Waldorf 301 Drive-In
2961 U.S. 301,
Waldorf,
MD
20601
2961 U.S. 301,
Waldorf,
MD
20601
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The Waldorf 301 Drive-In opened June 26, 1958. The opening night movie was “God’s Little Acre” starring Robert Ryan, and Leo Genn in “The Steel Bayonet” . This drive-in had a capacity for 450 cars. The 301 Drive-In closed around 1985 and was replaced by a shopping center.
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Recent comments (view all 9 comments)
Does anyone know where it was exactly? There are many shopping centers and a mall down here.
You know where Babies ‘R’ Us and Marshalls are, at the north end of Festival at Waldorf? That’s where the drive-in was.
Here’s a page with a couple of shots of the old marquee:
http://www.driveins.org/md-waldorf-301.htm
2961 U.S. 301, Waldorf, MD 20601
The above address will map accurately to the location of the drive-in, which is visible on Google Earth using historic aerial imagery.
Goggle Earth 1988 from 2961 U.S 301 Waldorf MD ,20601
June 26th, 1958 grand opening ad in photo section.
The drive-in in Waldorf was listed as the “Waldorf 301” in the Motion Picture Almanac in 1960-76, owner Jack Fruchtman. (While the drive-in list was mostly neglected, the Roth Theatres company entry added the “301” in Waldorf in the MPA circuit list in 1964.) The MPA drive-in list finally switched to just “301” in the 1977 edition, owner Roth Theas.
Considering that we have the rare advantage of seeing photos of the marquee in 1962 (from Boxoffice) and after it closed, and the sign shows “Waldorf 301” in both versions, I would suggest that it would be better to include the Waldorf in this drive-in’s name.
Being in the town of Waldorf, did this drive-in serve waldorf salad in the concession stand?
Also opened with “Steel bayonets”.
Although the Motion Picture Almanac listed Jack Fruchtman as the owner throughout the 1960s, the 1962 Boxoffice photo accompanied an article about the showmanship of “Don Stott, who owns the drive-in (the Waldorf 301) and two other theaters in the Prince Frederick area”. One of those was the Calvert Drive-In, which even the MPA noticed was owned by Stott.
And again I point out that the drive-in’s full name was the “Waldorf 301,” as evidenced by its sign and most references to it.