Comments about Jesse James Family Drive-In in Toledo, OH

davidcoppock on May 18, 2022 at 12:15 am

Is Henry James who opened this drive-in, related to Jesse James?

Trolleyguy on April 28, 2018 at 2:46 pm

I see the strip mall also has a strip club. Very appropriate.

Jimmyshine on April 28, 2018 at 1:03 pm

The premiere Toledo-area drive-in at one time. Always clean, and oriented towards families. Very good concession stand and the projection was the best in town. Unfortunately…one of the ugliest strip malls you’ve ever seen and a massive, crappy trailer park now squat on the site. A shame.

Drive-In 54 on June 17, 2013 at 11:21 am

Thanks Joe Vogel for the link!!! I just added the pictures.

Joe Vogel on June 17, 2013 at 2:15 am

Maybe somebody who saw Mutiny on the Bounty at the Jesse James Drive-In will recognize their car in the nocturnal photo that appears on this page of the October, 1963, issue of International Projectionist. (Click on the + sign in the toolbar at the lower right of the page to enlarge the image.)

Drive-In 54 on April 13, 2012 at 10:37 pm

Just update the overview and added few new pictures/ads.

Drive-In 54 on March 15, 2012 at 1:03 am

Thanks for the comment dlender…Do you have any pictures to share?

dlender on March 15, 2012 at 12:58 am

I worked at the Jesse James concession stand for 3 years in the ‘70s. We wore black jeans, red western shirts and bolo ties. We definitely went with the western theme. We had great fireworks for the 3rd and 4th of July. The drive in was always filled to capacity for that holiday. We had to turn cars away. Lots of great memories from working there for sure.

bdzmusicprod on January 13, 2012 at 8:05 am

Saw many a movie there as a kid…always thought that they had the best kiddie playground. Remember…“the show will start in five minutes…!

Drive-In 54 on November 27, 2011 at 6:27 pm

Enjoy the new pictures!!

1954model on July 24, 2011 at 5:30 pm

My Mom worked at the Jesse James, what wonderful memories :)

1954model on July 24, 2011 at 5:16 pm

The Jesse James theater was not named after the outlaw. It was named after Harold Arthur (Jesse)James, an attorney from Toledo. He owned the theater along with his two associates, Jack Armstrong and Ernest Walter.

Toby on June 17, 2011 at 11:02 pm

Toledo had other drive ins named after Western movie characters…the Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid drive-ins come to mind. I think the Sundance Kid is still open.

Michigandriveins.com on December 19, 2010 at 12:11 pm

The address for the Jesse James Drive-In was 521 S. Reynolds Rd, Toledo, OH 43615-6311. It was on the east side of Reynolds Rd., there is a strip mall and a subdivision on the site now. The Jesse James Shopping Center is actually across the street, on the west side of Reynolds.

Ret. AKC (NAC) CCC Bob Jensen, Manteno, Illinois on December 2, 2010 at 5:39 pm

I know Jesse James did “VISIT” as far East as West Virginia. He could have also “VISITED” Toledo and this is in memory? of him??

Mike Rogers on December 2, 2010 at 3:31 pm

Geez, couldn’t they have called it the Lone Ranger or some other good guy.lol.

CSWalczak on December 2, 2010 at 9:59 am

No, it was actually named for the historical Jesse James, and this was reflected in the western style theater marquee that can be seen in a picture in this theater’s gallery page at Drive-ins.com: http://www.drive-ins.com/theater/ohtjess I imagine that the decision to name a theater after him was more related to the portrayal of him more as simply a character in movie westerns that as a criminal.

Jesse James Family Drive-In

521 S. Reynolds Road, Toledo, OH 43615

521 S. Reynolds Road,
Toledo, OH 43615