Bay State Drive-In
1180 Fall River Avenue,
Seekonk,
MA
02771
1180 Fall River Avenue,
Seekonk,
MA
02771
2 people
favorited this theater
The Bay State Drive-In was opened on September 29, 1947 with Gary Cooper in “Northwest Mounted Police” & Bing Crosby in “Road to Hollywood”. It was operated by the Romano Brothers. By 1952 Herbert Higgins had joined the Romano Brothers as operators. By 1955 it was operated by Nathan Yamins & Daytz Theatre Enterprises Corp. This drive-in was located on Route 6 in Seekonk, in the same general area where today the Showcase Seekonk Route 6 multiplex can be found now along with other large retail outlets. The Bay State Drive-In was still open in 1970.
Contributed by
Gerald A. DeLuca
Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater.
Recent comments (view all 13 comments)
Wasn’t there another Drive In with a title that began with a “B” that was also located in Massachusetts near the Rhode Island line? I can’t remember the name of it.
When did the Rhode Island/Massachusetts Drive Ins start to close?
Was it the late 1970s? It is amazing how many of them were in urban areas (Lonsdale, Loews, Shipyard) or what would now be congested suburbs (Cranston, Hilltop, Quonset, Seekonk Twin, Bay State).
Hardbop, you must be thinking of the Boro Drive-In in North Attleboro on Route 1.
Item in Boxoffice magazine, June 23, 1958:
“The Bay State Drive-In, just over the state line [Rhode Island/Massachusetts] in nearby Seekonk, recently highlighted the 12th anniversary with gift nights. Running four consecutive evenings, the anniversary featured the presentation of pearl necklaces to the first 100 feminine patrons; Elizabeth Arden perfume to the next 100 ladies; rain caps to all other females present; cigars to all men, and balloons, candy, and lollipops to the kiddies.”
[Note: this anniversary indicates that the theatre must have opened for business for the first time in 1946.]
U.S. 6 & Commerce Way, Seekonk, MA 02771
The above address will map accurately to the location of the drive-in, which is currently occupied by Showcase Cinemas.
Here is a 1963 aerial photo of the drive-in, courtesy of HistoricAerials.com.
I saw Dawn of the Dead and Mother’s Day in 1980 at this awesome Drive – In…if I remember correctly there was a Skate Park as you pulled in for skate boarders…
I was 16……..Had my new drivers license, my first true love who was a Jr. when I was a sophmore at EPHS. It just doesn’t get better than that! Bay State Drive In and Eileen Darlings were a big part of my life at that time! Gil
The Theatre Historical Society on-line archive has the MGM Theatre Report for the Bay State Drive-In; it’s Card # 604 on Page 31 of the “New England Special Collection”. But no one filled out the form, so there is no information, only an undated photo probably taken in the late-1940s.
Correction: The MGM report is Card # 604 on Page 28 of the “New England Special Collection”, THSA on-line.
Now Wal-Mart.
The address for this Drive-in is 1180 Fall River Ave, Seekonk, MA 02771.
Please update.
Opened on September 29th, 1947. Grand opening ad posted.