Thunderbird Drive-In

2550 Gordon Terry Parkway,
Decatur, AL 35603

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Thunderbird Drive-In

Built in the mid-1960’s as a second-run theatre, the drive-in attracted audiences from Morgan and Lawrence counties, Alabama. It was well know for its Saturday night bingo games (a version known as "Banko").

Contributed by C.D.Wahl

Recent comments (view all 9 comments)

jwmovies
jwmovies on December 20, 2012 at 12:59 pm

Approx. address for this drive-in was 2550 Gordon Terry Parkway, Decatur, AL 35603.

Theatrespawn
Theatrespawn on March 21, 2013 at 12:51 am

Cheaply built, the Thunderbird was on the outskirts of Decatur and really catered to residents of neighboring Lawrence County, which had no movie theatre at the time. It played second run movies, exploitation flicks, bikini beach pictures, horror movies – a perfect venue for American International Pictures product! Cars packed the theatre for Banko night (a variation of bingo), but the real draw was the naughty midnight movie. A showing of the X-rated version of “Cinderella” got the manager thrown in jail for a few hours. Of course, the city fathers had to watch the movie several times before deciding that it was “pornographic”!

Kenmore
Kenmore on October 7, 2015 at 12:27 pm

You can still just see the outline and a few of the ramps left from the drive-in. http://tinyurl.com/q2x4jk2

kd3p76d
kd3p76d on February 27, 2016 at 7:33 pm

I remember when I was around 6 years old in the very early 70s going to a drive-in theater called the Thunderbird. It was on Montgomery Highway in Vestavia Alabama about where Vestavia Bowl is now (1429 Mont. Hwy.) I loved the look of it with the neon lights.

DTaylor
DTaylor on February 7, 2017 at 5:19 pm

I worked in the concession stand during the 70s. Loved this place, I guess that’s where I get move love of B rated movies.

DTaylor
DTaylor on February 7, 2017 at 5:23 pm

Oh I’m sorry to say that’s not the marquee for the one in Decatur Al., I should know I had to climb up and change the movies. Across the street I’d flat land. The one you posted has a hill. Our sign was a V type.

kennerado
kennerado on November 23, 2019 at 10:03 pm

The 2008 google street view shows the remains of the street sign/marquee. It was gone by 2013 but the base might still remain.

rivest266
rivest266 on June 15, 2024 at 5:10 pm

Opened on August 26th, 1964, and closed on June 29th, 1985. Grand opening ad posted.

davidcoppock
davidcoppock on June 16, 2024 at 6:03 am

Opened on 26th August 1964 with “4 for Texas”.

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