I was at a meeting last week with several people I work with. We were discussing the Rosa and several other spots in Middlesboro. For many years, cars pulled off Highway 25E and watched the show at the Rosa from the side of the road. One fellow said his mother made he and his brothers hide their eyes as they drove by in the the 1970’s!
The theater changed names several times. I have a photograph on my Middlesborough History site where it is called the Reda. I posted information on this site about the Manring. My family went to the Rosa a few times during the early 1960’s. It was very crowded. The Rosa D1 Drive-in Theater did a lot of advertising in the local paper and on WMIK radio. One could see the screen and the movie by driving North on US Highway 25-E and pulling off the road about 1000 feet from the theater. www.middlesboroughhistory.com
I remember the Manring well and think of it often. My first haircut at the barber shop at age one in 1956; the first movie I recall in 1963 probably Sword in the Stone or Mary Poppins. The interior including the wall light lens were red and the concession stand was a work of art. I read dozens of comic books at the barber shop and the barbers were personal friends of my father. On Saturday mornings, I would look at the lobby; no one around, but it was fun to see the posters. Lobby color was green I think. Middlesboro was a good place to be back then. Check my web page for photos: www.middlesboroughhistory.com
I was at a meeting last week with several people I work with. We were discussing the Rosa and several other spots in Middlesboro. For many years, cars pulled off Highway 25E and watched the show at the Rosa from the side of the road. One fellow said his mother made he and his brothers hide their eyes as they drove by in the the 1970’s!
MANRING THEATER DECEMBER 31, 1935
MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY
STARRING
CHARLES LAUGHTON
CLARK GABLE
WITH
FRANCHOT TONE
ADDED ATTRACTIONS:
Travel. “RURAL MEXICO"
Comedy, "PUBLIC GHOST NUMBER 1"
Cartoon, "WHO KILLED COCK ROBIN”
PRICES: 10c, 26c, 36c Monday, 10c, 26c
(From: Middlesboro Daily News)
One other note, the theater is completely gone. There is a large Pilot station and truck stop there now.
The theater changed names several times. I have a photograph on my Middlesborough History site where it is called the Reda. I posted information on this site about the Manring. My family went to the Rosa a few times during the early 1960’s. It was very crowded. The Rosa D1 Drive-in Theater did a lot of advertising in the local paper and on WMIK radio. One could see the screen and the movie by driving North on US Highway 25-E and pulling off the road about 1000 feet from the theater. www.middlesboroughhistory.com
I remember the Manring well and think of it often. My first haircut at the barber shop at age one in 1956; the first movie I recall in 1963 probably Sword in the Stone or Mary Poppins. The interior including the wall light lens were red and the concession stand was a work of art. I read dozens of comic books at the barber shop and the barbers were personal friends of my father. On Saturday mornings, I would look at the lobby; no one around, but it was fun to see the posters. Lobby color was green I think. Middlesboro was a good place to be back then. Check my web page for photos: www.middlesboroughhistory.com