Bayou Drive-In
Loch Haven Drive and Jones Road,
La Marque,
TX
77591
Loch Haven Drive and Jones Road,
La Marque,
TX
77591
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Moran and Lola McDaniel opened the first Bayou Drive-In on July 25, 1949, at 5320 Highway 1765, Texas City. The $125,000 theater had a 60-foot screen and room for 600 cars. The McDaniels continued to operate the Lamar Theatre in La Marque as they had since 1941. The first Bayou Drive-In in Texas City has its own page on Cinema Treasures.
On November 1, 1965, the McDaniels opened the Bayou Drive-In at its new location in La Marque, which had room for 1,000 cars. The La Marque Times on January 22, 1970, reported that the Bayou Drive-In was now a twin. The Bayou 1 had a capacity of 600 cars while the Bayou 2 could hold 490 cars.
As reported in the Galveston Daily News, on May 28, 1970, the McDaniels sold the Bayou Drive-In to McLendon Theatres. November 13, 1970, was the opening of the all-new triple screen, 1,500-car Bayou Drive-In, designed by R.E. Davis. Some of the upgrades were four box offices and a cafeteria style concession with indoor and patio dining. It was noted at the time that McLendon Theatres had forty theaters and was expanding quickly.
In August 1983, while operated by FLW Drive-Ins, the Bayou Drive-In was hit by Hurricane Alicia and never recovered.
Contributed by
ron pierce
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Recent comments (view all 2 comments)
I vividly remember the first Bayou Drive-In that Moran & Lola McDaniel opened in 1949. My family & I went to some movies there.
Since the first Bayou (1949-1965?) was in Texas City, shouldn’t there also be a listing for it under that city?