Southwest Twin Drive-In
4233 S. 3rd Street,
Memphis,
TN
38103
4233 S. 3rd Street,
Memphis,
TN
38103
3 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Malco Theatres Inc.
Previous Names: 61 Drive-In
Nearby Theaters
Opened as the single screen 61 Drive-In (for Highway 61 which is also S. 3rd Street) on June 26, 1956 with Barbara Stanwyck in “Cattle Queen of Montana”. It had a capacity for 600-cars and operated to 1965.
Re-opened in 1968 as the Southwest Twin Drive-In, it was the last drive in to open in Memphis. It was owned and operated by Malco. From the mid-1980’s through the early-2000’s, the Southwest Twin Drive-In and the Summer Quartet Drive-In were the only drive-ins in Memphis. I believe it closed in 2001. The last time I drove by, it was still completely intact, though that has been several years ago. It was still in that condition in 2016.
Contributed by
Bob Brown, Vincent Astor
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Recent comments (view all 9 comments)
Property is going up for auction on Wednesday, July 31, 2013. Info and photos here:
http://www.treasury.gov/auctions/treasury/rp/thirdstreet.shtml
Also home of Memphis Jockey Lot, Flea Market.
61 DRIVE-IN 1961-65, SOUTHWEST TWIN 1968-2000
October 2016 Google Street View shows the drive-in pretty much still intact. The marquee sign is long gone though. There is a public auction sign near one of the exits that has the words “seized property” on it, but I cannot read any of the smaller words.
The 61 Drive-in was open earlier than stated above. It was open in 1956, at least, and that may have been the year it began operation. There hasn’t been any mention here of the Rosalie, which was a drive-in theater that I think was on Highway 61 and which operated for a few years in the 1940’s. I think it was Memphis' second drive-in to open, following several years after the one on Lamar. Does anyone know if it was in the same location as the 61 and Southwest Twin later were?
still intact as of september 2019
This opened on June 26th, 1956, as the 61 Drive-In. Grand opening ads posted.
“Intact” seems like a strong word to use. While the screens are still up, the buildings are in shambles. It would take some major renovating to get this property back into shape assuming someone wanted to re-open the drive-in.
Closed as the 61 in 1965 and reopened as the Southwest Twin on March 14th, 1968, by Malco. Grand opening ad posted.