20th Century Drive-In
2900 N. Dale Mabry Highway,
Tampa,
FL
33607
2900 N. Dale Mabry Highway,
Tampa,
FL
33607
3 people
favorited this theater
The 20th Century Drive-In was opened on November 26, 1952 with Cornel Wilde in “At Swords Point” & Tony Martin in “Two Tickets to Broadway”. It was operated by Floyd Theaters. It had a capacity for 600 cars, and 300 seating positions. Closed on November 30, 1980 with John Belushi in “The Blues Brothers” & Peter Sellers in “Revenge of the Pink Panther”. It was demolished January 9, 1991. It was replaced by an apartment building named Arbour Ponds.
Contributed by
Andy
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Recent comments (view all 96 comments)
I hadn’t noticed it in the aerial before but you’re right. I see the Biff Burger and the playground behind it. On several occasions when I couldn’t convince my parents to go to the drive-in, I had my father drop me off at Biff Burger. From the playground you had a nice view of the screen. Sitting on the swings I watched as the cars lined up at the box-office wishing I was in one of them as they entered the theatre. Although you could barely hear the movie from the playground it was the next best thing to actually being inside the drive-in!
neat story, I stood outside in the parking lot and watched movies while my mom shopped at Forest Hills Drive-in, guess a bunch of kids did this.
It was not replaced by Kmart it was replaced by Apartment complex which is next to Kmart. back of drive In was on Himes. It was a wild time When Cheech n Chongs up in Smoke premiered there. Most people and Smoke I have ever seen in a Drive In….LOL
This opened on November 26th, 1952. Grand opening ad in the photo section.
Did this drive-in only screen 2Oth Century Fox movies?
Not that I remember
Opened on 26/11/1952 with a cartoon(not named), news, a comedy(short?)(not named) and “At sword’s point” and “Two tickets to Broadway”. 600 cars. The apartment complex is Arbour Ponds.
Just posted photo of marquee and screen during demolition on January 9, 1981. Message on marquee: “Thanks for 35 years”.
Actual closing date is November 30, 1980 with “The Blues Brothers” and “Revenge of the Pink Panther”.
It was the only Floyd theater that had true aspect ratio 1.85 and 2.39. This POS company wanted the screen filled at all times so scope films were off the screen into the thin air.