Gravois Mills Drive-In

14800 Twin Bays Road,
Gravois Mills, MO 65037

150 cars

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MichaelKilgore
MichaelKilgore on March 28, 2023 at 2:30 am

Boxoffice, April 30, 1955: “The Gravois Mills Drive-In … was reopened April 1 for its third season by Mr. and Mrs. Glen Jones with an automatic lawnmower advertised as a giveaway. That night, the winner was ready to take his "mower” home in his car, but he hadn’t figured it was April Fool’s Day - the automatic lawnmower was a donkey! At last report the animal was still at the drive-in with the dozen or so other donkeys owned by Jones, which he has kept following his retirement from the donkey baseball business. Jones spent more than 20 years in the novel trade, putting on benefits with Junior Chambers of Commerce and other organizations. He built the 100-car situation at Gravois Mills in 1952."

MichaelKilgore
MichaelKilgore on June 24, 2019 at 1:48 am

“Glenn Jones, owner-operator of the Gravois Mills Drive-In, has inaugurated a popularity contest among girls in the area. The winner will be determined by the number of votes cast for her by drive-in patrons.” —BoxOffice, Sept. 19, 1953

dansdriveintheater
dansdriveintheater on November 16, 2018 at 3:53 am

thanks Kenmore! so true. don’t know how i missed that. my bad!

Kenmore
Kenmore on November 15, 2018 at 9:05 pm

I’m not sure if anything is left of the screen foundation. A 1958 aerial shows a pretty sizable screen for such a small drive-in. While subsequent aerial photos are rather blurry, the screen was definitely gone by 2007.

Thing is, the screen sat just to the east of where the rectangular object seen in the current photo sits. The screen was against the treeline where the two trails meet in a “V” shape.

So, whatever that thing is, it cannot be part of the screen foundation. And the area where the trails meet is clear.

dansdriveintheater
dansdriveintheater on November 15, 2018 at 7:38 pm

the ramps though barely visible are still there so is the foundation of the screen!

Chris1982
Chris1982 on August 13, 2014 at 3:48 am

his drive-in opened in 1953 aand parked 100 cars. It was owned by Jim Fleener. Still open in the mid-1970’s.

jwmovies
jwmovies on October 7, 2012 at 12:32 am

Approx. address for this drive-in was 14800 Twin Bays Road. The entrance is still there.