Bankhead Drive-In
3350 Bankhead Highway NW,
Atlanta,
GA
30331
3350 Bankhead Highway NW,
Atlanta,
GA
30331
2 people
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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
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Recent comments (view all 10 comments)
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.
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
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.
Nice photos Lost Memory.
Before Georgia theatres bought it.the BANKHEAD was owned by West End Theatres.Still parking 650 cars in 1956.
This opened on May 12th, 1950 and closed in 1982. Another ad in the photo section.
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.
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.
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.
Now Heartland Express trucking service @ 3350 Donald Lee Hollowell Pkwy NW, Atlanta, GA 30331.
Please update.