State Twin Drive-In
5033 State Avenue,
Kansas City,
KS
66102
5033 State Avenue,
Kansas City,
KS
66102
3 people
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Additional Info
Previous Names: State Drive-In
Nearby Theaters
The State Drive-In was opened as a single screen operation. On November 18, 1966 it reopened as a twin screen theatre with a capacity for 1,550 cars (800 in screen 1 and 750 in screen 2). It was closed on September 22, 1991.
The site is now the city/county vehicle maintenance shop.
Contributed by
Ken Roe
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Recent comments (view all 10 comments)
Was a really good deal to go to the State Twin…..used to go nearly every week.
The State was built as a twin screen Drive in. It was nearly identical to the Twin, North Twin and South Twin. And similar to the I70. All of these theaters were operated by Mid America Cinemas.
Yet another now-defunct KC-area drive-in. Sat next to the old Indian Springs Mall.
This opened on November 18th, 1966. Another ad posted.
A more accurate address for this theater is now 5023 State Ave, Kansas City, KS 66102. This points directly to the entrance road. The Walters Dance Company is at the entrance. Kansas City Parks and Recreation just south of this location is where the drive in itself stood.
Please update.
Opened with on screen 1 with “dead heat on a merry-go-round”, “The last command” and “Cat Ballou” and on screen 2 with “A patch of blue”, “The singing nun” and “Never too late”.
Thats the opening as a twin drive-in.
According to Google Maps, a more accurate address is 5033 State Avenue, Kansas City, KS.
The entrance road to the drive-in no longer exists and the current address points to a property that is not connected to the drive-in.
https://tinyurl.com/y4a3hrzz
The State Twin Was Still Operational In The Early 90s, But Sometime It Was Demolished In Like Between The Mid-1990’s And The Late 1990’s.
Throughout much of the early-1980s, the State Twin Drive-In received too much trouble, as on September 1, 1984, the State Twin Drive-In became local headlines following major concerns over both large disturbances and crowd fights (mostly youths and teens) as reported by the Kansas City (KS) Police Department. Although it was not the crowd’s fault, it was actually radio station KYYS-FM (now KCKC-FM) announcing drive-in blowouts which a total of five different features were screened on the same day each Labor Day and Memorial Day, known as the “KY-102 Blowouts”. These incidents include injuries, one of which was a local 16-year-old boy who was injured in the State Twin Drive-In’s blowout.
Leroy Shaver, the manager of the State Twin Drive-In, said from 10 to 12 men provided security for each of the blowouts at his business, and spectators called the attacks “riots”. Its not just the State Twin Drive-In, but it was also the I-70 Drive-In and the nearby Boulevard Drive-In who also did host the blowouts, but it was the State Twin Drive-in that caused all the major riots and ruckus. Leroy also replied that most of his watchmen were not units for the KCKSPD or security officers but former drive-in employees “over 21 and wearing security T-shirts” were employed in business. He said such security forces relate to patrons better than units.
During one other blowout also being held at the State Twin, officials from the Wyandotte County Sheriff’s Office said that they had limited the role of off-duty officers at the blowouts after three deputies were assaulted with rocks and knives on a Memorial Day blowout also at the State Twin Drive-In. Undersheriff officer Tim Johnson said he directed deputy sheriff’s to do no more than guard money in the concession areas, most importantly the concession stand. He also added that in the past even when 10 off-duty officers worked each of the blowouts, as security had not been sufficient. As he replied, Mr. Shaver disagreed on how it can’t be sufficient, even Mike Costello, the general manager of KYYS-FM said that while his station promotes the events, it is not responsible for security.
The State Twin Drive-In closed for the final time on September 22, 1991 with “Livin' Large” and “Jungle Fever” at Screen 1 and “Freddy’s Dead” and “Terminator 2” at Screen 2. It was last operated by Wesley Neal who both operated the Boulevard and State Twin Drive-Ins in Kansas City (KS).