Show Boat Drive-In
3950 E. National Road,
Springfield,
OH
45505
3950 E. National Road,
Springfield,
OH
45505
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Closed on September 28, 1986 with “Legal Eagles”, “The Money Pit”, and “Jewel Of The Nile”.
The Show Boat Drive-In Opened on March 6th, 1970, and the last season was in 1986. Grand opening ad posted.
I’d say the drive-in was demolished. The screen, projection booth/concession stand, ticket booth, and even the house that sat on the property were torn down with the rubble removed. Only the foundations survive.
The screen is not present in a 1994 aerial, so the drive-in must’ve closed earlier.
The entrance is now so overgrown as to be impassible by vehicles. And making it tough for people as well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tTif_U9mQE
This is a video of the current state of the Show Boat that someone posted in early 2018.
This was the SHOW BOAT Drive-In, not the Showboat! Just look at the above photo. Although the drive-in was never actually demolished, mother nature is doing her part in reclaiming the land! Check out the photo section of this site.
If I remember correctly it was possible to easily see the screen from US Route 40. Also the screen stood for a year or so after the drive-in closed. The ticket booth and concession stand stood for many years and were torn down around 2005 I believe. For many years it was advertised on the sign that it was “Hidden Valley Archers” with a Dayton phone number listed below that. Also an historic house used to sit on the actual property where the Showboat was, but was either moved or torn down around 2005 at the same time the concession stand and ticket booth were removed. The land is currently vacant and weeds have taken over the property.
This theatre was operated by Ed Parker who also ran the North Star Drive In outside Dayton, Ohio. Having worked at the Showboat for a couple of years, it being one of the nicer ones. It was busted once for showing X rated films that could be seen from US 40. High fences were installed.
Every July the 4th, being across the highway from each other,both the Showboat and the Melody would offer fireworks and each theatre would stop their films so their customers could watch both sets of fireworks.