Bankhead Drive-In

3350 Bankhead Highway NW,
Atlanta, GA 30331

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Georgia Theatre Company

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Bankhead Drive-In

Two of the most distinctive drive-in theatres in the Atlanta area were the Bankhead Drive-In and the I-85 Drive-In. Both theatres had screens that were in themselves attractions: the Bankhead Drive-In featured a large neon “curtain”, and the 1-85 Drive-In resembled a silly putty version of Tara.

The Bankhead Drive-In was opened May 12, 1950 with George Brent in “Luxury Liner”. It was still open in 1964.

Contributed by Jack Coursey

Recent comments (view all 10 comments)

steveblanton
steveblanton on October 24, 2008 at 11:59 am

I remember the Bankhead Drive In from the 50s and 60s. It was always a thrill to go there for a movie. Often, we’d sit outside the theater in our car and watch the picture over the fence without the benefit of sound. Wow, I miss those times!

Steve B.

StanMalone
StanMalone on May 26, 2009 at 1:03 pm

Link to the Drive In ladder ad in the Atlanta paper on August 5, 1964. The blogger has also written up some of his memories of working at these places. Worth a look if you are interested in the drive in culture from 1970 – 1990.

View link

DaveNewton
DaveNewton on December 9, 2009 at 10:51 am

Wow, thanks so much for posting those pictures. I never saw any movies here, as by the time I was growing up this was in an area considered not all that safe. However I drove by this Drive-In hundreds, if not thousands of times, in my youth and I always loved the way the entrance to this Drive-In looked.

TLSLOEWS
TLSLOEWS on March 17, 2010 at 4:29 pm

Nice photos Lost Memory.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on April 9, 2010 at 9:42 pm

Before Georgia theatres bought it.the BANKHEAD was owned by West End Theatres.Still parking 650 cars in 1956.

rivest266
rivest266 on April 11, 2018 at 2:50 pm

This opened on May 12th, 1950 and closed in 1982. Another ad in the photo section.

MichaelKilgore
MichaelKilgore on June 12, 2019 at 11:41 am

Curbed Atlanta ran an article today about a free movie event at Center Hill Park in Bankhead that its organizer hopes will lead to bringing back the Bankhead Drive-In Theatre.

MichaelKilgore
MichaelKilgore on January 9, 2020 at 8:04 pm

The May 7, 1955 issue of Boxoffice ran a lengthy article, with photos, about the Bankhead’s new 119x47-foot screen, advertised as the widest in Atlanta.

birdie1924
birdie1924 on April 24, 2020 at 1:59 pm

I remember the old Bankhead Drive In back in the late 1940’s the admission at that time was 60 cents per car, my cousin would pack the car with kids even in the trunk. Those were the days, I am sorry to say gone forever.

jwmovies
jwmovies on January 20, 2023 at 9:13 am

Now Heartland Express trucking service @ 3350 Donald Lee Hollowell Pkwy NW, Atlanta, GA 30331.

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