Oskaloosa Drive-In
2060 Old Highway 163,
Oskaloosa,
IA
52577
2060 Old Highway 163,
Oskaloosa,
IA
52577
1 person
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Central States Theatres Corp, Paramount-Publix, Tri-State Theaters
Styles: Rustic
Nearby Theaters
The Oskaloosa Drive-In was opened on August 26, 1949 with Glenn Ford in “The Return of October”. Besides other owners this drive-in was with A.H. Theatres(contolled by Paramount-Publix) and from 1964-1980 by Central States Theatres Corporation of Des Moines. It closed in 1985. The drive-in was located west of Oskaloosa and as far as I can tell south of old and new Iowa 163 at Kirby Avenue.
Contributed by
Bob Jensen
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Recent comments (view all 5 comments)
This theater was located right off of old Hwy. 163 just west of Oskaloosa. It was a single screen theater with a capacity of about 100 cars. The theater was demolished in the late 80’s and the site is now the current home of the Mahaska county road maintenance garage.
A more accurate address (at least for Google) is 2046 Old Highway 163, Oskaloosa, IA. Today, there is no trace of the old drive-in remaining. http://tinyurl.com/jply76k
An even more accurate address for this theater is 2060 Old Hwy 163, Oskaloosa, IA 52577. This points directly to the entrance road which was next to what is now Pella Citcle. The address above is where the theater stood but the drive in had a very long driveway.
Please update.
From the Sept. 3, 1949 issue of BoxOffice:
OSKALOOSA, IOWA – An overflow crowd of 700 autos turned out for the opening of Oskaloosa’s new open-air theatre on the Pella road near here. Mayor Carl E. Johnson and G. Ralph Branton, general manager for Tri-States, were the speakers at the formal ceremony. Dick Wilson, former assistant manager of the Tri-States drive-in at Des Moines, in manager. There is space for 500 autos. Traffic control is in charge of John Norris, retired police captain from Miami, Fla.
The Oskaloosa Drive-In opened its gates on August 26, 1949 with Glenn Ford in “The Return Of October” (unknown if any short subjects were added). The theater closed after the 1986 season.