Years ago I went to Volo Car museum with my family and drive by a drive-in down the street. I have reason to believe this is that drive-in, am I correct?
I never went there but drove by it after it closed (this would be around 1997 or so). A friend had discovered it by accident and wanted to show me. I wasn’t scared at the time but it’s in South Englewood, and not sure about South Englewood, but Englewood is a bad area. I remember being in a clothing shop either summer of 1987 or 1988 (I was either a junior or senior in high school) and there was a commercial with this drive in, along with the BelAir and the Twin featuring the Beach Boys song.
I saw many films there but by far the best was Grease. I am thrilled I got to see that at a drive-in. I went as late as 2000 and by then it got a bit dicey. There were people asking for drugs and what I believe were gang members (though luckily none caused trouble). The only time I went to the drive-in with a guy was here in 1999 (though the relationship was strictly platonic). I had heard in 2002 they were planning to close and the last movies played were those in the sign (XXX, Goldmember, Pluto Nash and Signs). Had I known for sure 2002 was the last year I would have gone. A few years later I talked to someone in University Park or Monee (this theater was on the border)and they told me it was basically torn down because the owners just didn’t want it anymore. How sad, especially since nothing is even there, just land.
I used to call this the L-O-V-E Theater because on the back of the screen had the famous LOVE sign. I remember going as late as 1987 though if I recall it was closed for a few years before then. I saw movies there in 1982 (and earlier)but think it may have been closed 1983-1986. Not sure though. Around 1990 or later I drove by and saw them tearing down the screen. That was sad to see. In the 70’s I liked going there because they showed the famous dancing hot dog intermission. When they closed it, that went to the Cicero (which stopped showing it before they closed).
I remember going there a few times, and remember seeing Seems Like Old Times at a birthday party there. Years later I saw Coming To America and I believe it was second rate then. I also went to its sister theater Brementowne in Tinley Park which was around long after Diana (and Washington Mall).
Thank you for this info. My parents always talk about this drive-in and outside of an aerial photo I saw years ago this is the first actual photos of the theater. I know it was closed because of I-57 which is a shame.
Weird, my parents grew up in Harvey and have never mentioned this. They did mention the ABC drive-in, which was on 147th st (and oddly not on this site).
I recently inherited old newspapers which show this theatre called the Plaza Art in 1963. In the ad it mentions a performance by the Plaza Playmates. Does anyone know who they are? I took it to mean strippers, but could be wrong.
I’m pretty sure this was a second run theatre before 1993. I saw several movies there in the 80’s. Me and my friends tried to go to cheap theatres then.
I forgot to mention that I know for a factit was closed for a couple years. In 1990, I drove by during the summer, and it was closed. It was at night, so otherwise it would have been open.
The theater closed for a couple years after 1987 or 1988. It reopened summer of 1991, but then closed after the fatal shooting during Boyz in the Hood, which was summer 1991. It was torn down 1994 or 1995, not sure which. I do know by 1996, the post office was there.
Dawn
commented about
Bremen 4on
Apr 7, 2004 at 9:44 pm
I don’t know when the Bremen went to second run, but I remember going there in high school in the late 80’s, and by this time it was second run.
Years ago I went to Volo Car museum with my family and drive by a drive-in down the street. I have reason to believe this is that drive-in, am I correct?
Also, there was an article in the early to mid 90’s from the Tribune I believe featuring all the then open drive ins and this one was in the article.
I never went there but drove by it after it closed (this would be around 1997 or so). A friend had discovered it by accident and wanted to show me. I wasn’t scared at the time but it’s in South Englewood, and not sure about South Englewood, but Englewood is a bad area. I remember being in a clothing shop either summer of 1987 or 1988 (I was either a junior or senior in high school) and there was a commercial with this drive in, along with the BelAir and the Twin featuring the Beach Boys song.
I saw many films there but by far the best was Grease. I am thrilled I got to see that at a drive-in. I went as late as 2000 and by then it got a bit dicey. There were people asking for drugs and what I believe were gang members (though luckily none caused trouble). The only time I went to the drive-in with a guy was here in 1999 (though the relationship was strictly platonic). I had heard in 2002 they were planning to close and the last movies played were those in the sign (XXX, Goldmember, Pluto Nash and Signs). Had I known for sure 2002 was the last year I would have gone. A few years later I talked to someone in University Park or Monee (this theater was on the border)and they told me it was basically torn down because the owners just didn’t want it anymore. How sad, especially since nothing is even there, just land.
I used to call this the L-O-V-E Theater because on the back of the screen had the famous LOVE sign. I remember going as late as 1987 though if I recall it was closed for a few years before then. I saw movies there in 1982 (and earlier)but think it may have been closed 1983-1986. Not sure though. Around 1990 or later I drove by and saw them tearing down the screen. That was sad to see. In the 70’s I liked going there because they showed the famous dancing hot dog intermission. When they closed it, that went to the Cicero (which stopped showing it before they closed).
I live in Peotone andwould love to find out more about this theater.
I remember going there a few times, and remember seeing Seems Like Old Times at a birthday party there. Years later I saw Coming To America and I believe it was second rate then. I also went to its sister theater Brementowne in Tinley Park which was around long after Diana (and Washington Mall).
Thank you for this photo. A question but was that a driveway or the entrance to the theater?
Thank you for this info. My parents always talk about this drive-in and outside of an aerial photo I saw years ago this is the first actual photos of the theater. I know it was closed because of I-57 which is a shame.
Weird, my parents grew up in Harvey and have never mentioned this. They did mention the ABC drive-in, which was on 147th st (and oddly not on this site).
Was the Holiday a drive in? I never heard of it.
I’ve driven by it countless times and the screen is still intact. I actually think they could revive it if they chose.
I meant Plaza not Plaze but it double posted.
So in other words the Plaze Playmates were more like Playboy Bunnies than actual strippers. Pretty interesting.
So in other words the Plaze Playmates were more like Playboy Bunnies than actual strippers. Pretty interesting.
Thanks. I just looked at Life and found a few more. I grew up in this area and knew this theatre, yet never knew it was a four screen. Pretty cool.
Any more photos of this? Anyone know what happened to the screens? Were they moved to other drive-ins?
That’s interesting. I wonder why they got rid of the screens, as well as where they went.
I recently inherited old newspapers which show this theatre called the Plaza Art in 1963. In the ad it mentions a performance by the Plaza Playmates. Does anyone know who they are? I took it to mean strippers, but could be wrong.
I’m pretty sure this was a second run theatre before 1993. I saw several movies there in the 80’s. Me and my friends tried to go to cheap theatres then.
I forgot to mention that I know for a factit was closed for a couple years. In 1990, I drove by during the summer, and it was closed. It was at night, so otherwise it would have been open.
The theater closed for a couple years after 1987 or 1988. It reopened summer of 1991, but then closed after the fatal shooting during Boyz in the Hood, which was summer 1991. It was torn down 1994 or 1995, not sure which. I do know by 1996, the post office was there.
I don’t know when the Bremen went to second run, but I remember going there in high school in the late 80’s, and by this time it was second run.
Oddly, there was a drive in where this mall now stands. I am not sure of the name, but I believe it was named the Starlight.