My father, John B. Gardner, was the owner of the Grove Drive-In. He had a long term lease for the property on which it resided. It sat inside the box created by the dashed lines and the dirt road depicted in the TOPO map. The theater was the flagship of Gardner Theatres, Inc. where my father maintained his office. He also owned the Airport Drive-In (Intersection of Rt.2 and Short Creek Rd. WV), the Riverside Drive-In (Rt.7 Rayland, Ohio), the Strand Theatre in Moundsville, as well as theatres in Weirton, WV and in Morgantown, WV.
Around the bend from the Grove Drive-In at the bridge that crosses Big Wheeling Creek, is the entrance to Glen Holin. This is a development that my father and mother, Dorothea J. Gardner, created on farmland that they had purchased many years ealier. The name reflects portions of the names of their children— Glenn, Holly, and Robin. Streets were given names after the grandchildren at the time— Clay and Jason.
The area was very much a family affair for us. I worked at the Grove Drive-In through high school (Linsly) and was able to get the train ride running again with finacial backing from my father. I enjoyed the various activities, such as the 4th of July firworks show, through the years very much. Does anyone remember the hoola hoop competition?
My father, John B. Gardner, was the owner of the Grove Drive-In. He had a long term lease for the property on which it resided. It sat inside the box created by the dashed lines and the dirt road depicted in the TOPO map. The theater was the flagship of Gardner Theatres, Inc. where my father maintained his office. He also owned the Airport Drive-In (Intersection of Rt.2 and Short Creek Rd. WV), the Riverside Drive-In (Rt.7 Rayland, Ohio), the Strand Theatre in Moundsville, as well as theatres in Weirton, WV and in Morgantown, WV.
Around the bend from the Grove Drive-In at the bridge that crosses Big Wheeling Creek, is the entrance to Glen Holin. This is a development that my father and mother, Dorothea J. Gardner, created on farmland that they had purchased many years ealier. The name reflects portions of the names of their children— Glenn, Holly, and Robin. Streets were given names after the grandchildren at the time— Clay and Jason.
The area was very much a family affair for us. I worked at the Grove Drive-In through high school (Linsly) and was able to get the train ride running again with finacial backing from my father. I enjoyed the various activities, such as the 4th of July firworks show, through the years very much. Does anyone remember the hoola hoop competition?
—– Glenn D. Gardner