Camden Drive-In
1985 California Avenue SW,
Camden,
AR
71701
1985 California Avenue SW,
Camden,
AR
71701
1 person
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The Camden Drive-In on Magnolia Highway launched on September 9, 1949 with “Ma and Pa Kettle”. The Malco Theatre Circuit would then open the competing Mesa Drive-In Theatre opening on April 29, 1953.
On January 3, 1955, the Camden Drive-In installed a new curved screen to show CinemaScope and other widescreen formatted films. The screen was destroyed by high winds in March 1955. A new CinemaScope screen was installed on April 2, 1955. Malco would buy the Camden Drive-In during the 1955 season keeping both for a short period before closing it and retaining the Mesa Drive-In through 1960. The Malco Circuit then opened the Razorback Drive-In Theatre in 1969.
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dallasmovietheaters
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Recent comments (view all 3 comments)
The Camden Drive-In had 2 attempts of installing CinemaScope. Shortly after the first attempted on the installation of CinemaScope (installed on January 3, 1955) and before the Camden Drive-In reopened for the 1955 season, high winds blew down the screen that late March. This forced an another screen to be installed (about the same size) delaying the reopening to April 2nd of that year.
A better address is 1985 California Avenue SW, Camden, AR. That is the same location as the Razorback Drive-In which opened in 1969.
A 1956 aerial shows a drive-in at that location. And with no drive-in showing up along Magnolia Highway S, it seems pretty clear that the Camden Drive-In was along California Avenue SW.
A 1970 aerial shows the drive-in having changed considerably with a new screen, entrance, and ramps.
A closer address is 1985 California Ave SW, Camden, AR.
Google Maps has updated their addresses and this puts it right on the property.
Today, a closed car dealership sits on part of the property. But you can still see most of the ramps along with the outline of the drive-in.
https://tinyurl.com/yseppfmk