Scarboro Drive-In
929 Kennedy Road,
Scarborough,
ON
M1K
929 Kennedy Road,
Scarborough,
ON
M1K
1 person
favorited this theater
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This drive-in theatre was located on the east side of Kennedy Road at Ranstone Gardens (south of Lawrence Avenue East).
It had a ‘gala opening’ on June 19, 1952.
Was advertised as having the biggest screen in Canada, a supervised kiddyland and ‘double car ramping’ to bring you closer to the screen. The opening attraction was “Summer Holiday”, starring Mickey Rooney and Gloria DeHaven.
Drive-ins were a fairly new concept at the time and were being marketed as the perfect form of family entertainment. Many of Scarborough’s residents through the 1950s, 60s and early 70s enjoyed an evening at the Scarboro Drive-In.
In 1963 the Drive-In began offering Sunday shows. However, by the late 1970s, the changing community and increased traffic on Kennedy Road made it difficult for the Scarboro Drive-In to continue operating successfully and the facilities were closed. The City of Scarborough later acquired the property and built Jack Goodlad Park and community centre.
Jack Goodlad Park still exists as of this post, July 2008.
Contributed by
Jeremy Hopkin
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Recent comments (view all 5 comments)
Here is an ad for a horror movie at the Scarboro in 1973:
http://tinyurl.com/md9zpf
Hello, I’m a UoT student doing a research project on drive-in theatres in Toronto and the GTA. I was wondering if anyone here on the site had any information or experiences they would be happy to share for my research? Anything at all would be very helpful!
Hi laurencejones,
Drive-ins were terrific but it is too bad the next generation are missing out on an exciting experience. Lining up early to get the good parking spot and pray the speaker works, praying it won’t rain, and most of all it was inexpensive. How can you complain about a 6 story or so favourite actor looking back at you. Running to the concession to beat dozens to the washroom etc. What joy. An experience worth sharing with anyone. But I am not sure what you want in info about any of them. But too bad about the Teepee and the Pickering. I can’t even remember how they went bye-bye or why.
This drive-in and most of the others in Toronto area were owned and operated by Twentieth Century Theatres, an operating company in association with the great Famous Players Canadian Corporation Limited!!
June 19th, 1952 grand opening ad in photo section.