Norfolk Drive-In
6000 E. Virginia Beach Boulevard,
Norfolk,
VA
23502
6000 E. Virginia Beach Boulevard,
Norfolk,
VA
23502
4 people
favorited this theater
Opened prior to 1950 by the Fabian Theaters chain. A popular drive-in built in what was once a sparsely-populated area between the cities of Norfolk and Virginia Beach, this theater offered some of the best hot dogs and French fries around. Nearby development during the late-1960’s (including a mall and a six-screen multiplex) created light interreference, and construction if I-64 adjacent to the property signalled its demise in the late-1970’s when motorists on the Interstate were treated to a large movie screen full of nudity as the theater had to resort to R-rated films to attract an audience.
Contributed by
Kenneth Johnson
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Recent comments (view all 8 comments)
This drive in must have sat right next to,or on the property of the Glen Rock airport.
The Norfolk Drive In was right across from Paul Hennings School of Broadcasting on US 58 (Virginia Beach Blvd). I can still see that big gray corrugated-steel sheathed colussus in my mind. “Norfolk Drive In” in big red-neon’d letters, and “Enjoy movies from your CAR” in green neon’d letters. The letters were made from steel, with the neon tubing inset into them. I remember going there once around 1966-7 for a Popeye movie. I fell asleep. I have a feeling that was my parents' plan, anyway. I also remember riding down Interstate 64 (it ran parallel to the drive-in) as a young'un and wondering at the fleshy, out of focus shapes doing strange things on the screen.
Where the drive in used to be there is a Price Club, a motel, a lawn and garden center, a burger joint, a paint store and just a smattering of the pine trees that used to sit along the backside of the car lot of the Norfolk Drive In. I’ve searched in vain for pictures or handbills.
Found some interesting info re:Glenrock Airport at:
View link
Here are a couple of quotes:
C.L.Batson recalled, “I was in the Civil Air Patrol at Glenrock Airport in 1952-55.
It was closed to make room for the Janaf Shopping Center.â€
According to the book “Virginia Airports” by Vera Rollo & Norman Crabill (published by the VAHS),
Glenrock’s operating license was revoked & the airport was abandoned on 9/20/57.
The Glenrock Airport was a mile or west down Virginia Beach Blvd. from the Norfolk Drive In.
Tab “Photos” for the aerial view I attached of the Norfolk Drive-In.
Map pin’s off. The drive in was located on the property at the corner of Virginia Beach Blvd and I-64, across Poplar Halls Drive from what’s now Military Crossing. :)
The comment in Overview “The site is now an industrial park” better describes the Azalea Drive-in further north.
Opened on June 19th, 1948. Grand opening ad posted.
Opened on 19th June 1948 with a “Bugs Bunny cartoon (Hares in Mathattan)” and “Diamond Horseshoe”.
It was actually “A Hare Grows in Manhattan”, despite being listed as “Hares in Manhattan” as an accidental error.