Boulevard Drive-In
556 Union Boulevard,
Allentown,
PA
18109
556 Union Boulevard,
Allentown,
PA
18109
3 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Milgram Theaters, United Artists Theater Circuit Inc.
Architects: William Harold Lee
Nearby Theaters
Opened October 19 1949 with June Haver in “Three Little Girls in Blue” & Gary Cooper in “The Westerner”, the Boulevard Drive-In was located on Union Boulevard in Allentown, not far from Walp’s Restaurant. It had a great location, with a steep hillside parking lot so the views were really unobstructed, and some radio towers nearby that had neon call letters on them (I think WAEB?).
Back in the 1960’s and 1970’s there was minimal development behind the theater so you’d be looking out over a bit of suburbia, and it was just a nice local drive-in.
I remember going there for the last time around 1981. It was closed by United Artists on September 1, 1985. The whole area nearby has now been developed.
Contributed by
LS
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Recent comments (view all 10 comments)
The Boulevard was built in 1949 and accommodated 900 cars, according to this lawsuit:
http://tinyurl.com/yl392x
This was a true gem. The large screen faced Union blvd. and one could see the film while driving by. Yes, it was the WAEB towers that could be seen from the drive in. I recall going to this drive in as late as the summer of 1984. (double feature…Breakin' and Beat Street!)
Using the address of 556 Union Boulevard, this is an aerial view circa 2007:
http://tinyurl.com/yacd4ld
Here is an update on the status of this Drive-In.
http://www.mcall.com/news/breaking/mc-alentown-classic-car-driving-track-20130212,0,1464771.story
WAEB was on the tower behind the drive-in. I used to work there when I was in High School when the station was on Fenwick Street.
When I would get off work during the summer, It was easy to sneak in by walking in the exit, going to the concession stand, buy something to eat and sit in one of the back rows on the ground and listen on a speaker.
The screen is still in place. It almost looks like it was purposefully kept as part of the new driving track.
Grand opening ad in the photo section as well as below:
Found on Newspapers.com
Opening date was October 19th, 1949
Closed in 1985. It was last operated by United Artists and last managed by Ron Johnson.
The actual closing date is September 1, 1985.