Merritt Island Drive-In
323 E. Merritt Island Causeway,
Merritt Island,
FL
32952
323 E. Merritt Island Causeway,
Merritt Island,
FL
32952
2 people
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Talgar Theatre Company
Previous Names: Cocoa Drive-In, Island-Beach Outdoor Theatre
Nearby Theaters
Located on the south side of beach highway about one and a half miles from down-town Cocoa. The Merritt Island Drive-In was opened on June 5, 1952 with Betty Grable in “Wabash Avenue” & Gene Autry in “Gene Autry and the Mounties”. In late-summer of 1954 it was renamed Cocoa Drive-In. In January 1957 it was renamed Island-Beach Outdoor Theatre. In 1959 it reverted back to its original name Merritt Island Drive-In. It had a capacity for 350 cars and was owned by Talgar Theatre Company. It was closed in late-1967 or early 1968.
Contributed by
john m story
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Recent comments (view all 7 comments)
I wonder if they sold hot cocoa in the concession stand?
The Merritt Island Drive-In Opened Its Doors On June 5th, 1952 And I Cannot Find The Opening Attraction To This According To The Miami Herald. By Late Summer Of 1954, It Became The Cocoa Drive-In Only For A Bit More Than 5 Years Before Changing The Name Back To The Merritt Island Drive-In For The Rest Of The Theater’s Life, And Was Also Used For Church Serves As Well. It Is Either Closed In Either Late 1967 Or Early 1968.
Grand opening ad:
Opened on 3rd June 1952 with a colour cartoon (not named?), “Wabash Avenue” and “Gene Autry and the Mounties”.
I think this should map as 322 E. Merritt Island Causeway. There’s currently a Harbor freight there know. The street overlay on historic aerials also shows modern day building outlines and it looks like the harbor freight building.
A closer address is 323 E Merritt Island Causeway, Merritt Island, FL which is the address of Harbor Freight Tools that currently sits on the property.
The drive-in had been demolished by 1984, but the outline, ramps, and entrance/exit road was still present.
https://tinyurl.com/mv96cpsb
Once known as Island-Beach Outdoor Theatre (renamed in January 1957).