Lawrence Park Drive-In
4690 Iroquois Avenue,
Erie,
PA
16511
4690 Iroquois Avenue,
Erie,
PA
16511
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The Lawrence Park Drive-In theatre opened on May 14th, 1949 and closed by Cinemette in 1985. Grand opening ad posted.
To be picky, the drive-in site is well east of Erie and slightly east of present-day Lawrence Park. It’s within Northwest Harborcreek, a census-designated place, although the Erie post office delivers its mail. And it probably opened in early 1949, possibly late 1948.
Boxoffice, Aug. 7, 1948: “ERIE, PA. — Star Drive-In, Inc., will open its new outdoor theatre in Lawrence Park at Iroquis avenue and Nagle road in September. The owners, William Coleman and Joseph Gold, entered the drive-in field several years ago, operating the Star at West 12th and Pittsburgh avenue.”
The Exhibitor, March 9, 1949: “William Coleman, coowner. Star Drive-In, as well as the newly constructed Lawrence Park Drive-In, which he operates with his partner, Joe Gold, recently returned from a vacation trip to Florida.”
The Exhibitor, April 13, 1949: “Joseph Gold, co-owner with William Coleman, Star Drive-In, arrived in Pittsburgh following a vacation of several months in Florida, and transacted a lot of business prior to the opening of the new Lawrence Park Drive-In, Wesleyville, Pa.”
Boxoffice, Sept. 1, 1951: “Erie, Pa. - Blatt Bros. Theatres has acquired two outdoor theatres here - the Star and the Lawrence Park - from William Coleman and Joseph Gold.”
Motion Picture Exhibitor, May 11, 1955: “Blatt Brothers opened their Lawrence Park Drive-In, Erie, Pa., after widening their screen to present CinemaScope productions.”
This theater actually closed in 1985, it was owned by Cinemette Corporation of America towards the end.
Opened in 1950 and closed in 1980.
The lot is now used as a townhouse apartment complex called “Arneman Place” it’s a really nice apartment area.