Sheridan Drive-In
7801 S. Harlem Avenue,
Bridgeview,
IL
60455
7801 S. Harlem Avenue,
Bridgeview,
IL
60455
6 people
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The Sheridan Drive-In opened November 27, 1959, on Harlem Avenue, at 79th Street in southwest suburban Bridgeview. This single-screen drive-in had a large, stylish early-1960’s style marquee topped by a neon-lit star with a zig-zagging tail.
This large 1,500-car capacity drive-in was popular, but closed in 1986 and demolished shortly afterward. A shopping center is on the site today.
Contributed by
Bryan Krefft
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Recent comments (view all 25 comments)
Color shot of the marquee here: http://galleryplus.ebayimg.com/ws/web/111228155301_1_0_1.jpg
Nice color photo. I added it to the photo section.
I believe the Sheridan opened in 1959. Since I have seen photo proof showing movies from 1959 on their marquee sign.
My childhood memories of the Sheridan aren’t of the movies, as well, it was for the Sunday morning flea market that my dad and I sold junk at from 1983-1986. We used to take Harlem Avenue all the way here from the far NW side of Chicago. My dad let me set up a table of baseball cards and collectibles when I was 14 years old and one Sunday I made more money than him. I felt so bad at the time because he worked so hard picking junk out of the alleys to sell here and help out the family. I still have the wood and glass display case I used here and this led me to a career as an eBay reseller of now 19 years. I remember this old man everyone called “Pops” that sold baseball cards here, too, out of his van towards the back near the fence. Many a baseball card dealer at the time that sold here. I never had a chance to go to Haunted Trails, but I’ll never forget hearing the batting cage “pings” in the distance. One day after selling, my dad let me drive his 1978 Chevy Caprice Classic in the empty part of the drive-in. First time I ever drove a car. Great memories.
Grand Opening Night was Nov 27,1959
Better address is:
7759 Harlem Avenue, Bridgeview, IL 60455.
7750 puts you on the wrong side of street.
We’d park the station wagon. Throw down a blanket or two, and lay out our treasures.
During the late 70’s and early 1980’s, my folks and I would be at the “79th Street” market on most spring and summer weekends.
For me, it was the place to pick up albums. Back then, it was common to find milk crates of clean vinyl to flip through. Records were usually .50 cents each. I discovered the classics that way.
Fond memories.
My best finds: A 1960’s Gibson Discoverer tube amp $10,13 original Hartland Baseball statues for $3.25 (I still have the Mays) and of course the LPs(Beatles to Zappa).
The Swap-O-Rama in Alsip was another fun market as well.
“Pops” mentioned in chgojoearchitect’s comments was Bruno. He sold collectibles alongside his brother & sister in the middle of the market not far from the concession. Each had their own spot.
They had reserved spaces(at the 79th street market, you could pay $1.50 to reserve a specific spot for the following Sunday). They were always in those spots the few years I went.
I was there last in the summer of 1983; sounds like things may have changed after that. Nice family. The sister sold dolls; Bruno sold sports/music memorabilia, and the other brother sold everything else.
I use to spend hours every weekend(Sat/Sun) shooting the bull/picking his brain. I was 14 and just getting into collecting. At first, Bruno would shoo me away. But then I started buying the “occasional” card from his $1 box. He was a nice guy.
The correct address is 7801 S. Harlem Ave.
The Sheridan would have their exact address printed on car passes in the early days of operation. But the entrance to the Drive-in was closer to 77th.
Mister_Comics is correct. A car pass with the correct address was uploaded to the Photo gallery in 2014. Image link below.
https://cinematreasures.org/theaters/5249/photos/113634