Royal Drive-In
2601 Sowashee Street,
Meridian,
MS
39301
2601 Sowashee Street,
Meridian,
MS
39301
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Now I know it, I found it entirely. This information belongs to a different Royal Drive-In. This was never called the East Forest Drive-In, because all of that information belongs to the Petal, MS East Forrest/Royal Drive-In which closed in 1965.
The Royal Drive-In in Meridian opened its gates on July 21, 1949 with “Little Women”, and according to my research on Google Earth, it may had closed in the late 1990s or early 2000s. As of 2020, most of the stuff and remains were still there including the screen, the concession stand, and the projection booth, but the sign is gone. “For Sale” signs were spawned all over the former entrance gate.
Meridian is the seat of Lauderdale County, and I would bet that its Royal Drive-In wasn’t known as the “East Forest” the way its cousin in Petal MS was. They’ve got one important thing in common - the guy who bought Petal’s drive-in in 1962. Also, this one needs a new opening date.
The Exhibitor, May 4, 1949: “Meridian - A new drive-in is being built here by A. L. Royal, who also operates three local houses, in addition to several others around the territory. The new drive-in is scheduled to open within a few weeks.”
The Exhibitor, Sept. 26, 1951: “A. L. Royal, said that he had completed resurfacing the entire area of the Royal Drive-In, Meridian, Miss., with black top.”
The address for this Drive-in is 2601 Sowashee St, Meridian, MS 39301.
Please update.
ZaneRoyal..How about finding somebody to reopen it? It could twined.
I own this property. Steel tower is standing, wood face is half gone. Dates above are correct. The Grand Ave address is correct for the office, but the building is gone.
The Royal Drive In screen tower was still standing when I passed through Meridian in May 2011. Still looks like the pic posted above.
There was a ABC Mid-South Theatre off the Interstate located in the mall. I beleive it was called The Plaza and it was a single screen. It stayed open until around 1984. It might have re-opened a couple of times as an independant discount house.
I have not passed there in several years but it was still standing in that closed mall when I did.
Open 1950-1985?
Open for sure in 1967.
Owned by Royal Theaters, A.L. Royal Sr. & A.L. Royal, Jr. Owners, 1417 Grand Avenue, Meridian, just 2 blocks from the drive-in.
Could use an exact address, more info and more photos.
Thanks for the story,S.sam.
Short story on the Royal Land at the old drive-in.
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Anybody want to buy a drive-in? Nice photos SS.
I know this is a bit off topic,but also in Meridan I noticed what I thought was an ABC THEATRE in a shopping center right off the interstate ,like the Royal Drive-in you could see it from I-20 and I think,this was 1975 when i went out to Dallas,that “JAWS” was playing?
Yep,that is it.the fence and all.I guess it was 1992 when i passed it.I can’t believe it is still there,but being so close 1-20 maybe that has kept anyone from buying it.I figured it would have been long gone.thanks Silicon Sam.
Yes, the Royal was on I-20. Here are some 2005 pics of the Royal.
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