River-Vue Drive-In
928 N. 28th Avenue,
Pasco,
WA
99301
928 N. 28th Avenue,
Pasco,
WA
99301
1 person
favorited this theater
The River-Vu Drive-In was opened by Midstate Amusement Corp. on March 5, 1953 with Richard Todd in “The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men” & Lon McCallister in “Montana Territory”. It was closed on September 3, 1995 with a triple bill program: James Cromwell in “Babe”, Hugh Grant in “Nine Months” & Tom Hanks in “Apollo 13”.
Contributed by
Ken McIntyre
Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater.
Recent comments (view all 7 comments)
Approx. address for this drive-in was 1002 North Road 28. Now Speck Hyundai.
Bill (& Debbie) Robertson’s Nissan is now in the place where the River-Vue Drive-In used to be. The entrance of Nissan is around where the entrance to the drive-in was. There’s still a good amount of land just outside of the Nissan property, and that was the bulk of the drive-in. The screen and playground was close to the fence facing Highway 395.
When I moved to the area in the mid-80’s, I had heard that this was the drive-in that would show “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre”, where kids in the neighborhood and the area would watch outside through the fence.
I have since learned that River-Vue also showed its share of hard-R films, and I say “hard-R” because some of them are legally rated R but come close to being porn, as shown by this ad from the Tri-City Herald, circa late 1975/early 1976. http://i49.tinypic.com/2wefho1.jpg
Another photo I found, circa 1966. The drive-in can be seen next to where it says “Pasco Bypass”. http://i49.tinypic.com/4ingpj.jpg
Boxoffice, April 4, 1953: “PASCO, WASH. – This city’s first outdoor theatre, the River-Vue Drive-In, has been opened by Midstate Amusement Corp. … The River-Vue has a capacity of 550 cars and features a snack bar patio and children’s playground.”
Part of the site is a Hyundai dealer but most of the land where the actual drive-in was is a Nissan dealer. Most of the site still existed up to 1996 with concession building and screen standing in this year in an aerial.
Now Bill Robertson Nissan. Please update.
The River-Vue Drive-In opened its gates on March 5, 1953 with “The Story Of Robin Hood” and “Montana Territory” with no extra short subjects. It was first operated by Midstates Amusement Corp. and was managed by Wally Barsley who also operated other area theaters.
The River-Vue closed for the final time on September 3, 1995 with “Babe”, “Nine Months” and “Apollo 13” as a triple feature.