Hickory Drive-In
2250 US 70 SE,
Hickory,
NC
28602
2250 US 70 SE,
Hickory,
NC
28602
2 people
favorited this theater
Located on Highway 64, the Hickory Drive-In was opened on September 19, 1947. This was a smaller ozoner at 350 cars. It was initially operated by Colonial Theatres and then Benfield Theatres until it was closed in 1989. Looking at an aerial view there is a furniture store where the Hickory Drive-In once stood.
Contributed by
Stephen
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Recent comments (view all 5 comments)
Ahhh old Phantasm II
“Looking at an aerial view this is a car dealership where the Hickory Drive-In once stood.”
Yes, it may look like a car dealership from the air, but it’s actually the Hickory Furniture Mart :–)
Actually, there’s a Holiday Inn Express and a Panera Bread on the property where the Hickory Drive-In once stood. The furinture mart had been there next door back during the Drive-In days. Back in 1989 and possibly 1990 (not positive of the closing date), I got to go here a few times. I recall loading a friend’s pickup truck with a sofa, then using it to lounge in the open air while watching “Flight of the Intruder. I forget how many people rode in the back of the truck to get in there (it was like $5 a carload). Also saw Friday the 13th Part VIII – Jason Takes Manhattan there. To be honest, I don’t think I ever really saw a decent movie there, but it was fun to go with friends.
After it closed, the Carolina Theater downtown (also owned by Benfield at the time) got all of the marquis letters from the drive-in.
Fun fact – Ben Benfield of Benfield Theaters actually had a snack food business: packaged cotton candy, caramel corn, popcorn, etc. The Carolina didn’t have a popcorn popper back then, just a warmer. Benfield would have big bags of popcorn delivered to the theater – can’t speak for the drive-in, but I worked at the Carolina so I knew first hand. Popcorn apparently keeps well. I don’t recall it ever being stale once it was warmed.
Quick correction; after zooming in more on Google Earth, I could see that there is a car dealership next to the Holiday Inn Express (Best Way Auto Sales), so the original comment was correct.
The Hickory Drive-In opened on September 19th, 1947. Grand opening ad posted.