Drive-In Cinema
8001 US Highway 19,
Pinellas Park,
FL
33781
8001 US Highway 19,
Pinellas Park,
FL
33781
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Edited from my December 7, 2022 (2:42 PM) comment:
The Stereo Drive-In, named after the theater’s sound equipment (very unusual), originally planned to open on Easter 1959 but postponed due to rain. It opened later in April 1959 and was renamed Drive-In Cinema in 1962.
The Drive-In Cinema closed for the final time on January 30, 2000 with a very UNUSUAL special event. The Drive-In Cinema did not close with a movie. But instead, it closed with the screen showing live WFTS-TV coverage of Super Bowl XXXIV playing from a digital projector being hooked up from a Time Warner Cable box.
It was demolished in 2001 to make way for a Walmart as a relocated store from the previous 1989-built 8900 US Highway 19 North location. The Walmart opened on October 24, 2001.
The “co-directors” of this drive-in were Terry and Lowell Lytle.
This theatre originally opened as the STEREO DRIVE-IN THEATRE, and it truly was a religion oriented theatre. Built onto the side of the screen was a structure that was all glass front and housed a room for performers ( mostly singers ). They had a curtain that would open to reveal the singers and had a “color organ” that illuminated the room when the singers were performing. The color organ worked great but you would not want to be in the room when it was working. There was a great abundance of “zip cord” wires running to the lamps. The ‘zip-cord" wires were not in conduits. Lovely people working the theatre.
I am currently a ministry student and I am currently working to start a mobile theater ministry, Which I hope to grow to someday include some Drive-In theaters and Indoor Theaters. They will only show movies with a clear biblical message.
This Theater was associated with Rev. Terry and Olive Little who also ran the Devils Lake Drive-In in Manitou Beach, MI. Which is also on Cinema Treasures. Although they have passed away and Both theaters are now closed their ministry lives on as a mobile theater ministry which was started with the proceeds from the sale of this theater, their website is:
http://www.drive-inministries.com/
I sure would like to see some pictures of this Theater
Here is the video
Video from 1997: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLaWytUrQC8
Looking at Google Earth historical imagery, the drive in was in the NW corner of the current Wal Mart parking lot. SE of the 40th St. N and 82nd Ave N intersection.
The actual store is adjacent to the drive-in property.