Plantation Drive-In

rivest266 on May 5, 2022 at 1:13 pm

Better grand opening ad: Plantation Drive-In opening 02 Jul 1965, Fri The Des Moines Register (Des Moines, Iowa) Newspapers.com

davidcoppock on May 30, 2018 at 2:59 am

Looks like there is a soccer goal near the box office in the above photo?

rivest266 on July 27, 2012 at 2:32 am

Also 1967 aerial uploaded here.

rivest266 on July 25, 2012 at 7:08 pm

This opened on July 2nd, 1965. Ad uploaded in photo section.

Logan5 on July 1, 2009 at 12:50 pm

As of June 2009, the marquee at the Grand Avenue entrance (or at least the bottom portion of the marquee) is still standing – with Sands Volleyball Club signage. The box office is still standing as well, although the glass has been replaced or covered over with plywood. The screen and it’s supporting steel structure are no longer there.

Here’s the text of an interesting article about the opening of the Plantation Drive-In from the August 16, 1965 issue of BoxOffice Magazine:

Plantation Drive-In Opens in Des Moines
From North Central Edition

DES MOINES – The 950-car Plantation Drive-In opened here recently boasting the largest screen in the Midwest-50x120 feet. The airer is operated by Richard Davis and Clay Rusk, owners of the Pioneer Drive-In here, and Bob Fridley, who operates the Capri and Varsity (Des Moines), the King (Ida Grove) and Capri (Lake City), all indoor theatres.

The all-season airer is equipped with 402 auto heaters and an air-conditioned concessions building. First-run films are scheduled through October. Jim Walker is manager. Rodney Davis is his assistant.

Logan5 on June 9, 2009 at 3:58 pm

A couple of pictures can be found here – although the auothor of this blog has the closing date listed (incorrectly) as 1987: View link