France Avenue Drive-In
7800 France Avenue S.,
Minneapolis,
MN
55435
7800 France Avenue S.,
Minneapolis,
MN
55435
2 people
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Mann Theatres, MN
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News About This Theater
- Mar 20, 2009 — Remembering Cinerama (Part 23: Minneapolis)
The France Avenue Drive-In opened June 15, 1966 with James Coburn in “Our Man Flint” & Tom Adams in “The Second Best Secret Agent in the Whole Wide World”. This drive-in had a capacity for 1,700 cars. In later years, two additional screens were built.
The France Avenue Drive-In closed in 1982 and was demolished in 1986.
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Lost Memory
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Recent comments (view all 26 comments)
Wow, equipped for 70mm films!
I remember driving my roommate’s car out there with a bunch of us, probably in ‘66 – it was huge! I was used to small town drive-ins, like the one in Pine City (MN). I went to the snack bar & couldn’t find my way back to the car! As I was searching for that '57 Chevy, I saw a car with its lights on. I said to myself, “Some idiot left his lights on!” And then I realized the idiot was me. Good thing, or I might’ve ended up watching the movie sitting on the ground.
Grand opening ad at
Found on Newspapers.com
and the photo section.
Worked there in 69 to 70 when I was 14, $1.00 an hour cash. Mr Welch manager, Gene the assistant. Had some fun times back then!
Site is now the Minnesota Center office complex.
Yes, This Was Previously Operated By Mann Theatres. I Also Found A Snipe Involving It.
I closed the Mann “France Avenue” Drive-In after the 1982 season. I still have a couple of the car heaters and the Coca Cola sign that hung in the concession stand.
PackerBacker do you remember what the movie(or movies) that was screened on the last night of operation, before the drive-in closed?
Last known 70mm to run here was double bill of Poseidon Adventure and Tora Tora Tora, both in 70mm, in June 1973. Debut of screens #2 and #3 was 6-24-77. Projected screen image on #1 was reduced to match #2 and #3, the smaller screens. Closed Sunday 9-22-84 – – the three double features were: #1 Gremlins/Police Academy; #2 The Natural/The Woman in Red, #3: Revenge of the Nerds/Porky’s. Demolished in Nov. 1985. Demolition permit issued 9-30-85, with “finish date” of 1-6-86. “2001” played at least 3 times in 70mm, “Zhivago” and “Grand Prix” also had 70mm showings in 1970 and 1971. The last “winter” season was the winter of 1972-73; after that the France Ave Drive In operated only during the regular season.
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