Grinnell Drive-In
710 16th Avenue,
Grinnell,
IA
50112
710 16th Avenue,
Grinnell,
IA
50112
1 person
favorited this theater
Located on Highway 146. The Grinnell Drive-In was opened in early-June 1953 when it was operated by Franks Rubel and Central States Theatres Corp. On July 8, 1963 the screen was blown down in a wind storm. The drive-in reopened and was still operating in 1968. Now housing.
Contributed by
James Monroe
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Recent comments (view all 4 comments)
I was the assistant mgr/projectionist there from 1976 to 1978. We had a great time there and I think the customers did as well.
Boxoffice, June 6, 1953: “Grinnell, Iowa - The new drive-in on Highway 146 near here is to open not later than June 1.”
Boxoffice, July 18, 1953: (in a list of drive-ins opened in the first half of 1953) “Grinnell - Grinnell, George Mart, manager”
Boxoffice, Aug. 1, 1953: “Grinnell, Iowa - Grinnell Drive-In opened with George Mart as manager.”
Boxoffice, July 8, 1963: “Nature put on quite a performance with an early evening windstorm Friday, June 29 … two Central States airers lost their screen towers - at Grinnell and Ottumwa.”
Boxoffice, July 29, 1968: “A Junior Chamber of Commerce benefit night was held at the Grinnell Drive-In.”
This closed in the early-1980s. A 1983 aerial view shows the screen tower removed.
A closer address is 710 16th Ave, Grinnell, IA.
The drive-in sat on the SE corner of the intersection. The entrance road to the drive-in is no longer present.
Today, Grinnell Estates sits on the western side of the property with housing sitting on the eastern side.
http://tinyurl.com/ycu8ek8t