bing maps. The tank company that is located at the DI property now is at: 441 Osage Dr, Purcell, OK
Hey Earl64 thanks for update on the marquee’s. I did not know that. But I did wonder why the marquee at the Parkside looked good but it looked funny also. I tell people to becareful using theatre catalogs and MPA’s in theatre reseach.
I talked to somebody in Lennox and they said it was where Jerry’s Auto is at. Looking at 1958 aerial and 2018 Goggle map it was north of Jerry’s. So that would be it I believe.
From the new owner..
The Drive-In has been a landmark in Tiffin for 71 years. Many residents both young and old remember loading up the car and heading down SR 53 to see a double feature and indulge in movie theater snacks. Generations of Tiffinites enjoyed movies from these screens but over time they have become unable to be repaired. The new owner Michael Cole saw the repairs needed and decided to make changes to the Drive-In to update them.
The 71-year-old screen #1 was retired as of October 1. It will be replaced with a new screen the same size as the old one. The new screen will come with a reflective paint to enhance the quality of movies on the screen.
The Drive-In’s new screen will be built by Jerry Selby, a Richfield Ohio native. Selby and his family have built drive-in screens all around the world for theaters. The new #1 screen will be unveiled by October 14 or 15. Cole plans on having a screen premiere event night and the new screen will be used regularly starting the weekend of October 16-18, if all according to plan.
A new screen #2 is set to be built by Selby. This new screen will stand in the grassy area of the northeast corner. However, the screen will not show movies until the next season as there will be new equipment added and moved.
Halloween weekend will feature adult and children programming. As of now, the Halloween weekend is set to be the last weekend of the Drive-In’s season.
The Tiffin Drive-in has been sold by Saunders Theater Properties.
TIFFIN, Ohio — The former Field of Dreams Drive-In Theater on State Route 53 is now under new ownership.
According to a release from the Tiffin-Seneca Economic Partnership, freelance writer and entrepreneur Mike Cole recently purchased the theater and plans to improve it with a $200,000 investment.
Changes will include two new screens: an 84-foot-wide screen replacing the original and an additional permanent 44-foot-wide screen. They will be constructed by Selby Products of Richfield.
“We are excited to bring the Tiffin Drive-In Theater into the next era and help it to continue to be a unique attraction in Seneca County for many years to come,” Cole said.
Construction on the primary screen is expected to start in September and followed shortly after by the second screen which may not be operational during the 2020 season.
Wow Thanks Ken!!!
Hey Ken thanks for the information..
You are correct!!
Plus the address is off also. US Highway 14 and Rd Oo Richland Center, WI, United States
The Saunders Family from Liberty Center Ohio are now the new owners of the Van-Dell Drive-In. They operate and own the Field of Dreams and Tiffin Drive-In.
Can you mark drive-in open. Logan Theatres is reopening it!!
Gratz, PA works okay…
The address is: 2223 Mohawk Trail, Shelburne Falls, MA 01360
The address is: 441 Osage Dr, Purcell, OK…you are correct that Osage Drive did exist when the drive-in was open. But 1524 S.Green Ave lands at the corner of S.Green Ave and Sherri Classic Drive too far south. That is using Goggle and Bing maps. The tank company that is located at the DI property now is at: 441 Osage Dr, Purcell, OK
GPS: 34.996535, -97.365583
Hey Earl64 thanks for update on the marquee’s. I did not know that. But I did wonder why the marquee at the Parkside looked good but it looked funny also. I tell people to becareful using theatre catalogs and MPA’s in theatre reseach.
That should read 1972..
More information here
It is now all residential houses
The address is:
US-75 at Rd F
Tekamah, NE 68061
Sounds like a Mom and Pop drive-in theatre…with 16mm. There was alot of them back in the day.
I talked to somebody in Lennox and they said it was where Jerry’s Auto is at. Looking at 1958 aerial and 2018 Goggle map it was north of Jerry’s. So that would be it I believe.
If you look at the 1958 aerial of that location that might have been it..look south and you can see a outline of something..
It was a pop-up drive-in I think..
This is pretty close 1800 County Rd 300 W, Martinsville, IN
Here is the new website address https://www.ozoner29elranchodriveins.com/
Video from 1997
Jack Chestnutt, Sr., was the manager of the drive-in for the entire time it was open.
The Cactus and Westside might be the same drive-in..
2 reads “Please try to be as informative as possible when posting a comment.”
W. Breese Rd & S. Dixie Hwy is the same address that jwmovies posted and it points to that intersection.