Ava Drive-In
808 NW 12th Avenue,
Ava,
MO
65608
808 NW 12th Avenue,
Ava,
MO
65608
1 person
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As I posted on the Pettit’s Drive In site, a comparison of the drive in location between the 1955 and 1983 aerial shows virtually no change. Even the screen appears to be the same size.
This is not to say that changes did not occur. But if the information is accurate, the Pettit’s Drive In shut down and was left intact. New ownership took over, added speaker poles which would not be seen, and perhaps “widened” the screen, but the overall size didn’t change much at all. For all I can tell, they may have simply shaved off the top part of the screen to change its shape from square to rectangular.
Information and even topo maps can be inaccurate, but the aerial photos have, to my knowledge, been far more reliable in accuracy in terms of when they were taken.
The new Drive-In of Ava launched with widescreen projection and individual, in-car speakers on June 26, 1959 with “I Bury the Living.” It appears to be in roughly the same place / or the exact place as the original drive-in that operated five seasons from 1952-1956. The Avalon hardtop closed for the season while the ozoner was in operation. The name of the venue was changed from the Drive-In of Ava to the Ava Drive-In Theatre in the 1960s and appears to have closed under that name following the June 19, 1978 showing of “The Wackiest Wagon Train in the West.” There is a single reference to the drive-in operating in 1982 but no additional coverage or ads so difficult to pin down much after 1978.
There are about 10 pictures of this Drive In on Cinema Tour
I just checked on google earth and 821 springfield road and 808 nw 12th ave are both the same location the address for Pettits Di is the same as Highway 14 DI I know there was 2 drive Ins here but I think pettits closed in late 1950,s I remember seeing High way Di several times had lot realativesthat lived there.
ken here picture of entrance sign just accross street
JWMovies is correct that the address he provided is off, considerably off, by more than a block and further away than the address he replaced.
A closer address is 808 NW 12th Ave Ava, MO which is right across the street from the remains of the drive-in.
Unfortunately, there are no cross streets near enough for a better address. Here is the map and if you can get a closer address, by all means, please do so. http://tinyurl.com/jcqxn6h
Everything has been demolished, but you can still see the ramps clearly. https://goo.gl/maps/ocOcP