Riviera Drive-In
1801 N. Park Avenue,
Herrin,
IL
62948
1801 N. Park Avenue,
Herrin,
IL
62948
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From Motion Picture Exhibitor, Aug. 26, 1964: “Mid America Theatres has purchased Marlow’s Drive-In, Herrin, Ill. The drive-in was renamed the Riviera. Earl Ritchey, Herrin, has been named manager. A new concessions building, electric in-car heaters, and other improvements have been announced.”
The address above is incorrect. This drive in was across the street.
A more accurate address for this theater is 1801 N Park Ave, Herrin, IL 62948. This points directly to the entrance road (Reis Ave). Most ramps and the concession foundation are still visible. Houses sit in the rear of the drive in and next to where the box office stood.
Boxoffice of May 22, 1948, said that construction was underway on two new drive-ins at Herrin. The one being built for the Marlow Amusement Corporation was designed by the Evansville architectural firm of Warweg & Hagel.
I would have to agree Memory, this should probably be listed as the Riviera instead of the Marlow. Another thing I had orginally considered putting in my prior post, but didn’t, was that my dad used to tell me the old screen to the drive-in was still back in the woods that now cover the site. But, since my dad’s not always the most reliable source, I didn’t! Maybe someone else that visits this site has heard that rumor too, and can confirm if its true or not.
Lost Memory, when my fathers talks about this drive-in, he always refers to it as the Riviera. I couldn’t tell you though when the name change occured.
The Marlow had space for 900 cars in the early 1960s.
Paragraph 7 of this legal document about a 1955 lawsuit by the owner of this theater, has this information: “…Marlow’s Amusement Corporation, another plaintiff, owns and operates Marlow’s Drive-In Theater, near Herrin, and has so owned and operated it since May 7, 1949; that it is a modern drive-in theater accommodating 1,000 cars, being one of the finest in southern Illinois.”