Parkway Drive-In
67 Tarbox Road,
Plainfield,
CT
06374
67 Tarbox Road,
Plainfield,
CT
06374
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In 1962 or 1963 I attended a performance of How the West Was Won at the Parkway. During the course of the movie the fog began to roll in obliterating the screen. It was announced that after the current reel was finished the performance would resume in the indoor theatre.
The indoor theatre was a totally unfinished space with the rafters and the ceiling exposed. Since the land on which the theatre had been built had been a local airport this was likely a repurposed hangar. Behind the screen, suspended from the ceiling, was a large metal door almost the width of the building. I believe that, on occasion, the door would be opened so that the patrons of the indoor theatre could observe the film being projected on the outdoor screen.
The viewing of the film was not too good indoors since the lens was not properly adjusted; Debbie Reynolds appeared tall and skinny.
The name was changed to Parkway when Lord’s was purchased by Parkway Theatres in 1959 for a reported $90,000. Parkway Theatres also purchased 55 adjacent acres with the intention of creating an entertainment center.
Little remains of the Parkway as this picture of the foundation of the snack bar shows on its gallery page at Drive-ins.com: http://www.drive-ins.com/pictures/cttpark001.jpg
Tarbox Rd & Mill Brook Rd, Plainfield, CT 06374
The above address will map accurately to the location of the drive-in, which is visible on Google Earth using present day imagery.