Delray Drive-In
2001 N. Federal Highway,
Delray Beach,
FL
33483
2001 N. Federal Highway,
Delray Beach,
FL
33483
1 person
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Nearby Theaters
The Delray Drive-in was located on busy US 1 in Delray Beach. If it was anything like most Florida drive-ins, the Delray Drive-In likely closed in 1988. Google Maps shows the lot as vacant, but street view shows a construction fence around the lot. While the theater had been gone for years, a palm-lined driveway remained until the very end.
Contributed by
Andy
Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater.
Recent comments (view all 9 comments)
Another Drive-in on US 1.Andy, It parked 400 cars and was owned by John L.Stillman.
Played day and date with the Ultravision theatre with “HERBIE RIDES AGAIN”,Second Feature was “DUMBO”.
A flea market and (IIRC) a few permanent shops helped keep the Delray Drive-In solvent. In the years after the theatre closed and the land was cleared for redevelopment (apparently stalled in the economic downturn), it was redubbed “Delray’s Lost Drive-In Flea Market.”
As with most South Florida drive-ins, the Delray went from first-run features (as Mike Rogers noted with the day-and-date to the Ultravision further south) to second-run, buck-or-two admission status in its later years
Slight revision to comment above: Between the theatre’s closing and its clearing for redevelopment (apparently stalled in the economic downturn), it was redubbed “Delray’s Lost Drive-In Flea Market.”
1965 photo added courtesy of Barry Bourgault. Delray Drive-in after Hurricane Betsy in 1965.
Interesting Palm Beach Post article from late July 2018 about the history of drive-ins in Palm Beach County:
“Drive-in Movie Memories: 71 Years of Double Features and Even Death — Only One Drive-in Remains in Palm Beach County: The Lake Worth Drive-In”
Includes photos from the Delray Drive-in (some of employees) and mentions a melee that happened there involving police and also the time reels of “Debbie Does Dallas” were seized by authorities.
It says the Delray Drive-in stopped showing movies in 1988.
Boxoffice, May 2, 1960: “George Sobel has leased the Delray Drive-In, Delray, from Elias Chalhub, who is now operating the Riviera Drive-In, Riviera Beach.”
In a 2012 story in the Palm Beach Post, William Glenn Mize said that his father, who managed the Delray, and his family lived in a house under the movie screen.
And here’s the Internet Archive link to David Schneider’s now-inaccessible Palm Beach Post story.