Cinema Drive-In
729 Bell Fork Road,
Jacksonville,
NC
28540
729 Bell Fork Road,
Jacksonville,
NC
28540
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The Cinema Drive-In opened in Jacksonville, NC October 12, 1967. Located on Bell Fork Road (just off Lejeune Boulevard), there was space for 600 cars. Grand opening newspaper ad noted the screen was "the largest on the Carolina coast". Also a "double lane cafeteria style snack bar" with the promise of "No Waiting!" and "More space between speakers…easier to open car doors!" Sherrill Strickland managed the theatre when it first opened. Premiere Presentation was "Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines". Owned by Stewart & Everett Theatres. General contractor: Gillenwater Construction Company of Jacksonville, NC.
The Cinema Drive-In was closed in 1985.
Contributed by
Patricia Poland
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Recent comments (view all 9 comments)
Posted image of marquee from the 1967 newspaper ad at flickr:
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Sorry, I see I’m still putting that “e” on the end of Everett! Gotta stop that!
Thanks for picture PatricaNC. I have done some research on Hendersonville.N.C. theatres, SKYLAND ARTS CINEMA,CAROLINA,Hendersonville Outdoor cinema,JoyDrive-in and Four seasons cinemas.
Still barely perceptible in the overhead view, located at the rear of an industrial area:
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Nice ad and photo.
Approx. address for this drive-in was 719 Bell Fork Road. Now Humphrey Moving & Storage.
This was Jacksonville’s last standing drive-in theater. When it closed in 1985, all other drive-ins in Jacksonville, including the South 17 Twin on Wilmington Highway/US 17 South (non-porn) and Starlite (most likely the XXX drive-in just north of the South 17 Twin), had been demolished. The Cinema Drive-In has since been demolished as well.
Uploaded a photo of all that remains of the Drive – In, the framework of the pylon, from the Jacksonville, NC Theaters – Tripod.com site.
This should say closed, demolished, 1 screen, 600 cars.
The Cinema was Jacksonville’s last standing drive-in that closed in 1985.